the forum can act as a conduit for useful info to be passed on to those who may desire it. As for actually joining the iwai, No thanks very much.

[MODERATOR] I have split this thread from the original as it has changed topic.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 16/02/2012 13:26 by Moderate Forum.

Quote:

ROBERT McCLEAN
the forum can act as a conduit for useful info to be passed on to those who may desire it. As for actually joining the iwai, No thanks very much.

Hi Robert. This forum is not representive of typical IWAI membership, nor the true nature of the real association on the ground. The make up of contributors on this forum does not reflect the interests, friendliness, attitudes nor views of the majority of IWAI members. Rather it reflects the interests and opinions of the few who participate here, which can give a quite a distorted view of the associations true nature, level of activity and effort. This forum is a social network used by a special interest group, but the majority of IWAI members just go boating, fishing, walking, etc. There has been some unpleasantness of late but most folk on here are really decent folk with good intentions. I'd just hate to think anybody formed an impression of what IWAI was really like just from this forum, or the tiny minority of uncivil or flippant posters. Most members on the ground are the most helpful and friendly bunch you could meet. Dont judge a book . . . etc. Over the years some wonderful, interesting, helpful and sometimes entertaining content of substance has been posted here.
Cheers. Noel

Quote:

OceanFroggie

Quote:

ROBERT McCLEAN
the forum can act as a conduit for useful info to be passed on to those who may desire it. As for actually joining the iwai, No thanks very much.

Hi Robert. This forum is not representive of typical IWAI membership, nor the true nature of the real association on the ground. The make up of contributors on this forum does not reflect the interests, friendliness, attitudes nor views of the majority of IWAI members. Rather it reflects the interests and opinions of the few who participate here, which can give a quite a distorted view of the associations true nature, level of activity and effort. This forum is a social network used by a special interest group, but the majority of IWAI members just go boating, fishing, walking, etc. There has been some unpleasantness of late but most folk on here are really decent folk with good intentions. I'd just hate to think anybody formed an impression of what IWAI was really like just from this forum, or the tiny minority of uncivil or flippant posters. Most members on the ground are the most helpful and friendly bunch you could meet. Dont judge a book . . . etc. Over the years some wonderful, interesting, helpful and sometimes entertaining content of substance has been posted here.
Cheers. Noel

that dont make any sense.
why would you allow the most visible area of the iwai show such a negative view?

it should be an advert for the iwai not a reason to avoid joining.

Hi Andrew.
The forum is IMO a fantastic resource.

And frankly the only service that IWAI provides to members (and non-members) that is of interest to me.

The open and at times narky discussion is IMO a strength not a weakness.

If the forum was heavily moderated (like the Club Power Boat one) it would fade away as CPB has.

John
Yacht Breakaway

Quote:

John.Kinsella1
Hi Andrew.
The forum is IMO a fantastic resource.

And frankly the only service that IWAI provides to members (and non-members) that is of interest to me.

The open and at times narky discussion is IMO a strength not a weakness.

If the forum was heavily moderated (like the Club Power Boat one) it would fade away as CPB has.

John
Yacht Breakaway

at least the guys left on it are still "friends".............

Yes. I suppose it all depends on what IWAI sees as the purpose of the Forum.

Maybe replace it by a Facebook Group? :-)

"What's a face book Ted?"

John
Yacht Breakaway

I would think the membership subscriptions generate more income than the forum.
whats the point of the forum if there are no iwai members?
are the membership numbers at record levels?

Or more controversially; "what is the point of the IWAI"?

John
Yacht Breakaway



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 16/02/2012 09:30 by John.Kinsella1.

Quote:

John.Kinsella1
Yes. I suppose it all depends on what IWAI sees as the purpose of the Forum.
Maybe replace it by a Facebook Group? :-)

"What's a face book Ted?"

John
Yacht Breakaway

the IWAI Powerboat FB group works very well...........

a big thanks to all

Quote:

Pas Vite / T 15

Quote:

John.Kinsella1
Yes. I suppose it all depends on what IWAI sees as the purpose of the Forum.
Maybe replace it by a Facebook Group? :-)

"What's a face book Ted?"

John
Yacht Breakaway

the IWAI Powerboat FB group works very well...........

a big thanks to all

Yes Pas.

But whaddabout all the more traditional members of the PB Branch that prefer to read material chiselled in Ogham notation on standing stones - or that new-fangled Gutenberg technology?

That after all is why IWAI send the Newsletter out in printed form?

john

Quote:

John.Kinsella1

Quote:

Pas Vite / T 15

Quote:

John.Kinsella1
Yes. I suppose it all depends on what IWAI sees as the purpose of the Forum.
Maybe replace it by a Facebook Group? :-)

"What's a face book Ted?"

John
Yacht Breakaway

the IWAI Powerboat FB group works very well...........

a big thanks to all

Yes Pas.

But whaddabout all the more traditional members of the PB Branch that prefer to read material chiselled in Ogham notation on standing stones - or that new-fangled Gutenberg technology?

That after all is why IWAI send the Newsletter out in printed form?

john

yes, an old dog like me had to move with the times...( forums & FB ) still not 100% at all this technology......


I for one, would not want to see IW News stop........ a GREAT mag, well done to all.

the other IWAI branch FB page does not seem to be too active.

my classic PB club in UK has low active members on both its forum & FB, is it an age thing ???? ( peeps not boats )

forums with low number of active members seem the most friendly...........

with the IWN being every 3 months, a forum & FB page are a good way for getting new news & changes to events etc out to the members....... but so are email & letters.......... ( letters: things that travel with wee stamps on the front )


it is hard to say..........

back to some real work........


X powerboater, X raggie, reborn powerboater, slow cruiser Branch............





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 16/02/2012 13:27 by Moderate Forum.

Noel:This forum is a social network used by a special interest group, but the majority of IWAI members just go boating, fishing, walking, etc

Is this true ?



Andrew: whats the point of the forum if there are no iwai members?

Is this true?


What is the activity, to use

Is to read the posts on the forum or to post on the forum ?

Donal

Hi Robert ,

I would like to endorse Noel's description of the forum , I am an IWAI
member but a lurker on the forum . I only contribute if I have something to
say . The forum is a very useful source of information and many of the
contributors are most knowledgeable on all things aquatic . So I would urge
you to reconsider your joining IWAI if you love the waterways.

Mike M



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 16/02/2012 13:30 by Moderate Forum.

I think a lot of peeps on Lough Erne especially judge IWAI solely by the the annual knees up called the Erne Boat Rally. Certainly I did before I realised there was a lot more to it than that! Those that enjoy boat rallies, fine, go ahead and enjoy them, you have my blessing. Just don't ask me to join in the 5 days of liver jellying late night early morning festivities. When the boat rally comes my way, I go t'other. Strangely, talking recently to a couple of boat rally stalwarts, they don't see themselves as being IWAI members, just members for the purpose of enjoying the boat rallies, a precondition if you like of taking part.

The IWAI is much, much more and as I've said before, I see myself as a member of IWAI, not of any particular branch, as it's the wider strategic aims of the organisation I'm happy supporting.

I also enjoy this forum. Good crack at times and occasionally mightily informative.

I myself only started contributing last Nov and have had a few chastisements and bits of banter on here but thats why I like it because of the variety of opinion and people. I will just use my boat around the Erne area for fishing and the odd overnight stay this year as I dont think my boat is fast enough for some rallys(powerboat)big enough(bargees)fancy enough(gin+tonic groups)to join in but I enjoy my time out on the water and have seen over the years the efforts of WI to improve the facilities.I think so of the topics are not really water related but they are mostly interesting but most do bring stories relating to the waterways and are helpful and informative and I hope it continues as it is and wouldnt encourage anyone to leave because their view differs from mine. I will continue to read this site and hopefully add something to the odd topic and I would encourage others to do likewise as the silent majority achieve very little if they leave it to the vocal minority. mick

Froggie is quite correct, I am a long time lurker and this is my first post.

I enjoy reading the arguements but would never post normally. Strong on opinion but sometimes weaker on fact, just like you would find in a bar or regular club house.

Don't think that the folks are offensive on purpose but possibly unaware of the impact and impression they are giving.

Know some of the folks here quite well, knew about Les's battleship back in the eighties as we worked together, Froggie helped me when buying handheld GPS etc. Some good folks on here.

Waste of time slagging off other forums because as highlighted by PV above we are all still friends on CPB. Drop off in numbers had more to do with the look and feel of the site. Now that that's changed folks are coming back. Jaysus we all want to play on the water.

Remember no Club powerboat , no power boat branch. Many of us joined IWAI just for the event in Dromod last year and would not have joined otherwise because of the tone on this forum. I personally believe that the forum harms the image of the IWAI.

If some of the posters just re read their posts as a stranger would, perhaps the language used would be more diplomatic.

Some high profile members have left recently, perhaps some one should just ask why?

Cheers

Pat

Quote:

OceanFroggie

Quote:

ROBERT McCLEAN
the forum can act as a conduit for useful info to be passed on to those who may desire it. As for actually joining the iwai, No thanks very much.

Hi Robert. This forum is not representive of typical IWAI membership, nor the true nature of the real association on the ground. The make up of contributors on this forum does not reflect the interests, friendliness, attitudes nor views of the majority of IWAI members. Rather it reflects the interests and opinions of the few who participate here, which can give a quite a distorted view of the associations true nature, level of activity and effort. This forum is a social network used by a special interest group, but the majority of IWAI members just go boating, fishing, walking, etc. There has been some unpleasantness of late but most folk on here are really decent folk with good intentions. I'd just hate to think anybody formed an impression of what IWAI was really like just from this forum, or the tiny minority of uncivil or flippant posters. Most members on the ground are the most helpful and friendly bunch you could meet. Dont judge a book . . . etc. Over the years some wonderful, interesting, helpful and sometimes entertaining content of substance has been posted here.
Cheers. Noel

Is it not somewhat ironic that the forums most prodigious poster has chosen to raise the matter of impressions created by those who post...?? One can't help but wonder what impressions his own contributions, over the years, may have left in the minds of anyone chancing to read through them. I expect Noel is a nice person in real life, but based on some of what he contributes on here, I very much doubt that I would want to belong to the type of Association which he seems to envisage.

M(W&W)F

PS..... Events on here over the last few months have left me with a big feeling of "what's the point", I shall therefore put on my lurkers coat and go a wandering in the wilderness that is the silent majority...who knows what I may glean...!!

Hi Mick,
I,ve had that feeling for a number of years, Trying hard to hang in here and
see if things get better, or even different......I think PJ knows where the
coats are hanging. He never came back yet.
Kieran Walsh

Ah Mick, not you as well!
I've just shucked mine off, but I don't have your talents with words, nor your eye for the humorous take on things.
With PJ gone, Les gone quiet and now you going into hiding, it's going to be a dull, dull, dull place.
As I explained to a lurker, recently, who prefers straight fact based posts, I depend on the mailing list to destress when I get in from work in the dead of night.
Indeed, were it not for some of the exchanges between yourself and Mr Norris, there would have been occasions when I would have been unable to get any sleep at all, with knock on effects for everyone around me...
Who's going to take up the mantle now?
Poet and sh1t stirrer extraordinaire, you'll be missed!
Come back soon...
Duncan

Well said Mick,agree with your comments.Would only add if the forums most prolific poster is also a high profile moderator ,who moderates the moderator?
Andy McKenna