I made an observation on another thread about why some folk don't dig the site and...............it got deleted by a mod.

No discussion about dissent allowed, it would seem.

It's a shame; I've been a member for years and would love to see the site expand and thrive, but there you go.

Actually, the "observation" in question included some gratuitous slinging of terms like "personality disordered narcissists" and "dickheads" on a thread which was meant to address avoidance of GI tract difficulties. Since your post was inflammatory and insulting as well as off-topic, I tossed it. No great loss.

Commentary on how the site does or doesn't work is always welcome--at least in my eyes. This assumes, of course, that legitimate threads are not dragged far off topic in the process. If you've got something to say on the subject, go ahead and say it....but not here, where the topic is EFI vs. carburetors.

yr. mild-mannered mod,

Mark

(Who rode a totally stock carbed KLR almost 100k miles through substantial bits of five continents as high as 5000 meters elevation without much difficult. My carb needed cleaning once after a load of bad fuel in Slovakia, another time after presumed water in my fuel in Nicaragua. It also got torn down and rebuilt several times over by a dealership in Texas--before they realized that what appeared to be fuel issues were actually the result of a loose baffle in my exhaust.)

Why not start a new thread on the topic of "Where have the old members gone/how should we attract new members"? Usually this happens in the quiet/silly season = Northern hemisphere winter, rather than in the riding season...

In addition to what has been suggested by Mark, it's interesting to add up the number of (Also using multiple IDs?) and length of bans of certain users. Some also have an growing infraction list and are just one more from the next ban... Some have only just been un-banned!

If you don't like the friendliness and helpful ethos on this site, why not move on elsewhere (unless you're banned there already too, of course....!), or even better, go on an adventurous m/c trip and share your (factual/up-to-date) experiences with others?

A bored (of the same drivel spouted by some) Mod who sincerely wishes he could teach old dogs new tricks.

PS. Sorry this is off topic and should possibly be PMed privately, but how often do some people need to be spoken to privately?!

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Mark,

The remark was an observation on the world of HU and was not aimed at anyone who had actually posted in that thread and was about why a lot of great people eschew the site. It was meant to be helpful rather than inflammatory.

If I said ISIS are a bunch of personailty disordered narcissists, would you find that insulting? Well they most certainly are and there are some on this site and one or two of them are moderators. That's life. Google the prevalence of said personality disorder and you'll see that statistically every group of people will have some. I'm pretty sure I did not call anyone in particular a dickhead although I do often use the term.

I prefer EFI bikes now but rode many continents on carbies with relatively few hassles.

Let's see how long this post lasts, or are such comments only allowed to remain if made by mods, mild mannered or not?

These posts are moved to a thread and location that makes sense for website commentary.

Docsherlock, since you've just come off a lengthy ban, perhaps sending such comments direct to me would be smarter? Antagonising mods and users and me by publicly posting potentially inflammatory remarks is not the best way to make a new start. It doesn't show good sense to me.

I read all comments / emails sent to me direct, and am more "flexible" about what is said in an email than I might be in public posts. There is a time and place for everything.

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

There is some worth in knowing the context - the thread from which this one was extracted?
Post number 6 therein refers.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...tion-rtw-82152

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Dave

As a newbie i want to say i find this site really helpful.

I was reading an article last night that set out research findings which evidence that the secret to a good marriage are "gentleness and kindness". Seems a good principle for a forum too.

In the real world none of us get it right all the time (not that i have any complaints at all - I don't know anything about the politics and long may it stay that way), but i would like to say thanks to those who no doubt work hard to moderate the forum. Seems a thankless but valuable task to me.

Cheers
Andy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like the HUBB exactly the way it is. I've been visiting this site since 1999, and I see no need for change.

If you think you can make a better site, why not set one up yourself..?

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

I wish some one would tell my wife about the gentleness and kindness thing.

I think you also have to be able to take a joke and ignore the odd thing that goes a bit wrong. This site does really well for people who can be opposing sides of one debate and agree on another. It usually proves they all have a fair point. ( Except on carburettors, dogs and vegan tyres of course )

People are going to move on. We like to explore. If you want to repeat the party line on oil and rockers and whatever else, so there is no discourse you picked the wrong site. You could try a few of the single marque clubs

Repeat after me: 2000 mile oil change good, going over 55 mph bad......

Andy

I certainly had my heart broken when the dogs and vegan-tyres threads were disappeared (NOT by me, I must stress!). I thought some of the contributions there were excellent examples of the dark art of humour and pure slapstick.

You win some, you lose some.

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

It might (or not?) be of interest to observe that once the off topic ramblings of a minority were move from the thread linked to by Walkabout to here, the volume and on-topic-ness of others' contributions on that thread increased dramatically.

Maybe good contributions breed good contributions? Maybe new contributors are attracted and old contributors are reinvigorated once all utterances are parked in more appropriate places/ communicated in less offensive ways?

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I don't anyone who doesn't 'Dig the hubb'. A few people spit their dummies and leave or get offended when people don't say thank you for them posting a reply.. But they're the minority.

You'd have to be a highly sensitive soul to actually be offended by a travel forum.


I know what you mean though. It's not as 'busy' as it used to be. But I think only in a 'social network' way. I don't think that's down to the HUBB though. I think that's down to the MASSIVE dominance of Facebook, twitter and other social media. Horizons Unlimited has a huge Facebook group which people use a lot now too.

On the bright side, the information on the hubb now tends to be more 'relevant and useful'. Instead of the really useful information being lost in threads of rubbish.

Just look at website forums like ABR. They're all about "Post a pic of your cat" or "What's your favourite pie".

That's fine in it's own way but hardly useful information when you need to find out the current Visa Situation for Russia...



Like Chris says too. It's summer. Everyone is out riding, camping , on holiday. (I'm packing my bike for a weekend at haggs bank right now). And also it's winter in South America, Australia, Africa so it's kind of 'Off season' as far Overland travel goes.

I use the hubb a lot more in the UK winter where I am dreaming instead of riding.

The hubb is a great place and it's in the hands of it's members and supporters to keep it going in it's current format.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I can't comment on whether the hubb is less or more busy than previously, but when I was talking to Grant a while ago, he offered the view that the hubb has a huge proportion of "lurkers" who read for pleasure or are researching trips.

They browse sub-forums and use the (now highly efficient, since Google algorithms are being used) search function. Just because they don't reply to a post (maybe they don't have an answer or don't feel the need to spout hot air?) or ask the same question that has been asked 10s of times already (maybe they have browsed or searched the site?), doesn't mean the traffic (useful traffic that attracts advertisers...) is poor/falling or whatever.

Look how popular the HU meets all over the world are. The brand HU/HUBB is doing just fine, I believe.

I also agree with Ted regarding social media. I occasionally dip into the HU group on Facebook and it is what it is: predominantly froth and chit-chat, just like the rest of Facebook and Twitter et al. No one expects to find/see anything factually useful on social media, do they?

I "lurk" on Facebook regularly. I use it to stay in touch with real friends and Facebook-friends and talk BS.

ABR may on the surface have a lot of traffic, but it just seems to be a social forum used a lot by a few. You wouldn't go there for useful information. When people do ask useful information about motorcycle travel beyond the UK they invariably get told to read the hubb... e.g. http://www.adventurebikerider.com/fo...ke-abroad.html

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I've been a "lurker" since 2006 but only recently began posting as I step up the research for a future RTW trip my wife and I have been planning for the last few years.

I've spent most of my lunch breaks at work for the last 9 years looking on the HUBB and love the 24hr link on the homepage. It's the first site I visit when I get in from work.

The site as a whole is excellent for research and you only need to have a quick browse through the HUBB to find tonnes of like-minded overlanders and a plethora of useful information. There is often no need to post anything as the answers to any questions are all there and easy to see.

I also go on ADVrider but only really use it when I want to look at photos of a 3 legged cat sat on a motorcycle in front of a red brick building with a black door. Even then you have to trawl through pages for a decent one. Plus they're mostly from USA.

The HUBB has accurate information from people from all over the world and that's what I like.

In have been on the site for years and will be here for many more i hope.

I find it perfect ,and want to say Thanks for everyone posting and working on this site!!


Saludos desde Ecuador.

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