Why the Silence?
Last post 28-01-2005 1:42 PM by tim alston. 35 replies.
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28/09/2004 04:07 PM
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- marym
- 08 Jul 2004
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18
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Charles: Seemingly, I e-mailed my question about starting a new topic to the RHS. No reply to the e-mail, but here's what they said on the Board:
"Just to let you know that the creation of Categories is currently controlled by the Moderator. If you have a suggestion for a new category of Forum then let us know.
As previously mentioned we are currently trialling the Board and have initially stuck to a few clearly defined categories based around Shows and Events so that we can see how the software performs and also gain experience in the logistics of running a board."
This was round about July ... if memory serves ... as it's a bit difficult to navigate the site, I can't check the date till I've posted this.
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28/09/2004 04:45 PM
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- admin
- 20 Nov 2003
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160
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Just to let you know that we have added two new categories which you can view at [url=http:///idealbb/default.asp]http://www.rhs.org.uk[/url]
Also if you are looking for your old posts all you need to do is go to
[url=http:///idealbb/search.asp]http://www.rhs.org.uk/idealbb/search.asp[/url] and search on your name or the topic title etc.
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19/10/2004 03:58 PM
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- marym
- 08 Jul 2004
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18
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Admin: Using the method you suggest, I assume it will still be possible to view the Hampton Court strand when you stop us posting on it?
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26/10/2004 12:49 PM
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- marym
- 08 Jul 2004
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18
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Admin: On 19 October I posted a question as a reply to the following statement ...
"Also if you are looking for your old posts all you need to do is go to
http://www.rhs.org.uk/idealbb/search.asp and search on your name or the topic title etc."
I asked whether this would work for Hampton Court. You didn't reply, so I have tried it.
The Search facility does not work as it does NOT recall the Hampton Court strand.
Please would you tell me what you have done to preserve all the useful feedback that this strand supplied the RHS with?
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26/10/2004 02:37 PM
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- admin
- 20 Nov 2003
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160
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Hi Mary,
The search works just fine. The Shows Boards for 2004 have been closed and are therefore no longer available. I believe that our editor also e-mailled you to inform you of the closure of the 2004 Shows Boards on the 21st October. This information was also posted in each Show section to provide participants with advance notice of the planned closure.
With regards to the feedback from the Shows Boards this was monitored by the relevant RHS Departments at the time. In addition, we have archived the information on the board just in case it is needed for future reference by RHS Departments.
We have kept the FAQ information for each Show in this [b]RHS Website[/b] section for public reference. Boards for the 2005 Season will be available for the discussion of the 2005 Shows in the Spring.
Best wishes,
Admin
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28/10/2004 10:29 AM
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- marym
- 08 Jul 2004
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18
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Admin: Thanks for replying. I realize the Board has been closed. I don't agree with the closure, as this is still clearly a hot topic that has not been resolved. However, surely the archive of the Board should still be available (even though the RHS is preventing new posts being added). I have tried the search facility to find it under "Hampton Court" but it doesn't turn up. Have you deleted all our valuable posts?
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28/10/2004 02:16 PM
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Mary
I'm replying as admin has gone off to get married!
All the posts have been archived so that we have a permanent record of the discussions.
Best wishes.
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23/11/2004 11:40 AM
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One factor that perhaps makes the bulletin board rather 'dull' if that is the right word - certainly there is a lack of activity compared to 'Oasis' bulletin board - just look at this to see the postings - is that it is difficult to find on the RHS web site - it is not easy to find - try and put bulletin board into the search facility and it does not appear on the first page!, try discussion group and it is nowhere to be seen - perhaps the webmaster should use Atomz and update it when new material is added! I must admit the bulletin board is quite disappointing. Look at the BBC bulletin board on gardening!! (admittedly you do get a lot of drivel) but it is far better than this.
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23/11/2004 05:44 PM
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- Jak
- East Sussex Coast
- 23 Nov 2004
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159
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I have been a RHS member for several years now and a frequent visitor to the site - I wasn't even aware of the existence of this board until today. It was only on reading a post on the BBC Gardening Board that I learned of it!
Jak
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29/11/2004 11:37 AM
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- Obelix
- Belgium
- 24 Nov 2004
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378
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The RHS can appear to be remote and inaccessible to ordinary members without a huge list of horticultural qualifications to their name.
These boards are an excellent opportunity for the RHS to get feedback and ideas - whether positive or negative - about its activities. There are many gifted and enthusiastic amateurs in the RHS and also waiting to be enticed to join - all of whom can contribute ideas, advice and encouragement to their fellows and the RHS via these boards.
So please, consider opening them up a bit more. Or has the RHS now dropped its policy of appealing to a wider public?
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29/11/2004 02:43 PM
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- admin
- 20 Nov 2003
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160
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Hi Obelix,
Thanks for your comments. The board has grown hugely in popularity while I was away.
As mentioned, this board is currently managed by the moderator and I who are also responsible for maintaining and developing the website. Part of the difficulty is that people expect RHS Staff to be able to respond individually (see the thread title) to each post and this really isn't feasible given our resources. In order to keep conversation 'managable' we have currently limited the number of discussion points but we do hope that we can open it up further in the future. If you have a suggestion for a discussion area, just let us know and we will see if it is feasible.
We are currently in the process of redesigning the site (in-house) and encouraging colleagues to help administer forums. In the new design the boards will play a greater role.
Best wishes,
Administrator
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29/11/2004 04:01 PM
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- ken69
- Norfolk UK
- 23 Nov 2004
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405
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For efficiency, Admin, you can't beat the 'commercial' sites, like Allotments4All.Free postings, one administrator, 1200 members, the occasional upset, but no terrorists that I can find.What do you have against freeing up the RHS messageboards. You can't police every word, every phrase.
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29/11/2004 05:11 PM
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- admin
- 20 Nov 2003
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160
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for your message. I take your point entirely about other boards. You are right we don't expect to police every word and in fact we can't.
There are a lot of bulletin boards already out there - some are great and some really aren't - we are not trying to replicate the others. The idea here is that the posts complement the work of the Society. This is why you see the topic areas that are currently present. If there is something that you want adding let us know and we will add it if its feasible.
We are learning as we go.
Best wishes,
Administrator
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30/11/2004 08:17 AM
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- Obelix
- Belgium
- 24 Nov 2004
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378
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Hello Admin team - I feel these boards should be the natural home and first port of call of keen and aspiring gardeners with questions to ask, comments to make and advice to offer. We don't need to have experts taking control or responsibility for answering every query. If someone does misbehave, then the admin team can cancel their registration.
RHS members already have free access via the Advisory service if they have a particularly thorny problem to be solved. You could even put a flyer on the entry page suggesting people join to get free access to this service if they receive no replies from other chatters. The work of the RHS is well worth supporting and the membership compares favourably to a year's subscription to many gardening magazines.
The answers from the Boards'admin team are welcome but I'm sure the various RHS Committees and experts have quite enough to do without having to dip over here to give advice to non-members - though it may be worth working out a system where they devote say 30 minutes a day to checking out queries with no responses in case someone does manage to baffle the rest of us completely.
We board chatters are generally keen, often very well-informed, courteous, good-humoured and very happy to be here offering and seeking help and it's also a way we can contribute to the greater gardening community - which is something many feel is denied to us by the RHS whether because of distance, cost or lack of time to get to the various shows and events.
I like the way you respond to comments from chatters but - if the boards grow, you will have difficulty continuing this without expanding your team. However, you do have to grow to be a success. You could try opening up some more. If it proves to be unsuccessful or even too successful, you can then rethink and reorganise - just like you would with plants you've put in the wrong place or which have outgrown their home.
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30/11/2004 11:14 AM
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- admin
- 20 Nov 2003
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160
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Thanks for your views and ideas Obelix. Glad to know that our views are welcome [;)]
I think that the boards will evolve, however, we want it to evolve in a useful way. You should find that you can post within the topics we have set up. If there is something missing, let us know and we will endeavour to add it.
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