In message , Alan
Adams writes

It got too unwieldy when two individuals used it to endlessly post
derogatory messages, mainly about the BCU, and swamped all else. The users'
forum is controlled, so that doesn't happen.


In fairness - I agree completely - but the problems started somewhat
earlier with a certain gentleman from the US or Canada with his
particular brand of incessant advertising! I'm not even going to say
the "s***son" word...

It didn't bother me too much as I just set up some appropriate filters, but
others apparently didn't/couldn't get that to work, and departed.

Since I too don't like online forums, and prefer newsgroups, it doesn't get
any input from me, and I rarely can be troubled to go and see whether there
is anything. I can sympathise though.

(The big difference - newsgroups come to you, you have to go to forums.)


Again, I agree - though (and we've had this out many times before) I
reckon it's a bit like pubs - you go for a chat with your mates, and if
instead you always walk into an argument, then you rapidly start going
elsewhere for a beer. It's about tone and culture (not the much avowed
"free speech", please), and free choice. Anyway, and I think I've also
said this before, newsgroups WERE the vehicle of choice for early
Internet adopters, but most web users now have ever even heard of them -
so they appear to be dying a natural (if unfortunate) death in many
"generalist" (ie non-techy) subject areas. I've seen another newsgroup,
similar in history and age to this one, go much the same way even
without the arguments and grief. I think they simply accelerated the
process...
--
David Pearson