Hello folks,
The three-yearly fees for running this website are due for renewal at the end of the month. These fees are by no means astronomical, though they are not insignificant either, and inevitably a decision has to be made about cost vs benefit.
Is there a desire from you all for the site's (and therefore the forum's) continuation. Forums generally speaking are a dieing breed. Many have moved onto other forms of social media and play out their discussions there. Much of the discussion on here centres around the same few individuals (that in itself is fine), and in many cases addresses questions which have been covered before (less fine).
On the flip side, it has been a pleasure to make the acquaintance of many of you, and Tom does an admirable job of keeping us well informed about new articles and releases of interest.
So the bottom line of this ramble is this: if the forum folded, would you miss it? If the balance of opinion is yes you would, then I am happy to continue. Ultimately if people aren't fussed (which will be evidenced by a comparative lack of response to this post), then it isn't really serving any great purpose, which will influence my final decision.
This isn't some kind of veiled threat, not a fishing for compliments, but an invite for you all to share your honest opinions.
Stay well
Zack
I am a little late to respond, for which I apologise.
Yes, please do keep this going. It is extremely informative and is really the only place for me ask such obscure questions as I do and anticipate that I might get an answer from someone! These fine people are all so willing to share their knowledge that it would be awful shame to lose this resource.
Nor do I use other forms of social media, so to lose this would place me back in the dark ages from which I've only fairly recently emerged!
Like others, I would be very happy to make a financial contribution.
Please continue the forum, and let us know what we can do to help support it.
Yes. It is excellent.
I agree with all of the above - please keep up the good work
Please keep the forum going.
Zack, I really enjoy following the discussions here. I am sure that there are a large number of visitors to the forum who do not post often, who may not be registered at all, but who read along regularly. I particularly appreciate finding many experts here who are always ready to answer questions. Without this forum our community would be missing a good meeting place!
I'd be delighted to contribute to the forum's future. Can't imagine doing without Hans-Karl--he keeps me sane from time to time.
I don't post very often but I read alot of the posts and they expand my knowledge of this fascinating period. So in short yes I would miss this forum.
I would echo the previous responses - I don't post very often, but read quite a lot and would miss it. As with others, I would be prepared to put hand in pocket (my own in both cases, I hasten to add!) to support the forum if that became necessary.
I'd miss it, as I suppose would other lurkers and readers!
I am only a picnicker here, but I do like to drop in for a bit of chat with intelligent informed people- (and here, in response to Hans Karl's question, there is less likelihood of interference from the less intelligent, and less informed).
I would miss it. . . this forum in one form or the other has been in existence since 1996. I have made many friends on it and it has been my go to place for answers that are impossible to find!
Yes!
I agree - continue, in case why are discussions in other social media seemingly more attractive??
I would like it to continue as well. The discussions here are interesting and well moderated. I enjoy reading here. I plan to post more in the future, but for now I'm waiting to look at certain items before finishing my drawings. And frankly: too many fora have folded and disappeared recently.
Yes I hope it would keep on going. Whilst I don't post, I do read the responses and it's a really good resource for me to find out more on the napoleonic wars.
I too would consider supporting the forum financially if asked. All I would emphasise that we should confer no special consideration on those of us that do. I think it’s important that we remain equals (even though for our own sake our esteemed interlocutor has to remain more equal than others!)
I agree with others that I would like the forum to continue. A small donation like TMP does might be helpful to spread the cost of fees.
Please continue. I also read all posts. I am not on social media like FB.
I vote for continuation of the forum. There is much here that is both informative and noteworthy.
Perhaps an offer to the members of a voluntary supporting membership might help. The Miniatures Page does it and it seems to work well.
I would certainly sign up for that.