Opening Up

[Oola]

I think now that things seemed to have settled down I may consider opening the chat forum up to the public again. I wanted to gauge people's opinions on this - re-opening is vital if the site is to grow a bit more or have any new input.

I think what will happen is that obviously only members can post, but the content can be viewed from the search engines by non-members. I'll still have a moderated registration process whereby I have to approve each new member. Be assured that if it were to go ahead I would still closely moderate the forum. I don't think the site will get huge at all, and will keep the community feel about it. I have also found a couple of adverts that I can use to help generate income to pay for the software license renewals, and possibly the software for a proper gallery addition to the site. They would be just one banner ad by the RM logo at the top, and one down the side, so shouldn't slow things down at all, or detract from the design of the forum.

I want you all to feel safe and secure, so I wanted to let you know what I am thinking, and your feedback on this. I am dedicated to keeping the forum ticking over and hope that you understand that moderating it and keeping you all happy is a priority!

Thoughts/opinions/ideas positively encouraged - but please don't mention specific member names or other forums :)

[Healing Hands]

I think it is a good idea that you want to open up the forum, it will be nice to have some other people input and views on life. As long as you say that you will approve of each new memeber I think that will be fine. You are very focused on what is going on and I amsure you would not have any of those bullies that we had.

I have enjoyed our community feel and I thank you so much for it, may it flurrish for a long time to come.:)

[Pippa]

Agree with you Oola, well done on finding the ads. I don't think we should deprive the public any longer from our friendly whit and banter - open the doors.

[gothfairy]

For what it's worth, I think it's lovely just the way it is. My worry would be that it could degenerate into childish, immature behaviour as has been seen on other sites, if that type of person came on board. And there's no way of knowing how people will turn out of course, maybe just lucky that we are all level-headed, polite, mature (ish?!) ladies.I would be concerned that it would perhaps get too large and lose this gentle, welcoming feel of a small, but perfectly formed of course, community.

[eleanor2]

i know what you mean goth f and it is the lovliest site out.but oola has to make it pay or else its hard work and the expense all in oolas lap.i think with good moderation this site could be kept very positive.

[jazzactivist]

Hi Oola, I think that a correspondence culture has been established on this website that is strong enough to make sure that new members know what is acceptable and what isn't. You are a very dedicated moderator, so should be able to weed out any troublemakers. Also regular members will support you in reporting any unreasonable posts to you. I think that the ads are fine too, as you have to make it pay and sometimes it is very useful to find out about products and services that would be of benefit. Another thing that I thought of, but don't know how others would feel about this, is having an annual (reasonable) membership fee to participate on this site? I find it so enjoyable that I would be willing to pay, and at the end of the day it would cost us if we were all meeting up for real. This would also discourage people who might be just want to join to play around and mess up the site.

Oola, you are a star to have created an opportunity for all these fair-minded and interesting people to talk together. Thanks for all your patience in allowing time for the site to become established and members to feel confdent, but I think that it is time now to open it up. You have done such a good job in bringing people together, have you thought of expanding your online abilities to include organising real parties, meetings and events for country lovers?

[Katelb]

I would echo everything that Jazz says so Oola please take the compliments as read.. It is time to open up now and I'm sure that with the careful moderation that you continue to practice Oola,there shouldn't be a problem.
Great news that you have got some advertising to help spread the costs,and I would also be happy to pay an annual subscription if it would help to keep the site as friendly and safe as it is now but perhaps a little further developed for mutual enjoyment for you as well as the members.
Long may you reign Oola!

[Serenity]

I can see both sides to this, whilst I totally agree with Gothfairy as long as it is moderated well I think it would work. The problem is with the other site the moderation was virtually none existant, admittedly on a large site it must be very hard work to keep track of everything going on - hopefully it won't grow too big as to loose its community feeling.
As for the adverts, not too many please! Those pop ups and moving ads on the other site are so annoying! Otherwise go for it. Oola has worked hard to create this site and although I love it as it is she should be able to generate a way to cover any expenses.

[sheddie]

Goodmorning Oola, I still think a subscription would deter time wasters.I think we all realize things can't stand still just for us and although some topics may appear a little childish to some it is a form of relaxation and release from lifes problems for others. I hope we can keep a little humour on the topics as well as being able to discuss other more important issues.Think you have done great with the adverts and it has been one hell of an achievement for you setting this whole thing up! Well done Oola X

[Redstart]

I like it the way it is but accept that Oola should not be out of pocket and going public with a few non-intrusive adverts is fine by me. I think as long as the site is well-moderated (and we can all click on the "report" symbol and help in this) there should be no problem going public. I'd forgotten it was private!

[franbee]

I'm happy to go along with the majority decision.

[gothfairy]

Like Franbee I would go along with the majority decision BUT I am not prepared to pay an annual subscription fee. It's great to come on here for half an hour most days, see what's going on, but it's not that important a part of my life that I would pay to continue.

[SheepyJames]

Would you have the power to exclude trouble makers, Oola?

[Oola]

Hi all thanks for your messages.

The subscription is a good idea, but the thing is it then opens up having to use secure Internet pay software, which in itself costs more money to run! Also I wouldn't be comfortable with new members sending me cheques etc in the post, so logistically it opens up a lot of new more complicated challenges.

There will be no pop up ads, what I have planned is one banner ad (just a rectangular ad) that will run next to the RM logo, and one 'skyscraper ad' that will run down the right hand side of the forum. I was also toying with the idea of creating an Offers page from the website - basically for you all it means that I provide you with 'coupons' or discount codes for particular items, and if you click through and purchase something and get money off with the code from my pages, you'll receive the discount and I get a small commission. I think it would be a link from the front page to basically a page with latest offers or something.

I don't think the site would get anywhere near the scale of CL, for the reason that it's just not well known and people usually come here through personal referral or stumbling across it on the search engines. As I said, you're all a priority so I shall be very strict with new members, and yes SheepyJames I have the power to temporarily or permanently (lifetime) ban anyone I choose, whenever I choose. This means that their IP address is banned so that they cannot even view the website, even if others can. I can even restrict certain users from viewing certain forums but continue on other forums.

Of course if there is a new member that you're not sure about, or get a bad feeling about, or think is completely inappropriate you can always message me about it. Because I usually work on the computer I think I am able to quickly take action, as long as it's not at 4am GMT!!!!! :)

If you like what I could do is have a probationary period of opening the site up - still everyone will have to register and go through moderation until I manually approve them, so we'll see how it goes. Would everyone be happy with that?

[Serenity]

Sounds fine to me Oola, we won't know untill its given a go so I think a trial period is a good idea.

[Katelb]

Sounds good to me too.

[gothfairy]

Fine by me too

[jazzactivist]

Hi again all, what about offering members the chance to buy some advertising space on this site Oola? There must be quite a few people on here who make and sell things, and if there was a scale of prices for advertising space, or an ads page then that might help to cover some of your cost and help people to make a living / buy presents before Christmas. I will be putting my house on the market in the Spring and would be interested in taking out an ad on RM - you never know...

Fine with me about the open probationary period, Oola.

[dinger]

I totally agree with what you are proposing Oola you can't be expected to have the expence and nothing to help with the running cost .You should feel proud of what you have done and I for one thank you. It is giving a lot of pleasure and think others should be allowed to share it with us.Go for it lass .

[Crocus]

I also like it the way it is, but do understand why you want to make changes Oola. You must do what you feel is right and we will support you. Thanks for everything so far! This is a brilliant site and I love it here. As the others said, moderation is the answer.

[sunflower]

Yes Oola, it would be great to open up the forum. It would also be lovely if the ads were from Crafters and other small business schemes. Also people advertising forthcoming events in their county. Thank you for asking our opinions. xxx

[SheepyJames]

That sounds fine, Oola. I feel much happier knowing that it won't just be "open season". Thanks again for all your hard work. We all get such enjoyment out of the site.