Can a forum get too big?

[Silkie]

Not this place obviously but in the other (R2R particularly) the new thread rate seems to constantly increase. Frinstance..

Granted that "updates" don't get nearly as much response as "help" threads but I recently posted just such an update to my stemhead fitting post and the next time I was able to check it was near the bottom of page two with dateslip on. The original responders probably didn't see it.

I suspect that a lot of questions don't get the in-depth answers they once did because there are just so many of them.

Of course if there weren't so many people logging on then you wouldn't have such a breadth of experience available..

799

[Superstrath]

Yeah, but...
If you set up the forum to show threads with latest posts, then when you post to your thread again, it will reappear at the top of everyone's pages, provided that they are set up like that, as I think most are.
Thus, when Donald sticks something onto the Clymore Saga thread, everyone sees it, it's not lost in the dark far-away. Ditto the forever reappearing one about Two Guys on a MOBO.

Alistair

[Silkie]

Yeah, but..

I do have it set to display threads by last post date (see "with dateslip on" above) and to display 30 threads per page.

I resurrected the thread in question by posting the story of the repair to it at 2253 one evening but by approx 1400 next day it was already near the bottom of page two ie about 50 threads had had posts added in the previous 15 hours with most people asleep for half that time.

[aquaplane]

Yeah, but..

Forums can get too busy. There must be a sort of equilibrium level where things are moving along nicely but not too fast for most folks to miss much.

I am on the norfolk broads forum, and because they are Broads first and boats way down, another forum was started for people who go on the Thames, Caledonian Canal, any other canal, or Windermere etc. Basicaly folk who are boaters before Broads folk.

The Broads forum needs 2 visits a day to keep up, the other forum "canals and waterways" needs 2 visits a month to keep up. It depends on traffic. I'm a sailor, the Broads are OK, but not the be all and end all, the West Coast is better but further. Loch Lomond is just as far, give me a good reason to give it a go, I'm willing but the flesh is weak

[Nick]

. . . is probably the 3rd busiest sailing forum in the UK, and it could do with a few more regulars.

It's not a bad place though . . . .

[Silkie]

The original responders probably didn't see it.

Further to my comment above I have received a PM from one of the original responders asking how the repair went.

[portieux]

this is a great forum slowly getting going just look at the baltic forum thats not a warm place not bad but not very good

I hope this forum will keep going?

[Nick]

I hope this forum will keep going?

It's been going since 2000 with a short break . . . it will keep going in one form or another.