Moving so fast

[pheonix]

I cant believe how fast this site is moving! so many new members, threads and the rate of new pictures in the gallry recently is phenominal.
I havnt been on for long enough to have a good look at the site for at least two weeks now and its just taken me three hours to catch up and read through everything, i had four pages of new threads to look through ( ) and many many excellent photos to veiw.

i look forward to seeing more to come and try to be more involved but now works picking up again i dont know if i'll have the time?!

hello to all new members and congrats to the people with various in site promotions
keep up the good work and hopefully the site will get an award it so rightly deserves

[Tinkerbell]

I know exactly what you mean, pheonix. Increasing numbers, with a variety of knowledge and interests is what we had in mind when this whole thing began. There really is a huge amount of information - be it in the form of Reference accessed, Events to enjoy, and the frequent updates of wildlife related news from various sources and loads more.

Keep up the good work everyone - you make it what it is!!

[John]

A lot of you may not have been involved with a forum with large numbers of members before.

This site is well handled at the moment with some excellent contributors that are both friendly and articulate. That is the strength of the site.

I have been with one site virtually since its inaugaration, three and a half years ago, that has seen it's membership shoot up to nearly 40,000 and that in itself brings problems due to so many diverse opinions. It also becomes very manic as you can't keep up with the new threads and photos that go on the site on a daily basis.

I have mentioned this because as this site grows the busier it will get and the more diverse it will get. The admin have to be prepared to keep an eye on its progress because if they don't WAB could lose its way, and we don't want that.

The owner of the major site I am in is a friend of mine and kept ringing me and asking why I would want to be part of this site when I had all the facilities and membership of his site. My answer was that WAB was relaxing, it was only to do with Britain's wildlife and that the whole concept was different enough to capture my attention. I still don't think he fully understands that I can be fully functionable in his site as well as this one.

All I ask is that you don't lose sight of the fact that as this site grows in popularity the more chances of attracting the wrong type of member to the site will increase. If left unchecked they can cause untold damage.

Let's us all make a constant effort in keeping WAB as it is now and not to allow ourselves to get sucked into what I would consider diversive elements that tend to creep in from time to time.

Be aware that we all have our own opinions and that they may not be in line with yours. Constructive debate is the way forward but within that framework the danger is that someone will try and force their opinion on another member or thread. Keep it simple, put your opinion forward, perhaps enlarge upon it and if it is not being accepted just agree to disagree. If we can do that the debate's will flourish along with the site.

If we can keep this site friendly and chatty, as well as informative, we've won and WAB will grow to become the site to be in.

We have all made a good start so far, and much has to go on the shoulders of Stuart and his team of volunteers in acheiving that. Now the hard part is fast approaching where we have to keep the site as it is now.

John

[digi]

John, I think this sites growth will be more steady and that will give Stuart time to react. Also its limited to the subject of British Wildlife which will keep the total membership numbers down and make the site easier to administrate.

[Helen]

As long as the site concentrates on core subjects, and doesn't attempt to be all things to all men, it will be fine.

[digi]

Originally Posted by Helen

As long as the site concentrates on core subjects, and doesn't attempt to be all things to all men.

And women

Ooh look I have been promoted!

[wildone]

Originally Posted by digi

Ooh look I have been promoted!

Great digi, I knew it wouldn't be long in coming.

[John]

Originally Posted by digi

John, I think this sites growth will be more steady and that will give Stuart time to react. Also its limited to the subject of British Wildlife which will keep the total membership numbers down and make the site easier to administrate.

Your probably right but I remember way back in 2002 when the other site I was in seemed bereft of new members. In fact come the Birdfair in August 2003 we had a concerted effort to smash through the 3,000 barrier. They were quite a few hundred short at the time (that was a year on from when it first started). Now the membership has gone crazy.

This site might not flourish quite so quickly but don't dispel the power of the word of mouth. I know I promote the site (as I do the other) wherever I am. If everyone continually did that you would be surprised how quickly this site could build. Don't forget there are 50,000,000 potential members out there.

There are not many sites dealing with Britain only, and even less that are as professional as this one, so you may do better than you think once the news gets out.

John

[Tinkerbell]

Thanks for the credit given to the volunteers John - but do you realise you are one of them also, with all of your input - pat on the back due I think.

One other point I'll reiterate, WAB is also here for the other things it offers - news from various wildlife groups and organisations, reference section, gallery, events, directory etc. - some folk perhaps never view the forums, but enjoy the site for the other aspects of content.

[Helen]

Of course, Tinkerbell, WAB is not just about a forum, which is why it works so well, it has something else to offer too.

[John]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Thanks for the credit given to the volunteers John - but do you realise you are one of them also, with all of your input - pat on the back due I think.

Thanks Tinkerbell but my input would be nothing more than useless if this site wasn't here. Sure I can open threads and reply to others. I can even post my photos but it is you guys in the backround that make it all tick. Don't do yourselves down. You have done a good job in getting an excellent site not only up and running but running smoothly.

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

One other point I'll reiterate, WAB is also here for the other things it offers - news from various wildlife groups and organisations, reference section, gallery, events, directory etc. - some folk perhaps never view the forums, but enjoy the site for the other aspects of content.

I agree but we are talking numbers that are joining this forum to give input. The background numbers don't come into it.

I think it was Phoenix who had been out for a while that posted a thread on the fact that they were shocked at just how many posts and photos had been put into the forum since the last time they had visited WAB. This could become the norm on a daily basis and you have to allow for that.

John

[nightshade]

The appeal of this site is that it is like an extended family flexible tolerant but if any one goes too far they are politely told to mend their ways or are shown the door!

[arvensis]

I think as the site grows, theres going to be the need for more forum moderators. Certainly WAB is going at a rate of knots- heres to a good 2006.

Mark

[pheonix]

I have noticed that WAB comes up alot now when im using search engines, good as it attracts people that atre search ing for relevant things but with it coming up so frequently it may draw in the 'wrong' crowd..

[Helen]

Originally Posted by pheonix

it may draw in the 'wrong' crowd..

Don't worry, the mods will soon sort them out

[nightshade]

Who or what is the wrong crowd I am a little naive when it comes to forums etc.

[John]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Who or what is the wrong crowd I am a little naive when it comes to forums etc.

As Helen has said, the mods will sort them out but basically the wrong crowd are those sort of members that have no feel for the forum only about themselves and their opinions. They are both devisive and destructive. They create arguments for arguments sake and generally have no positive input into the wellbeing of the forum.

There are enough people in this forum that have been involved with that sort of member and should be able to spot them a mile off.

John