A reoccurring complaint that we hear is the limited photo file size allowed to upload images to this forum

We have three options available to us, please pick one

1) Totally erase the old forum and start over with newer forum software. With this option we will lose all past posts and valuable information collected over the years but will allow us large image uploads.

2) Spend a few thousand dollars to update this software. I'm willing to donate enough money to make this happen.

3) Leave things as they are.

I'm with Louie. Not broke. learn to resize.

Glenn J.

I'm a relative newcomer here and don't post much for three reasons.

1. This forum is very very slow to load and navigate compared to others I belong to.

2.  I find the interface to be cumbersome to use. (Resizing is a pita, but not that big a deal).

3.  Very little happens here.  I can be fully updated on new things in just a few minutes a week.

I realize that all three reasons are interconnected, and probably not worth debating separately.

There is much value to historical posts, no one can deny that.

I understand the costs in upgrading both monetarily, and potential loss of historical data.

Having said that, I think a much different question needs to be posted.

Is the forum going to stay the same at the risk of becoming a dinosaur that is nothing more than a historical archive with maybe a few posts a week, or are changes going to be made that will attract more members, and keep them actively and enthusiastically posting on a regular basis?

It's a difficult question to answer, especially for those that built this forum and have contributed from the beginning, but one I think needs to be addressed.

On other forums I belong to, I see new members joining each week, and I visit those forums multiple times a day (as life permits).  So, what is different from those forums when compared to this? That is a question that needs to be answered.

Finally, as happens with any technology, business or industry, if you don't make changes to keep up with the "times", time will soon pass you by.....

I hope I haven't offended anyone with these comments, that is definitely not my intention.  But I have been involved with a number of organizations (and forums) over the years that have faced similar problems with membership and participation. The one thing in common amongst those that ended was maintaining status quo.

I was asked to clarify the three options and as a result changing your vote is allowed.

Buck Nemitt wrote on Oct 12^th, 2022 at 10:36am:

I cleared your vote Buck so you can vote again

Is it possible to leave current forum as is for historical archive and start a new forum with improved software?

Pat

Agree with Louie.

Glenn Jacobs wrote on Oct 15^th, 2022 at 9:03am:


Sadly, neither would bring in near enough money.

As I pointed out in the thread, A few Questions
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

This is what concerns me.
1. Some members are simply not active for a number of reasons.
2. Some members are, for lack of a better term, lurkers. This simply means they visit and read comments but don't want to participate, again for a number of reasons.
3. Then there are the more active members that participate more often, ask questions, etc. but at times still need a push.

There is no good reason why we should go a week with no new posts, period, and it's not because pictures are difficult for some.

Start a thread, ask a question, it's a discussion forum. While you may find the '"views to votes" ratio interesting, it's really not as I tried to explain above, it's more the nature of how online forums operate.
Most people are members of multiple forums, but don't actively participate in all of them daily.

I just looked at Sawmill creek forum, 142k users, less than 800 online.

The only way to solve the issue is for more members to become more active. Which is why I asked for suggestions, I can't do it all myself.

I'm happy with the way things are here. I can find what I'm looking for, and if I can't I will ask.
I don't find the photos size an issue for me.

Dang it! This is a forum for woodturners of all capabilities to ask any "dumb" question they want pertaining to woodturning and the tools used. The main reason I stay on is for the education of reading the questions posted and the answers. Wish that when I started  this craft, I had been on here before spending money on the first lathe.
Ron & Ed, Thank you for keeping this forum running.


Glenn J.