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Important News

  • 09-07-2025 10:53PM
    #1
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,173 ✭✭✭✭


    This is after appearing in Announcements link below. It may already be posted. We can keep it bumped unless a mod can put a sticky on it.

    What are people's taughts

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058419143/important-news

    Slava Ukrainii



«13

Comments

  • #2
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    I’ve turned back to to boards in the past few months since twitter went down the swanny.

    Yes, the move to a Vanilla based system 3 years ago was a huge mistake.

    Yes, I think it could be run better

    But there are so few independently owned spaces left on the internet that I probably would fork out 6 quid a month.

    When you see the cost of Teagasc membership and the amount of info I get on here , the €50 a year would probably give me a better ROI



  • #3
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    It’s taken a long time to recover from the software “upgrade” and the disaster that was its implementation.
    I mean the search function isn’t even operable, it may as well be a “show me a list of random threads” button.

    I’d say it will be hard to keep up the subscription model as people are used to getting content for free. Like Facebook or instagram where access is free because YOU are the product, or your data. Can you imagine if Facebook looked for €6 a month 😳

    These big players recognise that this wouldn’t work , you can be sure they have looked at all options, i see no reason it will work here.



  • #4
    Kevhog1988
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,448 ✭✭✭Kevhog1988


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123619234#Comment_123619234

    Twitter has really gone to sh1t.



  • #5
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123619234#Comment_123619234
    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620020#Comment_123620020

    I think the software "upgrade" was because boards was already in trouble and a move to cheaper hosting was an attempt to prop it up. Granted the issues involved in the movement only added to problems.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



  • #6
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    I hope they can keep it afloat. There has been a noticeable increase in new members in here since start of the year.

    It's a great resource and much valuable knowledge from the members here.

    Plus there are other informative and entertaining subforums within boards - all with an Irish perspective. Would be a massive shame to lose it.



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  • #7
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    I probably find the best resource is FB topic specific groups be that brand of tractor/car or whatever (no offence folks) Thats all i use facebook for really, the search facility within groups is super and you have options like limit search to posts youve previously seen etc.. I'm not in any farming groups but thats likely to change if boards goes.. I do like the chat and banter here and moderation keeps it on point.. Actually thinking about it the Moderation makes the site, probably an undervalued resource..



  • #8
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620020#Comment_123620020

    counter point to that is the number of YouTubers with patron accounts that people are happy to pay into. People will pay if they value something.

    I agree it’s a hard sell though



  • #9
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620399#Comment_123620399

    They need more revenue to pay the bills.

    How many will be willing to pay a subscription?
    How many people currently use adblockers? maybe putting up with a few ads and even clicking on an occasional one could help. Advertising revenue is small on displayed adds, but increases significantly on any clicks.

    They should also consider a once off donation option, as many would prefer not to have more scheduled payments coming from their accounts.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



  • #10
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620407#Comment_123620407

    That’s a fair point, podcasters too now I think about it. I follow maybe 6/8 podcasts but don’t pay for access.



  • #11
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123620421#Comment_123620421

    F4F has a donation based system. I'd throw a few quid in there every now and again, especially if I get some help on something that saves me time/effort/money.

    It's a small site, but raised about €1,800 in 2023 from 73 donations from what would have been around 11k members. Average donation was just under €25.

    I've never really felt the need to use adblockers - especially on here. They aren't as intrusive as the popups on other sites. They'd be more likely to get some clicks on the ads if there were targetted to each subforum, but that would cost money to set up. Although I'd assume there would be some sort of meta data on the adverts to help target them.

    People don't like subscriptions. The chuggers that look for people on the street to set up DD's for charities are letting go a large amount of money in donations because they are purely chasing subscriptions.

    Donation & Subscription based service. They can rattle the piggy bank for a whip round whenever money goes low, but if it still doesn't hold at that stage then maybe it isn't viable as a business.

    How much is RicherSounds etc paying for their forum on here? I've got both my TV's from them after contacting them on here. (My work office is near to one of their stores, so that helped too).



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  • #12
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    You’d wonder is there any deal to be made with some of the AI companies for access to the forum as a training ground. They crave high volumes of human chats to train the models. Block them from crawling the site otherwise

    I did read that Google is the only company not using human chats/interactions to train their AI and so is more likely to exceed human intelligence much quicker.



  • #13
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    they are already mining it for free. Why would they pay?



  • #14
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    I’m sure they could be blocked.



  • #15
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,173 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    Decent Options If you decide to subscribe.

    If you are an agnostic it's 6/ month.…72/ year..36 after tax

    If you are unsure it's 16/quarter.....64/ year…32 after tax

    A hard nosed business person 28/half year....56/ anum…28 after tax

    I been here a while I think I have got my value for a 50 euro note, it's will cost me 25 net…. I have spend it on worse. Going to Croker tomorrow and staying in Dublin tomorrow night little change out of 300 euro.

    Remember it's TAX DEDUCTIBLE

    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/

    Slava Ukrainii



  • #16
    DBK1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,780 ✭✭✭DBK1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123626139#Comment_123626139

    Boards is the only online presence I have and I like it here, I’d have no problem paying the subscription.



  • #17
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    Paid the sub this morning, I've been posting here 20 years, it would be a shame to see it go now.
    I hope the few euro is enough to keep the lights on and maybe fix a few of the glitches.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



  • #18
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123624827#Comment_123624827

    Very hard when the site can be read without a login.
    There is a robots.txt which tells web crawlers what they have permission to read and it doesn't currently exclude AI Bots.
    But that doesn't offer security only a note note saying please do or don't crawl our data.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



  • #19
    Siamsa Sessions
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 4,709 Mod ✭✭✭✭Siamsa Sessions


    Just splashed out on the €50 annual subscription.

    Tax deductible as @Bass Reeves said, and it's worth it for the advice, stress-relief, and the odd bit of craic on here.



  • #20
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,655 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    I've subscribed myself but have a sinking feeling it's the beginning of the end. A really good grassroots rugby site did the same a few years back and it was gone 12-18 months after announcing the subscription.



  • #21
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123635205#Comment_123635205

    I'm thinking the same, support will likely start out strong and wean over time. But we'll have to wait and see.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



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  • #22
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    probably but if we get another year here that’s better than nothing



  • #23
    Silverdream
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 760 ✭✭✭Silverdream


    Could a bit of funding not be got from the government?



  • #24
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,375 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123635205#Comment_123635205

    An effort to save it or a money grab on the way out ?



  • #25
    tractorporn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,655 ✭✭✭tractorporn


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123647324#Comment_123647324

    I believed it was a genuine effort to save the site, it had gotten bigger and it probably went beyond what one guy could do. The guy is still involved on social media and afaik does commentary on local radio now as well so wouldn't think he fleeced lads. It was a loss as it was a well used site especially the forums and there's nothing in that space now either.



  • #26
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Will you move to Forum 4 Farming or elsewhere if Boards dies? Are there any other options out there?



  • #27
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123647965#Comment_123647965

    What are our options? Obviously Boards staying would be ideal.

    F&F - I already post there, more so since this site went a bit wonky
    Facebook groups - I've never warmed to them as much, find too many conspiracy theorists.

    Start our own group on an existing platform - Discourse Mastodon etc?
    Even build our own F&F forum - Even use the old vBulletin software.

    Would enough of us move together to keep the existing community going?

    ——————————————————————————————————————-
    We should at least organise a night out if the worst happens!

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



  • #28
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    I get enough between here, F4F & BFF (thefarmingforum.co.uk). Losing one would not be a disaster, but it takes a while to get the measure of the other uses and figure out who aligns with your thought process and systems and whose input to lean towards.

    It might be a mis-guided thought, but I get the feeling there are more part-time farmers in here than there is on F4F.



  • #29
    davidk1394
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,396 ✭✭✭davidk1394


    I paid the subscription a few days ago, the advice and information I get here would quickly pay the €50. If your organising a night out @emaherx I'll be on 👍



  • #30
    Jb1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,979 ✭✭✭Jb1989


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123648170#Comment_123648170

    One thing I like here, is the talk with a privacy aspect, without any need to ever meet up.

    Count me out on that.



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  • #31
    emaherx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,676 ✭✭✭emaherx


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123650446#Comment_123650446

    Each to there own and that's completely understandable.

    I think I've posted enough here over the years to remove any sense anonymity.

    🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈



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