When Badlad and I took over UKC in September of last year I knew little about the forum, wasn?t registered and didn?t lurk. I reckoned I?d best start learning so registered and began reading the posts, 1000?s of them. I?ve probably read 90%+ of everything posted in the past months.
What have I learnt? UKC is like a pint of ale, a deep body with froth on top.
The froth? The bickering, moaning, criticising, spats between certain members (he said, she said, he said ? well actually mainly just he said!) etc, etc , blummin etc.
The body? The vast wealth of knowledge on this forum. I have frankly been amazed over the past months and just how much UKC forum members know. I?d had no idea....
? Live in The Peak but visiting The Mendips and want some advice on which caves to visit? UKC members will help
? Lost some kit down a pothole somewhere? There?s a good chance UKC members will find it and help you get it back
? Have a question about surveying, never mind how technical? You?ll likely get detailed answers
? Interested in photography? Need advice? UKC members will help and many will like to see your work too
? Want to know the words to a favourite caving song? You?ll find them here
? Has someone already dug that likely looking spot you found? Just ask...
? Looking to buy a new piece of kit, not sure which to chose? You guessed it, just ask...
? Want to know about an obscure pothole? Want to know about a popular one??
? Want to know how to build a water tippler, or fix your flash gun, maybe patch your over suit??
? New to caving and don?t know where to start, UKC members will point you in the right direction
Ask just about anything cave related and someone will have an answer. Questions have been asked and answered by the UKC community for over 10 years. An incredible amount of information is already amassed on the forum, with more being added every day.
Don?t have a question just want some cave related entertainment? Make a brew and read a trip report or two, hear what your fellow cavers are down to or of course you may be one of those with knowledge to share and are answering questions, thank you.
So which is more important folks the froth or the body? In my opinion far too much emphasis is given to the froth and negativity on UKC and too few stand up for the incredible resource for cavers that is UKC - hence this post. It doesn?t seem to be the done thing to actually say much positive about UKC ? so I thought I would, and no, not just because I part own it but because of what I have observed and learnt over the past months...
So here?s a thought ? how about some pride in what has been achieved by cavers for cavers is taken and a little less time on the forum is given over to the same old gripes about the same old issues?
Take moderation for example ? days often go by when all the moderation team have to do is move a new topic from one board to another, or maybe approve a post made by one of the (very, very few) members who are on moderated status. Sometimes one would think the moderators are working flat out deleting posts, editing and banning people ? they simply are not, some days the Mods have absolutely nothing to moderate on.
100?s of new members have registered since last September, however few of them post let alone post regularly*. 100?s more cavers ?lurk? every day but can?t post as they aren?t registered. I realise many people prefer to look at forums and not engage and that?s obviously fine, however to be told again and again that some cavers are looking, even registering but don?t feel comfortable enough to engage due to the ?atmosphere? on UKC is a crying shame - when you consider what an important resource for caving and cavers UKC is, doesn?t it make you wonder how much better it could be if we all had access to the knowledge and experience non UKC members hold as well?
So, thinking positively - If you have posted on UKC then you are part of a fantastic resource created by cavers for cavers :hug:
* I?d love to ask why? However can hardly expect answers posted on the forum. If you?d like to drop me a PM it would be great to hear from you, thanks.
What have I learnt? UKC is like a pint of ale, a deep body with froth on top.
The froth? The bickering, moaning, criticising, spats between certain members (he said, she said, he said ? well actually mainly just he said!) etc, etc , blummin etc.
The body? The vast wealth of knowledge on this forum. I have frankly been amazed over the past months and just how much UKC forum members know. I?d had no idea....
? Live in The Peak but visiting The Mendips and want some advice on which caves to visit? UKC members will help
? Lost some kit down a pothole somewhere? There?s a good chance UKC members will find it and help you get it back
? Have a question about surveying, never mind how technical? You?ll likely get detailed answers
? Interested in photography? Need advice? UKC members will help and many will like to see your work too
? Want to know the words to a favourite caving song? You?ll find them here
? Has someone already dug that likely looking spot you found? Just ask...
? Looking to buy a new piece of kit, not sure which to chose? You guessed it, just ask...
? Want to know about an obscure pothole? Want to know about a popular one??
? Want to know how to build a water tippler, or fix your flash gun, maybe patch your over suit??
? New to caving and don?t know where to start, UKC members will point you in the right direction
Ask just about anything cave related and someone will have an answer. Questions have been asked and answered by the UKC community for over 10 years. An incredible amount of information is already amassed on the forum, with more being added every day.
Don?t have a question just want some cave related entertainment? Make a brew and read a trip report or two, hear what your fellow cavers are down to or of course you may be one of those with knowledge to share and are answering questions, thank you.
So which is more important folks the froth or the body? In my opinion far too much emphasis is given to the froth and negativity on UKC and too few stand up for the incredible resource for cavers that is UKC - hence this post. It doesn?t seem to be the done thing to actually say much positive about UKC ? so I thought I would, and no, not just because I part own it but because of what I have observed and learnt over the past months...
So here?s a thought ? how about some pride in what has been achieved by cavers for cavers is taken and a little less time on the forum is given over to the same old gripes about the same old issues?
Take moderation for example ? days often go by when all the moderation team have to do is move a new topic from one board to another, or maybe approve a post made by one of the (very, very few) members who are on moderated status. Sometimes one would think the moderators are working flat out deleting posts, editing and banning people ? they simply are not, some days the Mods have absolutely nothing to moderate on.
100?s of new members have registered since last September, however few of them post let alone post regularly*. 100?s more cavers ?lurk? every day but can?t post as they aren?t registered. I realise many people prefer to look at forums and not engage and that?s obviously fine, however to be told again and again that some cavers are looking, even registering but don?t feel comfortable enough to engage due to the ?atmosphere? on UKC is a crying shame - when you consider what an important resource for caving and cavers UKC is, doesn?t it make you wonder how much better it could be if we all had access to the knowledge and experience non UKC members hold as well?
So, thinking positively - If you have posted on UKC then you are part of a fantastic resource created by cavers for cavers :hug:
* I?d love to ask why? However can hardly expect answers posted on the forum. If you?d like to drop me a PM it would be great to hear from you, thanks.
