Merry Christmas 2017

[Joe Blow]

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of ASF's members and visitors a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

I sincerely hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and New Year break with your family, friends and loved ones and that 2018 is a happy, fulfilling and prosperous year for everyone. If you are travelling, please be safe on the roads, it's brutal out there this time of year.

2017 Wrap Up

Thank you all for your support during 2017, which has turned out to be a very difficult year for ASF.

It is now one year to the day since we migrated to the new forum software which, while it has certainly had its teething problems, is far superior software to what ASF was using previously and is a great platform for the future. Version 2 of the software has just been released recently and offers even more improvements in both functionality and features. This will only improve as it continues to be developed and I expect that ASF will eventually upgrade to this new version when the time is right.

Now I need to deal with the elephant in the room. As many of you have probably noticed, activity has dropped off noticeably during the second half of this year. There are, I believe, a variety of reasons for this and the topic has been discussed before in various threads. It should be noted that it isn't just ASF, although clearly there are site specific issues that I take responsibility for. Those of you familiar with the stock market discussion landscape over the years are probably aware that some stock market forums such as Sharesguru and Shares.com.au, which both operated for many years, are now no more. Others like Sharescene and Topstocks have found themselves in a similar position to ASF. While HC has seemingly thrived, all of the smaller stock market forums have felt the proverbial pinch.

There is no way to say it other than ASF really needs a big shot of adrenaline right now. We need more posts, specifically posts on individual stocks, but more discussion generally. A lot more. I know this has been an issue for a number of years, but it can be no longer be put to one side. Currently, ASF is like a car stuck in the mud. The wheels keep spinning but we aren't getting anywhere and the problem keeps getting worse as we sink deeper into the mud. We can't get any traction and an increasing amount of new members aren't sticking around due to the declining activity. The pressure and need to turn things around is becoming greater by the day. To use a stock market analogy, we recently breached a long term support level and triggered some stops, causing us to trade at levels not seen for some time.

So, in order to achieve the outcome of increased activity and more discussion in the new year I need to turn to the ASF community for assistance and support. The good news is that the relatively simple problem of declining activity has an equally simple solution: increased activity and more posts. The hard part is making that happen by working together in a concerted community effort, but that is the only way to bring about the change that is needed. For my part, I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure that ASF continues to meet the needs and expectations of its members as best I can.

This is a great community with a thirteen and a half year history. In my opinion it contains some of the most valuable content on any internet investment forum. Thanks to the similar threads feature, I am constantly coming across old threads that contain incredibly detailed and knowledgeable discussions about a wide variety of trading and investment related topics. ASF is an important stock market resource that should to be preserved. We just need to get things back on track. Whatever you can do to help would be sincerely appreciated. I have faith that ASF can not just survive this difficult period, but thrive and prosper in the years to come.

There is a lot more to say, but I'll leave it there for now. Thank you all for being a part of the ASF community over the years. If it wasn't for you, the community members, this place wouldn't even exist at all.

If anyone has any questions, comments, suggestions, or criticisms please fire away. I'm all ears.

 

[SirRumpole]

Thanks for your site Joe, you are doing a sterling job. I'm sure things will pick up.

I believe you were involved in some legal action a while back. How did that work out ?

 

[Joe Blow]

Thanks for your site Joe, you are doing a sterling job. I'm sure things will pick up.

Thanks for your support and your kind words SirR.

I believe you were involved in some legal action a while back. How did that work out ?

It went to trial in early October and we are still waiting on judgement. I will be sure to let everyone know how it went once that comes through.

 

[notting]

The quality of the posters on this forum are far superior to anything I have seen elsewhere. HC is garbage and full clowns.
I'm not sure what happened to SKC because he was great, so I miss him a bit.
Anyway the sight is fantastic with the ability to like and post pictures directly into it. You can't even do that on Facebook!! Hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves over time.

Merry Christimas

(that's dyslexic for Chrismas, I mean Christmas )

 

[dutchie]

Thanks for another year on ASF Joe.
Merry Xmas to you and all the admin. people.
Merry Xmas to all the other members too.

Might go all radical next year and post in a non General Chat forum.

 

[dutchie]

Little Christmas ditty. Don't listen if you don't like the f-word.

 

[noirua]

 

[noirua]

 

[Smurf1976]

Merry Christmas everyone and best of luck for 2018!

So far as forum activity is concerned, the problem isn't unique to ASF or even to stock market forums but applies to many other forums too.

A key problem there is that much of what can be said has been said. The search function brings up the answers so there's no actual need for someone to post the same question that someone else already has.

That plus there's a broader move in society away from detailed information, on anything, toward simple answers. Someone simply Googles "what is x" or "how do I x" etc and takes the first answer as the truth without question.

Looking at ASF specifically I think one thing there could definitely be more of is broader economic discussion and where markets overall are heading. With the recent surge in the US markets and a very extended cycle, housing bubbles, Bitcoin and so on I think there's a broad question there of what comes next at an overall non-stock specific level that's of relevance to the subject of the forum.

I have my own thoughts there and will make an effort to post more about them in 2018.

That said, I'll be semi-absent for a while for personal reasons. Long story there, three of them pretty much all at once actually, and I won't go into too many details but let's just say 2017 has seen both extremes, good and bad, at a personal level and I'll be focusing on things relating to that over the next few months. I won't be completely disappearing from ASF though, just less visible for a while.

Have a good Christmas everyone.

 

[Logique]

Joe,
I'd be happy to pay a $20 annual subscription.

Just saying.

 

[Sean K]

I think it's just a stage in the market. Most peeps are still recovering from the Great Recession.

It won't be long before the Uber drivers come back and start spruiking about Blockchain, or something else equivalent.

Everyone just needs to hang on until the next phase of the cycle.

 

[Joe Blow]

That plus there's a broader move in society away from detailed information, on anything, toward simple answers. Someone simply Googles "what is x" or "how do I x" etc and takes the first answer as the truth without question.

Largely agree with you Smurf. After quite a bit of research and consideration I have come to the conclusion that social media in particular encourages people to make shorter, more disposable comments in discussions which tends to result in more disposable exchanges generally. There is a real sense of impermanence with social media and a here today, gone tomorrow feel. I joined one of the Facebook ASX discussion groups to see what was going on and found that the level of debate was generally low and the amount of ramping high. The screenshot below is typical of what can be found there.



Detailed, content heavy discussions are becoming harder to find these days, but I believe that there will always be a place for them and I hope that ASF will be one of those venues where they can be found.

Looking at ASF specifically I think one thing there could definitely be more of is broader economic discussion and where markets overall are heading. With the recent surge in the US markets and a very extended cycle, housing bubbles, Bitcoin and so on I think there's a broad question there of what comes next at an overall non-stock specific level that's of relevance to the subject of the forum.

I have my own thoughts there and will make an effort to post more about them in 2018

I look forward to reading your thoughts Smurf, and those of everyone else here at ASF. Economic conditions are always changing and there are always good discussions to be had as a result. While questions can be answered and discussions on a specific topic may be debated at length, the fact that tomorrow will always be different means that there are always new things to discuss and debate. While the venues may change over time, discussion will never disappear from the internet because it is part of what makes the internet such a useful tool. It doesn't matter where you live, as long as you have an internet connected device you can find others with similar beliefs, hobbies and interests to connect and have constructive exchanges with.

That said, I'll be semi-absent for a while for personal reasons. Long story there, three of them pretty much all at once actually, and I won't go into too many details but let's just say 2017 has seen both extremes, good and bad, at a personal level and I'll be focusing on things relating to that over the next few months. I won't be completely disappearing from ASF though, just less visible for a while.

I hope 2018 is a more consistently better year for you than 2017 has been. Don't stay away too long. I am sure I am not alone in saying that I find your posts to be consistently amongst the most insightful and thought provoking on ASF. I look forward to more of the same in 2018.

 

[Joe Blow]

Joe,
I'd be happy to pay a $20 annual subscription.

Just saying.

Thanks Logique. While I am sure that there are others who feel the same, I'm not sure that business model would work given the amount of venues where discussion can be had at no cost. I appreciate the thought though.

However, there are a number of ways that ASF members and visitors can help ASF to grow and flourish. I will go into more detail about that soon in another post.

 

[Tink]

Merry Christmas to you too, Joe, and thank you for this forum.

Wishing everyone on ASF, and their families, a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

 

[Wysiwyg]

To all those without family and/or are dealing with sad circumstance, remember there is a way forward and you are not alone.

 

[greggles]

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're all having a fantastic day.

All the best in 2018. I look forward to your company here in the new year.

 

[sptrawler]

Well, that is Christmas just about over, for another year.
I have a feeling 2018 will be a better year than 2017, that has probably put the mockers on it.
No honestly W.A is on the move again, it has been a slow turn, but the turn has definitely happened.

Be well, be safe, and try to be prosperous.

 

[Miss Hale]

A bit late but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

With regard to this forum, I am on another one (not stock related) that I have been on for more about 12 years (basically since it started) and it is almost dead now and yet it was extremely busy when it first started up and for the first five years or so. I think that when forums started there was no FB, Twitter or Instagram etc. and now people go to those places for discussion but nothing beats a good forum IMO so I prefer them but I am finding most of them are suffering from lack of activity these days.

 

[sptrawler]

A bit late but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

With regard to this forum, I am on another one (not stock related) that I have been on for more about 12 years (basically since it started) and it is almost dead now and yet it was extremely busy when it first started up and for the first five years or so. I think that when forums started there was no FB, Twitter or Instagram etc. and now people go to those places for discussion but nothing beats a good forum IMO so I prefer them but I am finding most of them are suffering from lack of activity these days.

Maybe I'm old school, but ASF is the only social/stock related forum I'm on, I tried HC but it wasn't for me.
The only other forum I'm on, is a vehicle specific forum, which I own of course.
I tried to join FB on encouragement from others, but couldn't finish the questionnaire, without vomiting WTF do they need so much personal info? They can get stuffed.
So happily, ASF is the limit of my on line family and I do find it adequate.
Must admit I still miss Julia's comments, but that is the thing with ASF, it encourages intelligent banter which in turn draws in intelligent browsers.
I mean who wouldn't be enthralled with smurph's analysis, you wouldn't get the in depth understanding, prognosis, explanation of the power grid anywhere else, without paying for it.
Tech A, Boggo, Pixel etc, give terrific chart analysis.
Junior, Craft, and McLovin etc, give terrific insight, from an accounting perspective.
I like many others, really appreciate the input from the many posters, they give a measured responsible input. IMO
Which in my opinion, is much better than ten times more posts, with half the credibility.

ASF is like a big family, more than a stock forum, some family members are good at stocks others are good at level headed advice.
But mostly, we all respect each other and don't let the tone degenerate.

Thanks Joe and the moderators, for enabling a forum such as this to continue.

 

[SirRumpole]

WTF do they need so much personal info?

Lie.