Moving this board.

macaque_2

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Hi folks,

Just to give prior info. Im considering moving this board i(still as a seperate main board) nto the MoneySavers arms near discussion time.

While Im a fan of the board, its a talking shop and pure money is intended primarily for practical moneysaving guides and advice. So it fits better down there.

The robust nature of discussion in here can mean that those venturing in here looking for simple tips, and askign questions can be met by an unexpected tidal wave of polemic, which isn't what pure money is supposed to be.

I would like to take soundings first though - or alternative suggestions to ease this. Im sure there won't be a shortage of ideas.

Martin

I accept that this part of the site gets a bit anarchic at times but it remains a legitimate debating forum for the big questions. What is happening in the housing market and why? Do I buy and if so when? I would argue that it is very healthy for 'would be' buyers to get a taste of the debate raging between bulls and bears.

Forums of this sort have a life of their own and can change dramatically over time. Two years ago, this part of the site was something of a watering hole for bulls. They would discuss their their 'portfolios' and talk up the market. Bears joined the forum to add balance and, for a time, were given a pretty rough ride. Recently the bulls have been leaving the site. The reason for this is that the market has changed. This is not the fault of anyone on the forum but a reflection of changing market conditions. It is inevitable that many people who used to be obsessed with property would now prefer and watch daytime TV and bite their nails.

This site a blend between house prices, politics and social comment. House prices however remain the anchor and the draw for new contributers. People come to the site for one reason and stay for another. If it is shunted into siding it will wither and die.

carolt

divadee wrote: »

well then you need to broaden your horizons and look at all the other boards on this forum.

I found the arms when i first came here very easily, i think you will find most newbies will look at all the boards over time, and then most stick to the ones that interest them most.

And to be honest, this forum isnt pure money at all, it is mainly just discussion threads so it is best suited to where it may be moved to

Why do I need to 'broaden my horizons'?

I'm quite happy with the existing arrangements. General chit-chat doesn't interest me - that's why I don't go there. I come to a moneysaving site to discuss financial matters. Nothing against those who do choose to frequent the 'chat' boards; but I see no reason why I should go there.

Speaking as someone who has never gone there, I'd dispute the idea that 'most' newbies go there - I think most newbies come onto the site to research specific areas, labelled clearly so they can find them easily, and organised by category. As you start from the top and scroll down, most people will reach the 'chat' categories at the bottom, last.

Like I said, I've never made it down there, and after Generali's precis, don't plan to, either.

Heyman_2

It needs to be moved.

It's a discussion board and putting it in with the other discussion boards will broaden the scope and break up the tiresome smug clique that is all too prevelant.

divadee

Generali wrote: »

This is the poorest post from a moderator I've read on any website.

To paraphrase:

Martin is thinking about doing something you don't like. The reason you don't like it is because you're "narrow minded" and don't use the boards in the prescribed manner. We are right, you are wrong: you are just posters, we are part of the board elite.

well your para-phrasing is wrong isnt it. and by the way i am not a moderator but a board guide this site does not have moderators the rules about this can be read here . You will also see the note about this sites not haveing moderators on the top of every page which states

IMPORTANT! This forum isn't moderated.
If you spot a spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libellous post or PM please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

but at the end of the day martin owns this site, it is his to do what he likes with it. no-one pays to use this site and to be honest i think its fair that martin consults people on these issues, he doesnt have to does he?

divadee

carolt wrote: »

Why do I need to 'broaden my horizons'?

I'm quite happy with the existing arrangements. General chit-chat doesn't interest me - that's why I don't go there. I come to a moneysaving site to discuss financial matters. Nothing against those who do choose to frequent the 'chat' boards; but I see no reason why I should go there.

Speaking as someone who has never gone there, I'd dispute the idea that 'most' newbies go there - I think most newbies come onto the site to research specific areas, labelled clearly so they can find them easily, and organised by category. As you start from the top and scroll down, most people will reach the 'chat' categories at the bottom, last.

Like I said, I've never made it down there, and after Generali's precis, don't plan to, either.

omg for the 100th time its not being merged into the arms or discussion time is it? it will be seperate board where you can still "discuss financial matters". why would you stop posting just because its moved!!!! it will be the same board. it will only change if people are being narrow minded and refuse to move with the board just to be stubborn.

SingleSue

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

I did not mean to make it look like you had shortcomings, but was just pointing out that you may be being a little sensitive.

Could you also just please post again to say that it was not me that called you 'scum' by PM, because that post makes it look like it was!

Logged back in especially just to clear it up.

You were most certainly NOT the person who said I was scum.

MrDT

Generali wrote: »

This is the poorest post from a moderator I've read on any website.

To paraphrase:

Martin is thinking about doing something you don't like. The reason you don't like it is because you're "narrow minded" and don't use the boards in the prescribed manner. We are right, you are wrong: you are just posters, we are part of the board elite.

divadee, although a board guide here, rarely ever visits. Remember the uproar last time she popped by? :rolleyes:

divadee

MrDT wrote: »

divadee, although a board guide here, rarely ever visits. Remember the uproar last time she popped by? :rolleyes:

i visit every day, i just dont post. But i still board guide this board daily.

Doozergirl

Oh, the Irony! House Prices used to be discussed on the House Buying & Selling Board. Because it was so important it had to be renamed the House Prices, Buying & Selling board..... then it needed to be split from House Buying to a sub board of it's own, then the conversation diversifies so much it needed to become a board including discussion on the economy as a whole...

and now people are now pointing out that House Buying and House Prices are actually inextricably linked!

From the money saving perspective, house prices should be discussed in the same forum as the detail of house buying and selling for the exact reason that people should know what is happening in the market.

The economy & recession affects not only house prices, but savings, investments, pensions, mortgages - all other aspects of Pure Money yet we're not pulling interest rates out for discussion independently of mortgages or savings boards.

Economic and Political Discussion (incorporating both National and "in-board" politics :rolleyes:) makes sense as a board by itself. I'd put House Prices back where it belonged - a natural part of talk about buying and selling houses.

I'd also rename the Main "The Arms" Section to be "Discussion" or something similar (The Arms is linked too much with the board of the same name which is (sorry) rather banal) with proper Main boards depending on the type of discussion you want to have. I agree that whilst 'discussion time' itself was supposed to be high-brow, it has a lot of red-top type discussion. Perhaps an Economic and Political Discussion main board would fill the gap that used to be squeezed under the topic of "house prices" but has since broken out! Of course you don't have to exclude House Prices from being discussed there but you're no longer excluding it from being discussed on the House Buying etc Board which has happened by default because of House Prices having it's own area next door.

Heyman_2

MrDT wrote: »

divadee, although a board guide here, rarely ever visits. Remember the uproar last time she popped by? :rolleyes:

!!!!!! - let's not bring all that up again. :mad:

I know Martin is doing the 'decent' thing here and giving people a chance to sound off about it and it's no surprise that the expected bunch are stamping their feet and giving it all the 'we shall not be moved' rubbish, but quite honestly - it should just be moved and done with.

If 'regulars' don't like it then they should do one and let the rest of us get on with it - new 'regulars' will be established and on and on it goes, just the nature of these forums and the quicker it happens the better as far as I'm concerned.