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[Jorvik]

As for the thread, would it make me a massive snide (it would wouldn't it?!) to suggest making the 'out of the festival' thread private? There's been some pretty in the know stuff that's allowed members to react quick on the cash out front.
Forum Yankees should probably be members only too? Other than that I think the balance is decent, needs to be enough to tempt the long-term lurkers many of us have been at some point to take the plunge.

I'd be happy to pay a contribution to the forum too if that was ever the way forward, although I would like the ability to ban people who watch reality tv shows as part of my terms.

[Star Of A Gunner]

Maybe a bit controversial, but has the the forum now got enough members where we can just shut up shop and make it a closed forum. Not sure how to go about this but somebody will..

[Kevloaf]

Maybe a bit controversial, but has the the forum now got enough members where we can just shut up shop and make it a closed forum. Not sure how to go about this but somebody will..

Exactly the kind of point that needs discussing.


I'll give this thread a week and I promise to go through everyones points/posts even if I don't respond on here. (I obviously will comment between now and next week, I'm going for my tea right now)

I truly value the input though, let's thrash it out. Then no matter what I decide to do, someone is pissed off



Remember, we're all conjoined twins, so be nice?

[somer1]

Maybe a bit controversial, but has the the forum now got enough members where we can just shut up shop and make it a closed forum. Not sure how to go about this but somebody will..

Thing is you can never have enuff info SOAG. With the out the fez thread if it was locked would it give us members more time to cash out?

[Istabraq]

Maybe a bit controversial, but has the the forum now got enough members where we can just shut up shop and make it a closed forum. Not sure how to go about this but somebody will..

It’s not a decision for me but the forum has continued to grow and this year alone has attracted some of the forums most knowledgable posters, if you close the shop there’s always a danger you miss out on equally knowledgable members joining in the future.
The irritation has always been and will always be the thousands of guests that lurk and benefit from the excellent points that are posted in here...

[TigerRolllllll]

I think it is a good idea to leave some of the forum visible......as hopefully some of the lurkers decide to join and share their ideas and angles

However, moving more to the members area is a good idea and might even encourage some to share more stuff if they are more relaxed re the privacy

Important thing is we protect the forum as it is so helpful and great fun.....seems to get better each year

One other note.....I saw that some of the 10-to-follow money is going to help cover forum costs.....which I thought was a great idea.....and maybe something we need to do more of.....not sure if only Kev funding or how that works .....but think we should see all this as a team effort

[Star Of A Gunner]

Thanks for the replies guys. I used to be a member of Teetees forum, same as this really, lots of knowledgeable posters but with exactly the same issues being discussed here. They made the whole forum members only. No lurkers, members getting the prices that was being posted etc. I did mention this on here probably a year or so ago when the same issues were being discussed.

[Kevloaf]

Thanks for the replies guys. I used to be a member of Teetees forum, same as this really, lots of knowledgeable posters but with exactly the same issues being discussed here. They made the whole forum members only. No lurkers, members getting the prices that was being posted etc. I did mention this on here probably a year or so ago when the same issues were being discussed.

I think I asked at the time, but what happened there?

[nortonscoin200]

I'd be interested yo know how many so called "lurkers" (I really don't like that term) view the forum on an average day at this time of year.

That would give us an idea of the scale of the problem - if indeed it is a problem.

As some of the Cheltenham threads are for members only - and there seems to be a general view that the handicaps should go the same way - I think it makes sense to move all the Cheltenham Festival threads to members only viewing.

Let's have them all in the same place.

In order to attract new members - which is desirable - we could then go one of two ways:

1. Make only the Gold Cup thread available for casual visitors (lurkers) as a taster of what the forum has to offer.

2. Start a new thread in the visitors section championing some of the posts made on the forum that gave an early recommendation for horses who have shortened up considerably. There are no doubt countless examples but one that springs to mind is the Lobos post way back in the summer which highlighted Galvin for the NH Chase because of the way Gordon has campaigned previous horses for the race.
Someone (presumably Kev or a Big Cheese) would have to take editorial control and place ten or 20 posts made in different threads on the forum which show the sort of top class punters info available on FJF.
Obviously, the posts used on this visitors taster thread would have to be at least a few weeks old rather than up-to-the-minute sensitive stuff.

It would be possible to run 1 and 2 side by side as a taster.

It strikes me - after only 10 months as a member - that we are basically all on the same side despite our daily disagreements on which horses make a betting proposition. I thought the thread where people detailed some pretty sobering covid experiences provoked a very heart-warming response which showed a very caring attitude towards fellow members.

The forum seems to be very much a case of give and take. I sometimes feel guilty that many of the horses I've backed for Cheltenham have been flagged up by members here who are a fount of racing knowledge. But it strikes me that people also try to give others the benefit of their endeavours too. Think Happy Diva and Lisnagar Oscar in my my case - my generosity knows no bounds!!!!

Personally, I have no problem with another member who hasn't posted a diary having a look at where my money's gone.

But I think if we move the handicap threads to a members only viewing platform then we might as well go the whole hog and move the rest of the Cheltenham Festival threads as well.

I assume daily NH tips/flat tips. golf and football bets etc could still be assessed by visitors - and again I wouldn't have a problem with that because the Cheltenham Festival threads are the jewel in the FJF crown.

Having said all that, I'm not desperately thinking a move to more member only viewing is urgently needed - it just seems logical that if we do it let's move the entire Cheltenham Festival show while finding a method to promote the site to visitors who want to take a peek.

[Joleg]

This appears to be 'a rock and a hard place' stuff

Personally i have no issue with a payment for info (Like SW's thread) or threads and posts that may encourage a price to fall before most members have read it or backed, however if it's more members needed surely you would have to display a certain amount of threads (not just the grade 1's) to show what a fantastic site this is.

If viewing for 'lurkers' is minimal what would there be to encourage them to sign up

[Magpie]

Some.good points.from.NC, there. Quite liken having some threads open as a taster, and then you have to join to see more content. Maybe for new members wanting to join, there could be a small joining fee which will help run the FJ forum, but also might only attract supporters who have a genuine interest in the sport. I might be wrong, but would guess some lurkers would not pay anything at all. Maybe its a half way house to continue to attract more members, but not so many lurkers. (Which I was for some time!)

[Star Of A Gunner]

I think I asked at the time, but what happened there?

Sorry Kev, how do you mean.

[Istabraq]

I'd be interested yo know how many so called "lurkers" (I really don't like that term) view the forum on an average day at this time of year.

That would give us an idea of the scale of the problem - if indeed it is a problem.

As of 8.10pm there are 94 members online and 368 guests, there are regularly 1000+ guests.
The record number of users online is 2981 back in June this year, safe to say there won’t have been more that 100 or so members of that figure...

[robith]

Maybe a bit controversial, but has the the forum now got enough members where we can just shut up shop and make it a closed forum. Not sure how to go about this but somebody will..

Disagree hard with this....you never know who is round the corner. Several new posters this year have really added huge value to the place. Diversity of people leads to diversity of opinion which leads to improved performance

[Magpie]

I've seen that record of numbers in June Istabraq, and always wondered what was happening in June, as we are mainly a NH forum?