Parksy
Moderator
The above quote is very true.
There are not too many rules that govern this forum, but as moderators, Sam and myself try to see that we all stick to them, and we're lucky that most members do.
This wasn't always the case here.
In the early days of this forum, the old web master Ken Watson used to describe Sunday afternoons as 'the Sunday Bloodbath' 😁
There was a small group of forum members who used to rip each other to shreds on the message boards.
None of the comments had anything to do with caravans.
Moderators were powerless to do anything about it, because we hadn't got access to any moderator tools.
I always had the impression that these disruptive men were either dominated by their wives at home, or they were Emperors of their domestic domain.
They were probably assertive at work, and they brought this assertiveness here because they could.
Other forum members were either amused by the Sunday Bloodbath or looked on aghast.
Eventually, the forum software was revamped and moderators were given 'global' status with full access to moderator tools and the disruptive elements were banned straight away.
I see this 'assertive phenomenon on other social media such as Twitter, a cyber cesspit of aggression and a keyboard warriors paradise which I steer clear of.
I've seen other caravan related forums where insults etc have been freely exchanged, the now defunct Swift forum was a case in point.
This site is well policed so I do not see any problem with bullying or over the top criticism. I do not use Facebook or the other similar forums as I have no interest in advertising what we are doing or reading other peoples efforts at that. It would be useful for some information but so far very little has missed me that I am bothered about.
This forum was the first caravan forum I ever joined, back when it wasn't "real time" and you had to wait for your comments to get posted! I left it and joined others, but for some reason, caravan forums seemed to attract folks that fell into your (very good!) description above, all other forums I belong to (cars and cycling) just seemed to attract folks that wanted to get-along-with other members due to mutual interests. One caravan forum I left recently has one member who does not contribute at all, but waits in the shadows to leap into a thread with nasty, snide comments.
Swift-Talk was a fantastic tool in the early days, I joined in 2010 and both the members and Swift themselves went over and above to help, sadly, a handfull of fools ruined it.
On the two Buccaneer groups on FB so far there has been no issues with malicious posts. Same with our regiment group. Both are moderated.
I know sometimes unwittingly I exceed the boundaries on this forum, but I am actually grateful for the reprimand as that is the only way I will know that I have exceeded the boundaries. I am then more careful in the future.
I know sometimes unwittingly I exceed the boundaries on this forum, but I am actually grateful for the reprimand as that is the only way I will know that I have exceeded the boundaries. I am then more careful in the future.
I have no interest in social media,and don't have wi fi or internet on my phone,my choice,what I don't understand is the people who post pictures of their breakfast etc, who cares?
I do find it annoying that many companies encourage contact through social media rather than provide a phone number, when I had cause to complain to a well known, very little helps supermarket,I got an instant response when I used a friends Facebook, the companies must montitor social media as they see it as important, even asking me to adjust a review I had posted on Trustpilot. As for the people who follow influencers.......................it's lost on me, I am old enough to feed and wash myself, and even tie my own shoelaces, so don't need anybody else telling what to buy!
I do find it annoying that many companies encourage contact through social media rather than provide a phone number, when I had cause to complain to a well known, very little helps supermarket,I got an instant response when I used a friends Facebook, the companies must montitor social media as they see it as important, even asking me to adjust a review I had posted on Trustpilot. As for the people who follow influencers.......................it's lost on me, I am old enough to feed and wash myself, and even tie my own shoelaces, so don't need anybody else telling what to buy!
Parksy
Moderator
Buckman, if a post is deleted its no big deal really, sometimes a deleted post prevents arguments between members further down the line.
You're a valued forum member, and any reprimand is given more in sorrow than in anger.
Going back to the subject of Facebook and social media it can have its positive uses.
Some forum members may have seen recent newspaper reports about the destruction of 'Britain's Wonkiest Pub', the Crooked House in Himley, near to Dudley.
The centuries old iconic landmark pub was sold by Marston's brewery to a private buyer a fortnight ago.
The much loved pub which was the subject of petitions for it to remain open as a pub was 'mysteriously' gutted by fire ovever the weekend, as predicted by many.
Obstructions were allegedly placed along the driveway to try to deny access to the fire brigade.
Investigations were underway, but the remains of the building were bulldozed to the ground on Monday!
Such has been the anger and outrage expressed on Facebook by local people that the story appeared on national news bulletins, South Staffs Council have reported that the new owners didn't have permission to demolish the building, and the West Midlands mayor and local MPs are demanding that the pub is rebuilt brick by brick.
Protest vigils have been held at the site of the demolition
( there's one this evening) with local TV news reporters in attendance
Such is the power of social media, the developers who bought the pub and who thought that they could do as the pleased have bitten off a lot more than they can chew this time.
You are closer than we are with more info. But I was sceptical, given the timing of the sale.
What seems odd to me, is that it does not appear to be a prime and desirable site. (Though I could easily be wrong).
I am pleased I never visited the pub. I know it would have made me unwell. As a kid, the crooked house at the fair made me loose my equilibrium. Also we visited some mock trenches in Dinant, Belgium about 20 years ago. They were tipped at an angle as a bomb was meant to have gone off nearby. After that, I could not walk straight for about half an hour.
John
"What seems odd to me, is that it does not appear to be a prime and desirable site. (Though I could easily be wrong)." Reports I have read suggest that the purchasers own a nearby landfill site, and that there had been an earlier dispute between them and Marstons (the previous owners) over access rights.
On the ITV news tonight it was stated that arson is suspected and I think a lot of people think the same. It was also my first thoughts when it was mentioned that the pub was bought very recently and suddenly there was a fire. Proving it may be difficult?
The police have had specialist dogs in. Then announced it is being treated as arson.
John
The fire service could not get access due to large piles of soil/rubble and had to run 1 km pipe to obtain water supply. All very suspicious.
I live in a Midlands market town, one landlord owns a lot of the town centre properties including an old mill that was listed. He applied for planning to pull it down and build houses, amazingly it was passed, with rumours of bribes etc circulating. One week prior to demolition everything was put on hold as bats were found inside. Two days later it mysteriously caught fire and had to be demolished.
We lived in Bradford on Avon and there was an old paper mill on the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal. The owner applied for permission to convert it to mews houses. Permission was refused. Sometimes after it burnt down and had to be demolished. Some nice mews houses were then built. The conclusion must be that old buildings where planning permission is denied become a distinct fire risk.
Aside from the sometimes confrontational attitudes and mis-information on social media, my other objection was to the large amounts of personal data collected by them and then sold on for advertising purposes.
Of course most of these 'free' services are funded by the advertisers but I, for one, object to my personal information being used in this way. I go out of my way as much as possible to minimise my personal footprint on the internet and don't want to see any advertising. So I use privacy browsing and ad blockers whenever possible.
It was interesting in the early days when I tried Facebook to see what it was all about. I created an account using a throw away email address and false name. Interstingly enough I only accessed it on my Android Tablet and for whatever reason ads where not visible. When some months later I decide to give it up I requested a download of my data. What surprised me was that in that they had somehow managed to get my real name.
I've done the same with Google, which I still use, and it still remains anonymous although, there are references to my mobile phone number.
AI is making this access to our information even worse. AI gets most of its information from scrapping web pages and that includes forums like this. One such user group that gets used is the Forum - War of the Worlds (I think that's its name). Its a forum of WOW game players. Users decided to create false posts about a 'wonderful' new feature. Sometime later this appeared through AI as being a greatest new feature for WOW.
Of course I've always been of the opinion that if you put things on the open internet then its no longer private. So, be careful what you post - it may come back to bite you
Of course most of these 'free' services are funded by the advertisers but I, for one, object to my personal information being used in this way. I go out of my way as much as possible to minimise my personal footprint on the internet and don't want to see any advertising. So I use privacy browsing and ad blockers whenever possible.
It was interesting in the early days when I tried Facebook to see what it was all about. I created an account using a throw away email address and false name. Interstingly enough I only accessed it on my Android Tablet and for whatever reason ads where not visible. When some months later I decide to give it up I requested a download of my data. What surprised me was that in that they had somehow managed to get my real name.
I've done the same with Google, which I still use, and it still remains anonymous although, there are references to my mobile phone number.
AI is making this access to our information even worse. AI gets most of its information from scrapping web pages and that includes forums like this. One such user group that gets used is the Forum - War of the Worlds (I think that's its name). Its a forum of WOW game players. Users decided to create false posts about a 'wonderful' new feature. Sometime later this appeared through AI as being a greatest new feature for WOW.
Of course I've always been of the opinion that if you put things on the open internet then its no longer private. So, be careful what you post - it may come back to bite you
Sam I do the same and never click on links in FB however because most sites are linked to Google they invariably can trace you through the cookies left on your computer. I try and clear mine out about once a month and it is amazing the amount of "essential" cookies that one website can leave on your computer.
You're right about cookies. I block all third party cookies and have the browser set to clear all cookies when I close it.
Yesterday I was doing some quotes for OH on my computer using a comparison website, but using her email address. OH got the quotes to her email address, but did not respond to any. Today to my email address I get an email regarding one of the top quotes on the comparison website??????????????
There are many ways of getting additional information from your computer. One possibility is that if you've logged onto the same web site with your email address in the past it could be stored in a cookie, which is then read and hey presto they have your email address and potentially other details.
HiWe do used Facebook, but it drives me a bit wild as it never seems to do what I expect of it.
Instagram. What is that about. We look because the grandchildren use it. But it is over in a flash and you just cannot get back.
We use Nextdoor. It is OK for local notices and sales. But mostly people having a rant. Also, topics do not have a title, so you keep going to rubbish. 'here is a picture of my cat'. WOW.
But Linkedin. Does anybody use it? I find it great for following ex work colleagues. I can also support them with references. It is nice to stay in touch. My profile says I am a college head of department (retired). But I keep getting job offers! Now the latest thing is they are suggesting recruiting companies I may wish to use. When I was at work I kept getting calls from recruiting companies. Despite my telling them that was never how we recruited.
Then there is this nice forum. You know exactly where you are.
I don't have security concerns. Got a lot of protection.
Sorry rant over.
John
I use or have used most of those. However I use X (FKA Twitter) for political debate. IMO it is most suitable for free speech especially of the political sort. Having been banned numerous times on FB (which will tell you my political leaning is not conformist) I basically now only use it for social as in family stuff making absolutely no personal views known ! BTW been interviewed on GB News on some issues in the past!
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