|
Post by schlager7 on May 25, 2014 8:42:38 GMT -6
This forum has been very quiet for the last couple of years. I have been considering pulling the plug on it for quite some time. Most of the fencing fora other than Fencing Net have since faded away. Facebook fills the need far better than the discussion forum format, with much greater flexibility (especially from mobile devices). The only reason I have held back is that in a very few instances, the site has served well at putting people together and getting word out on new fencing clubs forming.
If I do keep this site up, it will likely be in a reduced format, perhaps a general board, one for new clubs, one or two others.
Thoughts?
|
|
|
Post by Martin Gale on May 26, 2014 13:19:42 GMT -6
With very few exceptions, social media sites, most noticeably Facebook, have superseded online discussion forums. Even Fencing.Net, which has held on remarkably well does not have anywhere near the traffic it used to. I do not see FNet disappearing anytime soon. It is still good having the ability to have a discussion of fencing issues with folks from across the nation and around the world. One day, it, too, will pass on, replaced by something which serves our needs better.
This site, largely restricted to fencing in Texas (and, before that, the Gulf Coast Division), probably cannot maintain the critical mass of contributors to make it a valid concern.
I still visit this forum once a day, just to see if anything new has appeared. Usually there is not. It is the same on a few other such sites I visit.
That said, I think an internet presence for fencing in the state is a good idea, even if reduced. The folks starting a club in Laredo made use of information here. As long as a few of us check in every day or two, I think it can still be useful.
|
|
nemo
Blademaster
mobilis in mobili
Posts: 729
|
Post by nemo on May 26, 2014 13:32:40 GMT -6
I have to admit, when this forum was started, as the Gulf Coast Fencing Forum, it really took off. It was a time of incredibly strong feeling in the division. Animosities ran high. The clubs were not rivals back then. They were enemies! Some of the "wars" spilled over onto FNet and to some other places on the web (anyone remember Fencingsucks.com?) In many ways it was very brave of schlager7 to allow some of those posts to remain on the boards. A site like Fencing Net might have deleted several of them. I think this site served a very real and useful purpose allowing fencers and fencing parents to vent, scream, wail and gnash teeth. Then it served a real utility in giving everyone a chance to meet, some of us anonymously, and slowly become civil... well, except for ME That said, I think its time has passed. I can't speak for the rest of Texas, but the Gulf Coast is pretty tranquil these days. Sure, leave a board up, a very general one, much smaller. It might be handy for the odd Googler looking for a fencing club in someplace in BFE like San Saba of Eagle Lake.
|
|
|
Post by bladesparks on May 26, 2014 13:51:08 GMT -6
I was never interested in modern sport fencing. This forum, however, was instrumental in helping me to locate others interested in what we now call HEMA. For that, I will be grateful.
Even as I still visit this site every day or so, I could not help but notice that it was becoming much quieter. So, too, Sword Forum International has become but a shadow of its former activity. The NetSword forum is long gone. A lot of good old information is disappearing from the second great period of internet cross-fertilization of historical fencing (UseNet would be the first great period). Now the social media sites are the way of things.
What little that has been posted on the Historical Fencing board has either been from schlager7, Scott Brown or me.
I have felt it would be passing soon. If it does, I just ask that schlager7 archive and save some the past info. It may come in handy one day.
|
|
|
Post by joevisconti on May 28, 2014 9:20:53 GMT -6
I was always amazed you could maintain a state-centric fencing site. Even in Texas, where there are quite a few fencers, that a relatively small base. It is actually a pretty nice site. I visit every day or two just to see. The Virginia Division has a forum and it stays pretty quiet.
My understanding of Proboards (the host of this forum) is that the sites are basically free.
Just my two cents, if the site isn't costing you anything and it is not a great bother to check for spam say, once a week, why not just leave it up?
|
|
|
Post by Dan Gorman on May 29, 2014 11:42:42 GMT -6
Lock it and leave it if it doesn't cost you anything to leave it up. Leave it for another month and delete it if it does. It's been a great service for a lot of people, but like you observed, the functionality of this board is better met other ways these days.
Dan
|
|
|
Post by Martin Gale on Jun 2, 2014 9:22:04 GMT -6
Lock it and leave it if it doesn't cost you anything to leave it up. Leave it for another month and delete it if it does. It's been a great service for a lot of people, but like you observed, the functionality of this board is better met other ways these days. Dan What Dan said.
|
|
|
Post by joevisconti on Jun 2, 2014 9:27:15 GMT -6
I used to run a proboards forum for a gaming group. Since I now see ads across the top I figure you are in free mode.
Unless you having to spend part of each day deleting spam, I would just leave it up and peek in every 2-3 days to see if someone in the great outside posted. There was a bit of buzz from you and others a couple of days ago about Harlingen, so it still has a purpose for some.
|
|