Reinvigorate ASF as a stock forum

[Julia]

It seems to me that by moving General Chat to page #2 the traffic has definitely slowed down.

Take the Federal Election thread for instance:- Latest polls out show Coalition has the lead in primary votes? Kruddy is in hospital having his gall bladder removed, Latham has hit Kruddy on the head as the leak meister ...... and not a peep about any of this. Other threads in there are barely moving either. Regular posters have done the Elvis and left the building

Not too surprising, TS, when contributions to general chat apparently invite personal insults and gratuitous invective. Why would anyone want to hang about for more?

 

[SM Junkie]

A silly suggestion... but I'd like to see a little "like"button. I really enjoy and agree with some members posts, but don't say so because it does to contribute to the discussion.

 

[sails]

It seems to me that by moving General Chat to page #2 the traffic has definitely slowed down. ...

:iagree: With a highly emotive federal election only three weeks away, normally the political threads would be buzzing. Not so since the changes.

I have enjoyed reading the views of others in general chat. While it might be considered a "time waster" to some, it is enjoyed and appreciated by others. One persons trash may well be another's treasure. Those that don't like it - don't read the threads!

Joe, I have a suggestion too. Is there anyway that members could choose which forums are displayed on the home page? Something that we could edit ourselves in a similar manner to the ignore facility? Perhaps set the default to how it is now for newcomers, but once they are members, they have the ability to elect which forums they would like displayed on the home page?

A silly suggestion... but I'd like to see a little "like"button. I really enjoy and agree with some members posts, but don't say so because it does to contribute to the discussion.

I quite like this idea too. It is a way of showing approval or support for a post where there is nothing else worthwhile to add...

 

[nunthewiser]

A silly suggestion... but I'd like to see a little "like"button. I really enjoy and agree with some members posts, but don't say so because it does to contribute to the discussion.

 

[Joe Blow]

but I'd like to see a little "like"button.

Facebook "like" buttons are coming initially for threads only but the depth of the FB integration will increase in time. I also plan to introduce a "Thank you" button for posts, so ASF members can thank others for their posts without having to reply and say so.

Joe, I have a suggestion too. Is there anyway that members could choose which forums are displayed on the home page? Something that we could edit ourselves in a similar manner to the ignore facility? Perhaps set the default to how it is now for newcomers, but once they are members, they have the ability to elect which forums they would like displayed on the home page?

Unfortunately not right now, although this kind of sophisticated functionality may be possible in the not-too-distant future.

This time next month ASF will look like a completely different website, so right now, behind the scenes, we are very much in a period of transition. What I can promise you is that I am doing my best to ensure that while the focus will remain on market related threads, General Chat threads will not be completely left out in the cold.

In my relentless and perhaps misguided attempt to please as many people as possible I am working with the designer on a solution that will hopefully satisfy both camps.

 

[springhill]

Unfortunately not right now, although this kind of sophisticated functionality may be possible in the not-too-distant future.

Sooooo Mr Blow..... or should that be MR RUDD!!!!!!
Unmasked at last.

 

[sails]

Joe, thanks for the reply. And your efforts to keep such a diverse lot happy wouldn't be an easy task, however, it is much appreciated...

 

[Calliope]

General Chat threads will not be completely left out in the cold.

That sounds ominous Joe. It's a little like Gillard saying little miners will not be left out in the cold under her government. Fair enough, you're running a business and General Chat generates nothing but entertainment for oldies like me.

 

[explod]

That sounds ominous Joe. It's a little like Gillard saying little miners will not be left out in the cold under her government. Fair enough, you're running a business and General Chat generates nothing but entertainment for oldies like me.

Agree but where's the problem? I still keep going into that page just to make sure the .... are staying honest (as if I would know mind). Where as pure traders will stay with the front page (which is the prime goal of the ASF site anyway) and not be annoyed by some of us oldies headlining in front of them all the time with trivia.

And as you said, it is for the amusement/entertainment of us oldies so to speak.

Well done ASF, the site is better by far and we have some exciting new things to sift apart from all this soon.

 

[Joe Blow]

Sooooo Mr Blow..... or should that be MR RUDD!!!!!!
Unmasked at last.

LOL! Busted.

Joe, thanks for the reply. And your efforts to keep such a diverse lot happy wouldn't be an easy task, however, it is much appreciated...

You're welcome.

That sounds ominous Joe. It's a little like Gillard saying little miners will not be left out in the cold under her government. Fair enough, you're running a business and General Chat generates nothing but entertainment for oldies like me.

I guess what I was trying to say is that although I want the focus to remain on market related threads, it's not my intention to discourage the use of the General Chat forum. I know that it's both a popular and well used forum and hopefully the new website design will increase its profile somewhat. I urge everyone to continue to participate in threads in the General Chat forum and keep it active. Some great discussions happen in there and I want to see that continue.

 

[overit]

I also plan to introduce a "Thank you" button for posts, so ASF members can thank others for their posts without having to reply and say so.

Great idea!

 

[noirua]

The General Chat Forum can be very useful in times like 'The Great Panic of 2008' and 'Dot-com collapse in 2000'. In the latter, many Financial forums collapsed into disuse as there was not a General Chat Forum setup.
I feel there is a great danger in disregarding General Chat and pushing it into the background, 'off the front page' and feel this could endanger ASF at some future date if it has no proper, perhaps, page 2 list of recent posts.
There was a time when I was a member of 21 financial forums and most of these are now in the graveyard - noi

 

[Calliope]

I guess what I was trying to say is that although I want the focus to remain on market related threads, it's not my intention to discourage the use of the General Chat forum. I know that it's both a popular and well used forum and hopefully the new website design will increase its profile somewhat. I urge everyone to continue to participate in threads in the General Chat forum and keep it active. Some great discussions happen in there and I want to see that continue.

Thanks for that assurance Joe.

 

[Smurf1976]

My thinking is that the proportion of stock / non-stock posts on ASF is a function of the market environment and could of itself quite likely be used as a buy/sell indicator in a contrarian manner.

If nobody's posting about stocks on a stock market forum then that suggests that the general public has lost interest in stocks and vice versa. That seems like a potentially useful gauge of market sentiment to me.

 

[So_Cynical]

I also plan to introduce a "Thank you" button for posts, so ASF members can thank others for their posts without having to reply and say so.

Thank you buttons can be abused like Karma buttons etc...it can quickly degenerate into a "how many thankyou's can i get wankathon".

 

[nioka]

My thinking is that the proportion of stock / non-stock posts on ASF is a function of the market environment and could of itself quite likely be used as a buy/sell indicator in a contrarian manner.

If nobody's posting about stocks on a stock market forum then that suggests that the general public has lost interest in stocks and vice versa. That seems like a potentially useful gauge of market sentiment to me.

Odd that it is not happening on other forums ???????????????????????????????

Seems like a potentially useful gauge of public sentiment towards ASF to me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nioka]

There was a time when I was a member of 21 financial forums and most of these are now in the graveyard - noi

I think that ASF was in danger of becoming another unless there were more stock posts.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Odd that it is not happening on other forums ???????????????????????????????

Other forums are less restrictive of stock post content. That is the main reason. Gee whiz is that not obvious too.

 

[nioka]

Other forums are less restrictive of stock post content. That is the main reason. Gee whiz is that not obvious too.

It is obvious to me that this excuse is a cop out. For the life of me I fail to see why that comment keeps coming up, it is not a valid comment. If it was the only reason then why not change the rules?. It is not the reason and I, for one, am happy with the rules.

 

[wayneL]

It is obvious to me that this excuse is a cop out. For the life of me I fail to see why that comment keeps coming up, it is not a valid comment. If it was the only reason then why not change the rules?. It is not the reason and I, for one, am happy with the rules.

It does stop the pure volume of posts however... such as "choo - choo!" "next stop the moon" "all aboard!" and other such drivel.

Also, pure ramping is moderated out as well.

90% of posts on some other forums are of the above variety.

If ASF had 20% of the stock posts of those forums and such posts were of some quality, that would put ASF miles in front of those others. For me, as I am now running a business here in NZ, I don't have the will or the time to wade through the verbal diarrhoea in search of the occasional useful morsel.

If I want to see pure activity on a certain stock, I can simply run a scan and see it on the chart... job done.