I thought it was a shame that the thread Adi Fiddler started on the 20th, Where is it going, was locked. In general I think it started off highlighting some interesting things that I personally think would help what BCUK can offer to it community.
I checked with the moderating team that they were happy for me to restart this, and Martyn said it was ok, so here goes
I think over the last few months I have read, or heard about, a lot of negative things about BCUK, which I wont go into as I dont know whether they are just speculation, spite, jealously or whatever (you get the picture), but nevertheless I have started to see some of these negative points myself and have been drawn away from the site to other communities where I see more and more faces from here.
Seeing a lot of the more senior members drifting away from BCUK makes me wonder why, sure I appreciate that over time they will start to see repetition in the type of messages that are posted and that they are going past the foundation level of bushcraft and getting evolved in more advanced things. But It would be nice to see the more experienced members stick around and post what they are up to and give us relative newbies inspiration on new things to try. This will also draw the forum away from the usual, but more often than not, amusing kit chatter that goes on. But I am also seeing a lot more strong opinions being voiced, which are sometimes going off topic and resulting in permanent bans being applied to these members Baring that in mind, can anyone that responds to this make sure they do so sensibly and maturely so that the thread can stay open
I dont necessarily blame the moderators for the way they handle things but at the same time I feel they dont always help and I have often read a post made by moderators only to have a good giggle at the hypocrisy of what they are saying, or I can recall a thread where there have done things that If I was a moderator, I wouldnt be happy with. (Im happy to give examples if the moderators want them, but Im not willing to air them unless asked for)
Then theres the messages that are posted by the moderators saying things like BCUK isnt a democracy or you have no rights on BCUK basically saying we can treat you however we fancy and you have no say about it and yet there is a Suggestions and feedback forum I dont understand how a forum that relies on its members can be so blinkered on what they need to achieve. There are comments on how much money that Tony pumps into BCUK and that it is a non profit organisation as there is literally no way it could generate a profit with such a high turnover and low income but that it is hoped that maybe one day it might be able to make some kind of profit through the magazine and subscriptions. How does BCUK hope to achieve that? (thats a rhetorical question, I dont expect to see a business plan) If it doesnt listen intensively to its members and encourage them, and make them feel comfortable giving constructive criticism on how things are done, then thing will never improve or grow.
With so many new bushcraft forums cropping up, which fair enough may not YET have the amount of information or members on it as BCUK currently has, or be as well known. BCUK needs to offer its membership something that nothing else can or statements like I don't know of any other bushcraft site with a similar scope or membership to this one in the UK might not be applicable in a year or so.
Every negative comment I read about BCUK has always been answered with an aggressive or dismissing response by the moderating team and to be honest I expect to get one or two for this thread (again, happy to collate a list of examples) but this type of response saddens me It is showing that the team that is suppose to be supporting its members is losing patience with them and losing their temper with them and are not interested in what they have to say.
Which takes me back to my earlier comment but nevertheless I have started to see some of these negative points myself and have been drawn away from the site to other communities where I see more and more faces from here. If the same people are chatting on other forums without complaint then why are they leaving here in the first place?
It makes me wonder if the reason that the more experienced or just the veteran members of BCUK are leaving because they are fed up with the structure of BCUK and leave to try and establish or take part in a more pleasant environment.
I personally cant see a way that this will ever change unless there is a change of attitude.
I checked with the moderating team that they were happy for me to restart this, and Martyn said it was ok, so here goes
I think over the last few months I have read, or heard about, a lot of negative things about BCUK, which I wont go into as I dont know whether they are just speculation, spite, jealously or whatever (you get the picture), but nevertheless I have started to see some of these negative points myself and have been drawn away from the site to other communities where I see more and more faces from here.
Seeing a lot of the more senior members drifting away from BCUK makes me wonder why, sure I appreciate that over time they will start to see repetition in the type of messages that are posted and that they are going past the foundation level of bushcraft and getting evolved in more advanced things. But It would be nice to see the more experienced members stick around and post what they are up to and give us relative newbies inspiration on new things to try. This will also draw the forum away from the usual, but more often than not, amusing kit chatter that goes on. But I am also seeing a lot more strong opinions being voiced, which are sometimes going off topic and resulting in permanent bans being applied to these members Baring that in mind, can anyone that responds to this make sure they do so sensibly and maturely so that the thread can stay open
I dont necessarily blame the moderators for the way they handle things but at the same time I feel they dont always help and I have often read a post made by moderators only to have a good giggle at the hypocrisy of what they are saying, or I can recall a thread where there have done things that If I was a moderator, I wouldnt be happy with. (Im happy to give examples if the moderators want them, but Im not willing to air them unless asked for)
Then theres the messages that are posted by the moderators saying things like BCUK isnt a democracy or you have no rights on BCUK basically saying we can treat you however we fancy and you have no say about it and yet there is a Suggestions and feedback forum I dont understand how a forum that relies on its members can be so blinkered on what they need to achieve. There are comments on how much money that Tony pumps into BCUK and that it is a non profit organisation as there is literally no way it could generate a profit with such a high turnover and low income but that it is hoped that maybe one day it might be able to make some kind of profit through the magazine and subscriptions. How does BCUK hope to achieve that? (thats a rhetorical question, I dont expect to see a business plan) If it doesnt listen intensively to its members and encourage them, and make them feel comfortable giving constructive criticism on how things are done, then thing will never improve or grow.
With so many new bushcraft forums cropping up, which fair enough may not YET have the amount of information or members on it as BCUK currently has, or be as well known. BCUK needs to offer its membership something that nothing else can or statements like I don't know of any other bushcraft site with a similar scope or membership to this one in the UK might not be applicable in a year or so.
Every negative comment I read about BCUK has always been answered with an aggressive or dismissing response by the moderating team and to be honest I expect to get one or two for this thread (again, happy to collate a list of examples) but this type of response saddens me It is showing that the team that is suppose to be supporting its members is losing patience with them and losing their temper with them and are not interested in what they have to say.
Which takes me back to my earlier comment but nevertheless I have started to see some of these negative points myself and have been drawn away from the site to other communities where I see more and more faces from here. If the same people are chatting on other forums without complaint then why are they leaving here in the first place?
It makes me wonder if the reason that the more experienced or just the veteran members of BCUK are leaving because they are fed up with the structure of BCUK and leave to try and establish or take part in a more pleasant environment.
I personally cant see a way that this will ever change unless there is a change of attitude.