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Regional threads - changes for summer?


Paul

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Posted
  • Location: Aviemore
  • Location: Aviemore

Getting a few questions as to the reasoning for the closure of the regional threads, so thought I'd summarise them here for everyone who may be wondering. 

 

1. The time of year - the regional threads weren't created to run year round and were initially thought of as additional threads which opened at busy weather times - particularly during winter months when the forum is traditionally busier.

 

2. Cabin fever - some threads have been quite quiet (as we'd expect at this time of year) whereas one or two others have remained more active but often when there is a smaller pool of posters taking part, small niggles can tend to become more blown up than they perhaps need to be, and personality clashes (which happen wherever and whenever groups of people are together) are magnified because of the relatively small number of people taking part in the particular discussion.

 

3. Community - the community doesn't need to be divided on a regional basis. Yes, there is relevance when talking about specific weather info, especially during weather events but beyond that there's a great mix of people within the community as a whole and so many really good discussions and mini-communities outside of the regional forums, so no real need to always have a division purely based on where people live.

 

I hope that clarifies things a bit  :)

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Posted
  • Location: Aviemore
  • Location: Aviemore

In terms of the usage of the regional forums, since 1st May all but 2 of them have had less views than this thread has in the few hours it's been online today, and with that just a handful of posts - that tells you the usage many of them have been getting. 

 

I thought last summer was the first one which we kept the regionals running for although I may be wrong on that, it could be the previous year .

 

I understand the perspective of the weather in southern England not being especially relevant to the weather in Scotland, but looking at it from another perspective, the Scotland thread has had 13 posts in 4 days since the start of the month (including mine this morning), and that's mid-range in terms of the typical usage across the regions really, so how much discussion and interest is that bringing to someone who wants to talk about the weather up there? Not a lot I'd suggest, and so therefore surely having that daily weather discussion involving a range of regions there's more likely to be more to discuss, a nicer atmosphere and within that, more interest for new people to latch on to and get involved in. I'm not sure a new person coming into the quieter threads would be particularly keen to get involved, whereas in a centralised thread with more posts and a more active atmosphere they may.

 

We try to take peoples views on board and will obviously listen to feedback here, but what I would ask is that people give things an opportunity - I do understand that weather locality is relevant so a balance is needed there and is something we'll definitely try and get right (nothing is set in stone and for instance do we look at opening up larger regions again?), but beyond that, is there so much wrong with chatting with people from other parts of the country?

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Posted
  • Location: Home near Sellindge, 80m/250feet, 5miles from Coast
  • Weather Preferences: Severe Storms and Snow
  • Location: Home near Sellindge, 80m/250feet, 5miles from Coast

Might as well leave them open, if the general public want it to stay open and people are generally happy that way, then leave as is. I love viewing the regional threads even if not much conversation is happening, because as soon we get get a storm it becomes busy again.

 

I never understand the council like mentality of "well if everyone is happy with it, lets change it anyway".

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Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

Might as well leave them open, if the general public want it to stay open and people are generally happy that way, then leave as is. I love viewing the regional threads even if not much conversation is happening, because as soon we get get a storm it becomes busy again.

 

I never understand the council like mentality of "well if everyone is happy with it, lets change it anyway".

 

If there is a widespread, interesting weather event over the summer (such as a storm outbreak) then the regional threads will be reopened. The idea of the regional threads was to distribute people to more localised threads during periods of heavy traffic when the weather was interesting (mostly during the winter). The reality is that outside winter, these threads become very quiet and there is no real need for them.

Edited by Nick L
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Posted
  • Location: Aviemore
  • Location: Aviemore

Who said everyone was happy with it though VM? A fairly small number are using the threads, and I've heard plenty of views that suggest that it worked better when they weren't open all year round as it helped the atmosphere in the non-regional threads. And we've already said they can be opened back up during weather events which will hopefully give the best of both worlds anyway. 

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Posted
  • Location: King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
  • Weather Preferences: Hot and Thundery, Cold and Snowy
  • Location: King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

Definitely think the Regional threads should be kept open. For extreme weather events, isn't there normally the convective thread or threads such as 'severe atlantic storms' available for those specific topics? 

I think more actively used regional threads such as the South East and East Anglia one for instance should be kept open, as well as the Scottish thread and the Midlands thread. They seemed to be filled out on a regular basis? 

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Posted
  • Location: Gourock, Scotland
  • Weather Preferences: Snow, Thunderstorms, Severe Gales, Hot & Sunny or Cold & Sunny!
  • Location: Gourock, Scotland

Grown men moaning about a regional thread on a weather website closing down...

They are dead this time of the year, current weather is extremely boring/tedious.

What's the point of them being open? There are loads of threads to chat all about numerous different topics.

100% agree with Paul - they are needed during the Winter months due to the sheer number of people who log on to Netweather

He has stated a few times now...they will be opened again short term in the event of any local or national severe weather events. (Heatwaves, thunderstorms or anything else extreme)

Seems fair to me.

No point going on and on about it.

Edited by Mr Frost
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Posted
  • Location: NH7256
  • Weather Preferences: where's my vote?
  • Location: NH7256

Grown men moaning about a regional thread on a weather website closing down...They are dead this time of the year, current weather is extremely boring/tedious.What's the point of them being open? They are loads of threads to chat all about numerous different topics.100% agree with Paul - they are needed during the Winter months due to the sheer number of people who log on to NetweatherHe has stated a few times now...they will be opened again short term in the event of any local or national severe weather events. (Heatwaves, thunderstorms or anything else extreme)Seems fair to me.No point going on and on about it.

 

If you don't want to look at the regional threads, don't bloody read them, but why close them when there are people who want to use them?

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Posted
  • Location: Camborne
  • Location: Camborne

I must admit I agree with our Northern friend here, think the genie is out and people (not all I will admit) enjoyed the regional threads as it kept people coming back in their area for news and updates (and some mixed chat), like HC said what good is news or such for someone in Dorset or Cambridge, unless your headed that way that is.

 

I really don't follow that argument. You can be interested in the weather without actually experiencing it. I agree with Mr Frost apart from the boring/tedious. Now a very good example of Cirrocumulus would go down a treat.

Edited by knocker
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Posted
  • Location: Evesham/ Tewkesbury
  • Weather Preferences: Enjoy the weather, you can't take it with you 😎
  • Location: Evesham/ Tewkesbury

Definitely think the Regional threads should be kept open. For extreme weather events, isn't there normally the convective thread or threads such as 'severe atlantic storms' available for those specific topics? 

I think more actively used regional threads such as the South East and East Anglia one for instance should be kept open, as well as the Scottish thread and the Midlands thread. They seemed to be filled out on a regular basis? 

The point Paul is making is that they are being closed for the obvious reason that they are mostly not used. If in any event a certain region will experience severe weather over the Summer months then they will be opened up again for a while.... :good:

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Posted
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
  • Weather Preferences: Winter: Cold & Snowy, Summer: Just not hot
  • Location: Cheddington, Buckinghamshire

If you don't want to look at the regional threads, don't bloody read them, but why close them when there are people who want to use them?

 

But the point is that hardly anyone is using them. If they were bustling with activity then closing them wouldn't be considered.

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Posted
  • Location: Rotherhithe, 5.8M ASL
  • Location: Rotherhithe, 5.8M ASL

I'm not pleased with this.

And then I was thumping on about the new like system, for many regional is "home" Paul you say it gets more inactive, but there are many that post all year round. There is always weather, regardless of the season... Many will feel horrified of the change.

Bring back the regional 365 days a year :good:

Paul usually i'm with you, but not this time. I do not have the technical ability to post on the numerous other threads, which makes the forum ATM dead for me.

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Posted
  • Location: South Staffordshire
  • Weather Preferences: Snow
  • Location: South Staffordshire

An alternative could perhaps be - closing some of the sections and making them broader. So a Scotland thread, an English thread and a Welsh thread. Simple and with people meeting and greeting over a broader scale for the first time on the forum it may open some doors down the line, whilst also keeping people who post regionally happy.

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Posted
  • Location: Aviemore
  • Location: Aviemore

If you don't want to look at the regional threads, don't bloody read them, but why close them when there are people who want to use them?

 

You're posting as if you definitely won't enjoy using the alternative threads - why not be a bit more open minded about the change and see how it goes? When you first joined the forum there were several years before any regional threads were introduced, so I assume the general threads were interesting enough to keep you here then, why shouldn't they be now?

 

 

I'm not pleased with this.And then I was thumping on about the new like system, for many regional is "home" Paul you say it gets more inactive, but there are many that post all year round. There is always weather, regardless of the season... Many will feel horrified of the change.Bring back the regional 365 days a year :good:Paul usually i'm with you, but not this time. I do not have the technical ability to post on the numerous other threads, which makes the forum ATM dead for me.

 

There's no techie knowledge needed for the majority of threads on here - the daily weather thread is much like the regionals in content except it's from people across the country - take a look here:

http://forum.netweather.tv/topic/80193-sunday-4th-may-general-weather-chat/

 

The storm threads are very chatty, the banter thread isn't weather related at all and there are dozens more - for me the regionals can lock people in a little too much and you're perhaps a good example of that - giving something else a try may actually increase your enjoyment of the forum and open up discussions and interests you may not have been aware existed purely because you've been looking so much in one place and talking to a relatively small group of people virtually the whole time. 

 

Worth a try I'd suggest? And we'll be reviewing how things go very frequently, so if it's not working out we'll look at what options there are - such as bringing back the regionals with broader areas as a start..

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Posted
  • Location: Sunderland
  • Weather Preferences: Hot Summer, Snowy winter and thunderstorms all year round!
  • Location: Sunderland

You're posting as if you definitely won't enjoy using the alternative threads - why not be a bit more open minded about the change and see how it goes? When you first joined the forum there were several years before any regional threads were introduced, so I assume the general threads were interesting enough to keep you here then, why shouldn't they be now?

 

 

 

There's no techie knowledge needed for the majority of threads on here - the daily weather thread is much like the regionals in content except it's from people across the country - take a look here:

http://forum.netweather.tv/topic/80193-sunday-4th-may-general-weather-chat/

 

The storm threads are very chatty, the banter thread isn't weather related at all and there are dozens more - for me the regionals can lock people in a little too much and you're perhaps a good example of that - giving something else a try may actually increase your enjoyment of the forum and open up discussions and interests you may not have been aware existed purely because you've been looking so much in one place and talking to a relatively small group of people virtually the whole time

 

Worth a try I'd suggest? And we'll be reviewing how things go very frequently, so if it's not working out we'll look at what options there are - such as bringing back the regionals with broader areas as a start..

I'm sure the majority totally get what your saying Paul....The forum as we know existed and flourished for many years before the concept of regional forums had been thought up....People either forget (or are new to netweather) that the regionals were only ever intented to exist during the winter months and for the first 4 years only opened up during the winter months.......There is absolutely no point in keeping threads open during quiet times to cater for the minority, As you so rightly have posted, it now opens up the rest of netweather for those who have only ever posted/frequented the regional threads....A shame some can't see the wood for the trees

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Posted
  • Location: Llanwnnen, Lampeter, Ceredigion, 126m asl (exotic holidays in Rugby/ Coventry)
  • Location: Llanwnnen, Lampeter, Ceredigion, 126m asl (exotic holidays in Rugby/ Coventry)

An alternative could perhaps be - closing some of the sections and making them broader. So a Scotland thread, an English thread and a Welsh thread. Simple and with people meeting and greeting over a broader scale for the first time on the forum it may open some doors down the line, whilst also keeping people who post regionally happy.

The Welsh thread has been more or less dead since March!

Edited by TonyH
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Posted
  • Location: NW LONDON
  • Weather Preferences: Sun, sleet, Snow
  • Location: NW LONDON

I was the only one in one of the regionals a while back and felt sorry for the place, so posted out of sympathy. The post got removed though! :laugh: Did try to help but wasn't my regional!

Edited by lassie23
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Posted
  • Location: Aviemore
  • Location: Aviemore

not sure i agree with this

 

been doing the local fax updates for the south east for ages

 

not going into the mod thread or the storm thread as would be accused of imby posts

 

i think the south east thread is quieter than normal but certainly not dead

 

a shame this was done so sudden but its your site i suppose

 

anyway i may be back in the winter

 

john

 

John, I'd say try the model thread as your posts are well suited in there and would be appreciated. If people complain about imby posts then we can deal with that as many posters will always put their local slant on things and that shouldn't be a problem. In winter it can be a bit more manic and is harder for us to moderate but it's a lot more relaxed at this time of year and would imo be a very good fit for your informative posts.

 

Like I've said to others, give it a try for a few days - if it doesn't work out you've not lost much and we'll be monitoring in any case and will do all we can to make sure things do work out - if that means bringing the regionals back in some form so be it, but why not give it a shot first and see what happens?

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