Contacting inactive members

Discussion in 'Network Information, Suggestions and Feedback' started by chingoo, Nov 12, 2022.

  1. chingoo

    chingoo Active Member

    Hi all,

    I have missed a few opportunities to engage with people who have raised there own questions about the same regiment as my grandfather. i have tried to send them messages via the "start a conversation", and posted responses to their threads, but no luck with getting a response from them due to inactivity (as their posts were made last year or before). Are there any other ways of contacting people, perhaps sending them a notification via email?

    Regards,

    ian
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Starting a Conversation should send out an email notification, although they may have opted out of that.
     
    chingoo likes this.
  3. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    ian,

    I looked this week at thread and there was no sign of any responses to new members. That can happen and is probably discouraging for them, hence they rarely return.

    Perhaps, new members take time to "flag" a thread as of interest. I know it can take time to do - at the start - and the new members email address changes.

    I have had a good "hit" rate in my time here with emailing inactive or absent for a year plus members.
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2022
    chingoo likes this.
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I did wonder a while back whether it would be workable/useful to have a dedicated thread where members simply post once to list units/regiments/formations/theatres in which they have particular knowledge, expertise or materials.

    No doubt for some people, that entry could be very long, but new researchers could be pointed towards that thread and search that thread alone for potential contacts when a general forum search has proved unsuccessful.

    I've included my main interests are in my signature line, but I think that's invisible to those viewing the mobile version of the board.

    As it is, success often relies upon a regular member spotting an enquiry from a new arrival and happening to recall which other members have associated interests. It does generate some success, but I think we could all agree its imperfect.
     
    chingoo likes this.
  5. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Speaking personally, I came here some time ago when we were going through difficulties of retirement.
    There must be many people like this who need a new interest
    It takes time to acclimatise.
    My concern now is for new members as I feel for them. They are often in a strange new world.
    Many on here have been here a long time and many are set in their ways.
    I try to encourage new members and feel duty bound to explain to them how the various systems work, such as applying for a Service Record.

    I tell them that it is all up to them as I feel that I might come across as pushy, I appreciate how dedicated the regular members are.
    I am not very good at typing and my mind tends to wander. I often overstate things and need to go away and come back to edit.
    My background convinces me that people need time to absorb advice and make decisions in their own time but my past training tells me to give them enough good information and advice to make them want to come back.
    Lastly remember that all of this goes out on the global internet. Not everyone reading it is ex-military or a WW2 researcher. Things might be taken out of context.
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    They could be dead
     
    Guy Hudson and Owen like this.
  7. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    True CL1 but not sure that I should click Like!
    Perhaps it should read Agree or something less direct.
     
  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    There are many people who join and are one hit wonders
    Possibly they find out exactly what they want first time or life takes over and they find another interest
    Others stay longer and again other things takeover
    Then there are the anoraks who are here for the long term
    One hit wonder or long term it all helps the forum tick along

    We do send out a message for new members if they have a query on a post and we have a good success rate
     
    Uncle Target likes this.
  9. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Who are you calling an anorak Clive :lol:.

    Lesley
     
    51highland and CL1 like this.
  10. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Maybe I'm an Anorak too.!!! Thought they were all Train Spotters.
     
    vitellino, CL1 and 4jonboy like this.
  11. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    It is what it is.
    We can't/won't share people's registered contact details.
    People die, wander off, forget they've joined, storm off, etc. etc.
    Sometimes passed on a message via forum email in the past so the person can choose to get in touch, but now think that's probably a bit dodgy under GDPR and it sometimes consumed a lot of time when requests piled up

    Notifications indeed on by default but people use secondary/dump emails for sites they don't yet know, and do indeed switch off email notifications. I did shortly after joining as it got a bit silly.

    Sometimes the wheels grind slow too. Definitely had people getting a response a long while later.
    Sometimes worth Googling usernames as they might be more active/available on some other platform or soshul meeja.

    I'm sure if I started to send out mass update emails like many forums do we'd improve 'retention', but I refuse to do that as I see it as a form of spam & think if people want to engage they will without any chirpy nudging.
    'Check out what you've missed on WW2Talk!!'.... Urgh.
     
    vitellino, CL1, Osborne2 and 5 others like this.
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    In that case.

    [​IMG]
     
    von Poop, vitellino, SteveDee and 2 others like this.
  13. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I resent being referred to as an 'anrorak'.

    This is what I do...

    Rivet Box 2 (2).jpg
     
    dbf, CL1 and 4jonboy like this.
  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    38 visible in the copper/brass compartment.


    :unsure:
     
  15. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I will not bother multiple quoting
    But i rest my Anorak case
     
  16. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    To be honest, it's the pre-war litho tinplate boxes that I really like, but let's not go off-topic !

    Rivet Box (2).JPG
     
    von Poop likes this.

Share This Page