Just Wondering...

Recent refocus of the forum into its own entity/product to the detriment of its major contributors has forced the issue both away and underground.
Recent differences of values and a more rigorous enforcement of the dictated rules has lost us some serious contributors.
In my humble opinion we are heading in the wrong direction. Chasing a higher google rating may allow higher advertising rates, but really if you are searching for Ducati advice I always find us right at the top of the returned lists. Enforcing a small subscription fee on a monthly basis, £1+fees would negate this need to appease the mighty Google search engine.
I used the word US earlier because we make the value in this site, with our knowledge, pictures, humour and exchanges.
Without US the site would fail within weeks.
I think that's being forgotten in recent decisions.

 

Never had any issues when @mattmccabebrown was the fat controller.

It was an open and transparent forum but alas, that ship sailed a while back.

It is all set up for people who own Ducatis because they can. Not for real Ducati die hard enthusiast.

 

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I agree with your point above however I think you have missed our point and hence sadly the decline may continue.

 

OK.
Let's watch the post count, new users and quality rise.
Have chocolate rations also increased this week?

 

This point you raise again isn't being questioned.

 

Well, I can't then - I never abused anyone, in fact I often help to tone it down with the abusive people of whom you speak. When a 'serious' Ducati related post is added to the forum you can expect some people with issues who are angry, you can expect some people wishing to have a bit of a joke. Several main contributing members were banned for a little banter. I wonder if it was at a request from Tim or if it was a Forum decision. My synopsis of the other two from that thread that were banned that I know of (I was told there were more): harmless banter, witty too :smileys:

I was banned with no notice, no reason, still haven't had a reason actually. Yes I have an issue with Ducati not 'telling the truth' and I have evidence of this that will remain private' I approached this thread with a little banter certainly. I found out I was actually banned and not some computer glitch after a member I contacted made an enquiry. After that happened I mailed another member to let a few people know a PM was sent to 4 others and when I was reinstated I was invited onto the PM that had been set up - there are 6 on the PM. Add the post count up and we are more than half the current Forum content, hidden away - the part that someone doesn't want :Sorry:

This Forum can either be owned by Ducati or remain Private by the members that make it the best Bike Forum I have seen by far - it's not a decision for the contributing members for sure - but we know which way it works best for it to remain and develop and we know which way we like it and why we spend time here as new friends with an Ducati association. Hey, it's more like a 'lifestyle' Forum not a serious Ducati Tech Forum - isn't that the new direction anyway :Wideyed:

I understand that some don't like the banter, but it is a minority - so many people join and mentioned the banter is great and cite it as a main reason of them joining. The Forum as it was attracted: due to the content, including the banter by people using the forum as a mini FB.

 

I agree with this, it's a running joke between a few of us members who are on another 'forum' that this one has maybe 3-4 characters who seem to pop up on every thread and say something sarcastic or completely off topic.

Also it's not gone unnoticed that there are vey few technical threads now, I posted a question about a slipper clutch a while back, got a couple of replies but it's like getting blood from a stone, it is likely to be stopping people from bothering to post at all, I know it is me.

I think the mods need to look at some of the high posters and look at whether they are high because they are making useful contribution or just posting total crap on a thread..... Or don't look at it, but there are other forums and that's why I'm still over there, because threads just don't seem to get confrontational like even this one already is starting to.

 

Confrontational - that was clearly your goal we don't need your sort here as El T said...
The members who give a lot of the serious Tech are of our opinion and have ceased posting replies...

 

I have to say I agree @Phil748 - the way the forum is at the moment makes me want to post less, not more.

 

I'm amazed that Exige would have been banned, he's always represented the voice of reason as far as I'm concerned.
There were one or two trolls though, that used to trawl through posts, just looking for something to snipe at.
Glad they're gone.

 

I don't get it, why was my post confrontational? 'Passionate' maybe but I wasn't being comfrontational

 

That was irony, he was joking - did you not see the smiley?

 

Nope my bad.... ;-) more coffee needed

 

You're no sniper Viv
There were one or two on here, one in particular, who were just plain nasty.