Changes to the UK Heads Up, Movements & OTT section access

[rh226]

Graham,

I agree in principle with what you have said. However, please bear in mind that the whole purpose of both forums is to exchange information, i.e. to give and to receive. Is it so unreasonable to ask that new members contribute something first, before they have full access? I'm afraid that the "Take, Take, Take" attitude does not sit very well with me. Remember the biblical saying "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days" (i.e. after 5 posts in FC's case).

I can only quote what I posted earlier in this thread, but it should be extended to cover people (such as those you cited) who want their daily fix of things aviation, but believe (I think mistakenly) that they have nothing to contribute:-

However, if such members do have the time to log in to the Forum and read everything, they should also have the time to be able to log into, and casually monitor, radar tracking apps (like adsbexchange.com) and then, who knows, they might even be able to contribute something pertinent. I do not think that they really can hide behind the "I haven't got the time or the equipment" argument. There must be a lot of members who have to allocate their time between work, family, pleasure, hobby, etc and manage quite successfully to achieve the right balance.

Just consider, if the posters should hold back to let someone else post, things would be very quiet and the forum would probably collapse. God forbid!!!

Regards,

Bob

[grahamdevizes]

Thanks Bob, I can only speak for the members on our forum who regularly contact me to say, "sorry, we have nothing to post, we aren't mobile, and even if we did manage to get out and about, there's always someone who would beat us to it ( posting a log, etc). I don't believe these guys have a "take, take, take" mentality in any sense of the phrase. Our forum is tiny compared to FCG, yet we have a sizeable number of lads who can't get out and about. So what can they post or contribute? We decided from day one on our forum that there would never be any minimum requirements for a member. OK, you have to register to post but that's the only rule we have. Each to their own as they say, and as mentioned, this is in no way a criticism of FCG.

Within the past few months, I have contacted about 4-5 members because they hadn't posted in say 3-4 months. It wasn't to say, " post or you'll be out", but to enquire if they were OK, whether we had done or said something to annoy them, or whatever. All replied to say, " thanks Graham, so nice to be noticed, and the fact that someone takes notice of whether we post or not". I have no issue with whatever people take from our forum, regardless of whether they reciprocate or not. It really doesn't bother us. We're just happy to give them their daily fix. Maybe when I'm 80 ( and we have at least two members of that age) I'll be grateful that I can log in to a forum and keep up with my hobby, without fear of being booted out for lack of contributions. I really don't go with this "spammer" thing, it's minimal, it's controllable and at the end of it, what harm does it cause?

[slogen51]

I still post on the Farnborough aviation group. It is still soldiering on as you put it. The info on FAB is very current especially when combined with its sister Facebook.

It never ceases to amaze me how you never miss the chance to put the boot into the 'old' group, isn't it time to call a truce?

The Farnborough syndrome is a good example when groups go bad.

PS sorry this answer is not relevant to the original thread but I couldn't keep quiet on the above.

[grahamdevizes]

Maybe you should re-read my previous posts on this thread slogen51 and then tell me where " I have put the boot into the old FAB forum" because I can't see where. I was using it as an example of how constant meddling by the forum owners eventually leads to members leaving of their own accord or being kicked out on momentary whims. I can't access the group because I was removed along with hundreds of others on such a "whim" which is a shame as I enjoyed that group, the info it provided and the friends I made during my time there. I was also a regular contributor to it and like many, lost a huge amount of posted information when it decided to shut up shop in January 2015 prior to re-opening some time later.

[POL]

Doesn't need to be unique, just needs to be a post. Your post was merged in to the thread that already existed, and is still there.

By the way, you have 65 posts, so I'm not sure why you're worrying

[POL]

Personally, I think posting something that's different (i.e. an updated position of an aircraft OTT) is perfectly acceptable. If person A sees it over Portsmouth, and you see it over Farnborough, that's fine. However, if you it over Farnborough, and person B sees it over Camberley, I'd probably refrain from posting seeing it over Wokingham! If that makes sense!?

[Gary]

Well i just posted an Ott movement, (P3 163293) and it has now been deleted ! Seems it had already been posted.... So the question is do these 5 posts need to be unique sightings ? I only have my Sbs aerial very low ( hence the reason i didnt catch the callsign) as im Only interesred in aircraft i may see (spotter ) i see now that the P3 was originally reported 75 mins before it became visible on my set up....... I have no chance of posting a unique sighting if others are looking deep into the atlantic or europe for aircraft coming our way and therefore noway of getting my 5 posts

Your post wasn't deleted, it was merged with the other P-3 thread which was already running.

[Mike]

It's your loss, mate - not ours !

We as a group,whether that be spotters or enthusiasts are now an ageing breed, i did hope when Fr24 et all became accessible to the youth we may of found more of the youngsters coming on board ! The 5 post rule could in effect turn this new blood off of joining us.

PS: an attitude like Mikes above really helps no one to be honest

Yes - I admit my reply was a little "over the top", however - the poster threw all of his toys out of pram in one go once he realised that by joining he couldn't have full access to the OTT section from day one.

Maybe if he'd thought about it a little bit more before his rant then he could have posted a "nice shot, chap - which lens did you use for these shots" comment in the photo section, a "is this still for sale?" comment in the for sale section, a "where's the best place for photos?" comment in the Fairford section etc., etc., etc..............

Simples !!

[rh226]

Eelmoor,

I don't think that Mike is saying that obviously pointless posts should be made to obtain the minimum 5 post requirement.

I think he was suggesting that the posts should not appear to be pointless. Those that he suggested would appear to be genuine posts, as you do get genuine questions on:
- camera equipment (even from apparent experts),
- on where to post (as it is sometimes confusing for newcomers), and
- as to whether something is still for sale (quite a normal question).

Regards,

Bob

[Mike]

So are you saying Mike that you dont mind the forum being clogged up by pointless posts!? If you are advocating that then i find the whole situation rather bizarre!

The forum has always been clogged-up with lots of unnecessary posts, loads of members post questions that can easily be answered by using the search facility, or by just looking through previous threads which have asked exactly the same question - or just by looking in the correct section to start with (I know that can be difficult at times as there are so many different sections).

I'm certainly not "advocating" anything - however, if you click on "members" at the top-right of the page, have a look at pages 490-497 (and the previous 100 pages if you really want to be depressed) and just have a look at how few "members" have posted anything since they joined.

Sad isn't it? Ask yourself a simple question.............why did they join in the first place?

[Tristar500]

I have to say that, as an infrequent poster, I tend to agree with eelmoor's views and I do believe that the 5 posts ruling is a retrograde step. All that should be required to access any part of the forum is to be a registered member.

How will a new member feel if they post something in the 'UK Heads Up' section, for example, only to face a barrage of 'that was posted earlier' type replies ? They wouldn't have known about the earlier posting because they couldn't view the section it was in to start with !

Mike's comments on the 'pointless posts' surely contains the seeds of its own destruction; what use is a search facility if some sections are inaccesible, likewise how can you peruse previous threads if they are not available to you ? Consequently, a new member may well have no choice but to post a 'pointless question'.

If the 'hundreds' of non-posting members is a problem, why not have a cull. Perhaps ask members to make a post within a set time (even if it's only an "I'm Tristar500 & I'm an FC member" type post !) and cull those that don't conform, other groups seem to have done something similar in the past. The only danger is that it might dent the apparent popularity of the forum if membership goes down by half.

Just my thoughts, and it keeps my 'post' count up in the bargain posting.php?mode=reply&f=131&t=130009#

[rh226]

How will a new member feel if they post something in the 'UK Heads Up' section, for example, only to face a barrage of 'that was posted earlier' type replies ? They wouldn't have known about the earlier posting because they couldn't view the section it was in to start with !

If a member is able to make a post in the "Heads up" section, they will be able to see what has already been posted there - as they have already satisfied the 5 post minimum.

I regret that too many people put fingers to keyboards before looking to see if a relevant post has been made in another (or even in the same) thread. Unfortunately, that is the way of the world. Our Mods do a great job, but they cannot pick up everything.

However, regarding the minimum post requirement, is there not is a parallel with employment?? Whether they are aware of it or not, just about everybody goes through a period of "probation" at the start. Could this minimum post requirement be regarded as a form of probation??

[rh226]

I have to agree with you there, Eelmoor.

However, what about checking for duplication after one has made the post? Or even, if posting in an existing thread, using the "Preview" button before hitting "Submit" - which will tell you if further posts have been made which might supersede your own post??

Personally, I always check after, if I am in a hurry to post. And, yes, I do delete my posts/new threads which duplicate those of others. The only time I leave them is if they have information that adds to the original - and even then, I may well edit mine to eliminate duplication of information.

[Zymurgy661]

All interesting conversation and reading. However, interesting to note that for the 3 months that this has been in action (and only for new members - it has not yet been applied to existing members) it seems only 1 person affected by the ruling has posted about it in this thread, the remainder of posts are all by those above the 5 post count rule. And, to reiterate, 5 posts on the other however many (sorry, too lazy to count tonight!) sections of the forum isn't really a big ask, is it? Plenty of photo threads are posted which i'm sure the original posters would appreciate feedback on, there is also the newbie section where a simple hello followed by thanks for the welcome gets you 40% of minimum post requirement.

For those interested in stats -

583 people have registered and been accepted since this rule was put in place of which 227 haven't even visited the site since they registered and were accepted. That leave 356 who have registered, been accepted and visited the site. Of these 356 -

Just 81 have posted at least 1 time
29 have posted 5 times or more

By my calculations that means around 86% of registered and accepted people haven't posted at all since being accepted. For the admin team, even just the accepted users during that time frame represents considerable time to activate with the checks that are carried out and i would estimate that around 5 times more have attempted to register than have been accepted (during the busy months/exercises this can easily sink an hour or two every other night).

For now, the 5 post limit to access the Heads Up and OTT section will remain in place. There are currently no plans to increase this any higher as (in my opinion) that would be potentially a step too far.

[sonic boom]

sonic boom. everything tells me i am registered unlil i go UK Heads up then it will not let me in.

[rh226]

sonic boom,

As stated in the last sentence of two posts above yours, you will need to have made a total of 5 posts in other sections before you will get access to the "Heads Up".

Regards,

Bob

[Peakepics]

Hi,
Despite having 6 posts I do not have permission to access that channel. Am I being silly and need to post 5 topics or are the comments enough?
TIA,
Taylor

[STN RAMP RAT]

Hi,
Despite having 6 posts I do not have permission to access that channel. Am I being silly and need to post 5 topics or are the comments enough?
TIA,
Taylor

Taylor

its 10 posts not 6

[Peakepics]

My apologies, thanks for the clarification