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Post by ptc on Feb 9, 2022 16:05:38 GMT
I received an interesting e-mail yesterday from a member who was deleted because of the lack of activity. He joined over a year ago and never signed in again. He mentioned that other forums don't care about this and keep him on though he seldom if ever checks in and never posts to them. He deserved an answer.
In part, I told him what's the point of joining any organization if you have no intentions of participation. Other forums may adopt the position of carrying non-active members as they sell advertising based upon membership count, active (by our definition that seems fair) or otherwise. Since we are NOT caught up in this nonsense, carrying inactive members is a real cost to us as on-line storage. Our rule #7 has saved us big bucks and since we pride ourselves as a well run cost conscious business model, it makes perfect sense.
If you are all about numbers, what's really important? For me, the number that really sticks out is daily membership activity. Using this standard, the OGF blows everybody else away (by a huge number). Just another great reason to make the OGF your O-Gauge home.
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Post by RFCTrainGarden on Feb 9, 2022 16:21:20 GMT
As a counter, if someone joins, and is inactive for a while, that doesn't mean that they will never become active. If the former member is reaching out now, it must be because he attempted to log in to perform some activity?
Many people join forums just to read and learn, but post exceedingly rarely. However, that one post they may decide to make a year and a half from now could be the one that answers a pressing question for another member, or it may develop a really solid discussion amongst the members. It seems there can be value beyond simply inflating membership numbers with inactive users. There is no rule that they will always remain inactive.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 9, 2022 17:14:28 GMT
.... It seems there can be value beyond simply inflating membership numbers with inactive users. There is no rule that they will always remain inactive. And then there are those of us whose accounts were made inactive, because we took issue with the manner in which a forum was moderated and managed. I am proudly a member of that category "over there". My account is still "defined"; my avatar is still there; but I cannot sign on anymore -- not that I really care. However, I don't doubt that my account is counted as "active" for the purposes of selling ad space and sponsorship over there. Ironically, on that same forum, unless you sign on you can't navigate the site too well, because even the basic search function isn't available unless you sign on. Nor can you see a member's profile to contact them, if you wanna respond to a buy/sell post. So that doesn't bode well for those people who stop in but don't sign on.
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Post by RFCTrainGarden on Feb 9, 2022 17:32:15 GMT
.... It seems there can be value beyond simply inflating membership numbers with inactive users. There is no rule that they will always remain inactive. And then there are those of us whose accounts were made inactive, because we took issue with the manner in which a forum was moderated and managed. I am proudly a member of that category "over there". My account is still "defined"; my avatar is still there; but I cannot sign on anymore -- not that I really care. However, I don't doubt that my account is counted as "active" for the purposes of selling ad space and sponsorship over there. Ironically, on that same forum, unless you sign on you can't navigate the site too well, because even the basic search function isn't available unless you sign on. Nor can you see a member's profile to contact them, if you wanna respond to a buy/sell post. So that doesn't bode well for those people who stop in but don't sign on.
I'm in the same boat "over there" In fact, a member, C. Sam, has something I'd buy today but u can't find a way to contact him because of the reasons you mention
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 9, 2022 18:18:06 GMT
I'm in the same boat "over there" In fact, a member, C. Sam, has something I'd buy today but u can't find a way to contact him because of the reasons you mention Join the club. You are in EXCELLENT company.
Check your PM. I have a network of friends and casual correspondences I've maintained over the years, since I was quite active over there from 2001-2017. C.Sam is one of them. Hopefully he still has the item you're looking for.
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Post by dlagrua on Feb 9, 2022 20:09:12 GMT
I believe that there are members here that lurk on the forum rather than post. They possibly do this so that they can log in, and be able to enjoy the benefit of seeing enlarged pictures that have been posted and be able to network with others as David has said. I don't believe that there is any malevolent intent on doing this so I hope the forum may reconsider keeping those members that occasionally sign in. OGF will continue to grow as it is the only model railroad forum that is not over-moderated to the point where topics on quality issues, non-advertiser competitive products, price values and even messages about a members heath and well being are deleted.
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Post by ptc on Feb 9, 2022 21:18:58 GMT
"As a counter, if someone joins, and is inactive for a while, that doesn't mean that they will never become active. If the former member is reaching out now, it must be because he attempted to log in to perform some activity?
Many people join forums just to read and learn, but post exceedingly rarely. However, that one post they may decide to make a year and a half from now could be the one that answers a pressing question for another member, or it may develop a really solid discussion among-st the members. It seems there can be value beyond simply inflating membership numbers with inactive users. There is no rule that they will always remain inactive."
I do understand your point. However, our loyal members have so generously given to our fundraising activities (see Diamond Symbols) to pick up the tab to keep the OGF running. We don't have advertisers to underwrite our Forum. Is it too much to expect that a member can sign-on at least once in a year. Deleted members can still visit as guests and enjoy our content. Not a good business proposition to carry an unnecessary financial burden. Being fiscally responsible will keep us going for a long time to come. Hopefully, you agree.
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Post by Sir James on Feb 9, 2022 22:55:46 GMT
If they can't post something in a year there's no need to keep them on the payroll. They can re-up or just continue to read what others are enjoying.
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Post by david1 on Feb 9, 2022 23:17:39 GMT
I'm also a refugee from that other forum. I was one of the original forum members joining in 1999 and being banned in 2020. I had the Gaul to ask how members were doing during the beginning of covid. That was only one issue I had with their moderation that is so heavy handed that many have moved over to "the land of the free" of which is the OGF. I enjoy every post and read here on the OGF its a wonderful resource and a place to make friends and talk about trains, life, and anything that comes to mind. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE HAVE BUILT HERE AND MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN.
Dave
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Post by kstrains on Feb 9, 2022 23:24:10 GMT
... so I hope the forum may reconsider keeping those members that occasionally sign in. I am one of founding members at OGF. It has always been the rules of Forum that a member only needs to sign in once year into the Forum to keep their active status on the forum. They don't even have to post anything as long as they sign in at least once to keep their account from being deleted. I think this is extremely reasonable.
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Post by stoshu on Feb 9, 2022 23:27:18 GMT
when you sign in with your name and PW, most browsers ask if you want it to save the login info, Say yes and you can auto log in when you visit the site. Just visit the site and you are logged in. How hard can it be ?
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Post by firewood on Feb 10, 2022 1:27:29 GMT
.... It seems there can be value beyond simply inflating membership numbers with inactive users. There is no rule that they will always remain inactive. And then there are those of us whose accounts were made inactive, because we took issue with the manner in which a forum was moderated and managed. I am proudly a member of that category "over there". My account is still "defined"; my avatar is still there; but I cannot sign on anymore -- not that I really care. However, I don't doubt that my account is counted as "active" for the purposes of selling ad space and sponsorship over there. Ironically, on that same forum, unless you sign on you can't navigate the site too well, because even the basic search function isn't available unless you sign on. Nor can you see a member's profile to contact them, if you wanna respond to a buy/sell post. So that doesn't bode well for those people who stop in but don't sign on.
To Brian's point and yours, I recall being listed as a 'Former Member' over there, but now (like you I guess) I've been resurrected as a "zombie" member. Must be part of the whole number inflation thingy... Dave
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Post by eddieg on Feb 10, 2022 2:19:59 GMT
I will tell you why I got kicked off that forum. The first year they had the on line magazine, I took a subscription to help them out even though I had no interest in there magazine because I am into prewar Lionel. They renewed it last year without asking me. I emailed them several times that I didn't want it again, and please refund my money. No one responded to me, So I put it on this forum explaining what happened, and they kicked me off. I had been on that forum since it began.
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Post by rtraincollector on Feb 10, 2022 4:35:47 GMT
I may be wrong but I believe I read over on OGR they also delete inactive members. This was a few months ago.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2022 13:13:24 GMT
Brian, very good point with this one. Yes I do agree, if a member is inactive for a long time, meaning likes month's & month's, yes then their account should be deactivated. But that's my opinion.
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