Dog Forum for sale

[JudyN]

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Hi all,

You will have noticed the message at the bottom of the page saying that this forum is for sale. JoanneF and I wanted to let you know that this has come as just as much a surprise for us as it will have for you. Remember that although the software and framework of the forum can be sold, the 'community' can't be sold, and it is the community, the members, that make a forum.

We don't know what, if any, changes we might see. Hopefully, advertising won't be too intrusive, and will be in line with the forum values (no aversives or puppy sales!). Hopefully we won't see more spam. Most of all, if new mods are imposed (as can happen), Joanne and I hope that they will carry on with the strong ethos of this forum, both in terms of how we treat our dogs, and how we treat each other.

 

[Hemlock]

Thanks very much for clarification.

 

[excuseme]

Can our/my details be completely deleted from registration if we request this ?

 

[excuseme]

Is this an actual genuine message below or could there be a nasty bug got into the system ?

 

[JudyN]

Can our/my details be completely deleted from registration if we request this ?

It should be possible, @excuseme - in fact under data protection law you should be legally entitled to this if you want. Though I'm not sure you can insist on your posts being removed. There might be some limitations on this, though - the law can be messy!

Hopefully though, you won't feel the need to do this - let's see what the future brings.

 

[JudyN]

Is this an actual genuine message below or could there be a nasty bug got into the system ?

As far as I know it's a genuine - I know that admin were struggling to make the forum pay its way, and the Online Safety Act may well have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[JoanneF]

I agree with @JudyN - @excuseme please don't make hasty decisions. It may be that the forum doesn't change much - or even gets better!

 

[arealhuman]

the Online Safety Act may well have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

I reckon this plays a part, I'm aware of some other forums that have closed as a result of the obligations this ill-conceived law confers. I also know about the costs/time associated with running a forum, having done it many years ago (wouldn't do it now), so would like to thank @Josie and @Oliver for the work they've put in in setting this place p and growing it.

 

[excuseme]

Ok I will wait a while, that was yesterday and me going directly into panic mode !!
Myself and a few others have been here from the begining of Josie and Oliver. It will be sad if they give it up completely.

Thank you.

 

[Ari_RR]

Just curious - what are the main expenses (time or money) associated with maintaining a forum?

 

[JudyN]

Just curious - what are the main expenses (time or money) associated with maintaining a forum?

Hosting fees. Cost depends on the size of the forum and the amount of traffic. As an idea, the hosting cost for the green forum I was on, which was fairly busy in the past, was something like £140 a year, though it's possible this one uses more expensive hosting. And you also need someone with some technical knowledge for when things go awry.

Waging war against spam can be time-consuming too - whatever new spam control measures you introduce, the spammers will immediately work to find a way round them. And between us, JoanneF and I spend a fair bit of time weighing up new members who seem a little bit suspect and deciding what, if any, action to take.

It's all worth it, of course, if we help just one person who is struggling in any way with their dog

 

[Ari_RR]

No need to worry. This too shall pass.
Just wait a bit, and it will be fine. That's what the wise dog does

 

[JoanneF]

@Ari_RR thank you, you have no idea how much I needed something to laugh at right now!

 

[Flobo]

That did make me chuckle!

 

[Hemlock]

Me too. I hope the boys warmed their noses up first!

 

[Dibbythedog]

Another forum is introducing AI to bump up posts I think ,some members won't be real . My OH wonders if AI companies are buying forums up.

 

[JoanneF]

I don't really understand that business model, how would that work? I'm not challenging the idea, I just don't get it?

 

[arealhuman]

My OH wonders if AI companies are buying forums up.

No, they're not. They can scrape the data they need simply as a result of a forum, or any other website, being on the internet. My guess is the new Online Safety Act, a terribly thought out piece of legislation*, is forcing many places to shut down as the risk of fines and cost of compliance is just too much for low risk, smaller forums such as this one. It's another example of a government - of whatever colour - wanting to be seen doing something with no thought given to unintended consequences.

* The conspiracy theorists among you may argue that this was the plan all along, shut down another route of free expression.

 

[JudyN]

If AI members increase traffic to forums, then it will help push the forums and any ads on the forums up in google results, and they will become more attractive to advertisers. That's my (rather hazy) understanding, anyway.

 

[Flobo]

I also don't quite understand the concept of having AI members... isn't that along the same lines as people making up fake profiles? How do we know who 'they' are?? Ooh I'm going to shut up now before my tech paranoia takes hold!! Run!!!