Eris said:
Hello Poultry Keeper forum,
99
Thank you being kind enough to take in the sad group of refugees that have shuffled over here recently from PPF. I have kept my forum name the same. It is good to see so many familiar names on here, but I am sure I will get confuzzled by the ones who are different. I hope the regulars don't get too upset about all the new arrivals. .I think the last post on PP might have been Molly as it showed up as there but the forum went before I was able to read it. Just one question..do you use allow the word crappity smack in any posts?
04
Eris
Hi Eris, lovely to see you here, along with all the others who've made it from PP. I don't think that 'sad group of refugees' is very accurate, actually - people seem to be having a great time, making really helpful posts, and chatting away just like at the 'other place.' The transfusion of new members has actually saved this forum, where numbers were down to the point where closure did seem on the cards. So it's like the typical village shop - use it or lose it, I guess. It's just wonderful to have such an influx of experienced and interesting people on here.
Yes, of course the software is different, but what matters is that it's a place to meet and keep in touch and make some new friends, whether you were a long-time member on here, or a refugee. A forum is what you make it, and this one has always been just as friendly and inclusive as PP. We don't have any automatic editing in the software that stops you posting any particular words, and obviously crappity smack got through, you're OK there, Eris. Registered members have access to the whole forum, there are no restricted sections except one for the moderators, so we don't at present have a Sinbin, but who knows, give it time .... The only real problems would be abusive, racial or prejudiced posts, but so far we haven't had any trouble like that. There is a restriction on new members posting links before having made a minimum of 50 posts, but this is to deter spammers who only register to advertise their own sites, which are often quite dodgy - someone registered only this morning and was straight on to the site advertising his wares - post immediately deleted. If you haven't had the chance to make many posts yet, and want to post a link to support your message, you can always pm me, and if it's obviously genuine of course there will be no problems.
The BIGGEST THANK YOU of all is to Tim Daniels, the Forum Administrator, who has had such a lot of unexpected extra work the past few weeks, registering everybody, as well as keeping the forum running. This forum isn't a spin off from a commercial organisation like Practical Poultry was, and until now, he's actually been paying the hosting fees of around £150 year out of his own pocket, with very little contribution from the minimal advertising, which relies on numbers of clicks to bring in anything at all. (Keep clicking, folks, even though you all know about Vermex!) Tim also works ever so hard to maintain and develop the Poultrykeeper main site (link at the bottom of each page on the Forum) which is an ongoing , interactive encyclopaedia of poultry knowledge on a huge range of topics. Tim has a demanding job which involves lots of travelling away from home, he has a young family, and his own poultry setup to maintain. Also he's a brilliant photographer, and takes many glorious photos of poultry on the show circuit as well.
Enabling a forum to succeed doesn't just happen - and I really hope this one can continue, because its very important to me and to so many other people who have learned a lot, and laughed a lot, on here as well.
So welcome, everyone!
P.S. If you go to your User Control Panel and click on Board Preferences, theres an option to change your Board Style to suit whatever device you're viewing on. It amy be set to Reduced Width but If you choose the Prosilver Special Edition option (whatever that is) it gives you a larger full-screen display.
I registered here first Eris and being a bit naive, used my name although it's never caused a problem. When I joined PP I was a bit more savvy so called myself "Welsummers". Marigold is also easier to spell than Fuschia (see what I mean)!