Hidden content / Members areas

[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.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

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?

 

[robith]

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?

We were still pretty locked down and the forum was crushing Royal Ascot

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Sorry Kev, how do you mean.

Is the teetee forum still going? 

 

[Deleted member 4957]

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?

The previous record was a week or so before Cheltenham and numbers weren’t much less from memory, I think in June racing had just re-started and the pubs were still shut !

 

[nortonscoin200]

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...

Blimey, that's a lot of guests and it would be a shame to lose them.

That makes it tricky to move everything over IMO.

Not even sure moving the handicaps over would be the perfect solution.

Is there any way technically you could put a 12-hour or 24-hour delay on what visitors see?

 

[jono]

Completely agree about being against closing off the forum. A short term fix that'll harm the site long term. I guarantee in a years time there will be at least 1 or 2 new members not yet on the site which bring added value to the site. Imo you run the risk of the forum going stale by not introducing new members, new viewpoints etc.

I think the idea of a 'taster' section which gives a sample of the forum to all is nice.
Maintenance could be an issue though to keep it up to date and relevant. Manually would be a pain. But whether the forum has a method where by we could push certain posts based on something other than a like? A 'promote' option?

Alternatively open up the 4 championship races to all. Would be my first thought...
They are generally the races where a lot of the form is out there at the start of the season.
Whilst still leaving enough room for some really good analysis and insight in the markets.
They are the 4 biggest races of the festival so they'll have enough weight to draw new people onto the site.
I also think having a full thread of a race, from start to finish, with every post works better than a snapshot.
No ongoing maintenance required, just allow those 4 race threads to be open.

Novices, handicaps would be closed off members only. Non members shouldn't be benefitting on a head start on those races.

 

[Star Of A Gunner]

Is the teetee forum still going? 

Thanks, just wasn’t sure. Haven’t been on in a couple of years but yes it was a very busy forum so no reason for it not to be still going. Teetee was a big Betfair forum contributor but like a lot of people got disalusioned with the way it was heading. He set up his own forum and a whole lot of the top clued up posters followed him and it got big very quickly. I don’t include myself as a clued up poster by the way! But as I stated they got fed up with lurkers snaffling the early prices etc, and made it member only which rightly or wrongly worked very well.
Just to add when I was there, they probably had twice as many members as FJ, so the decision to go member only was maybe an easier decision to make.

 

[Topofthegame2021]

I agree with the novices and handicaps being behind closed doors as more often then not these are the bigger priced horses that are being talked about and therefore can get cut after someone making a case in here.

I do think however the diaries should be left open to all members to read. I do have my own so check it out if you haven’t already but some might not have the courage to put their selections up for the forum to see but like to take inspiration from others. :angel: (Loving these new smilies btw)

 

[Run4Home]

I think your first step is make it members only to filter out some rift raft.. if you want to be part you should be signed up. But I think overall its difficult to do a hard stop on members only as if you want to see the content you'll just create a dummy email and sign up so that won't work.

You could then look at number of posts etc I know some will argue they aren't confident enough to post or have enough knowledge etc but there is still plenty people can contribute with pieces from tours, RP, market moves or quotes bits like this which isn't reliant on their own knowledge.

I do think some of the sticky topics shouldn't be available to everyone as a lot of the work and content posted is people going away gathering info and reposting for others benefit. Stable tours, trainer quotes etc

Thinking out loud but what would be cool ... there is a constant group of people putting out their own knowledge, putting in effort & research etc could there be a group / thread made which is only visible to selected members ? Anything really valuable / where price could move could be posted here to this group and later added to thread where needed... Almost like a reward for regular contributors; people could be added etc to the group as time goes on. Would this encourage people to contribute more which is what we need?

Last point would be my main train of thought as a start but not 100% on implementation...

 

[Platty]

Evening all
I'm sure I'll be classed as a lurker as this is only my 10th post I think since joining in February. I can understand the feeling of regular contributors in that I am getting the benefit of their knowledge and opinions without adding my thoughts to them. However I do not really have the time to spend viewing and analysing races every day but NH racing is one of my main sources of enjoyment in life and being able to view the various threads and posts adds enormously to that, particularly in the build-up to Cheltenham. If I am able to attend in March it will be my 43rd festival but I'm sure my very modest stakes will have no effect on any prices!
I'd be very happy to contribute to the cost of the forum and all I would say if any decision is taken to restrict access that any members who may be affected are given time & opportunity to be able to retain full access whether that be via a monetary or posting contribution.
Whatever happens everyone has my thanks for keeping me informed and entertained over the last few months!

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Evening all
I'm sure I'll be classed as a lurker as this is only my 10th post I think since joining in February

Certainly not Platty, when I refer to lurkers I am talking about guests/non members...

 

[BigChaang]

Someone (presumably Kev or a Big Cheese.

I thought Kev Was a Big Cheese !!.ositive::biggrin-new: , I don't think that there should be too many changes , Obviously it's a popular forum now.
and don't want too discourage that. But i agree with the Diaries , Yankees and O.F.T.S being members only.:cool-new::teapot::applouse:

 

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

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

Sorry Kev, missed that first time around. As a very grateful net receiver interested to continue to read the thoughts of some of the great regular posters on this subject

 

[Pendil]

I don't do a diary but definitely agree they should be restricted access. I love SW Irish angle but not sure it needs restricting and similarly with the handicap thread. IMO important not to get to precious or paranoid about outsiders stealing info. Best Post on the forum towards price change recently was Marty973 informing people of PP moves on BDD

 

[Nortons who]

Kev

I agree with the suggestions already made to put the Out Of Festival and Forum Yankees in the members area, along with the Handicap plots, members diaries and the outstanding upcoming race lists produced by Saxon Warrior.

Overall though from a Forum technical admin perspective, I'm assuming you need to keep things fairly simple.

Finally on a more light hearted note.

If you are looking tor something which really differentiates a genuine FJF member from the crowd then how about....

Making all prospective members take and pass a straightforward FJF enrolment questionnaire.

4 No's and a Yes and you're in.....

Question 1: Were you pleased when Western Warhorse won the 2014 Arkle ?
YES / NO.

Question 2: Are Presenting Percy and Min two of your favourite racehorses ?
YES / NO.

Question 3: When the tapes went up for the 2020 Martin Pipe Hurdle, were you cheering for Indefatigable to win ?
YES / NO.

Question 4. Is West Virginia tobacco one of the key ingredients in a Cheltenham roll-up ? YES / NO.

Question 5. Can you keep a secret ? YES / NO.

 

[ryanh97]

I think the first thing we need to figure out is what the actual problem is that we're trying to solve? What problems are people having with the forum as it is at the moment?