Oh. I get it.

You've all beggared off to another forum haven't you and decided not to tell me. No matter. You will very quickly come to regret such foolishness when you eventually miss my idle banter and swingeing criticisms.
I have noticed one thing. It's a darn sight easier to get through the lists at this time of night without having to argue with anyone. Wonder why I didn't think of that before?   

don't know about the rest but i've got computer problems with this site. new comp on way. holidays could be wakeing. i've come on here to avoid a baby storm.

Old Regulator wrote:don't know about the rest but i've got computer problems with this site. new comp on way.  holidays could be wakeing. i've come on here to avoid a baby storm.

I do that by swinging directly to my 'recordings' and something sensible like 'The Big Bang Theory' -Yea. 

Hinch wrote:I am away in Wales fishing, steam railways and no end of grandparenting stuff so not really posting. Nothing personal Atlas.

Completely understandable. Wales - soooooo refreshing ---. Oh - the grandparent thing --- give them back earlier! 

Atlas wrote:You've all beggared off to another forum haven't you and decided not to tell me. No matter. You will very quickly come to regret such foolishness when you eventually miss my idle banter and swingeing criticisms.
I have noticed one thing. It's a darn sight easier to get through the lists at this time of night without having to argue with anyone. Wonder why I didn't think of that before?   

OK, I'll fall for it.

Choose your weapon (topic).

I'm still here Atlas.....unfortunately few others are!! I too am wondering where everyone has beggared off to!  

Must have lost the shine Atlas. Better things to do!

Noticed Charly has not posted for a long time now.

Yes, I have noticed the absence of Charly and Irishman (although I suspect this is because of health problems on the latter's part).

Winnie and several others didn't appear to find us after Rochdale Online shut shop!  

I thought Charly might be off on one of her American jaunts again. Irishman I know is having a bad time of it and no doubt finds it difficult to concentrate on anything but his health. We all wish him well and hope things will improve. Lovely fella really -  I suppose some may have stayed with RO on their reply to articles part of their web - who knows. Best to just soldier on and await more fruitful times - - -    

I'm ouy enjoying the summer weather. Not been on my PC much in the evenings as a result.

Johnb and TB are away on their jollies, Hinch is in Wales, Spartacus has PC problems, not sure re Charly, SB and other former regulars.

I too liked Irish. He is not banned but spat his dummy out after being repeatedly warned about taking on the Admin team. He is welcome back anytime.

Yes, we are concerned about forum usage but unsure what to do about it. At some stage we may need to go into 'use it or lose it' mode.

All suggestions welcome.

The basic issue for me was the very sudden closure of the RO forums and not enough following us across. Most are unaware of our existence. If you know any of their emails please signpost them our way.

Yes, I think Sparky has been having computer problems and, I believe she has heavy personal commitments too.

It's such a shame that RO pulled the plug so abruptly without warning which caused many of our friends to lose contact with each other.  

I agree Poppy though I understand the reasons, a bit more notice might have been welcome.

What I really regret is all the great stories and personal histories - all gone in a puff of cybersmoke. There was one guy who was involved in building the M62 back in the 60s. His reminiscences were fascinating plus all the tributes gone.

Thing is, the forums generated no revenue and put RO at an ever-present risk of libel. Still, a great pity eh?

I cannot remember the last time I contributed to this forum but reading this thread sounds like it's not healthy. ROL left for what must have been good reason but I am reminded of the criticism leveled against some contributors, myself included, because of the alleged political elements. The criticism may have had some validity but the forum was dynamic, heavily subscribed and well read. The kindest thing to say now whilst recognising the hard work put in by admin et al is it is different.

All good points and taken 'on board'. I also think that one of the problems with we of the 'longevity' is that of 'repetition'. The same old arguments and the same old subjects - ad infinitum - so to speak. We need to attract new members and hopefully not put them off with 'jumping all over them' as, by example, Irishman did with me when I first joined RO many years back - I thought he hated me 'instantly'! I of course soon realised that he didn't just dislike me but everybody else as well. 
I would have thought that Hinch and some others with all their influence in the town would have found a way of 'broadcasting' the site in a more fruitful manner without incurring too much expense along the way -!!! 
Just a thought;)   

I just thought on occasions other peoples views did not matter and some posters thought that other people did not have a right to post if it did not support their view or agree with them.

I think it is an excellent way of expressing one's opinion and of showing one's interest in each other and one's communities. Talk, talk is always a better way than 'conflict' and can, by this method , at least enlighten oneself to the ways and mind-sets of others in a form of simple education if nothing else.
I don't think we should get dispirited or think for one second that this forum or any other doesn't serve well its purpose or those that use it. Disagree we may. Dispute we may. But surrender to apathy and the likes of Home Thought - NEVER. NEVER I SAY. NEVER.    

I note the perfectly reasonable comments about ROL and its demise. I enjoyed the political spats but I can understand the frustration felt by some at the political dimension. The forum was however live and controversial. Many threads started as complaints or comments on what was in effect the result of a council policy or decision. However the resulting debate developed, cries of "politics" were heard. Some were bored, some frustrated, but the forum had a life of its own.
What we have now is different and some will enjoy it. Where have the regular contributors gone and more to the point why have they gone?

Perhaps past it to a 'place' where their own particular agendas are better satisfied. I'm sure there are other 'forums' where one might bang ones own drum for ones 'cause' much more effectively. I agree with Hinch's take on RO. Everything, and seemingly every subject, seemed to attract barmy politics and their ardent supporters like flies to a dead rat which I have to say regularly spoilt things for the rest of us who would prefer our politics well wrapped and kept in a cupboard until the 'actual' general or local election time - not two years in advance of the same. 

Atlas wrote:Perhaps past it to a 'place' where their own particular agendas are better satisfied. I'm sure there are other 'forums' where one might bang ones own drum for ones 'cause' much more effectively. I agree with Hinch's take on RO. Everything, and seemingly every subject, seemed to attract barmy politics and their ardent supporters like flies to a dead rat which I have to say regularly spoilt things for the rest of us who would prefer our politics well wrapped and kept in a cupboard until the 'actual' general or local election time - not two years in advance of the same.:face: 

Interesting to know what you do not want, not sure whether "the rest of us" would agree unless you feel confident to speak on their behalf. The forum is so small now the majority of the "rest" is hardly indicative of what the contributors of the ROL forum wanted. What do you want out of this forum?
It is noticeable that my comment on the forum has generated several replies. Could it be that being controversial is not so bad after all?
I have not as far as I know mentioned any political issue.
You will also not hear me using terms like"barmy and dead rat" I am reminded of the biblical quote " let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Ive been busy elsewhere to be on here as often,.

But yes the threads are a bit 'boring'. Yes some threads posted are very important to those posting. But some are mind numbing. Such as the G20 thread a few days ago for example. I personally didnt see the point. But clearly the OP thought it was of some importance.

So hence why I dont post as often as it is variation on a theme on a lot of threads.

Dare I say predicatable.

So a lot of my time is spent on other forums where i help out.

But they weren't 'spats' were they if you are being honest. They became far more than just that in many cases and I repeat 'bored' the pants off many of us - especially when quite reasonable discussions were purposely 'ramped up' for purely personal and 'petty' political gain. Politics, like religion, can cause great annoyance and offense without really trying and should only be entered into with great care and caution. Not at every god-given opportunity. My reply to you was also in answer to Hinch's post where politics featured - nothing personal I can assure you.
And I wouldn't dream of speaking for anyone else - I'm too old in the tooth for that.
What do I want? Well as I live 200 miles away and have done so for over the last 30 plus years my interest is purely one of a nostalgic affinity. I was born there and lived there for nearly 40 years and many of my family are there and in surrounding areas and so - - - I have a concern that the place does well and keeps its reputation of being a place where good and decent people live in far greater majorities than the scrotes.
And I would never throw stones - until the coppers have gone. So there. 

Chill37 wrote:Ive been busy elsewhere to be on here as often,.

But yes the threads are a bit 'boring'.  Yes some threads posted are very important to those posting.  But some are mind numbing.  Such as the G20 thread a few days ago for example. I personally didn't see the point.  But clearly the OP thought it was of some importance.

So hence why I dont post as often as it is variation on a theme on a lot of threads.

Dare I say predictable.

So a lot of my time is spent on other forums where i help out.

That was patently obvious by your post on the subject chill37. I'm not so sure that it is a healthy attitude to take where tax avoidance is concerned. After all everyone bleats enough about there being insufficient funding for the purposes of the 'nation' as a whole. Surely the less tax-avoidance allowed the better for all concerned? Greece is a prime example. Is that the way you want to go?
I'm not saying for a second that this particular item is the full answer. Only that it is time this and many other
'holes in the bucket' were stopped up - and the sooner the better.

'Help Out'.  - You obviously have a different reason for your postings than do I.