Reinvigorate ASF as a stock forum

[greggles]

The original post is 8 years old...and the poster (nioka) claims that the issue was already a couple years old then! The follow up comments seem to confirm that.

So here we are...it looks like we're talking about what seems to be a 10 year old issue on this forum. Wow!

10 years ago = GFC. It drove a lot of retail punters out of the market.

 

[satanoperca]

I think we have been through this before, but once again:-

General Chat can be hidden by any user and somewhere on this thread tells you how to do it. Once you do that it doesn't appear in the Recent posts lists.

In addition it could be a sub-forum under Members Only so that guests don't see it by default.

Having said that, in addition to some of the febrile threads in GC (which in any case are good for letting off steam) there are many of interest to the investment community as well as for getting an idea how "real stuff" works on the ground and people's real thoughts without the PC stuff.

Smurf's posts in the Energy thread are classics and if it wasn't for GC we would never have got this very useful information.

So don't knock GC offhand. The real world doesn't just consist of trading bits of paper.

No wonder everyone is leaving, read my post, it was very simple.

Place a filter mechanism on new posts functionality to filter out GC is you select.

I did not mention removing GC, I like it, just want a simple way of filtering it out when I need to.

"General Chat can be hidden by any user and somewhere on this thread tells you how to do it. Once you do that it doesn't appear in the Recent posts lists." This is my point, go UI design is about making is easy for a user to change the content results, not having to find a post to work out how to do it.

So again, would a check box to include GC threads in the NEW POSTS be helpful or not?

Please a simple YES or NO

 

[SirRumpole]

So again, would a check box to include GC threads in the NEW POSTS be helpful or not?

Please a simple YES or NO

Yes.

 

[satanoperca]

Yes.

Thank-you

 

[CBerg]

Thank you all for the feedback. I accept that changes need to be made and that ASF needs to be improved.

As @barney, @greggles, @bellenuit and others have pointed out the Home Page needs some work. I have taken this feedback on board and will be using the suggestions made to make it more user friendly when it is time for the next website redesign.

Around 12 months ago a new version of this forum software was released that was completely reworked from the ground up. The initial release of the new version was intended only to have the same features and functionality as this version. In the next few weeks the 2.1 version is due to be released with a dozen or so new features. I intend to upgrade ASF to this version once most of the bugs have been ironed out, which I anticipate will take about six months.

There will be no real changes to ASF between now and then so all available resources can be devoted to the next major upgrade and website redesign. I will continue to collate all feedback and suggestions made by members and do my best to integrate them into the next redesign.



More than 1,000 people visit ASF each weekday. Many of those are unregistered. Of those who are registered, only a small percentage post regularly. I would be interested in hearing from those who are registered and who visit regularly but do not post. I'd like to know why.

Those who have left have left for a variety of reasons. For some, it's because they are no longer active in the market, other reasons are the dominance of the General Chat forum, the overall decline in activity, the increase in passive investing, and the rise of other discussion platforms such as Facebook Groups. I'm sure there are almost as many reasons as there are former members.

To those who would like to continue to support ASF I have the following suggestions:

1. Keep posting, especially in threads on stocks, trading, investing, and economics. This is the most important thing. A further decline in activity will only serve to worsen the situation. An increase in activity, especially in threads on stocks, trading, investing, and economics will most definitely assist. To those who visit but do not post, please consider getting involved in the discussions and debates. The more the merrier.

2. Encourage and assist others, especially newcomers. There was the suggestion above that atmosphere is a big factor in attracting newcomers to an online community. I happen to agree. In my opinion nothing is worth more than a friendly, positive, constructive atmosphere where people help each other where they can.

3. Link to ASF from other blogs, websites and social media. Half the battle is getting people to find us. Google and search engines do some of that work, but more can always be done. Link to the website generally or individual threads. It doesn't really matter. A link is a link. You have probably seen the social media share buttons:

View attachment 89910

To those who use social media, please share or tweet links to ASF or content contained within. There are social media sharing buttons in every thread and on every page.

4. "Like" other's posts if you have found the content useful or helpful. This lets other forum members know that the content they are posting is useful to others and is a great way to encourage them to continue posting.

If I have missed any specific comments or feedback that people would like a response to, please draw my attention to it. Otherwise, I'm happy to respond to any further questions or queries.

Long time lurker here, I can't remember if the site was around in 05/06 but I have memories it was. I guess my interest in shares waned while other things in life took over. I'm back paying attention to my personal finances & having extra money around I'm keen to see it grow so that's why I'm back.

I'm more a fundamentals investor & a lot of the active traders here are definitely technical, so it's slow going for me. I can read a P&L, Balance sheet & Cash flow and have a decent idea of what's happening. I even understand most of the ratios but I've got no clue how to do a DCF which I'd love to know how to do or be shown a really good tutorial to follow.

 

[greggles]

Problem: ASF needs to be reinvigorated as a stock forum.
Solution: Post more in stock threads.
Reality: Spend 326 posts (so far) talking about the problem instead of posting more in stock threads.

 

[satanoperca]

Problem: ASF needs to be reinvigorated as a stock forum.
Solution: Post more in stock threads.
Reality: Spend 326 posts (so far) talking about the problem instead of posting more in stock threads.

That is correct Greggles but does not change user behavior.

So given it has been identified that GC is distracting posters from posting in stock threads, would you support a small check box on the NEW POSTS buttons that would allow users to filter out GC threads?

Simple again YES or NO.

Thanks

 

[peter2]

I'm not distracted by the General Chat, but concede that others might be. My suggestion is to exclude all General Chat threads from appearing on the home page. This means excluding them from the Trending Topics and Recent Posts lists.

Every forum needs a general chat section, just as we needed a members only section.

I'll admit that I often read the threads without logging in. Perhaps it's time to change this and limit the number of posts that can be read without logging in.

ASF won't survive without contributions on topic from it's members. I don't know how we're going to induce more posts from our members. Throughout the three years that I maintained the momentum portfolio I had hoped to establish a small group of short term ASX traders that would benefit from each others ideas. A group to help maintain focus and discipline during difficult times and create trading ideas that we could all share. It didn't happen in spite of my open invitations. Personally I missed most of the lithium rally. During the three years I missed several rallies in the gold sector. Biotechs I dislike. Every short term trader will miss rallies in various sectors for a variety of reasons. A group with a shared goal would not have missed as much as any sole trader.

I think the addition of ASX announcements and copyright free news into the specific stock threads is a no-brainer. I won't accept the "it's too difficult to do" excuse. All it needs is a bit of code.

I'll tell you what is hard, working out what you have to do to be a profitable trader/investor. ASF has many successful traders/investors in the community. I can't understand why other members aren't taking advantage of their knowledge and experience. These valuable members are drifting away from ASF because they're not challenged. They're not seeing anything of interest to hold them here.

 

[satanoperca]

I'm not distracted by the General Chat, but concede that others might be. My suggestion is to exclude all General Chat threads from appearing on the home page. This means excluding them from the Trending Topics and Recent Posts lists.

Every forum needs a general chat section, just as we needed a members only section.

I'll admit that I often read the threads without logging in. Perhaps it's time to change this and limit the number of posts that can be read without logging in.

ASF won't survive without contributions on topic from it's members. I don't know how we're going to induce more posts from our members. Throughout the three years that I maintained the momentum portfolio I had hoped to establish a small group of short term ASX traders that would benefit from each others ideas. A group to help maintain focus and discipline during difficult times and create trading ideas that we could all share. It didn't happen in spite of my open invitations. Personally I missed most of the lithium rally. During the three years I missed several rallies in the gold sector. Biotechs I dislike. Every short term trader will miss rallies in various sectors for a variety of reasons. A group with a shared goal would not have missed as much as any sole trader.

I think the addition of ASX announcements and copyright free news into the specific stock threads is a no-brainer. I won't accept the "it's too difficult to do" excuse. All it needs is a bit of code.

I'll tell you what is hard, working out what you have to do to be a profitable trader/investor. ASF has many successful traders/investors in the community. I can't understand why other members aren't taking advantage of their knowledge and experience. These valuable members are drifting away from ASF because they're not challenged. They're not seeing anything of interest to hold them here.

Peter I agree with your comments, but we don't need to exclude GC, we just need to be able to easily filter out the threads.

Would you support a simple filter check box as mentioned above? YES/NO

 

[greggles]

That is correct Greggles but does not change user behavior.

So given it has been identified that GC is distracting posters from posting in stock threads, would you support a small check box on the NEW POSTS buttons that would allow users to filter out GC threads?

Simple again YES or NO.

Yes. But it won't change the user behaviour that needs to be changed, and that is forum members posting more in stock market related threads, investing threads and trading threads.

ASF won't survive without contributions on topic from it's members.

Bingo. Too many people sit back and read what other people post without contributing themselves. That is the root of the problem. People seem happy to post in this thread, but not where it counts.

I don't know how we're going to induce more posts from our members. Throughout the three years that I maintained the momentum portfolio I had hoped to establish a small group of short term ASX traders that would benefit from each others ideas. A group to help maintain focus and discipline during difficult times and create trading ideas that we could all share. It didn't happen in spite of my open invitations. Personally I missed most of the lithium rally. During the three years I missed several rallies in the gold sector. Biotechs I dislike. Every short term trader will miss rallies in various sectors for a variety of reasons. A group with a shared goal would not have missed as much as any sole trader.

I can't answer that peter. Apathy springs to mind. So does the way social media has made us into mindless zombies, scrolling past information on our screen but not contributing.

The problem is not software features or forum navigation or General Chat, although I can see how those things may irritate some people. The problem is simply a lack of participation. Only those who do not participate can answer that question. Perhaps some could post and let us know.

I think the addition of ASX announcements and copyright free news into the specific stock threads is a no-brainer. I won't accept the "it's too difficult to do" excuse. All it needs is a bit of code.

I think it costs money to license the ASX announcements from the ASX. Perhaps somebody else can confirm?

 

[peter2]

Peter I agree with your comments, but we don't need to exclude GC, we just need to be able to easily filter out the threads.

Would you support a simple filter check box as mentioned above? YES/NO

YES

Gotta go, EU, GU, UJ just busted higher.

 

[greggles]

ASF won't survive without contributions on topic from it's members.

From Julia back in 2010, a few pages into this thread:

ASF is what it is as a result of the contributions of the members (obviously). If we all sit back and read what someone else has said but decline to become involved ourselves, then the result will be as we have been seeing.

Says it all really. Post, post, post!

 

[SirRumpole]

From Julia back in 2010, a few pages into this thread:


Says it all really. Post, post, post!

It also says that the decline is not a recent phenomena.

If people have lost interest in the stock market, then no amount of cajolling will get them to post.

 

[satanoperca]

Yes. But it won't change the user behaviour that needs to be changed, and that is forum members posting more in stock market related threads, investing threads and trading threads.

Bingo. Too many people sit back and read what other people post without contributing themselves. That is the root of the problem. People seem happy to post in this thread, but not where it counts.

Just like investing, we don't need a increase in a day, week, month of 50% to be rich, ASF needs some small changes that result in some small positive results, over time, compounded, they result in a positive, the forum grows in a positive direction and we all benefit.

I 100% agree, more posts are positive as long as they are within the core of the site

 

[satanoperca]

"Yes. But it won't change the user behaviour that needs to be changed, and that is forum members posting more in stock market related threads, investing threads and trading threads"

Greggles, what is the smallest thing, the simplest thing, that can make a change?

 

[systematic]

You maybe correct, but that does not help or provide part of a solution to the problem. Easy to look back, look forward, what are some simple measures Joe can do that can help build/rebuild the community at ASF.

It was simply an observation, satanoperca.

As for simple measures - I've taken the time to at least reply (at some length) with at least a few ideas...in both this, and other like threads that we've had in recent times.

 

[systematic]

So again, would a check box to include GC threads in the NEW POSTS be helpful or not?

Please a simple YES or NO

Absolutely - it would be one, simple, easy and useful idea. I thought Joe said he was going to do that - or did I day dream that?

 

[greggles]

Greggles, what is the smallest thing, the simplest thing, that can make a change?

Anything can make change and I think any change in the right direction is a good thing.

 

[Joe Blow]

I'm not distracted by the General Chat, but concede that others might be. My suggestion is to exclude all General Chat threads from appearing on the home page. This means excluding them from the Trending Topics and Recent Posts list.

General Chat threads were removed from the Trending Topics widget very recently. They are currently only excluded from "Recent Posts" if the individual forum member has chosen to ignore the forum. I am currently considering other options.

Every forum needs a general chat section, just as we needed a members only section

Agree.

I'll admit that I often read the threads without logging in. Perhaps it's time to change this and limit the number of posts that can be read without logging in.

Unfortunately, this would eliminate all the search engine traffic that ASF receives and cause it to go under pretty much straight away. If Google can't visit a page, it won't index it. If unregistered visitors can't see it then neither can Google. The vast majority of revenue is generated by people who have arrived here from search engines rather than regular visitors.

I think the addition of ASX announcements and copyright free news into the specific stock threads is a no-brainer. I won't accept the "it's too difficult to do" excuse. All it needs is a bit of code

I won't give you the "it's too difficult to do" excuse. Instead I'll give you the "it's too expensive to do" excuse. I haven't checked the price recently but licensed content from the ASX is incredibly expensive. They do not distinguish on the basis of website size (i.e. traffic). It is a very high monthly fee that in my view is out of all proportion and entirely unreasonable.

I will check with Richard Dale and confirm current prices just to satisfy my curiosity.

ASF won't survive without contributions on topic from it's members. I don't know how we're going to induce more posts from our members. Throughout the three years that I maintained the momentum portfolio I had hoped to establish a small group of short term ASX traders that would benefit from each others ideas. A group to help maintain focus and discipline during difficult times and create trading ideas that we could all share. It didn't happen in spite of my open invitations. Personally I missed most of the lithium rally. During the three years I missed several rallies in the gold sector. Biotechs I dislike. Every short term trader will miss rallies in various sectors for a variety of reasons. A group with a shared goal would not have missed as much as any sole trader.

I'll tell you what is hard, working out what you have to do to be a profitable trader/investor. ASF has many successful traders/investors in the community. I can't understand why other members aren't taking advantage of their knowledge and experience. These valuable members are drifting away from ASF because they're not challenged. They're not seeing anything of interest to hold them here.

The lack of participation at ASF is my primary concern and has been for a number of years. It really bothers me to read these two paragraphs because it speaks volume about the current state of affairs here. A number of people have mentioned things that frustrate them about ASF, the General Chat forum posts, certain aspects of the site's design and navigation, etc., but I'm not sure what the real reason for the lack of participation is. I'm not sure new features or new content or a new design will necessarily change that level of participation. Will those things make people post more? I find that hard to believe although I am willing to be proven wrong.

If I could ask everyone reading this thread one question it would be just that: what would make you post more? If I knew the answer to that question ASF's problems would be over very quickly indeed.

 

[barney]

Peter I agree with your comments, but we don't need to exclude GC, we just need to be able to easily filter out the threads.

Would you support a simple filter check box as mentioned above? YES/NO

My opinion for what it's worth ……. The "filter" option suggested by @satanoperca is possibly the simplest and easiest "First Step" in making the ASF site more Trading orientated

I have no interest in eliminating General threads, but I believe if the content presented to both Members and the average Visitor punter on the Home Page etc is more Trading orientated, it will naturally follow that there will be more input on those threads …. The general threads are great but they should not create a distraction for any new visitors.

The simple Filter suggestion has my vote because it will highlight Stock posts from people like @greggles to nearer the top of the queue for a longer period of time, rather than see them disappear into insignificance