(Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself?) Any update?

The balance was lost in the change over a lot of what came back were the hardcore users. That change over fucked things irrevocably it's was handled absolutely shockingly and will absolutely never recover from it as younger people don't use forums.

Essentially all the more casual people left and it turned into a battle ground, and even if you came here as a casual now there isn't much to attract one to stay

I don't disagree.

Does that Facebook group attract and accept anyone? How likely is it that trolls would try to join and disrupt it?

The communities have died here because people are more wary of revealing their identities because of how the internet is used by some for nefarious reasons, not because of Boards itself, or the posters, mods, cmods and admins. It's just how the internet has evolved unfortunately.

No. The rules are black and white, and what you get out from the community, means that you want to stay in the group. It's a lovely place, and people value it. There's messing, some slagging, but nothing said with malice. If someone was to be malicious, they're shown the door.

There's also fresh mods every 3 months, so that doesn't get stale. People step down, other people step up. You don't have to be afraid of any bias because the rules are crystal clear.

So it's essentially a safe and supportive space, in a way that an open forum like this can't be as the internet landscape has changed.

I do agree with you that it would be lovely, I just don't think it's possible now.

Boards had it fairly good before the change over people still came here purely out of habit a well ingrained habit due to it being the biggest forum in Ireland for a long time.

Once that was broken people drifted off to never come back they are still using the Internet, there are many options now for all ages. And all more addictive or appealing then boards.

Boards was on a down curve for sure before but would have hobbled along for a long time in an ok state once it didn't do exactly what it did. And chop it's own legs off.

And frankly it's too late now there would need to be a lot more advertising put into it which is never going to happen and as you say there isn't anything particularly interesting to read as it's mostly just the same people bickering all the time. Which is absolutely mind numbing to read but they don't care, it's a never ending race to have the last word for them.

The place is dead we just haven't reached the end yet

I find it so bizarre that people here (honestly, no dig at anyone!) think that a website where my identity is mainly concealed, is potentially more unsafe and supportive than Facebook, where my picture and real name is available to members of that community.

I just find it mad that we've had to surrender the site to people we don't trust.

Is the site dead? Judging from all the complaints about the “Regional” forums access issue they seem to be motoring along nicely.

Maybe it would be possible, but that would have to come from the owner …

Maybe @Boards.ie: Mike might be able to give a more definitive answer (if he ever gets the chance).

Man, there is all sorts of groups on Facebook.

Here's some I'm in:

There's support groups for dads (the bluey group is an incredibly wholesome place for great male support).

There's a support group for bereaved fathers which has absolutely saved lives as it gave men a place to seek support in the darkest times.

The aforementioned chronic illness group.

Then there's the ADHD groups to share knowledge, support each other (and memes... So many memes)

Basically if you can think of it, there's a group out there for it. It's up to each individual to weigh up the consequences of joining a group Vs what they get out of it.

The bigger groups (over 100,000 members) have very strict rules, and if you don't follow them, you possibly get a no posting ban, followed by a temp ban, followed by a permanent ban. Depends on the group, and the rules are way more stricter than Facebook's general rules.

Or avoiding it by guarding your anonymity. The loss of community is an unfortunate byproduct of that.

Apologies, I think you're missing my point. I'm involved in all these groups on Facebook, that have my real name and picture. Yet I don't feel unsafe in these communities because of the care and commitment to the rules and the owners (moderators) really put the community first and foremost over anything else.

What I'm saying is, I don't believe boards cannot mimic that, but the owners/management needs to tell us

What is the mission of boards.ie?

What is their metric for success?

Will the rules of the site be formalised, and stickied in every forum so everyone knows where they stand?

Every forum should have their forum specific rules stickied as well.

If people wanted to be a part of that community, great. If they don't, great. If they f*CK around, they find out.

Anyway, it's all moot as I have no idea what boards is anymore. All I know is it's a pure waste of potential right now.

I think regional forums are quieter because every town and village has a Facebook group and there are a lot of WhatsApp neighbourhood groups. It's not just because of a smaller userbase.

The regional forums here are very pleasant and posters genuinely try to help others, I'd be more likely to trust a recommendation here rather than Facebook where people spam their own business or that of their relatives and friends.

I agree except I'd leave out the pseudo 'left v right' shtick

It's liberalism (actual liberalism, not progressivism) vs illiberalism

Yes, thats largely true.

Outside of CA I think Boards is great, there are alot of excellent forums and people are helpful and there is very little bickering.

I often think straying into CA was the worst mistake I ever made, politics and religion are two highly contentious topics.

Most of us gain nothing from political discussions, apart from the emotional feeling of being ‘right’ or being in the contrary position. We lose time, and time is the most precious commodity, with little to show for our efforts.

Political discussions make enemies but not friends.

The more people become educated about the alternatives in politics, the more they become indifferent to either extreme. Trying to sway their opinion largely wont work. 

Studies have shown that most people don’t show their true political feelings—only extremists do.

In effect, when people with extreme political views feel that they are in the majority, they make a visible showing of it. 

The flip side of that is that people who dont want to be perceived as extremist, with-hold their political opinions.

You can't rationalise with Extremists.

So what am I saying after all that, probably that posting about politics or religion online is a waste of time for all involved.

Yeah, I can see now that I misread the Moncrieff and D'arcy references.

I think you can see part of the problem with the recent thread about the attack on Fr. Murphy in Galway. Posters practically salivating with hope that the attacker is of an immigrant background.

It's back to some of the feedback here. Don't censor people - debate with them. I mean, free speech and all that?

Clear example of how this would not work.

Yep, thread basically can't operate cause it will become viciously agendaic.

I would have previously have been somewhat active on Twitter and had my name and face to see. But as the site became more aggressive, I had to pretty much expunge my identity. Similarly my old account from here is long gone cause I'd be identifiable. Even in Ireland, there's plenty of people that want to doxx individuals. Equally I know of a guy who went extremely right wing and he's stalked people that I know in real life cause he got obsessed with their social media profiles. So the dangers are getting worse and worse.

Comment went up before I finished.

Some of the feedback here calls for allowing these views and debating with them. That thread clearly demonstrates why this would be completely futile, plus a huge waste of Mods time.

Except what was suggested was to allow discussion of different beliefs, but not hate speech.

That thread is full of hate speech, there is a difference. Maybe permanently ban those posters from CA and let the others get on with it?