Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Forum = A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged:

It is a shame when views are not allowed to be expressed, I don,t mean just by admins as they have to filter and police some posts, I address this to other users who so quickly put people down looking only through blinkers. Soner did start this forum and may need reminding time to time what he felt like at the start, inviting, wanting people to join. I say this only because this community is wrapping itself in a bubble, making new users feel like true outsiders. Although this is a normal social reaction with any community, it itself needs attention. Also this Forum has become disorganized as far as post are not in the right place therefore many people would look in the correct section and miss info because it all seems to happen in the general section. Also rules are not for everyone, I myself when I joined was treated harshly and question like a prisoner, I stuck around and eventually users and admin calmed down, But other users were still allowed to do what i was not. Just my observat

No need to look in any section really, just click on "View active topics" and they are all there in one section ?

turtle wrote:No need to look in any section really, just click on "View active topics" and they are all there in one section ?

Quite right!

Actually, I usually click on 'View Unread Posts', I ignore any that don't look as though they would interest me - according to either the subject matter, or the particular poster - and then when I've read what I want to read, I go back to the Index page, and click on 'Mark Forums read' - which clears the board, ready for the next time that I click on 'View unread Posts'...

Well, it works for me!

turtle wrote:No need to look in any section really, just click on "View active topics" and they are all there in one section ?

If you do not like what you see do not read it.

...And the real beauty of it is that if you do want to find a post on a particular subject, you can refine the query to suit your needs, and use the dedicated search facility on the forum!

The above posters are quite right.

I would also like to add my take on the forum.

One of the things that brought down Cyprus44, which I personally thought was a brilliant forum and helped us decide to move to TRNC,is that allowing debate often leads to online bullying and allowing attacks on individuals and businesses makes the forum owners liable to prosecution and in fact I know that Izzet had over 100 writs issued against him, which costs money to fight.

A forum should just be for information and guidance,in my humble opinion.

It is not meant to be a discussion platform.

Keithcaley wrote:...And the real beauty of it is that if you do want to find a post on a particular subject, you can refine the query to suit your needs, and use the dedicated search facility on the forum!

So no need for other boards then

As DS says "Forum = A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged"

The forum exists for everyone , each using it in different ways, but no, we don't want to get into a continuous series of confriontations and that's why we try and closely monitor the board and try and nip potential problems in the bud.

This is why Darzee for example can express his view, even though it may differ from the way we run the forum.

Thank you Jimm127. Much appreciated.

jimm127 thank you

Darzee wrote:It is not meant to be a discussion platform.

What possible use is a forum where discussion is not tolerated?

Anyway I say "Banter good - bullying bad"

I remember Groucho saying an 'another Forum' - (it might have been the 'TRNC Villa Owners Forum') long, long ago, something like -

"...The conversations in the 'General' section of a forum are much like the conversations that you would hear when stood at the Bar in a Pub. They can be about anything and everything that comes into someone's head."

I know that I haven't got the quote spot on, but I'm sure that I've captured the meaning.

I remember thinking "How true" - and that's the way that I've looked at it ever since. If there's a conversation going on that doesn't interest me, I simply don't join in

Another advantage to the analogy is that if you are pointedly rude to someone while you're stood at a Bar, then you're liable to end up with a knuckle sandwich - so before I press 'Submit' to post my comments, I usually try to imagine what the response would be if I made them to someone in a Pub (I know, I know, I do sometimes get a bit 'excited', but I'm not perfect...)

Keithcaley wrote:I remember Groucho saying an 'another Forum' - (it might have been the 'TRNC Villa Owners Forum') long, long ago, something like -

"...The conversations in the 'General' section of a forum are much like the conversations that you would hear when stood at the Bar in a Pub. They can be about anything and everything that comes into someone's head."

I know that I haven't got the quote spot on, but I'm sure that I've captured the meaning.

I remember thinking "How true" - and that's the way that I've looked at it ever since. If there's a conversation going on that doesn't interest me, I simply don't join in

Another advantage to the analogy is that if you are pointedly rude to someone while you're stood at a Bar, then you're liable to end up with a knuckle sandwich - so before I press 'Submit' to post my comments, I usually try to imagine what the response would be if I made them to someone in a Pub (I know, I know, I do sometimes get a bit 'excited', but I'm not perfect...)

Oh yes you are.... you're a very nice man - as somebody once said....

The thing I take exception to is being told by somebody you shouldn't be talking about something as though they are the arbiter of our ability to have an adult and meaningful discussion -i.e.I don't want someone coming into the 'virtual pub' and interrupting the flow with a withering declaration that we should all be discussing something that is taxing their brain and wanting to substitute their topic for those others are discussing. By all means start a new thread. Just don't complain if it goes nowhere and few posters feel inclined to post...

Groucho wrote:...as somebody once said...

I think that it was Harry Enfield... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cypq7HOfZ0E

Much as I hate to diagree with Keith:

The difference between a conversation in a pub and on a forum, is that

1. If you are in a pub and interrupt a conversation, the chances are people will ignore you and, particularly if you are short of stature and female, continue to talk - and pass drinks to their mates - over your head , and chances are you will end up with a beer shampoo. On a forum, you can at least say your piece - it may still be ignored but at least you will have said it and kept your hair dry!

2. I you SAY something in the heat of the moment that is too harsh or it comes out other than what you meant (and we all do it sometime or other) you cannot take it back. With a forum there is the opportunity to read what you have said, realise how it sounds, and change it if necessary - you can even put it in draft and "sleep on it". If you are really lucky, if you realise after you have posted you can edit it before too many people have noticed! I am sure too often people write what first comes into their heads when they are angry or upset and dont bother to check if it is unnecessary offensive to someone not involved,, or even if it actually makes sense!

RR, if those are the only points of disagreement, then I'm quite happy!

The problem with forums is ,in my opinion ,that the written word lacks the intonation of jovial speech.
e.g. -If I go in a pub/bar,and slap a pal on the back,and call them a pillock/arsehole/dickhead,as long as I do it to someone I know,and have smile on my face when I do It,It's taken on board with the friendly intention that the comment was delivered with.

However, If I were to reply to a post on a forum like this,and say-'you are a total tosser'(for example),I may well be typing it with a smile in my face, but unfortunately the reader of the post doesn't see the smile and just sees the words as written.

That is the reason for forum related fallouts as far as I can see.

Philoz wrote:The problem with forums is ,in my opinion ....

For me the biggest problem with forums is people posting with specific hidden agendas. Recommending a product or service, when in fact they are the one selling that product or service but they hide this to create an impression that it is an 'independent' view. Or slating a product or service, when in fact they are a competitor but they hide this to create an impression of just being a normal customer. Or people pushing hidden agendas under a false guise, like using the forum to pursue vendettas against individuals they have a history with. These kind of things are often done with 'sock puppet' accounts - one person with multiple accounts. It is this kind of pushing of 'hidden agendas' through the abuse of anonymity that for me, more than anything else, undermines the undoubted value of forums like this one.

Erol- I agree ,see my post in 'la roca experience' thread.
Classic example of what you are saying.

I agree with DS expat TVs original post.There does seem to be some people who want to turn this forum into a Sunday School being overseen by the over sensitive and politically correct.These people it would appear go running to moderators like children in a school playground by sending emails to them to have a post amended or removed because the over sensitive persons don't like what is being said.
In some cases they are not even involved with the discussion in hand.
Bye the way I am not referring to business postings.

I think that it is incumbent on users to acquaint themselves with the expected standard behaviour on any Forum or Bulletin Board that they wish to use - before they start to use it. If they don't wish to comply, then they should not use that Forum...

The Protocol does vary slightly from site to site, but normally, a thorough read through the rules (and FAQ's if such exists) coupled with postings from Moderators will give a poster an idea of the sort of behaviour that is expected / tolerated.

This brief article on 'Netiquette' is a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the concept - although there is a vast amount of material on this subject available on t'internet.

Phlioz makes a good point in that facial and body language can change the impact of what someone is saying in real life! That is what smilies are for! With respect, and appreciating that Soner is very busy we could use a wider range of smileys here. I dont even understand some of those we already have. For instance a board I sometime use has a "whistling" smiley so one can indicate that a comment is intended to be taken as "tongue in cheek". The same Board enables different type faces and colours, so one can emphasise something without resorting to the forbidden capitals. I have tried underlining and italics but somehow it doesnt have the same impact. It is also quite useful for differentiating between posters when using the "quote" icon, or if one wants to make an comment as an "aside" without driving the main thread ot.

Successful posting does involve knowing and taking trouble with both the English language and internet protocol and there are some who do not seem to bother about either