ASF Members - Where Are They Now?

[SirRumpole]

Maybe people find Facemask and Twatter easier to use.

I don't and avoid them.

 

[Glen48]

I gave it away when I found out it is not a forum were you can discuss thoughts and ideas

 

[Bill M]

I gave it away when I found out it is not a forum were you can discuss thoughts and ideas

This forum is one of the most free and least censored I know. I can't think of anything that you can't talk about (unless it is against the law). So what in particular can't you discuss?

 

[Glen48]

This forum is one of the most free and least censored I know. I can't think of anything that you can't talk about (unless it is against the law). So what in particular can't you discuss?

To many quick to degenerate if you make spelling mistake or some other irrelevant error,

 

[Bill M]

What's happened to

burglar - last on 5/5/2015

sydboy007 - last on 16/1/2016


calliope - last on 6/12/2015

I miss these guys

 

[Bill M]

To many quick to degenerate if you make spelling mistake or some other irrelevant error,

Usually they don't do that but I find that when they do it is because they can not substantiate their side of the debate.

Really on some forums almost anything can be censored and on some you can not even discuss an administrators decision. It's like, "what I say goes or you get banned".

I think Joe gives us plenty of room for open debate but I do get what you mean about petty grammar or spelling mistakes that some kick out of hassling you over.

 

[SirRumpole]

What's happened to

burglar - last on 5/5/2015

sydboy007 - last on 16/1/2016


calliope - last on 6/12/2015

I miss these guys

People die, move overseas, get too busy or just lose interest.

It' natural phenomenon not specifically related to this particular forum.

 

[explod]

To many quick to degenerate if you make spelling mistake or some other irrelevant error,

This I particularly agree with and on reflection has tempered my involvement, particularly on the climate thread.

 

[craft]

Because I'm the administrator I don't wish to make myself a political figure. The more I involve myself in the various discussions and reveal my views on a range of topics, the more people are likely to form a view of me politically and this may affect the way they see ASF.

ASF may not reflect your views because you keep them under wraps but that does not stop ASF from having a strong political identity. In the absences of moderation that identity reflects the most vocal tribalism. How helpful or harmful is that identity in attracting, retaining posters. My opinion is that its causing you a lot of harm.

HC has the market cornered on stock specific posting.

There is absolutely a network effect for stock discussion. Why talk to yourself on ASF when you can be involved in a stock discussion on another site?

So stock discussion has no critical mass on ASF and non-stock is dominated by tribalism, which IMO is best handled by avoidance = No reason to post here = BORING = cardinal sin for stock forum survival.

 

[McLovin]

We seem to go over this every three months or so. Nothing changes though.

My opinion is that its causing you a lot of harm.

+1

So stock discussion has no critical mass on ASF and non-stock is dominated by tribalism, which IMO is best handled by avoidance = No reason to post here = BORING = cardinal sin for stock forum survival.

+1

I come less and less.

 

[captain black]

ASF may not reflect your views because you keep them under wraps but that does not stop ASF from having a strong political identity. In the absences of moderation that identity reflects the most vocal tribalism. How helpful or harmful is that identity in attracting, retaining posters. My opinion is that its causing you a lot of harm.

There is absolutely a network effect for stock discussion. Why talk to yourself on ASF when you can be involved in a stock discussion on another site?

So stock discussion has no critical mass on ASF and non-stock is dominated by tribalism, which IMO is best handled by avoidance = No reason to post here = BORING = cardinal sin for stock forum survival.

+1000

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Communication is extremely difficult at the best of times. I think the difficulty can increase to impossible levels when someone has expertise in a certain area(s). When no one understands what you're saying, it can feel very isolating. I'm thinking of certain posters like deepstate, snatch, skc etc.

Speaking of expertise, there'd be people for whom "how to make a forum popular" is their whole life. I guess you've looked into that Joe?

 

[Joe Blow]

Thank you for all the feedback. I'm going to refrain from responding in any detail until everyone who wants to has shared their thoughts on the topic. I'm looking for as much feedback as I can get and invite everyone to share their thoughts.

Speaking of expertise, there'd be people for whom "how to make a forum popular" is their whole life. I guess you've looked into that Joe?

I think a forum's popularity depends on your target market. What makes a forum popular to a teenage audience is probably going to turn off those in an older age bracket. Every community is different. Even after 12 years of trying to wrap my head around it, the secret formula still eludes me.

 

[sinner]

ASF is just like watching Q&A on a Monday night. You can be an idiot or a monster but Tony Jones is still going to give you time to say whatever stupid crap you came on to say and "politely" cut off the smart or sane person trying to question you. Occasionally someone will say something obvious and there is clapping from the sidelines.

Only reason I bother to write posts still is because people message or emailed me:
a ) asking me to come back and post.
b ) asking the same question and easier to just write 1 post answering 3 or 4 people asking same question.

Can easily absorb all the useful, intelligent, funny posts in about 20 minutes on a Sunday arvo, so don't really bother coming here to read on a daily basis either.

 

[cynic]

One of the things that I have been appreciative of is the allowance for members to freely express their diverse views. At times this has come at a cost to the atmosphere of this forum, but I believe that, at the very least, anyone with an opposing viewpoint had the opportunity to express it!

At times I've seen threads become extremely animated as a side effect of a single member becoming abrasive in their postings.
Although not all of the content was desirable, there was usually something of worth contained in some responses to those provocative posts.

Whilst these might not be the best threads to mention (given that the poster concerned was directly insulting another member),but, have you noticed how much quieter the elliot wave threads are now that a certain abusive poster is no longer a part of this forum?

 

[Bill M]

Thank you for all the feedback. I'm going to refrain from responding in any detail until everyone who wants to has shared their thoughts on the topic. I'm looking for as much feedback as I can get and invite everyone to share their thoughts.

OK, I really think that your decision not to show your political bias is a good thing, nobody knows and it's your private thing. It is better for an administrator to stay neutral, I mean this is a stock forum after all. If you were to show your political affiliations then at least 33% of members would find that uncomfortable and would not want to get into political discussions with you. I would rather (if I was an administrator) stay neutral and keep everybody happy. Having said that, I can't see why you don't comment on shares or other investments, I like everybodys input on that.

 

[Faramir]

Where is anyone? Least posts recently than I can remember ever. Has someone run the forum down? Have traders been carved up in the bear market?

Hi Wysiwyg
Thank you for posting. Joe Blow was right. One post can start off a series of posts. Some of my fav ppl have come back. Ironically they have posted here. Can't wait when they post in other areas. All the experts have can their say. Can I say something as a beginner? It was easy for me to post simple questions. I received logical answers. Thank you everyone.

Those who have helped me: thank you. Those who have helped me and have taken a break. Thank you and I hope that you may find time to come back. We may ask "where are you?" I will understand if you want to take a short break. I hope that you can come back one day.

There is so much knowledge here: to be shared, debated, exchanged and to be appreciated.

 

[Junior]

Some feedback:

I've been a member for a long time....primarily lurking (I log in 5 days a week), occasionally posting.

Navigation
When I first logged in I found the number of different forums overwhelming, so I found the 'Quick Links>Today's Posts' useful. Since I first joined, I've only ever arrived at the forums through this link. If I want to post regarding a specific stock I'll use the Search function.

Activity
Agreed with the others, have noticed a decline in activity. The most active threads started going around in circles a long time ago, so I might have a quick look at these threads, but typically don't post as I don't want to be engaged in an argument. These are the threads on politics, religion, gay marriage.

Threads I enjoy the most are discussions on economics, superannuation, and discussions re the direction of the ASX and other markets, including charts & tech analysis. Also specific stock discussion, which as noted, has been in decline. I find if I post in a stock thread, it might be days or weeks before someone adds to it.

Members
Tech/a and Julia were key members here, their moving on has been to the forums' detriment.

Solution
What can be done to increase activity? I don't know. We need knowledgeable posters to post frequently....discussing issues with each other but also with beginners. Perhaps there's a way to encourage/promote subject matter experts.

 

[SirRumpole]

The most active threads started going around in circles a long time ago, so I might have a quick look at these threads, but typically don't post as I don't want to be engaged in an argument. These are the threads on politics, religion, gay marriage.

There is no need to be involved in an argument unless you want to. If you post an opinion an someone posts an opposite view you don't have to carry it on.

One thing that fascinates me is the gap between the number of views and the number of posts.

eg

"Resisting Climate hysteria" 351,164 views vs 7,175 posts, almost 50 views per post.

So there are people out there reading but not bothering to post.

Views get revenue via ads so I guess that is good for Joe but if there are no posts then the viewing will obviously dry up.

 

[nioka]

Thank you for all the feedback. I'm going to refrain from responding in any detail until everyone who wants to has shared their thoughts on the topic. I'm looking for as much feedback as I can get and invite everyone to share their thoughts.



I think a forum's popularity depends on your target market. What makes a forum popular to a teenage audience is probably going to turn off those in an older age bracket. Every community is different. Even after 12 years of trying to wrap my head around it, the secret formula still eludes me.

I get disappointed when I can find no discussion on a stock that can have multiple posts with many opinions and useful information to absorb on other forums.

I have also changed my investing methods away from ASF listed stocks, where I believe the ASX allows bot trading too much opportunity for manipulation, to investing in unlisted companies where I can have more say in how my money is spent.

Catch22. Stocks need to be discussed frequently to encourage more discussion. Facebook etc have taken over general chat.