What happened here?

[Tre]

5 users online FFS.

[BBD]

You know that film "Planet of the Apes" the original with Charlton Heston...remember the scene at the end, on the beach?



That!

[kk67]

I always thought it was more like Alien. I work on the basis it's just me and Jonesy the Cat.

[Zhivago]

Barely feel bothered to write, but out of sentimental feeling for the place I will write a serious response.

1) The decline started when we moved sites several times, we lost posters during the transitions. We lost valuable posters such as Freknottr.

2) There is a similar effect every summer, the rugby is over and people have a break from this place. Not everyone returns here when the rugby is back on in the autumn.

3) The decline was solidified after Hammy moved onto (I assume) his new projects... and left this place in the hands of a small clique of evidently incompetent administrators.

4) At the same time as haemmorrhaging posters and not bringing in new posters, we also lost prolific controversial posters who, however much they divided opinion, at least inspired much discussion. This was avoidable.

5) Once a critical mass of posters was lost, then the decline became terminal.

[rowan]

Barely feel bothered to write, but out of sentimental feeling for the place I will write a serious response.

1) The decline started when we moved sites several times, we lost posters during the transitions. We lost valuable posters such as Freknottr.

2) There is a similar effect every summer, the rugby is over and people have a break from this place. Not everyone returns here when the rugby is back on in the autumn.

3) The decline was solidified after Hammy moved onto (I assume) his new projects... and left this place in the hands of a small clique of evidently incompetent administrators.

4) At the same time as haemmorrhaging posters and not bringing in new posters, we also lost prolific controversial posters who, however much they divided opinion, at least inspired much discussion. This was avoidable.

5) Once a critical mass of posters was lost, then the decline became terminal.

A small group of like-minded individuals dominating the board is not healthy. The fact that this particular forum gets far more attention than all of the non-British & Irish forums combined is symptomatic of the problem. I wouldn't even be looking at this forum again (having given it up as pointless some months ago) if there were any constructive discussion at all on any of the non-British & Irish RUGBY forums...

[rowan]

Anyway, that's all from me on this forum. Back to the rugby . . .

[BBD]

LMAO

Sorry, but you haven't got a clue.

The decline started in 2008/09, we peaked during the 6N of March that year with around 79,000 posts, no thats not a typo. That kept declining month on month. Our membership peaked at around regular 750 users I think. There is indeed a seasonal element to usage, however comparing our most popular month against each other, March vs March, e.g. March 10 was busier than March 11 which was busier than March 12 and so on. There is a similar decline that is replicated when you compare our less busy months (typically August and December).

All the stats, on new threads started, newly joined members, members online, posts made etc all have been in decline for many years. Sadly I no longer have access to the old site to get the stats to show you, and this new site is not user friendly enough behind the scenes to dig out the current stats since we have been here.

Essentially, we were well past the tipping point/critical mass before we changed sites. So digs about current Admin/Mods and claims this was avoidable are based upon a groundless starting point and simply innaccurate and unfair.

No one is ever forced to post here, its a free choice, thus we are in direct competition with a wide range of other sites and leisure activities. The only attraction we can possibly have is our appeal as an interesting and engaging site. Essentially a pleasant place to spend some leisure time. Once it starts to become less interesting, more boring, repetitive, less funny, less about banter and more about egos clashing then people drift away, log in less until they only visit occasionally, see the same tiresome windbags banging the same drums in the direction of the same opponents then eventually they stop bothering and the social network around them weakens and declines in a similar way.

So again I refer you to Charlton Heston on the beach, we did this, we had a brilliant site and we blew it all to hell.
You want to know who to blame for the decline? look in the mirror, consider the style of posting you use, the value you have added and whether you have been a pleasure to post with or simply a pain in the arse. If anyone is unsure of the answer, please ask, Im sure someone will be happy to tell you.

[Which Tyler]

Here's a thought.
If you think there's not enough posts happening. Not enough interesting discussion going on. Not enough people hanging around here.

Maybe try making more posts. Try stimulating interesting discussions. Make RR a place where people want to hang around.

You never know - it might just be a more successful strategy than sitting there quietly bitching about how few posts and discussions there are.



It may mean that you go around in circles a few times rehashing the same arguments with the same people; but it's a way of making us look busier; encouraging others to have their say,and eventually get a bit more diversity of opinion along the way. It also gives new posters a jumping-in point.
Keep it welcoming, and interesting, and maybe just maybe, the board will recover.

[Sandydragon]

Barely feel bothered to write, but out of sentimental feeling for the place I will write a serious response.

1) The decline started when we moved sites several times, we lost posters during the transitions. We lost valuable posters such as Freknottr.

2) There is a similar effect every summer, the rugby is over and people have a break from this place. Not everyone returns here when the rugby is back on in the autumn.

3) The decline was solidified after Hammy moved onto (I assume) his new projects... and left this place in the hands of a small clique of evidently incompetent administrators.

4) At the same time as haemmorrhaging posters and not bringing in new posters, we also lost prolific controversial posters who, however much they divided opinion, at least inspired much discussion. This was avoidable.

5) Once a critical mass of posters was lost, then the decline became terminal.

A small group of like-minded individuals dominating the board is not healthy. The fact that this particular forum gets far more attention than all of the non-British & Irish forums combined is symptomatic of the problem. I wouldn't even be looking at this forum again (having given it up as pointless some months ago) if there were any constructive discussion at all on any of the non-British & Irish RUGBY forums...

Rowan,

Most of the membership here is based in Britain and Ireland (stand fast a decent number of SH supporters). Its not surprising that the majority of the posting on rugby will be in the home nations boards. Your dedication to the smaller nations is admirable, but not many people have the time or inclination to buy into that.

[Sandydragon]

Here's a thought.
If you think there's not enough posts happening. Not enough interesting discussion going on. Not enough people hanging around here.

Maybe try making more posts. Try stimulating interesting discussions. Make RR a place where people want to hang around.

You never know - it might just be a more successful strategy than sitting there quietly bitching about how few posts and discussions there are.



It may mean that you go around in circles a few times rehashing the same arguments with the same people; but it's a way of making us look busier; encouraging others to have their say,and eventually get a bit more diversity of opinion along the way. It also gives new posters a jumping-in point.
Keep it welcoming, and interesting, and maybe just maybe, the board will recover.

REP!

[Sandydragon]

LMAO

Sorry, but you haven't got a clue.

The decline started in 2008/09, we peaked during the 6N of March that year with around 79,000 posts, no thats not a typo. That kept declining month on month. Our membership peaked at around regular 750 users I think. There is indeed a seasonal element to usage, however comparing our most popular month against each other, March vs March, e.g. March 10 was busier than March 11 which was busier than March 12 and so on. There is a similar decline that is replicated when you compare our less busy months (typically August and December).

All the stats, on new threads started, newly joined members, members online, posts made etc all have been in decline for many years. Sadly I no longer have access to the old site to get the stats to show you, and this new site is not user friendly enough behind the scenes to dig out the current stats since we have been here.

Essentially, we were well past the tipping point/critical mass before we changed sites. So digs about current Admin/Mods and claims this was avoidable are based upon a groundless starting point and simply innaccurate and unfair.

No one is ever forced to post here, its a free choice, thus we are in direct competition with a wide range of other sites and leisure activities. The only attraction we can possibly have is our appeal as an interesting and engaging site. Essentially a pleasant place to spend some leisure time. Once it starts to become less interesting, more boring, repetitive, less funny, less about banter and more about egos clashing then people drift away, log in less until they only visit occasionally, see the same tiresome windbags banging the same drums in the direction of the same opponents then eventually they stop bothering and the social network around them weakens and declines in a similar way.

So again I refer you to Charlton Heston on the beach, we did this, we had a brilliant site and we blew it all to hell.
You want to know who to blame for the decline? look in the mirror, consider the style of posting you use, the value you have added and whether you have been a pleasure to post with or simply a pain in the arse. If anyone is unsure of the answer, please ask, Im sure someone will be happy to tell you.

Completely agree.

Another small point above moving sites. The old site which we all loved wasn't a viable option for the future. Hammy had to make a call on whether to keep that going and take a big risk on resilience, or move to another site. We moved to a site that wasn't as nice a place to be and then to here, which is alright. The moves weren't pointless, they were made for a good reason and on the basis of a decision made by someone who has poured in a lot of his own time and money to provide this place.

[Mikey Brown]

It should have been a penalty against Ken Owens for going off his feet.

[Digby]

It should have been a penalty against Ken Owens for going off his feet.

Multiple untidy rucks for England where they backed up errors, and we had Robshaw and Hartley both getting exposed going into contact. Still, at least Robshaw and Hartley weren't denied many more chances to show they're not the best going into contact, we can only be grateful we've finally cut out that sort of nonsense!

[Billyfish]

It should have been a penalty against Ken Owens for going off his feet.

Bollux it was.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

I agree. It was Owens going off his bollux that prevented the 9 from getting his fists on the ball.

[Mikey Brown]

It should have been a penalty against Ken Owens for going off his feet.

Bollux it was.

Oh yeah. Shins parallel to the floor, miraculously holding his entire body weight, give me a break.

Time for another spree of kicking people off the board I think. That’ll sort things.

[morepork]

Barely feel bothered to write, but out of sentimental feeling for the place I will write a serious response.

1) The decline started when we moved sites several times, we lost posters during the transitions. We lost valuable posters such as Freknottr.

2) There is a similar effect every summer, the rugby is over and people have a break from this place. Not everyone returns here when the rugby is back on in the autumn.

3) The decline was solidified after Hammy moved onto (I assume) his new projects... and left this place in the hands of a small clique of evidently incompetent administrators.

4) At the same time as haemmorrhaging posters and not bringing in new posters, we also lost prolific controversial posters who, however much they divided opinion, at least inspired much discussion. This was avoidable.

5) Once a critical mass of posters was lost, then the decline became terminal.

A small group of like-minded individuals dominating the board is not healthy. The fact that this particular forum gets far more attention than all of the non-British & Irish forums combined is symptomatic of the problem. I wouldn't even be looking at this forum again (having given it up as pointless some months ago) if there were any constructive discussion at all on any of the non-British & Irish RUGBY forums...

Cockwomble.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

[Billyfish]

It should have been a penalty against Ken Owens for going off his feet.

Bollux it was.

Oh yeah. Shins parallel to the floor, miraculously holding his entire body weight, give me a break.

Time for another spree of kicking people off the board I think. That’ll sort things.

It wasn't a ruck. So the above is nonsense. Apart from the kicking people off the board bit.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

I am not the first to mention it but



Bring back the porn room and the punters will dribble back in.

[Sandydragon]

We need a Gavin Henson thread.

[Mikey Brown]

Bollux it was.

Oh yeah. Shins parallel to the floor, miraculously holding his entire body weight, give me a break.

Time for another spree of kicking people off the board I think. That’ll sort things.

It wasn't a ruck. So the above is nonsense. Apart from the kicking people off the board bit.

I'm not going to pretend I actually remember what game it was, or even what year it was, but I'll bet everything I've got that I'm right and you're wrong and that Shane Williams was overrated.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Now that you mention it, Phillips did take that line out with the wrong fecking ball!

This is a right can of bastarding worms you've opened up now you fecker!

[Sandydragon]

Diving Kiwi forwards.....

Neil Back...

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Neil Back...

Oh you vicious cunt! I still have nightmares!!!!