MSE has closed the Money Saving Arms.

WillimS2020

tghe-retford said:

redux said:

Too much of this discussion, on this and a couple of other threads, is working against persuading MSE to reconsider the decision at a suitable time in the future. 

It's more to do with the reality of running a website that allows people to speak freely and what has been happening recently in relation to "conspiracy theories" being allowed to run rampant and "hate speech" being expressed (both of course not defined) to anyone that allows such discussion as is the case with the Arms and DT. It's a risk and one that could see you on the wrong end of payment processors pulling their service, where Google can pull ad revenue from your website (not applicable here but has happened elsewhere in the last week), where your domain is pulled and your host gives you notice that they're pulling their service. Maybe MSE has seen all of this and decided it isn't worth putting the whole site at risk just to appease those with right wing or centrist views or those who may not agree with Government or World Health Organisation guidance on masks and social distancing and may wish to criticise them with the increased moderation that will need to shoot down anything like that on sight combined with the increased pressure of Covid-19 on staffing and moderation levels needed.

I don't like Katie Hopkins but there is furious backlash that she's been banned from Twitter, basically because she is using freedom of speech, but clearly not the freedom that is considered freedom. 

buglawton

The demand for Moneysaving Arms comes simply from the fact that so many people have had more spare time at home. Usually when demand rises, eventually supply does to match, so long as there being a way of funding it. I guess that MSE wants to keep the site ad-free in contrast so cannot expand in line with lockdown usage rising.

The 'troublemakers' such as they exist, will now migrate to other boards in MSE. An example would be, I recently asked about how the MOT extension is working as the DVLA's site was confusing. I got some good advice and then disapproving-sounding comments about how can my wife not want an MOT when she must be going to the supermarket. I didn't bite. So the diversion into argument will now be happening all the more on the advice boards, IMO. Was it really such a good ideal to close the Moneysavers Arms?

As they say, 'other sites are available' and in fact with the big MSE design change where you have to edit everything 3 times to format it right, and if you forget to bookmark where you posted, you lose track of your own conversations, I have already been moving to other sites much of the time. That lack of auto-bookmarking btw means MSE is losing inexperienced noobies who ask their first question then can never find it again. Rant over, pastures new...

Tom_Mix

Cornucopia said:

If people are pining for The Arms experience, why not set up your own forum?

Because a new Arms forum will probably have no legs..

Past attempts by disgruntled ex members have all gone belly up.

ukcarper

Matt_L said:

ukcarper said:

Marisco said:

Well, the troublemakers finally got their way   I think it's shocking of MSE to close DT at this time when many people are stuck in the house, some on their own, and this was the one place they could feel connected. Surely it's not beyond the wit of MSE to root our AE's and kick them off the boards? I'm sure some tech savvy member would volunteer to do it if the forum team has no time (or inclination!)

Those of you who are moving to DS, (or other platforms) are you keeping the same name as you have here? I've been looking into it, but not sure whether to change names or not, I'm very attached to this one

I've register on DS but am waiting for approval which can take 48hrs I used same username.

I was considering DS but to be fair looking at a couple of comments on here and reading some threads over there it appears to be nothing more that a left wing echo chamber....

Just had a longer look a politics board on ds and see what you mean don't think I will be spending much time there. DT although not perfectly balanced did a reasonable cross section.

Quasar

Well, the notice on the board says the closure is temporary, so I'll just wait and see.  I often lurk on the money board to see if there is anything of interest - less now of course, as I live abroad, but still useful.

Matt_L

ukcarper said:

Matt_L said:

ukcarper said:

Marisco said:

Well, the troublemakers finally got their way   I think it's shocking of MSE to close DT at this time when many people are stuck in the house, some on their own, and this was the one place they could feel connected. Surely it's not beyond the wit of MSE to root our AE's and kick them off the boards? I'm sure some tech savvy member would volunteer to do it if the forum team has no time (or inclination!)

Those of you who are moving to DS, (or other platforms) are you keeping the same name as you have here? I've been looking into it, but not sure whether to change names or not, I'm very attached to this one

I've register on DS but am waiting for approval which can take 48hrs I used same username.

I was considering DS but to be fair looking at a couple of comments on here and reading some threads over there it appears to be nothing more that a left wing echo chamber....

Just had a longer look a politics board on ds and see what you mean don't think I will be spending much time there. DT although not perfectly balanced did a reasonable cross section.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't join if it was a right wing echo chamber, as you say there seemed to be a good mix here and although I have often been dead against some peoples views here ive enjoyed doing battle😊, some ive won, many ive lost but would never dream of reporting anyone I disagreed with...

With luck they may reopen DT in the near future......

Pyxis

Quasar said:

Well, the notice on the board says the closure is temporary, so I'll just wait and see.  I often lurk on the money board to see if there is anything of interest - less now of course, as I live abroad, but still useful.

I still think you should start an Italian language thread, @Quasar, per i poveri che non parlano bene l'italiano e che non possono andare in Italia in vacanza quest'anno.

ukcarper

Matt_L said:

ukcarper said:

Matt_L said:

ukcarper said:

Marisco said:

Well, the troublemakers finally got their way   I think it's shocking of MSE to close DT at this time when many people are stuck in the house, some on their own, and this was the one place they could feel connected. Surely it's not beyond the wit of MSE to root our AE's and kick them off the boards? I'm sure some tech savvy member would volunteer to do it if the forum team has no time (or inclination!)

Those of you who are moving to DS, (or other platforms) are you keeping the same name as you have here? I've been looking into it, but not sure whether to change names or not, I'm very attached to this one

I've register on DS but am waiting for approval which can take 48hrs I used same username.

I was considering DS but to be fair looking at a couple of comments on here and reading some threads over there it appears to be nothing more that a left wing echo chamber....

Just had a longer look a politics board on ds and see what you mean don't think I will be spending much time there. DT although not perfectly balanced did a reasonable cross section.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't join if it was a right wing echo chamber, as you say there seemed to be a good mix here and although I have often been dead against some peoples views here ive enjoyed doing battle😊, some ive won, many ive lost but would never dream of reporting anyone I disagreed with...

With luck they may reopen DT in the near future......

My thoughts exactly.

miriamac

ukcarper said:

Matt_L said:

ukcarper said:

Marisco said:

Well, the troublemakers finally got their way   I think it's shocking of MSE to close DT at this time when many people are stuck in the house, some on their own, and this was the one place they could feel connected. Surely it's not beyond the wit of MSE to root our AE's and kick them off the boards? I'm sure some tech savvy member would volunteer to do it if the forum team has no time (or inclination!)

Those of you who are moving to DS, (or other platforms) are you keeping the same name as you have here? I've been looking into it, but not sure whether to change names or not, I'm very attached to this one

I've register on DS but am waiting for approval which can take 48hrs I used same username.

I was considering DS but to be fair looking at a couple of comments on here and reading some threads over there it appears to be nothing more that a left wing echo chamber....

Just had a longer look a politics board on ds and see what you mean don't think I will be spending much time there. DT although not perfectly balanced did a reasonable cross section.

DT was a lot closer to the 'right wing echo chamber' end of the spectrum than it was to 'balance', lol!

Quasar

Pyxis said:

Quasar said:

Well, the notice on the board says the closure is temporary, so I'll just wait and see.  I often lurk on the money board to see if there is anything of interest - less now of course, as I live abroad, but still useful.

I still think you should start an Italian language thread, @Quasar, per i poveri che non parlano bene l'italiano e che non possono andare in Italia in vacanza quest'anno.

Ma in un foro puoi solo leggere e scrivere, non parlare, che e' piu' difficile ma anche piu' utile.
Translation: But on a forum you can only read and write, not speak, which is harder but also more useful,