The Kibkom Forum - You gotta be in it to win it - innit?

[Soner]

As forums grow with time, it does take some good moderating to keep the peace. This is the norm, of course there will be some members that register solely to stir trouble, but I believe our moderators have been doing a great job in keeping the Kibkom Forum running smoothly.

I have started using a new method to deal with those that may be a little over reactive ( probably from downing a few too many ), by removing the ability to post without a moderator's approval. This way we can control what they post until they get the message that they can not attack members on our forum. After a while we then reinstate full permissions again. Any member continually causing trouble will get banned permanently, as we have been doing since we started the forum.

If any member sees a post that is abusive or attacking another member / business then inform our moderators by clicking on the report post link, which is on the top of every post. I think after nearly 4 years we do know how to run a forum properly and will not allow trouble makers get away with trying to sabotage our forum. So rest assured that we do and always will do our best to keep this forum a cut above the rest.

We have over 5,000 members and are achieving over 6.5 million hits per annum with probably over 30k - 50k non members just accessing information. It would be great if they all registered, but I am pretty happy with approx. 1000+ new members registering each year.

If you haven't registered yet, then what are you waiting for? Jump in we won't bite - and I have already asked Keithcaley to go easy on you Newbies!

As for the subject title - guess it is time for another Kibkom competition. I will come up with something very soon, just bare with me ( just kidding I now know it is "bear" with me).

[sophie]

Soner, what would be a great help to Newbies and to assist we Oldies is if Search could be explained in detail. There are so many questions that come up time after time i.e. Residency, Driving Licence, how to use a water meter, which Department to go for this that and the other, that have been explained time after time and by using search people can work their way around the Forum with ease, which is really quite satisfying when it works!!

Just a thought.

[tomsteel]

I fully support sophie's view on the use of the search facility. Perhaps the current topics within 'search' could be sub-divided (eg - Legal: residency, etc) Motoring: driving licences, registration etc). Us oldies could then advise newbies asking the same question time after time to use the search facility.

[Soner]

Have you seen the Advance Search link? http://www.kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/search.php
This allows you to breakdown your search to specific forums, topic titles, members, message content etc... To be honest I rarely use it, but having just done so, it really is not difficult to understand and use.

However, I do like the idea of maybe having a special section with all up to date info about popular subjects like Residency , Driving Licences in TRNC etc. etc. I just need some free time to put this all together, which I may have in the very near future.

Members can help with a list of subjects to start with, if interested.

[tomsteel]

Sooner, I have stacks of spare time and will put some effort into possible topics for your 'special' section and forward my suggestions in the near future. The devil will be in the detail as TRNC Governments change the rules, up prices and move office locations/roles etc. However, a start can be made.

[Groucho]

Members can help with a list of subjects to start with, if interested.

I'll help with a list of subject sections we don't need....

Litter of all varieties including Cats and Dogs
Driving
Dogging/Wife swapping
Immigrants
The UK
Sunday luncheons
Multimax
NTV
The poor Greeks/GC's

OK, I get my coat...

[Keithcaley]

...I'll help with a list of subject sections we don't need....

There'd be nowt left to talk about

[CatalkoyChris]

Sometimes things need re-iterating as rules can change.
I would not want to do a search for advice only to find out advice has changed.

I don't mind if there are repeat posts, forums are driven by the members after all, and we have the choice not to read something.

[Keithcaley]

Sometimes things need re-iterating as rules can change.
I would not want to do a search for advice only to find out advice has changed.

I don't mind if there are repeat posts, forums are driven by the members after all, and we have the choice not to read something.

I agree that you certainly wouldn't want to read all posts 'since the dawn of time' on any subject, but fortunately the search results are arranged, by default, so that they show the most recent posts first, which does cut down on the task somewhat!

[blueparrot]

Wow, Groucho. Scary. No Sunday lunch?

What an austere lot you must be. Should I rethink my relocation plans?

[Soner]

List received from Tom:

Banking: ATMs currency, daily limits - interest rates in £, €, YTL, Govt. max compensation per account if bank fails.
Motoring: Driving Licence rules, costs, crossing point insurance cost, timings, RoC annual certificate at Metehan.
Rules & procedure for expats settling in TRNC, Govt Office location in all major cities, opening times. Work permits.
Government and Utilities Office locations, opening hours in all major cities.
Medical care.
Legal issues.
Property issues.

Anything else? Would anyone like to help put info together?

I will be free from 20th March to work on this.

[jofra]

Perhaps a category/section that contains readable (possibly downloadable?) copies of instructions/manuals relating to the new 'smart' water and electric meters; similar instructions on how/when/where to register and pay for the various utilities and local community taxes and charges - perhaps (if copyright permits?) instruction manuals/user guides to various everyday items such as water pumps, aircons, etc.; basic tips on (e.g) rebooting wifi routers - all points that could be useful to everyone but especially newcomers/visitors...
In the same way, if restaurant/bars/tourist spot recommendations are still to be shown, perhaps folk could be encouraged to add the lat/lon details (find your spot on Google maps, right click on "What's here" and it's displayed) - this would help others to find these places so much easier by inputting the figures to Google - and also those of us with satnavs!