Should we close this forum?

I'm a member of a pipe smoking forum . The UK contingent broke away from a US based pipesmoking forum after the owner got cheesed off with our British banter....mostly alcohol fuelled it has to be said. 😄

After more than a year away we still chat away several times a day. The forum, despite costing nothing to run has so very few Ads they're hardly noticeable. One of the lads keeps an eye on the amount of space allowed and just deletes certain agreed threads that aren't important. It's a closed forum so outsiders have to apply to join or be invited. That means there are no one post wonders in it.

For me it depends on work. Sometimes when I am busy I look at the blog but don't post.

Today I wanted a break from work so posted a little more than recently.

Quote from Splinter

This forum is also free to its members, so what's your point?

I assumed the reason you asked was a financial one. If not, why did you ask?

Perhaps members who find themselves spending more time on expat Facebook pages or other expat forums could give some tips on making this forum more interesting to them?

Personally, I am trying to get a life outside the screen after two years being stuck at home. I am already glued to my desk from when I wake up to when I go to classes. Now some classes are being held online because of health issues and it is terrible to sit in front of the screen even at night. Plus, I get distracted with work and notifications.

I tried to post about the relevant news in my Argentinian life, but there isn't much going on besides the new car. That's good news!

I personally only browse the net when at home with the laptop. I rarely bother taking my phone when I'm out and about and when I do it's not for the purpose of browsing social media.

Quote from UK Man

I personally only browse the net when at home with the laptop. I rarely bother taking my phone when I'm out and about and when I do it's not for the purpose of browsing social media.

I didn't take you for a social media type, UK Man ! You're full of surprises!

Quote from serafina

I didn't take you for a social media type, UK Man ! You're full of surprises!

I'm mostly a boring old fart!!

That was my initial impression , but you seem to very computer skilled and social!

When the warmer weather arrives, we shall organize an expedition to visit you in the countryside! Your garden sounds amazing, plus you have dogs... and plenty of beer!

Quote from serafina

That was my initial impression , but you seem to very computer skilled and social!

When the warmer weather arrives, we shall organize an expedition to visit you in the countryside! Your garden sounds amazing, plus you have dogs... and plenty of beer!

The countryside garden is the wife's baby. It is nice on a warm sunny day sitting with a cold beer. Trouble is, there's always work to be done which is f'ing annoying!!

Quote from Splinter

With so little activity, new threads or posts in recent months, this may well be a possibility.

What are your thoughts?

For what it's worth, I browse this forum (and others) about once or twice a day. I'm often here but not signed in. My system automatically signs me out of everything when I close it down so I generally only sign in when I have something to say that hasn't already been said, far better, by another member. I try to remember to "like" the messages I like when I come back and sign in but I apologise for not putting nearly enough likes on the board. You could probably classify me as a quiet but regular visitor. Passively active, maybe? Actively passive?

I always enjoy your posts, bebopalula .

Quote from Rice

Perhaps members who find themselves spending more time on expat Facebook pages or other expat forums could give some tips on making this forum more interesting to them?

I think the malaise is wider spread than just Argentina Expats. The Latin American quarter of British Expats is moribund and has been for more than a year; the discussions in The Other Place Which Shall Not Speak Its Name seem to be currently dominated by currency exchange obsessives and people who want to play the system of residency and citizenship.

What I like about this forum is that everybody - whether visitor, resident or citizen - appears to be in it for the long haul, seems to be comfortable in their own skin - if you know what I mean - and gives the impression of (mostly) accepting that Argentina is what it is.

I don't do Facebook or Twitter or anything similar but the other (non-expat) web-based forums and Usenet-based forums which I use are also seeing a big drop in membership and in anybody saying anything new and interesting.

Personally I just think it is just because of the times we live in. We have all collectively been through an awful lot in the last two and a half years and it ain't all over yet. People generally are behaving very differently in real life from how they behaved before and it's only to be expected that the upheaval will extend to online matters too. My attitude is just to hang on and see what happens - things will either get better or they won't.

Quote from Rice

I always enjoy your posts, bebopalula .

I enjoy yours - shall we form a mutual admiration splinter group? Except we can't call it a splinter group, obviously.

Quote from UK Man

The countryside garden is the wife's baby. It is nice on a warm sunny day sitting with a cold beer. Trouble is, there's always work to be done which is f'ing annoying!!

If you want to enjoy the nice stuff and not put in the legwork, you should be the guest and not the husband!

Quote from serafina

If you want to enjoy the nice stuff and not put in the legwork, you should be the guest and not the husband!

As I keep reminding the missus. I taught horticulture for 35 years and am now retired. Would you like to teach English for a hobby?

Quote from UK Man

As I keep reminding the missus. I taught horticulture for 35 years and am now retired. Would you like to teach English for a hobby?

But she still speaks in English to you and for free You just have to DO the gardening, not teach it.

Touché!