Where has everyone gone???

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 22:46

someone recently pointed out to me that there does not appear to be the same number of posters on cyprus 44 any more. Taking a look at the names currently on line, I can see that it seems true. a minimal number. Is that because it is mother's Day and everyone is having fun, or is it as rumoured because of a negative reason, namely that more and more people are leaving the board because of the quality of the postings and comments.



One of the reasons I ask is because I am doing an article on Cyprus 44, and I would like to be positive and factual.



so come on, please, share!!!!

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:04

Aren't some of the regular posters banned????

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:07

Marion. And some of those showing on line are not reading or posting because most of the time I am doing neither but just forgot to sign off.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:08

Msg 1

The bright, clever ones get banned!



Richard

horselover


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:09

i dont write much online, n actually have a life enough not to sit at a pc half the day or night. im a bit of a loner, n dont wish to fit in to 'clicky' groups of regulars, who seem to spend vast amounts of time online.. i dont get pally. i dont have a pic of myself for a reason. i dont wana be recognised wen im in cyprus. i go to get away from familiar faces..sayin that, im not a misery, or unsociable, just prefer to keep myslef to myself. i enjoy readin posts n sometimes windin folk up, coz they get sooo serious..and as for mothers day?? dont believe in it. i am a mother n expect my kids to pull their weight all year round!

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:12

Lovely stuff so far, showing the diversity of the 'faces' on Cyprus 44. More????



Hey Brinsley - what are you saying about me? I am not banned!

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:13

Marion,

I looked at the numbers an hour ago and thought that it was very quiet but now its almost back to normal. My experience is that weekends are quieter and I think mothers' day had an effect i.e. more socializing and less computers

ismet

PS: Which paper are you wring for?

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:18

this time Elko I am doing an article for zoom In magazine (the June issue if I am lucky). so any comments very welcome!

I am sure you are right about today, but someone pointed this out to me about a week ago, but I would hate to think that Cyprus 44 is 'doomed'

TRNCvictim


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 1417

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:20

Marion



Cyprus 44 has become like the buying/selling section of a newspaper! in my opinion it's because AJ's moderation didn't allow for any good debate? any real issue's seemed to be stopped in there tracks!



I do understand that moderation is really important, but sometimes to be scared to post in case you are either banned or ridiculed is difficult for some posters!



Or maybe as you say Mother's Day is a big fun day in the TRNC? and Cyprus 44 is taking a back seat

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:20

Msg 5

I find it difficult to decipher your post as I'm only conversant with the written English language. I never made it to Bletchley Park so please enlighten me!



Richard

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:21

don't be unkind Brinsley. Maybe the Horselover is not of English origin, and English might be a 2nd or 3rd language?????

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:29

Msg 11

You're absolutely correct, anyone that can't work out their gender or marital status needs as much help as possible, d'accord?!



Richard

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:29

Marion,

I could not really zoom in sufficiently to find where this magazine is published. Can you enlighten us please?

ismet

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:34

Ismet

Good idea, maybe you and I could feature in a photo-shot promotion for C44 on the front page!

Don't worry, I'm uglier than you!



Richard

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:45

I'll drink to that!

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
08/05/2011 23:54

sorry guys, I already have a photo of Izzet with me, and I can assure you it won't be front page. don;'t want to frighten off the punters! But I would be happy to receive photos of happy (and I mean 'happy' )cyprus 44 contributors to include. Now THAT would brighten up the article. How about it?



And to answer Elkos' Question! Zoom In is the English version of Zoom, a magazine started by Birol Bebek (a pretty good photographer and 'local lad'). Zoom of course is Turkish and has beenrunning a while, and Zoom In is a little younger. It can be found on the shelves of the major supermarkets, and costs 8tl. Sadly, we wish it could be less, but times are hard. |But lots of lovely colour pictures and articles from various people, including recently, the one and only, and super lovely Can Gazi of BRT. Now someone is going to ask 'Who is he'. There are still some May copies on the shelves with some interesting articles (and someone else said that - not me)

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:11

People tend not to post, because no matter how sensible the post some smart arse is going to come in with a derogatory comment.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:13

Sad to say, but I think you have a very good point Paddywack. I know of several people, including a very close friend who just stopped posting for that very reason. Guess that is one of the problems of 'freedom of speech'.

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:15

Msg 18 If you know the answer

why ask the question

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:16

Msg 16

'It can be found on the shelves of the major supermarkets, and costs 8tl. Sadly, we wish it could be less, but times are hard.'

Unbelievable marketing strategy! Why not price your magazine for a couple of TL and sell ten times more copies, being within a lot more 'punters' price bracket?!

Reminds of the bar/restaurant mentality of increasing prices because they had no custom to cover their overheads!

Bonne chance!



Richard

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:19

People tend not to look at the forum if they use Extend and can't get on line as was the case for me, and perhaps many others, throughout yesterday. I believe it was Malcolm Channing who said that the internet is often problematic on weekends and usually every Sunday. This may be where some of the lost souls have been !

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:24

good point, DD. It is possibly a combination of several factors then.



Briefly as to 'why ask the question?' (message 19) simply because my answers are not the same as others, and what I THINK might be the answer may not be confirmed by others.



As to marketing, richard. Not up to me! This is Cyprus and the kind of marketing strategy of U K and other places never seems to apply. also of course,k potential circulation is small, and everyone is after the same advertising etc. But I will certainly put your point to the owner, Birol and also Can who contributes. It was 5tl for a while but Birol felt he had to put up the costs. And also many of the contributors get nothing for all their hard work. Many publications come and go here, because it IS a difficult market.

But please 'ne tirez pas le pianiste' - I am just the messenger girl.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 00:31

Msg 21

I'm with Extend and yes, it has been intermittent throughout the week but by only for a few minutes or so at most. I've had no problems this weekend getting Mark's, (6m's) free VPN service to engage with F1.



Richard

eager


Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 01:10

Err, ... is it because AJ thinks he owns the site?

billybob


Joined: 29/03/2008
Posts: 576

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 04:00

Thought he owned - past tense \ and yes this site has become very sad indeed but still some intelligent life exists

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 07:04

I rarely come on here nowadays as I asked a very simple question and my post was closed by AJ. I was not breaking any rules and was told to email him! I didn't bother as that particular day he closed several other posts for silly reasons.



I now go on another board, at least there you don't get posts closed. Yes, moderators have to do their job but there was no earthly reason to close the post where I asked a question. My opinion!! I also don't like the 'back stabbing' on this board.



There you go, will probably get banned now!

LaptaGeezer


Joined: 01/06/2010
Posts: 407

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 07:30

The 'Closing' of threads does seem to be very eratic on this site! Some threads contain very strong feeling and vaguely concealed swearing.. 'f**k you' for example.. and yet the moderators allow it all to continue. Then you get what appears to be a simple question for something and it gets closed! It would certainly make people that want to input items feel a lot happier if there was some kind of consistency in relation to the closing of threads.

misunderstood


Joined: 08/04/2011
Posts: 1004

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 07:56

Marion, C44 is a good forum. It caters for everyone. Those who want information, those who give information, and sometimes more contraversial issues.



A blatant abuse of power by one moderator, who left, but I suspect is back, caused concern and to a degree some bad feeling. NCFP has its forum 3Cf which will not ban posters unless they break the law (the real law) but move them to another place where like minded people go, or send them to the naughty step for minor naughties and being silly (pollymarples spends much time there for that reason) The strange thing is, not one person has needed moving. Does that not tell you that excessive moderating is not necessary. If you ignore a spiteful petty post as if it never happened, the poster will get the message.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 07:58

May have been because of the power cut at 8pm not all of us use a laptop.

denizen



Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 09:31

don't be unkind Brinsley. Maybe the Horselover is not of English origin, and English might be a 2nd or 3rd language?????







as it is for most people North of Watford

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 12:10

@ msg 1, Marion: Too many members have nothing else to offer than silly one liners, off topic remarks and repeated, annoying thread hijacks. Why still bother to reply to genuine questions when one knows what's going to happen after the third or fourth post?

AndyR



Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 317

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 12:43

It seems to come and go in waves. There are days when i find loads of threads that catch my interest, then days when the only things happening seem to involve lost/poisoned/abandoned dogs!

Moderation has been a major issue, closing threads of real interest that would have stimulated serious debate for what seemed (to me anyway) petty reasons. Hopefully that will no longer happen, in which case I suspect that things will slowly start to get more interesting as time rolls on.

This might not go down well with some people, and I frequently don't agree with him, but posters such as DC always have something of interest to say and it's that type of post that keeps a forum alive. Another missing dog or restaurant advert just bores most people.

flossie44


Joined: 05/03/2009
Posts: 223

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 12:45

Denizen,



Do you mind ! I am from the North of Watford, and English certainly is my first language. Contrary to what some people may believe, there is a life outside of the South. I lived in Watford for a while and it bears no comparison to where I live now. I much prefer here for quality of life. A pleasant Cheshire town with many articulate residents (not counting the many Manchester United footballers)



flossie

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 17:50

Marion msg 8: "this time Elko I am doing an article for zoom In magazine (the June issue if I am lucky). so any comments very welcome! I am sure you are right about today, but someone pointed this out to me about a week ago, but I would hate to think that Cyprus 44 is 'doomed'"

Good luck with the piece. I don't think CY44 is "doomed" as long as there' s a flow of interesting information and an exchange of ideas. Things to help it flourish would include controversial items or links which grab the attention, known in journalism as "marmalade droppers". But these items would have to factual and truthful. For example, you would be on shaky ground talking about "entire TC villages bulldozed so the residents could never live in them again" and then going silent when asked to show proof of your claim.

Similarly, calling for members to be banned on grounds of "ethics", while ignoring the ethics real journalists work with would destroy any remaining credibility.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
09/05/2011 22:57

Thanks for all the comments folks!



But must just comment on Message 34. Can't remember following through on the thread about the bulldozed villages, but it is a fact, and I certainly cannot place all the photos on Cyprus 44. But it is well documented from several sources, and I have seen some myself. so sorry if I seemed to be 'silent' - i was off in other 'pastures'. I am not on shaky ground at all, Zoots, - it is just a shame that it was done. Bad things get done here too, and two wrongs don't make a right, but in the eyes of some sins can be on a scale. It is not for me to say what, only to comment that everyone sees things and history differently, and maybe that is why we are where we are today. But thanks again everyone for the comments about Cyprus 44 which is what my enquiry was all about.

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 01:51

zoots would being on shaky ground for a journalist include the claim "Everyone's civil liberties are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - apart from unfortunate foreigners in the TRNC.". Would a journalist who made such a claim and then went silent when asked to substantiate the clearly factualy incorrect claim claim not be the same ? What sort of damage to a journalist credibility would be done in such a senario ?

In case you memory is struggling either from appraochin age, alcahol or time of day for your referance

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/61196.asp

post 133 by yourself

Or would such be ok and not a similar case at all if the journalist in question posted it under a 'hidden' identity. How would that relate to the ethics real journalist work with and credibility ? Time for 'going silent' maybe ?

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 01:55

Erolz and zoots this bickering on every thread

is gettig boring

maybe thats why people are not contributing?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 02:12

[cont]

given that this is a subject of intrest to you how would it reflect on the credibility of a real journalist if they were to repeatedly make a claim that is not true over many years and repeatedly fail to substantiate the claim in any meaingful way when challenged each time, who then also castigated a fellow journalist for alledgedly doing it once ?



'TRNC consitution is racist' ring any bells for you zoots ? Again in case memory is fading.

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/61196.asp

msg 122 claim made, challenged msg 126, reply msg 133 'its racist because it gives different rights to citizens than it gives to non citizens' followed by rants about trnc of no relvance to the claim made. challenges again msg 135. Silence on the claim but many more rants about how bad the TRNC is



[cont]

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 02:15

Maybe phil but zoots makes implies serious failing in Marion, when the doumentary record of his own behaviour is much worse in comparision. I am afraid having made such serious insinuations about Marions ethics and journalistic credibility it is only rignt and fair that his own is considred. Sorry if that upsets you



to continue the record

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/12491.asp

now this thead has many posts removed bcause of other stuff that was going on but you can see the same basic patern. Claim made. Challneged. Attempt to justify claim on basis of 'it gives different rights to citizens than it gives to non citizens'. multiple challenges. silence

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 02:28

I could go on showing exactly the same pattern in many threads on this one single claim alone, where the claim is made, challenged, claim made that it gives different rights to citizens than non citizens, challenged again followed by silence but I think the point is made and evidence provided.



Anyone who makes the kind of claims against a poster and journalist that zoots has made agaist Marion in msg 34 should be subject to the same scrutiny of their own behaviour.



I predict that the reponse to my fair and open and legitimate questions to zoots, back by documentary evidence, in response to his msg 34 will be 'silence' at least on the substance of the challenge.

Scoty


Joined: 23/05/2010
Posts: 846

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 02:35

erolz / zoots posts says it all

misunderstood


Joined: 08/04/2011
Posts: 1004

Message Posted:
10/05/2011 07:11

Yopu say i all.

when yousay nothing at all.

Scoty


Joined: 23/05/2010
Posts: 846

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 22:42

having seen the recent postings that were closed - over 4000 views in 24 hrs - re personal attacks on individuals - rule 3. Be Polite

We take the "Be Polite" rule very seriously. We do not tolerate any rudeness. Challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully without insult and personal attack. Any member who is intentionally unpleasant or disruptive may be banned without warning.



Threads closed -person still a member. Why do YOU think people are leaving ???

It is not really hard to work out!!!

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
12/05/2011 23:00

i think over moderation chased a lot of people away , IE , people being banned for stupid reasons ? the board seems to be running better now with previous stay away members drifting back , and its good to see them back ,

misunderstood


Joined: 08/04/2011
Posts: 1004

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 07:30

Hi Marion



Any chance of some publicity for the new Facebook group? Perhaps some more might drift back rowlo, I do hope so.