Hidden content / Members areas

[ryanh97]

There could be a paid subscription section, that would stop almost every 'silent' member? Wouldn't need to be very much money at all to stop casual lurkers, and anyone that paid for that area yet didn't contribute would be so easy to spot and easy to challenger.

Might not be a popular option, but it is an option.

Might not be a very popular option but a minimal donation to the running of the forum could work.

 

[PaisleyClegg]

I barely ever post, but love this forum. I actually find the level of racing knowledge too intimidating. I also bet very small stakes so don't want to share views that I am not willing to back myself.

I love the stories and the buzz building up to the best days of the year. This forum is a major part of the festival build up for me.

I think it is very hard to separate what is serious punting from the general discussions around whats going to be the best race, who's the best novice chaser we've seen so far etc... Doing so would lose some of the magic in my opinion.

 

[somer1]

Kev. I said a long time ago that the yankees should be members only as in the past the price has changed after i got home from work to place it.

 

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

I think there have already been some good suggestions but just want to question the premise for doing this. While it well may be true that lurkers are mainly responsible for certain price movements, is it not equally plausible that it is just regular members that are doing this? Seasoned members are pretty good at spotting a well made case and acting accordingly, especially when one bookie is stand out. So while I have no problems at all with what is decided just a word of caution that it might not actually change anything in terms of protecting prices.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

I think there have already been some good suggestions but just want to question the premise for doing this. While it well may be true that lurkers are mainly responsible for certain price movements, is it not equally plausible that it is just regular members that are doing this? Seasoned members are pretty good at spotting a well made case and acting accordingly, especially when one bookie is stand out. So while I have no problems at all with what is decided just a word of caution that it might not actually change anything in terms of protecting prices.

I'm not sure how accurate the figures are but there are usually between 200-500 guests online at any time, compared with around 20-100 members (depending on time of day).

 

[Jorvik]

I barely ever post, but love this forum. I actually find the level of racing knowledge too intimidating. I also bet very small stakes

I used to be like this too, a long time lurker not wanting to put my head above the parapet as everyone seemed to know bloody loads, but eventually I did and it's helped make me take a keener interest in a sport I already loved and now love even more. I'll never be one of those who can recall races from years ago (fucked if I know what day it is half the time) or have in depth knowledge on stuff like breeding other than the obvious ones, but I think I know enough about what I see infront of me when watching races to form an opinion i'm happy to back and i'm sure you do too really. I'd say I bet small stakes too, but who's to know what is and isn't, all relative, doesn't detract from your viewpoint unless you're taking the piss with 10p e/w monster 7 fold bets on complete shite at 3am after a lockdown stella sesh. Which is something I would never lower myself to. :hopelessness:
Get posting and if anyone gives you grief, stick to your guns if it's what you really believe or ignore them/tell them where to go in a polite but imaginatively passive aggressive manner the rest of us can enjoy :encouragement:

 

[Kevloaf]

I barely ever post, but love this forum. I actually find the level of racing knowledge too intimidating. I also bet very small stakes so don't want to share views that I am not willing to back myself.

I love the stories and the buzz building up to the best days of the year. This forum is a major part of the festival build up for me.

I think it is very hard to separate what is serious punting from the general discussions around whats going to be the best race, who's the best novice chaser we've seen so far etc... Doing so would lose some of the magic in my opinion.

A very fair point.

I've never made a secret that I was a lurker too for a year then joined and have increased my knowledge and staking almost unrecognisibly from when I started, which is all due to the knowledge on here and people helping me, especially at the start. I used to post a lot then too, but mainly questions rather than shite :biggrin-new:

There does need to be a place for everyone at every level and nobody should feel they can't post. Especially as people have so much potential to grow to love the sport with this place being a huge factor in it.

It is difficult to cater to everybody, some peoples favourite parts will be others least favourite. :uncomfortableness:

 

[jack1092]

I'm not sure if this is possible but is it possible to deactivate members who sign up but do not post? It is easy enough for lurkers to sign up as a member, never contribute and still get all the benefits.

Think this is the main thing to help limit the lurkers. I see Kev you've mentioned also a number of posts option which is a good idea.

I haven't a diary purely because i am not a huge antepost bettor. I've the usual Shishkin/EA doubles that everyone + their dog has etc. but i don't delve into the races half as much as others. Mainly as i'm predominantly following the Irish week to week stuff. I enjoy the discussion in here + the reasonings put forward.

If hidden diaries is a thing then fair enough, but i'd say that if the lurking members where cut down in the main, the prices might stop cutting as fast. Maybe i'm wrong though!

 

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

I'm not sure how accurate the figures are but there are usually between 200-500 guests online at any time, compared with around 20-100 members (depending on time of day).

Interesting, of course setting this up will act as a little experiment which may shed some light on who his having a bigger impact on prices.

 

[Kevloaf]

I think there have already been some good suggestions but just want to question the premise for doing this. While it well may be true that lurkers are mainly responsible for certain price movements, is it not equally plausible that it is just regular members that are doing this? Seasoned members are pretty good at spotting a well made case and acting accordingly, especially when one bookie is stand out. So while I have no problems at all with what is decided just a word of caution that it might not actually change anything in terms of protecting prices.

Yep, I did reference that in the OP too, there might be nothing in it.


Do we want FJ to move prices? At a certain size that would happen just due to number of bets being placed..... if that's a resounding no, then are we essentially saying right now, that we have everyone we need on board, and we stick together?

I have my own thoughts on this (as I do with everything :tongue-new but interested in what everyone else has to say so I don't just do it my way and get it wrong.

 

[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) :monkey:

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



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

 

[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?

 

[Deleted member 4957]

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