Another UB joins the ranks.

Davey_Pitch · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:31

Mattus said:
Good move. Whilst the community here in GD is fantastic, the technical side of the forum has grown increasingly under-represented. At the end of the day this is Overclockers UK, which seems strange when GD is as big as all the other forums put together. I don't think GD will disappear, just a happy medium which isn't as one-sided as we are currently.

The hardware side of the forums have been under-respresented for a long time, and I for one welcome the increased number of hardware based UB's. However, in no way will getting more hardware based UB's/Dons redress any kind of imbalance in the way the forum is used by the masses. If the powers that be percieve the forum to be too lifestyle based and wish to promote the hardware side more, the only way to actually achieve that is to kill the lifestyle forums. Simply adding more hardware based UB's won't make the current userbase enter those hardware forums more, it'll just mean there are more people in there to deal with trouble when and if it occurs.

The forumites are the ones who decide where they want to spend their time when surfing on OcUK, shutting down/adding forums is the only way to change that (IMO of course).

Edit: I should have course say congrats to NathanE, I've seen your name mentioned plenty of times in the past, so it's well deserved IMO

JohnnyG · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:52

Congrats to NathanE

For what it's worth, I can sort of see the reasons why a new direction is being implemented. OcUK (the company) has raised it's levels over the last 2yrs in terms of it's product choice, quality & value, customer service, buying power & reputation. To run a forum which is predominately a 'chat room' may hinder it's progress as it may not be taken as seriously as other suppliers. That's not to take anything away from the quality of PC advice given on here, as it's second to none, or the work put in by former UB's & Dons

GordyR · 29 Jun 2006 at 21:55

Gilly said:
OK

The thing that (for me) sets this place apart from the other lesser techy UK forums is the people that frequent it (in the main) and the sense of community. Not the level of skills and knowledge in the hardware forums, because most of the people in there are on all the other hardware forums IME.

Completely agreed. While I have no problem with a push for a more hardware orientated approach in general, I certainly hope OcUK doesn't lose the community feel it currently has. GD with it's faults and all are a huge part of the magic of OcUK. I for one have spent thousands of pounds with OcUK based primarily on a respect for not only the company itself but also for the forums and the community here.

da_mic_1530 · 29 Jun 2006 at 22:22

i think mr pitch and a few others have summed it up

im sure that 80% of members signed up with the intent of hardware discussion, but once their problem has been solved they move into the livestyle forums etc etc

not that i dont see Spies view, afterall its a hardware forum and he runs a business that sells hardware, that bears this forum name

a happy balance would be great, but more ub/ dons will not make the hardware sections busier, you need a boom in pc hardware sales as already stated

im not having a go or anything here, purley voicing me opinion in a nice way

CurlyWhirly · 30 Jun 2006 at 02:03

HangTime said:
I'd also like to see Tolien 'promoted' to Don for his work in IC&N, if he wanted the additional responsibilities of course.

Same here.

I have asked numerous questions on Networks & Internet Connectivity and he has found time to answer all of my queries for which I'm grateful

Congratulations NathanE :cool:

willd58 · 30 Jun 2006 at 04:22

GordyR said:
Completely agreed. While I have no problem with a push for a more hardware orientated approach in general, I certainly hope OcUK doesn't lose the community feel it currently has. GD with it's faults and all are a huge part of the magic of OcUK. I for one have spent thousands of pounds with OcUK based primarily on a respect for not only the company itself but also for the forums and the community here.

Spot on, and im not even part of the community, yet its easy enough to join in on the fun of GD.

iCraig · 30 Jun 2006 at 09:20

GordyR said:
Completely agreed. While I have no problem with a push for a more hardware orientated approach in general, I certainly hope OcUK doesn't lose the community feel it currently has. GD with it's faults and all are a huge part of the magic of OcUK. I for one have spent thousands of pounds with OcUK based primarily on a respect for not only the company itself but also for the forums and the community here.

Totally agree, it's the attraction of the forum.

I'm a member of a design forum, and although that suits my tastes almost perfectly in regards to topics, it simply doesn't have the community that makes OcUK so unique.

OT: Just noticed Desmo and Piggy are suspended.

Hope it isn't for long..

Admiral Huddy · 30 Jun 2006 at 09:44

Well done mate.. Congrats.

The H/W sections have been rather neglected over the last 6 months. I'm not sure if the spilting of the sections has helped as it's quite difficult switching in and out of the various techie forums.

Taking nothing away from NathanE.. I'm quite surprised that DutchGuy hasn't been asked.. Always been there to lend a hand and always gives good advice.

Spacky · 30 Jun 2006 at 09:49

Well done dude,

Sometimes I poke my nose in but am scared to type in there lol.

But well done none the less.

iCraig said:
OT: Just noticed Desmo and Piggy are suspended. Hope it isn't for long..

I think it maybe a bit longer

GSXRMovistar · 30 Jun 2006 at 09:56

Congrats on the position.

Stringy · 30 Jun 2006 at 10:00

Davey_Pitch said:
The hardware side of the forums have been under-respresented for a long time, and I for one welcome the increased number of hardware based UB's. However, in no way will getting more hardware based UB's/Dons redress any kind of imbalance in the way the forum is used by the masses. If the powers that be percieve the forum to be too lifestyle based and wish to promote the hardware side more, the only way to actually achieve that is to kill the lifestyle forums. Simply adding more hardware based UB's won't make the current userbase enter those hardware forums more, it'll just mean there are more people in there to deal with trouble when and if it occurs.

The forumites are the ones who decide where they want to spend their time when surfing on OcUK, shutting down/adding forums is the only way to change that (IMO of course).

Well if UBs/Dons are taken away from GD, the quality of posting in there is likely to fall, meaning perhaps less people will post in there. This means less people visit the forum, lowering server/bandwidth costs. Raising the quality of the HW forums won't make more people visit them, but if it's at the cost of the quality of GD etc, then it will make less people visit those forums, which is perhaps the aim.
Dunno, random roundabout speculation.

Congrats on the underbossness.

Beansprout · 30 Jun 2006 at 10:17

OCdt Stringy said:
Well if UBs/Dons are taken away from GD, the quality of posting in there is likely to fall, meaning perhaps less people will post in there. This means less people visit the forum, lowering server/bandwidth costs. Raising the quality of the HW forums won't make more people visit them, but if it's at the cost of the quality of GD etc, then it will make less people visit those forums, which is perhaps the aim.

Strange that you think taking away UBs will decrease activity yet not the reverse

It's strange how people like to read into things. But maybe you're right, who knows (or cares)

Davey_Pitch · 30 Jun 2006 at 12:51

OCdt Stringy said:
Well if UBs/Dons are taken away from GD, the quality of posting in there is likely to fall, meaning perhaps less people will post in there. This means less people visit the forum, lowering server/bandwidth costs. Raising the quality of the HW forums won't make more people visit them, but if it's at the cost of the quality of GD etc, then it will make less people visit those forums, which is perhaps the aim.
Dunno, random roundabout speculation.

If you believe that I've got a tower in Blackpool I'd like to sell you

Trigger · 3 Jul 2006 at 21:40

Seen NathanE about lots in the windows forum- certainly has a lot of useful knowledge along with Otacon

Congratulations, very well deserved. :cool:

Duke · 3 Jul 2006 at 21:44

Well done

Yewen · 3 Jul 2006 at 21:48

OCdt Stringy said:
Well if UBs/Dons are taken away from GD, the quality of posting in there is likely to fall, meaning perhaps less people will post in there. This means less people visit the forum, lowering server/bandwidth costs. Raising the quality of the HW forums won't make more people visit them, but if it's at the cost of the quality of GD etc, then it will make less people visit those forums, which is perhaps the aim.
Dunno, random roundabout speculation.

Congrats on the underbossness.

Have you seen a drop in quality in GD.

Just because we are not known for posting spam in here like most of you, does not mean we wont help to moderate it. Look at the thread moves and closures to see that GD has not been left to its own devices, quite the opposite really.

Just now there is representation in the hardware forums, where you could go 6 months without a mod team member posting in some sections, now every section is represented by at least on regular poster.

Its working well I think, certainly has raised the standard in a couple of sections and if you check out General Hardware, you will see a lot of thread moves if you go back a few pages.

Things are getting done in here still, I can say that I am an avid reader of GD and check most threads, always have as its fun to read what idiots people are sometimes.

Certainly not been left on its own, and I think the last few days have proved that.

The three new UB's have settled in nicely, although not getting picked on by dons yet which can only be a good thing.

Davey_Pitch · 3 Jul 2006 at 22:45

Yewen said:
Have you seen a drop in quality in GD.

Yes, a huge one, but that's nothing to do with the removal of a few people nor the addition of some new UB's.

Minstadave · 3 Jul 2006 at 22:48

Even I'm making an effort to keep an eye on GD, and before being made an UB you could have counted my posts in GD on two hands. I know the reshuffle meant a few really good people lost their positions though, so we're all doing our best to keep up their good work.

Davey_Pitch · 3 Jul 2006 at 22:53

Minstadave said:
Even I'm making an effort to keep an eye on GD, and before being made an UB you could have counted my posts in GD on two hands. I know the reshuffle meant a few really good people lost their positions though, so we're all doing our best to keep up their good work.

I think GD is pretty well moderated, but there's a few other forums where there is pretty much no presence whatsoever from the admin team (Don or UB) since some people were demoted. I'm sure it's all in hand to put some people back in those forums, or perhaps to offer a current poster in those forums an UB position. Time will tell I suppose.

Minstadave · 3 Jul 2006 at 22:55

Davey_Pitch said:
I think GD is pretty well moderated, but there's a few other forums where there is pretty much no presence whatsoever from the admin team (Don or UB) since some people were demoted. I'm sure it's all in hand to put some people back in those forums, or perhaps to offer a current poster in those forums an UB position. Time will tell I suppose.

Which forums in particular? I'll see if I can help out