They join, they enquire and then immediately disappear. Why ?

I did exactly that back in October 2010 on another forum.
It was when the French were on strike & the petrol stations were closed & there was a shortage of petrol.
We were due to go to Normandy that day.
I wanted to know if there was petrol available on the Autoroutes .
I have never been back to that forum & am not even sure which one it was, not that fussed either.

Oh we had a great trip to Normandy, as some of you will remember my photos.
Not now viewable as I deleted my Photobucket account .

Wasn't you made a Mod on that forum?

 

This forum entry is late because I care about my reputation. The comment raking me over the coals regarding the use of private VM was made jumping to conclusions without knowing anything of the details.

peaceful

p.s. I earned -16 demerit reputation points for my posting

 

p.s. I earned -16 demerit reputation points for my posting

Don't worry about it. Apparently-its only a bit of fun and no one takes it seriously except for me.


http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/network-information/12631-reputation-system.html

 

Hi Drew,

I'm not worrying about my reputation points it in the least but thanks.

I thought it was rather hilarious.

peaceful

 

Diane,
Sorry-what does shan't mean? Never heard that word used before.
peaceful

 

I shan't ask pardon, as some one else did, of the great shade of Shakespeare for betraying the secret of his ...

Or as I call him Wills Shakespeare, just adds something!

 

Quite often, this is the case.
I periodically get emails from embarrassed bods that forgot they ever visited asking me to pass on thanks to an individual.



Been meaning to put something in the Rules, Welcome message, wherever, specifically stating that sharing info and making 'stuff' more accessible is a major raison d'être for this place (and hopefully any other historical/researchy forum).
Got a war diary? Post it up.
Compiled some useful lists or data? People love 'em.
etc.

I can understand why some writers/researchers might mantle little nuggets for a specific project, But most data needs sharing I reckon.
There is a payback too, as the more you put out there, the more you tend to get back.


I completely agree with the lists, that would be very useful if indexed and clear to new members on how to use. I just mention the ease of use because I know I found it a bit difficult to navigate when I first joined, but I know I have a problem with that sort of information overload, a bit like exam papers = Blank pages! Maybe there would be a few less irritations for the more generous members, who give their time and knowledge freely, if something immediately visible and easily used is there to deflect the ones who are just looking for those little snippets to add to their projects!

These days the internet is full of sites making money out of people wanting information about their own families and I for one was very please to Google across this site. The help and advice given to me has been overwhelming and has amazed me. The interest shown and the efforts made on my behalf have been staggering after tripping and falling around the net for several months before getting to the particular relative that then gripped my every spare minute.

Once I posted on this site the information rolled in, and from the little snowball sent gently skipping down the hill it very rapidly turned in to a thundering avalanche! I know I kept on thanking everyone, but it felt quite puny to be honest, it just wasn't enough! I have gained so much from these people who have enabled me to reintroduce a long and tragically lost member of our family that I never new. He is now firmly rooted in the minds of even some of the younger generation who I know will carry his story forward and have already started to pass it on to their children, who are in turn absorbing the information keenly and are hungry to learn more. For me, I could not have wished for more, except to reach the impossible dream of actually finding our lost boy.

I have learned so much, and will continue to learn. But it's on a level I could never have hoped to reach without the help provided by the members of this site......... I actually found myself objecting to a the use of the term 'it may well just be a BRIDGE TOO FAR for us' used by a couple on one of those house hunting type things on the box! Immediately the thought 'well it's hardly Arnhem is it you !!!!!!!!!! flew through my head as I reached for the remote and turned it off. I feel it is a part of me now, not just a piece of information I am am aware of. And I, though unaware before this incident, do not easily tolerate the casual use of a term that should be treated with respect while understanding that men lost their lives for that Bridge Too Far.

The people who have helped me to absorb my family history to such an extent have my utmost respect and gratitude and if I can ever do anything in return I will.

One thing I have become more aware of over the last few years is just how selfish people are becoming around us in our day to day activities. Now this may just be part of the ageing process, I don't know, and any advice on that would be very welcome!

Some of what goes on on this site is probably a part of that general, I need or want it therefore I will get it and to hang with the rest of you attitude. And though it is very unpleasant to witness, I hope it doesn't poison and inhibit the generous nature of our more knowledgeable members. If we allow that to creep in we will be joining the selfish brigade and then who will there be left to set the standards.

Apologies if I appear to be ranting, but I feel quite strongly that what you all do on hear is an example of human nature at its best. And no amount of selfish, inconsiderate behaviour from those too young, downright unpleasant or maybe just too busy with work and families should change the way you work.

JJS.

 

Thanks Owen and Wills for your translation.
peaceful

 

Hi Von Poop
Hi von Poop

I didn't think to look for archives that hold thousands of previous posts at first.
There's a treasure trove of info that can be accessed to answer a lot of questions.
My suggestion is to mention your archives it you see fit to.

peaceful

 

There's a treasure trove of info that can be accessed to answer a lot of questions.
By Jove, you're right!

 

I've just had a casual look at the members list and was immediately struck at the high number of new forum members who join, make a research enquiry and then, having received, in some cases, substantial help from other members, simply disappear without a further posting.

I am aware that this is quite common behaviour, indeed I recently had an earnest plea from someone who wished to contact, through me, a long lost RAF friend but before I could arrange the meeting the enquirer had done the disappearing trick leaving everyone slightly pxxxxxd off. but the question still remains, why do they do it ?

Any thoughts on the matter ?

Ron

O.K.

Let me be the one to let the cat out of the bag.

Lets put an end to nit picking, squabbling, and making a hugh issue for arguments sake over what people's opinions and experiences are. The taking issue and causing strife over what Ron really said or what Ron really meant was most odd.

Hate to break it to you but the reality is that people who are still here can only speculate and the only ones who can answer the question aren't here to do so are they?

peaceful
Chrissie

 

I am a new member - since a few days ago - and came across this old thread from 2010 about how many new members join, take away info and vanish. I am/was unaware of the protocol of the site or expectations of other members. I was surfing the internet for links regarding on my father's WW2 experience and after googling his name and 'POW' your site came up. The thread was from someone looking for him....Although I have not been able to make contact with this person, other members have been extremely helpful in putting me in touch with resources etc, so I am very grateful for the assistance. Is there anything else I am expected to do to be a 'responsible' citizen?

Having said all that, here are some possible reasons for why people vanish:

1. I have not found the site so easy to use - maybe this is a barrier
2. not everyone checks with the site regularly - it would be good if any responses to a thread that we initiate (or possibly which we have participated in) could be automatically notified to our personal email addresses. That way people could stay engaged and re-enter the discussions. I have had the experience that someone is looking for my relative on this site, I have replied to them and they have not come back on. I do not have access to their email address so that is now a dead-end and they may never use the site
3. As mentioned elsewhere - many people join to find about their relative and their interest in WW2 is secondary to that.
4. You may have a link that people can make a donation to the maintenance of the site - maybe there is one? some of the once-off users who are assisted may be prepared make a small voluntary donation. That way they may vanish but at least leave a financial footprint.

Meanwhile - just thanking you all for your assistance thus far. I hope to post up my father's account of his experience some time in the future, but not ready yet.

Hi Judy and welcome! Thank you for expressing your views.

Firstly, how amazing to discover your dad's name on the internet and known by this forum already. Sorry he went through the experience of being a POW. I look forward to your coming story about him so that we can all honour him.

Being fairly new myself, I found this site is so loaded with info. I haven't figured everything out. I can be a computer idiot sometimes and my little grey cells are getting greyer and littlier by the day. It's getting clearer quicker than I thought it would.

You have a valid point on pt 2.

I asked von Poop about a donation too, but no, not done here.
It shows the dedication of the folks who put the work in because I'm sure there are out of pocket expenses.

Hope you enjoy your experience here.
Best wishes

peaceful
Chrissie

 

Regarding Judy's point 2 for her needs

Ahhh.... I see what you mean Owen.

I'm not a techie but something along the lines of an option box available to a poster to click on that would trigger an alert to one's personal page if someone has answered them on forum. Easy to say for the person not doing the work.

Is this complicated?

Then can you lasso the moon for me please?

peaceful
Chrisie

 

Go into "User Control Panel"
Under "Settings & Options" Choose "Edit Options"

Bout half way down you will see this option

Default Thread Subscription Mode

and it states as follows: When you post a new thread, or reply to a topic, you can choose to automatically add that thread to your list of subscribed threads, with the option to receive email notification of new replies to that thread.

The default option is not to notify. you can change it to have a notification sent to you when a new post is posted on any thread you have participated in.

This is a standard feature of all vbulletin forums, not just of WW2 talk as far as I know.