Where is everyone???

Southern Dandy

Well as some of you have already copped how quiet it is on here as of late, so I ask where is everyone gone all of a sudden?, what forums are there apart from here that are for the Irish airsoft scene?.

It really is a shame, that what was once ta hive of activity is now gone.

thermo

All the forums are quiet of late, i believe all the "younger" players are all chatting on bookface. Shame really as you cant really get the same level of knowlege imparted or the same type of discussion like you get on a forum.

ShRT

I think they are all on the bookface aswell. I'm guessing as older players phase out and newer ones come in, the newer players will tend to be younger and use forums less in favour of youtube/facebook and its the new folks that keep a forum ticking over.

Also looking at some of the stickies, they are last updated quite a while ago so it might give the impression to a newcomer that this area is fairly dead. I know thats what happens with stickies as lot of the good info doesn't change but maybe a refresh or update would help?

Maybe there are too many sub forums? After a quick look, its possibly the main topic with the most sub forums on boards.

CpcRc

Some of us are just staying in the shadows, judging.

OzCam

Out playing, one would hope.

K.Flyer

I have noticed it as well, particularly in the last six months. I have no interest in F.B. nor will I, so I now have to ask my son for updates as all the upcoming events are rarely posted here now.
In saying that it was great to see so many of the *cough* "older" lads still giving it socks at SimTac opening day.

brenak47

As thermo said there all on facebook only problem there is u have young lads with no clue selling there gear for top dollar.This is keeping facebook quiet on the sale end.In saying that depends what u are selling a few bits i couldn't sell here and removed i sold on there within a day or 2.Myself i think boards needs a revamp and a few rules changed and i think things might pick back up.If this dies off u will have nowhere to get good info from as the next gen feel they know everything already.

OzCam

K.Flyer wrote: »

I have no interest in F.B. nor will I, so I now have to ask my son for updates as all the upcoming events are rarely posted here now.

FB is good for some things, but has its limitations for things like events. Not everyone is on it, and those that do use it are at the mercy of FB's News Feed algorithms. So unless someone sets the Sort Order to "Latest First" then it's pot luck as to whether they see posts or not.

I'll try to be a bit more diligent about posting events in future. It really helps if event posts are thanked, at least the poster knows that they're useful to someone.

I'm not a huge fan of the subforum setup, I think it's a bit overdone. What do you think about the idea of leaving event posts on the main page for 2 or 3 days before moving them to the events subforum?


The next generation always knows everything. Until life reminds them that, in fact, they don't.

Darth Phoenix

I agree facebook has it's uses and the info is very temporary for anyone to keep track of, plus the fact it's a common trend to communicate via facebook.

Whereas boards in a sense you can track to a certain degree of info in many topics even if some questions remained unanswered.

But here's another question to add to Southern Dandy post.

Whats been done to keep people interested..?

Steve

OzCam wrote: »

I'm not a huge fan of the subforum setup, I think it's a bit overdone. What do you think about the idea of leaving event posts on the main page for 2 or 3 days before moving them to the events subforum?

Valid point.

The subforums are there because this place used to be really busy and needed them. Not so much nowadays.

It's something that's been on my mind for a while,

Steve

Darth Phoenix wrote: »

Whats been done to keep people interested..?

Any suggestions?

Darth Phoenix

Steve wrote: »

Any suggestions?

Love too but I have lost interest in airsoft too much due to family concerns :mad:

Gatling

Steve wrote: »

Any suggestions?

Give always for 10 likes ,

Hotties in camo,

Ohhhhh wait this is a discussion forum.


I've a few ideas already mentioned previously I'll come back after the weekend

Steve

Darth Phoenix wrote: »

Love too but I have lost interest in airsoft too much due to family concerns :mad:

Sorry to hear that, hope all is ok.

Steve

Gatling wrote: »

Hotties in camo,

You mean like when you melt plastic toy soldiers?




Or this?

Gatling

The plastics ones of course

Can't stand them fb spam chic's with guns

bushball

well lets not rule the lather out altogether...:P

YbFocus

Christ she'll be in bits trying to get through the trees in that get up!

Kashkai

YbFocus wrote: »

Christ she'll be in bits trying to get through the trees in that get up!

I'll volunteer to patch her up;)

Southern Dandy

Now they are some seriously nice Boo.........................ts she has.

K.Flyer

Steve wrote: »

Any suggestions?

If I remember correctly, site owners were charged for opening or having threads about upcoming events or anything in relation to their site and thats why they migrated over to F.B.
Maybe the cost factor is something that could be looked at to encourage them back and increase activity here again.

OzCam

One slight change to the rules might be to allow event announcements to be posted by site owners or their staff.

I'm suggesting a slight relaxation to the shilling rule, and I mean one post to announce an event, not making posts to bump it every 10 minutes.

Site owners should still pay for their own threads, where they can do their usual promotion. But allowing an event post once a month or a couple of times a year should be ok.

Mods?

Steve

OzCam wrote: »

One slight change to the rules might be to allow event announcements to be posted by site owners or their staff.

I'm suggesting a slight relaxation to the shilling rule, and I mean one post to announce an event, not making posts to bump it every 10 minutes.

Site owners should still pay for their own threads, where they can do their usual promotion. But allowing an event post once a month or a couple of times a year should be ok.

Mods?

It's above my paygrade to say yes to that - but - we could do a sticky on the forum to announce genuine events. Site owners could pm a mod to get it posted.

Would that work?

K.Flyer

Steve wrote: »

It's above my paygrade to say yes to that - but - we could do a sticky on the forum to announce genuine events. Site owners could pm a mod to get it posted.

Would that work?

But, would it only be the announcement allowed or would there be room for the questions from interested players and the aftermath banter.
I dont see the point in allowing the single announcement post... and for further information join us on F.B. or phone...
Maybe consider, event announcement thread where people can post in relation to the event, closing the thread on event day or maybe a week after it.

andy_g

K.Flyer wrote: »

But, would it only be the announcement allowed or would there be room for the questions from interested players and the aftermath banter.
I dont see the point in allowing the single announcement post... and for further information join us on F.B. or phone...
Maybe consider, event announcement thread where people can post in relation to the event, closing the thread on event day or maybe a week after it.

We already have the events sub forum for this, players can post and discuss the events.

K.Flyer

Ok Andy, I'm gonna blame old age, tiredness and a stressfull week on that last post of mine.

Dogwatch

Site owners can and do use the events sub forum.
However there was a problem with some of the postings not being events but glorified Sunday skirmishes.

matty1994

I must say i have seen this get really slow myself, this time last year i joined the firum and it was crazy, there was so much people on asking questions and giving advice, i myself have learned so much since then having notion about airsoft to where im at now, i have to say that i do use facebook, but honestly i prefer this site because there are the more genuine sellers, who wont care if you ask a hundred questions because they are happy to answer them, i do find though that boards.ie itself needs a complete update ie, an app maybe or revamp to make it easier and quicker to access the forums, espically on the mobile site, its a nightmare for uploading pictures and not loading, not sure if its just me but thats my view, would love to see this forum back up and buzzing with activity

Kashkai

+1 Mattie

When I took up airsoft 18 months ago, this forum was a great help with advice. It has died a death since. Even the adverts section is slowing down compared to what it once was, ie my main source of aegs and pistols!

While I personally don't like Facebook, it does have a lot of advantages over Boards, ie video reviews (like Hobbys or Oddysairsoft reviews), plus it doesn't have heavy handed moderating like Boards (and this is not a pop at the Airsoft mods who are pretty fair compared to the Mods on the other Boards forums).

I know Boards is a commercial enterprise but not allowing sites to advertise their up coming events without paying a fee or sticking within rigid rules and regulations is making a lot of airsofter's go straight to FB or to the sites own webpages for info and banter. Boards used to be my first port of call when I logged on to the net. Now it's an afterthought. Maybe Boards has had it day cause it won't move with the times? Hell, even I managed to get onto FB to keep up with current events in the airsoft world!

andy_g

Kashkai wrote: »

+1 Mattie

When I took up airsoft 18 months ago, this forum was a great help with advice. It has died a death since. Even the adverts section is slowing down compared to what it once was, ie my main source of aegs and pistols!

While I personally don't like Facebook, it does have a lot of advantages over Boards, ie video reviews (like Hobbys or Oddysairsoft reviews), plus it doesn't have heavy handed moderating like Boards (and this is not a pop at the Airsoft mods who are pretty fair compared to the Mods on the other Boards forums).

I know Boards is a commercial enterprise but not allowing sites to advertise their up coming events without paying a fee or sticking within rigid rules and regulations is making a lot of airsofter's go straight to FB or to the sites own webpages for info and banter. Boards used to be my first port of call when I logged on to the net. Now it's an afterthought. Maybe Boards has had it day cause it won't move with the times? Hell, even I managed to get onto FB to keep up with current events in the airsoft world!

Video reviews are allowed here, just people that make them dont want to post here, Oddy is one example he had enough of certain members having a pop at his video's and accused him of constantly promoting MIA.

Tbh I'd love to see review video's back as it's a change from the discussions.
As Dogwatch mentioned we encourage site's to use the events forum if its a genuine event and not a regular skirmish day/let the players discuss and ask question's not the site talking to themselves to keep their event at the top of the page.

Site's/Retailers used to have their threads in the sub fora for them I thought it was a great idea but when the charge was brought in by a former mod i wasnt really for it however as Steve said it's above our pay grade to deal with.

se conman

Site's/Retailers used to have their threads in the sub fora for them I thought it was a great idea but when the charge was brought in by a former mod i wasnt really for it however as Steve said it's above our pay grade to deal with.[/QUOTE]

If the charge was brought in by a former Mod, would it not be within the remit of the current Mods to request its removal?

In my opinion, the decline in traffic here on Boards (Airsoft) is not something that can or will ever be changed. This is a discussion forum based in text and by that fact it visually appears "bland". The longer term airsofters who, in the past, were active here have either moved on from Airsoft or have very little need in GAINING info (they already know what they like and where they will play) and with newer Airsofters favoring the more visually appealing FaceBook????? , there is little call for the longer term Airsofters to PASS ON info. Even if a new player DOES want info, a quick search will gain them all they need without actually asking any questions thus even less traffic. FaceBook is MUCH more friendly to creating an event page for any big or small event that a site is planning and is easier to guage attendence due to actual names rather than call signs.
In conclusion, Boards (Airsoft) was great in it's day, but times move on.
P.S. I will still check in here, it's where I got my first info.

andy_g

If you wish to try remove the fee's for sites/retailers try emailing the office Hello@boards.ie

The other reason for here going quiet is of the mentality of people in the cliques who feel hard done by, by the "nazi mods" (there wording not mine)

Just my two cents.

I Armour I

When the older audience (not age) from 1+ year(s) ago went from banter>drama on this site they took a back seat.

Factors that are affecting the boards audience/issues with boards:
-Facebook (it's user numbers, other than that it has no other advantage, except maybe the chat feature.)
-Certain rules on boards that don't exist on other platforms.
-The level of activity of current users (threads look old and that deters potential new users)

-*Tacit knowledge* I think this is a big one, think of this like a recession: 1 or more years ago there were a vast amount of users who knew a lot but not everything, the new users came along, asked questions had banter etc and than any knowledge gained was left in there heads. The older users then began to "know everything" and stopped posting, the previously new users didn't share their knowledge either and now when questions are asked too few answer. I'm guilty of this aswell, but a few names come into my head as constant guides on this forum. We just need the now older users to stick up what they know and welcome the now new users into asking as many questions as possible.

-Outdated posts/ stickies: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055172868 None of the images here are available. What is the purpose?? same with the retailers list and a few others.

-Lack of guide/instruction in regards to using the forum/ strict rules being applied in some areas but not in others. i.e. should an "irish airsoft prices" thread be allowed in the Airsoft reviews sub forum (should one assume it should be for text/video reviews and requests only. However the bumping is constantly kept on top of.


My personal suggestions:
- Above the Sub forums in the airsoft section could be a "How to use the airsoft forum" With screen shots/arrows/ brief descriptions on what each sub section/main section does and then links to the sections respective dedicated charter.
- Within each section, the stickies could be reviewed once a month by mods to ensure relevance and correct/current information.
- F.A.Q's, Section/subforum feedback & collaborative guides/compendiums created and stickied per section. This could be a general idea as some users Inari, Rooky, among mods and some others have given up some fierce knowledge regarding AEG's GBB's etc. I believe these threads should be necro exempt, bumped/updated by mods with info from all the other threads thrown into the guides and FAQS to be a giant flag geared towards new/inexperienced boards users. This would cut out alot of the same information being repeated and furthermore would allow new users to soak up all knowledge possible before asking questions.

- Where youtube, facebook, other forums etc already have videos, reviews, existing information on stuff, I feel they should be encouraged to be copied, pasted, plastered on relevant threads instead of repetitive regurgitation of the same information over and over again.

- More strict attitudes on the threads allowed in the subforums, moving of threads to the main section etc. I just think this would make it all more readable and give more structure.

-Lastly, show off/ promote/ utilize Boards strong suits, The structure and search functions along with the way forums can be sorted, etc.

I know some of those were obvious, a bit out there and some just silly but just some ideas I had.

What would the mods and users here think of FAQ's/ guides etc being started up in the subsections as a first attempt to make boards more user friendly?

matty1994

I Armour I wrote: »

When the older audience (not age) from 1+ year(s) ago went from banter>drama on this site they took a back seat.

Factors that are affecting the boards audience/issues with boards:
-Facebook (it's user numbers, other than that it has no other advantage, except maybe the chat feature.)
-Certain rules on boards that don't exist on other platforms.
-The level of activity of current users (threads look old and that deters potential new users)

-*Tacit knowledge* I think this is a big one, think of this like a recession: 1 or more years ago there were a vast amount of users who knew a lot but not everything, the new users came along, asked questions had banter etc and than any knowledge gained was left in there heads. The older users then began to "know everything" and stopped posting, the previously new users didn't share their knowledge either and now when questions are asked too few answer. I'm guilty of this aswell, but a few names come into my head as constant guides on this forum. We just need the now older users to stick up what they know and welcome the now new users into asking as many questions as possible.

-Outdated posts/ stickies: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055172868 None of the images here are available. What is the purpose?? same with the retailers list and a few others.

-Lack of guide/instruction in regards to using the forum/ strict rules being applied in some areas but not in others. i.e. should an "irish airsoft prices" thread be allowed in the Airsoft reviews sub forum (should one assume it should be for text/video reviews and requests only. However the bumping is constantly kept on top of.


My personal suggestions:
- Above the Sub forums in the airsoft section could be a "How to use the airsoft forum" With screen shots/arrows/ brief descriptions on what each sub section/main section does and then links to the sections respective dedicated charter.
- Within each section, the stickies could be reviewed once a month by mods to ensure relevance and correct/current information.
- F.A.Q's, Section/subforum feedback & collaborative guides/compendiums created and stickied per section. This could be a general idea as some users Inari, Rooky, among mods and some others have given up some fierce knowledge regarding AEG's GBB's etc. I believe these threads should be necro exempt, bumped/updated by mods with info from all the other threads thrown into the guides and FAQS to be a giant flag geared towards new/inexperienced boards users. This would cut out alot of the same information being repeated and furthermore would allow new users to soak up all knowledge possible before asking questions.

- Where youtube, facebook, other forums etc already have videos, reviews, existing information on stuff, I feel they should be encouraged to be copied, pasted, plastered on relevant threads instead of repetitive regurgitation of the same information over and over again.

- More strict attitudes on the threads allowed in the subforums, moving of threads to the main section etc. I just think this would make it all more readable and give more structure.

-Lastly, show off/ promote/ utilize Boards strong suits, The structure and search functions along with the way forums can be sorted, etc.

I know some of those were obvious, a bit out there and some just silly but just some ideas I had.

What would the mods and users here think of FAQ's/ guides etc being started up in the subsections as a first attempt to make boards more user friendly?

I agree with this, adding to your point, i think a sub section should be started as you have said but have say a begineers guide, with reviews and guides on what gear to get,what a joule is, what rules are in place etc, kinda like the questions sub forum but just somewhere we can add our own views on guns for begineers or just leave advice or tech tips etc

I Armour I

matty1994 wrote: »

I agree with this, adding to your point, i think a sub section should be started as you have said but have say a begineers guide, with reviews and guides on what gear to get,what a joule is, what rules are in place etc, kinda like the questions sub forum but just somewhere we can add our own views on guns for begineers or just leave advice or tech tips etc

See we already have a couple like that, but they are the bottom of the stickies lists and are spread over the whole forum, from main page to sub section. Some of them locked too. That and if it may be said, are very difficult to read. One comes to mind in which it has a list of the manufacturers with some/most of the guns they make. However it is again outdated and a pain to read.

As you said a simple version of all rolled into one guide. With the amount of times info has been given out, a quick copy and paste into one universal guide would be dead helpful. Not only that but as I stated before, for stickies to be left open for critique and than info added later (like with gaming forums).

If it could be applied, the same stickies on every page with exception to their content. (i.e. rules stickies are there.)

Another note to make this place more user friendly is a "Player in your area thread" Similar to the teams thread only for casual airsofters to see who lives close/plays close to where others do.

TheDoc

There is a thread like this pretty much every year, and very little is ever REALLY done.

The forum here used to be a core/driver for all things airsoft. Where to play, what to buy, everything, that is no longer the case. Even the adverts section isn't the best or most popular place to sell your kit anymore. I've had a thread there sitting for DONKEYs with no action, put it up on Facebook ( regrettably) and there was much more action.

Facebook is by far the biggestchange that has come , for most communities.

Alot of the gaming communities I'm part of, that five years ago would have been boards centric, have moved to Facebook.
Boards is one of those slowly wittling platforms unfortunately, as the new generation prefer using Facebook. The sub-forums here hasn't helped. Sub-fora should be created to DEAL with a growing annoyance or problem. In alot of cases they were created trying to guide content in advance, or over reacting to maybe a couple of posts about the same thing.

I can't reiterate it enough, users drive content and discussion, not admins or moderators.

Boards has a pretty big advantage that it is a forum, and forums will ALWAYS have the tools to be the best platform for discussion and debate. Facebook is shocking, no formatting options, not even a paragraph to create. It also seems to more easily attract wallies. Text speak and stupid opinions are all over the place.

But the main reason why I see Facebook winning over boards, in terms of airsoft and a few gaming communities I'm part of it, is the perception of having a bit more freedom. Rules arn't hardfast, things slide a bit more and there is just more wiggle room. In saying that, Boards charters and rules are a refined measure done over years of experience, whereas Facebook now is a bit of a free for all, problems will surely emerge. I think it is just a case that Boards isn't keeping up with this site.

A recent example would be, not being allowed advertise something here, when its advertised elsewhere. I won't get into specifics and re-rail, but there need sto be acceptance that boards.ie isn't the main attraction of airsoft anymore. When a rule is in place " If you want to sell kit on here, you can only sell it here" I'm sorry, it's retarded. With more traction on other platforms, it's not a big deal anymore having a sale thread closed down here. Like I said, I was getting no traction on here with my kit, got much more on Facebook.

Something I think Boards in general (and I've spoken to a few higher level guys I play games with about it) is that it has consistently lost track of what made it popular. It was a platform to allow people speak, in a structured somewhat articulate way. Somewhere along the line, boards has lost it's way with meticulous rules and OTT charters. That's across the board, not just here.

Reddit for example, get's the whole point. Place of discussion and socialising are driving by users, not admins or moderators etc. If something is rubbish, bad, or not interesting, it doesn't need to be locked or deleted, it just eventually looses popularity and drifts of the front page. Things that are interesting and good, will keep their place on the front page etc. It's just how it works like.

We could argue all day why the older guys have all left this place, why the centres of informations and knowledgeable players have all gone elsewhere but that will just transcend into a useless childish tit for tat as always.

The simplest reason is mostly Facebook. Not even the fact it's easily accessible for most ( far more so then boards), I know for me personally I'm in three private groups, where I can check when decent groups are playing, **** about new guns , repair advice and all that jazz...in a private group where I know the knowledge level is stupidly high and it's relatively like minded individuals.

I Armour I

TheDoc wrote: »

There is a thread like this pretty much every year, and very little is ever REALLY done......


....check when decent groups are playing, **** about new guns , repair advice and all that jazz...in a private group where I know the knowledge level is stupidly high and it's relatively like minded individuals.

Nail on the head there Doc, there could be a sneaky way to get more players/ new players over to boards but it would require the advertising rule to be abolished: That way we could link our ads to facebook and bring in people that way.

That said though the lack of rules is also lack of necessary for rules. On facebook you don't see "read the charter" and ignorance is bliss after all

NakedDex

I stopped caring when Doc left.

andy_g

NakedDex wrote: »

I stopped caring when Doc left.

When did he leave, he is still here. so back to topic :P

matty1994

andy_g wrote: »

When did he leave, he is still here. so back to topic :P

Strict modding there again:P

MerryDespot

NakedDex wrote: »

I stopped caring when Doc left.

I stopped caring when Dex left.

Joking aside, I've been gone from here for a while ... mostly due to other things in life taking over (work, living abroad and my original time-vampire - music) ... but damn, dead is an understatement.


And yes ... I'm aware of the hypocrisy of a once active user disappearing and then commenting on a lack of perceived activity when they come back to a forum fuelled by user content.

andy_g

matty1994 wrote: »

Strict modding there again:P

Yup i completely agree sarcasm is strictly not permittied :O

Southern Dandy

Out of interest, for the once regular posters that are reading this thread, if things were to change around here would that entice ye back?. I can not obviously speak for mods but look who knows if they want the continuation of this forum maybe certain things need changing.

Or has the damage been done so to speak?

Reason I ask this is, the people I am referring too have a wealth of knowledge, experience etc and it is a shame that all that is gone. There are very little gamers with years of experience and expertise left here. This thread if I am not mistaken was one of the busiest on boards at one point it would be great to get it back to it's former glory.

Personally I am not even on Facebook nor care to be on it but I think forums are a far better platform for the Airsoft community in Ireland.

MerryDespot

To be honest it was curiosity that made me check back in here - I haven't had a game of any sort since after Copehill last year. That's mostly down to changes in my own life than airsoft, or boards.

I'm trying to get myself back into it though - I miss playing with some of the folk who have disappeared from on here, but I'm mostly in touch with those guys through gmail or texts, so the need to come on here to stay in contact is largely gone.

But as Doc said, things like this crop up every year. I remember when I joined here the airsoft forum was one of the busiest - but it's now been overtaken by Facebook and naturally that's killed a lot of traffic here. The fact that a few popular sites have closed, and that this might have also led to a few players who would have been regular airsofters tending to head out less and less will also be a factor.

bushball

i havent been here long-not even a year- so i dont really know much about what it was like before but i have noticed that even adverts which was the busiest part when i joined has slowed down alot .
i think this site needs a bit more advertisment as alot of people wouldnt know about it. i only found out about it when a saw someone shared a link to facebook so it can be a kinda conflicting argument

NakedDex

andy_g wrote: »

When did he leave, he is still here. so back to topic :P

He's like an ex. He left me, but he still shows up now and again, and makes me miss the happier days...

MerryDespot

NakedDex wrote: »

He's like an ex. He left me, but he still shows up now and again, and makes me miss the happier days...

Stockholm syndrome.
Just remind yourself of the voice... "it puts the lotion in the basket..."

Gatling

MerryDespot wrote: »

Stockholm syndrome.
Just remind yourself of the voice... "it puts the lotion in the basket..."

I hope "it's" the only place the lotion is going

Lemming

Southern Dandy wrote: »

Out of interest, for the once regular posters that are reading this thread, if things were to change around here would that entice ye back?. I can not obviously speak for mods but look who knows if they want the continuation of this forum maybe certain things need changing.

Or has the damage been done so to speak?

Reason I ask this is, the people I am referring too have a wealth of knowledge, experience etc and it is a shame that all that is gone. There are very little gamers with years of experience and expertise left here. This thread if I am not mistaken was one of the busiest on boards at one point it would be great to get it back to it's former glory.

Personally I am not even on Facebook nor care to be on it but I think forums are a far better platform for the Airsoft community in Ireland.

First off; I'm still here - I read a lot, I just don't post much unless I feel I have something to say. And I'm fairly sure there's a few others in the same boat. Nothing to do with enticement - don't need it. And I'm not so sure that the quiet at large is anything really to do with "damage" either.

There would appear to have been a general slowdown in airsoft terms on the commercial front, and whilst there are plenty of events still knocking about; people are being much more selective about what they attend, so there's less discussion to pull in newer players so readily. And of course, as players move on, or real-life responsibillities/job circumstances change with the years, it's bound to have a knock-on effect.

Even facebook - for all its activity - doesn't really seem to be saying much. Lots being written; not much really being said when you stand back and look at the content.

S.E.A.L.s

I Armour I

It'd all be the recessions fault