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Post by nightowl4 on Jun 19, 2014 0:08:01 GMT 1
What an enormous disappointment. Been here probably a couple of times a week for more years than I can remember. Thank you to everyone who's helped me, either directly, or indirectly from reading all the amazing advice. I feel like I know every one of you regular posters, have hugely enjoyed following your stories…I've just admitted to being a stalker lol!
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Post by ladyndibs on Jun 19, 2014 0:17:38 GMT 1
Just an observation... but I'd been visiting and posting on the General board for months, possibly longer, before I realised there was a members-only area at all. Perhaps I'm just a numpty, but with so many sub-boards, many of which are not very active, and limited time available I only ever looked at threads in General and occasionally Horse Help. So to many outsiders/visitors these main boards probably are the 'face' of IH. Totally agree, I think somebody needs to take careful heed of the views on here before making the final decision to close what is one of the main shop windows for IH that is easily accessible to all...the losers will inevitably be the horses, but I think there will also be a noticeable decline in new membership directly attributable. Probably a bit back to front but I'm less inclined to renew my membership if the general board goes as some of the posters whose opinions I enjoy reading or value (they are not always both)are not members.
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Post by bramblesmum on Jun 19, 2014 7:14:46 GMT 1
Such a shame, unfortunately I won't be paying for membership, the "only a few £s" comment is ok if you spend nothing else on yourself but when you are on a budget like myself with new baby on the way every penny counts and I can't justify this cost to access a forum as much as I like it when so many others are free, personally I've found the magazine's lacking when I've been a member so it is of no draw for me.
Liz you are an absolute star and I owe you a lot is there no way ras could work together to review posts I know everyone's busy but if everyone contributes a little it would solve the issue.
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Post by marychick on Jun 19, 2014 9:25:48 GMT 1
If you don't want to be a member then that's completely up to you that's not really what this is about. Although I think it's a bit far fetched to insinuate all us members are dripping in money The fact of the matter is the board just isn't sustainable as it is now. It wouldn't be fair to ask all the RAs to come in and manage the board. They all work to exhaustion as it is and it's not really in their job description.
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Post by specialized on Jun 19, 2014 9:27:58 GMT 1
That's right bramblesmum, unfortunately there have been some excellent forums in the past that have folded once they started charging for access. I know this is slightly different but money is a big issue for so many. marychick I feel it will have exactly the opposite effect of a membership drive as it will close the door to potential members - it would be interesting to get an idea of how many members joined after using the DG. As you say it is entirely up to the individual, but there are many threads that thrive due to non-members' input.
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Post by marychick on Jun 19, 2014 9:36:45 GMT 1
Completely agree that there are some great threads on general - I'm not disputing that. Although I'm afraid I have to say probably about 90% of members/IHers I meet have never even heard of the DG. I only heard of the DG after going on a course and I spent a lot of time googling IH and going to demos before that and it never came up.
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Post by marychick on Jun 19, 2014 9:38:18 GMT 1
please don't think I'm saying that the board isn't a brilliant thing for those that find it- I'm afraid a lot of people just don't really go on forums these days
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Post by Admin on Jun 19, 2014 9:40:41 GMT 1
Hold up lads (and lasses), we've got an idea...
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Post by Admin on Jun 19, 2014 9:52:35 GMT 1
We have listened, we have deliberated and would like to suggest the following compromise.
Instead of the current general board and horse help, there will be a horse chatter board and the ask an expert. The ask an expert board will be as Liz has outlined. The horse chatter board will be for general horse chit chat (the latest on Fal, how Leo is settling in, etc), but not for anything to do with training and behaviour (questions, advice or other discussion), or for the direct or indirect promotion of other trainers. Any questions on training and/or behaviour should go through the ask and expert section. We would rely on you to self police this to a large extent, although the mods will of course be continuing to check as they currently do.
Any members who want to discuss horse behaviour or have questions they want to brainstorm can do it through the members' board. Any members who haven't checked it out recently really should, it's changed a lot over the last couple of months and we think you'll like it.
It is unlikely that we will be able to do the free month/read only for members for a few reasons, but thank you for the ideas. Any constructive ideas are always welcome, just pm us!
NH chat will remain as it is.
As is always the case, everything will remain open to review if, for any reason, we think it's not working.
Are we now all happy?
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Post by marychick on Jun 19, 2014 9:54:26 GMT 1
Sounds very fair mods!
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Post by portiabuzz on Jun 19, 2014 9:54:53 GMT 1
ooooooh
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Post by portiabuzz on Jun 19, 2014 9:56:23 GMT 1
am happy thank you
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Post by portiabuzz on Jun 19, 2014 10:17:03 GMT 1
when will this happen
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wills
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 4,657
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Post by wills on Jun 19, 2014 10:20:09 GMT 1
I'm happy with this to & will shortly be going green . Thanks you LizP
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Post by annas on Jun 19, 2014 10:20:55 GMT 1
That sounds like a very fair solution and we get to keep the chit chat general section. It would be a shame to loose people who have been on here for years just because they cannot join for whatever reason. Members section is very good now so for any members that don't go in there already...it is worth checking out!
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