Why Dont You??

[Gagakev]

Why dont more folk on here welcome our new guest to the forum, many newbies to the forum only receive a few welcomes, some dont even bother to come back, is it because they dont really feel welcome as response is so low, go back in time and there were many more welcomes and I can remember when I joined it really was nice to feel as though you belonged and were made welcome.
So come on folks spend a little bit of time to welcome fellow forumites.

 

[Parksy]

Well said Kev!
When the forum was upgraded the New Members introductions was moved to the top of the forum page so that it would be more noticeable and at first one or two joined in to welcome the new members but with one or two worthy exceptions the majority of forumites seem to ignore the newbies unless they ask a specific question.
I've noticed that some introduce themselves and then disappear from the forum never to be seen again

We've got rid of the aggressive argumentative types who used to spoil the forum for everybody else, so it would be nice if we could persuade new members to stick around and become regular contributors now that Practical Caravan is what it was always meant to be, a nice friendly and helpful caravan forum.

 

[emmerson]

But what do you say to them? "welcome to the forum" 27 times gets a bit boring!

 

[cidersteve]

i think its the amount of people that bother, as opposed to the content of the message, just the thoughts of a newbie

 

[Parksy]

Not for them though Emmerson, they will probably have browsed the forum for a while before taking the plunge with their introductory post and may well recognise your username. To be welcomed by knowledgeable established forum members like your good self could never be considered to be boring and they will feel accepted

 

[emmerson]

Parksy, I'm squirming with emmbarrasment! That is the biggest load of B******t I've heard for a long time!

 

[emmerson]

And I've posted on the newbie thread!

 

[Gagakev]

i think its the amount of people that bother, as opposed to the content of the message, just the thoughts of a newbie

Good point cidersteve, see you only had 6 welcomes when you joined but nice of you to stay and join in, have you been away in your Abbey yet?

 

[Parksy]

Parksy, I'm squirming with emmbarrasment! That is the biggest load of B******t I've heard for a long time!

They say that it Baffles Brains though Emmerson

 

[cidersteve]

not yet gagakev, first trip is 21 april to salcombe regis, have fitted out the caravan now, just waiting for the holiday to come round , really cant wait

 

[JeffD]

Just because new members don't post immediately it doesn't necessarily mean that they have given up with the forum. More likely they are using the search facility and looking up previous threads to solve their initial queries.

Despite the comment about getting shot of the aggressive posters it is still intimidating for new members to post when the forum is dominated by knowledgable members. Many will inevitably feel intimidated.

Jeff

 

[Parksy]

Just because new members don't post immediately it doesn't necessarily mean that they have given up with the forum. More likely they are using the search facility and looking up previous threads to solve their initial queries.

Despite the comment about getting shot of the aggressive posters it is still intimidating for new members to post when the forum is dominated by knowledgable members. Many will inevitably feel intimidated.

Jeff

New members may occasionally be using the search facility or browsing other parts of the website but I know for a fact that most who post introductions and then disappear are no longer logged in because I have access to that information.
If more newbies could be encouraged to continue to use the forum then it would no longer appear to be 'dominated by knowledgeable members'.
My point was that they might feel less intimidated by the loyal and knowledgeable regulars if they were welcomed by them in the first place.

 

[xtrailman]

The forum lost a lot of members to other forums during the change over.
I can well understand why many don't stay.
Asking a question often leads to a long winded essay telling you to get professional help.
While on another forum you will get more useful feedback.
And lets be honest the topics aren't always of interest, and often repeated.

Anyway I'm still fighting on, but sorry i don't do welcomes, just not me nothing personal.

 

[graham_somersham]

I tend to agree with Ray, it is more the attitude of some posters who seem to put themselves forward as being on a level above everyone else and like to express their 'expert' advice that put new posters off. Being talked down to is a sure fire way of alienating new visitors to the forum.

 

[JeffD]

Yes, I agree. Perhaps my 'dominated by knowledgable members' statement should have read those who post their views regardless of their knowledge of the subject, but I was being diplomatic.....

Jeff

 

[cidersteve]

well im here to stay, its amazing what you can gleen from a forum, i havent even had my first trip yet but have learnt an awful lot from just reading this forum, and hopefully as my experience gets better i will able to help and advise fellow members

 

[Parksy]

Yes, I agree. Perhaps my 'dominated by knowledgable members' statement should have read those who post their views regardless of their knowledge of the subject, but I was being diplomatic....
Jeff

Good One!

well im here to stay, its amazing what you can gleen from a forum, i havent even had my first trip yet but have learnt an awful lot from just reading this forum, and hopefully as my experience gets better i will able to help and advise fellow members

It's always nice when a new caravanner joins the forum and continues to enjoy using it.
All forum comments are valuable, and comments about your buying experience, first trip, things that went right and things that didn't quite go to plan are just as informative as a discussion between long time experienced members. Your views as a new caravanner are also entertaining to forum members and casual browsers alike and what you write might just be the deciding factor for someone browsing the forum and considering buying their first caravan

 

[kopite]

I always read the newbies but never reply maybe i will take a leaf out of some other members and post more i always say its nice to be nice

 

[emmerson]

Parksy refers to me as being "established and knowledgeable". Well, the former I suppose is true, having been on here for about five or six years, in spite of what it says in my intro! As for "knowledgeable", well maybe so, but as always, knowledge comes from experience, which I think I can claim, as I've been caravanning for well over forty years. BUT, and it's a big but, no-one is ever too old to learn, and if I can pick up a tip from anyone, I'm not too proud to do so.
I'm only too pleased to pass on my knowledge from experience, and have never intended to give a "holier than thou" immpresion. If that's how I come across at times, then I apologise, but honestly, it's all intended tongue in cheek, but there isn't an emoticon to show that!
This fantastic hobby of ours always has room for newbies, and I and many others on this forum, am only too happy to help the newbies enjoy it as much we do.

 

[weejock]

Not quite as long in the tooth as you Emmerson as I am only a 20 year man but you are correct about one thing and that is the learning. Even things that have been posted where I wonder to myself if that really is a better way to do something invaribly I do go ahead and try it out.
So far most things have been better done my way and those that were better are now my way anyway now.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi, I am like Emmerson a 40+ years man so know absolutely everthing there is to know about caravanning

.
Thats a joke by the way so dont fall off your chair laughing

.

The truth is no-one knows it all, experience teaches us what works and what doesn't but thats about all, caravanning is constantly in a flux, as developments and legistlation changes so does the whole aspect of the hobby what criteria was used a few years ago for an ideal set up may be of no use today and even less use tomorrow. I can well see how someone new to the hobby and forum could be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all, and the techinical knockabouts that some of us "old uns" often partake in do not help much, but thats down to the finer details of the hobby rather than the general "what the newbie needs to know",
here I think Parksy make a good point intoductions are the first taste of forum life and should be a pleasent first step along with the first questions post of which there should be many. often the first question starts " this may be a daft question but" again the truth is no question is "daft" if you dont have an idea what the answer is.
many of us never think of opening the intoductions page I know I dont but should maybe it's time we all tried a bit harder to make newbies welcome and feel comfortable posting, it that long since I was a new member I forgot what it is like.
thank you for reminding me.

colin

ps. see you in the newbies section last one's in, is a sissy

 

[Parksy]

The forum lost a lot of members to other forums during the change over.

That's true Ray, a lot of forum members jumped ship not so much because of the upgrade but because of the problems with the slow forum speed after the changeover and long delays in getting the forum to work properly.
The biggest cause of newbies and returning older members not continuing now is IE9 which doesn't work with this forum. We've posted sticky's with instructions for IE users but they never bother to look at them judging by the number who'se posts don't load.
I contact them via email with instructions but they rarely reply.

An earlier comment which mentioned that the forum 'experts' are often wrong made me smile, I've been spectacularly wrong on several occasions when answering questions on the forum.
It's great that at least some of the long time members remember how it felt to make that first post as a brand new forum member and are beginning to add their welcoming comments to the New Members section

 

[Mel]

Well said Kev!
When the forum was upgraded the New Members introductions was moved to the top of the forum page so that it would be more noticeable and at first one or two joined in to welcome the new members but with one or two worthy exceptions the majority of forumites seem to ignore the newbies unless they ask a specific question.

I've never been called a worthy exception before but I will take it as a compliment! Thanks Parksy.
I have been posting inexpert drivel on here for 5 years. But it keeps the forum going and it is great to be able to join in, no matter how much or how little you know.
mel

 

[Parksy]

I've never been called a worthy exception before but I will take it as a compliment! Thanks Parksy.

You are one of the few who has consistently welcomed new members in the past Mel so my remark was meant as a compliment.
It's great to see more of the regulars following your good example now