Chatbox

by TwisT Fri 12 Oct 2012, 6:15 pm

First topic message reminder :

Any reason why the chatbox thread is locked? The England game is tonight and the U21's have already kicked off.

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:47 pm

Hero wrote:
Dave. wrote:Ahh. So there we have it folks.

Someone didn't like the chatbox. They've been itching to get rid of it. Now we have a chance to make it a scapegoat........and voila!

For all this hoo-ha over a box wrecking this place, it looks pretty thriving to me, where all tastes are catered for!

Now, I'm going out for a drive.

Incorrect Dave, I'm an advocate for the chat box when it's used correctly, but it wasn't, it's for live events to discuss the live events. Instead it's become a chit chat amongst an insular group. It should be used in future but not for every single night as a local.

Well then get a mod in or an Admin to direct the place. And you've contributed to that too, talking fantasy gaming and transfers.

by Bull Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:47 pm

Olly wrote:Can we have the box on for the NFL on Sunday night then? Because I enjoy discussing SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL with the likes of twelve, mikey and pr4wn (not so much GSC, but hey ho )

and me olly

by GSC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:48 pm

Again, are small minority of people that use it supposed to make up the majority of the posts?

by Amy Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:48 pm

We still on about this?
We knew it was coming Thursday when hobo said it would be open less!

by Uryu Ishida Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:48 pm

Enforcer wrote:To take Dave's lead, a case study.

Someone visits v2 for the first time following a big event.

They look in the relevant section for a discusion thread, they don't find one as it was discussed in the chatbox.

They don't feel that v2 is a site that discuses events they're interested in and never post.

counter case:

person visits, signs up because they have an opinion on something they saw ( REGARDLESS OF TIME)

they see chatbox and introduce themselves

discussion gets rolling and they see how nice we are.

they get opinions back on questions they ask in forums and in chat.

by Beer Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:49 pm

Beer wrote:Correct me if i'm wrong.

But more people on commenting on threads, posting more messages on the forum increases your costs? Cause it's based on a visits/posts method?

by GSC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:50 pm

I've seen football discussion in the gaming sections, surely they have to go as well then, newcomers arent going to see those discussions.

by MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:50 pm

The thread is not conducive to immediate discussion. It's not user friendly enough. By time you've typed your point, you press click, you get a message saying 5 other people have posted, you read them, they've made the same point, you edit, press send, you get a message, wash, rinse, repeat.

If you're on a phone it's an absolute nightmare. If chatbox wasn't available, I wouldn't contribute at all in the evening - as indeed I haven't been doing for the past year until I had a device that could use it. So you're argument is flawed.

Also, you say people can't see the discussion after the event. I think it looks worse to have to trawl through a thread that consists of;

Nice goal
GOAL
Lovely finish
He's got stupid hair
Haha
I know
What a goal
Good tackle

by Uryu Ishida Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:55 pm

Electric Demon wrote:The thread is not conducive to immediate discussion. It's not user friendly enough. By time you've typed your point, you press click, you get a message saying 5 other people have posted, you read them, they've made the same point, you edit, press send, you get a message, wash, rinse, repeat.

If you're on a phone it's an absolute nightmare. If chatbox wasn't available, I wouldn't contribute at all in the evening - as indeed I haven't been doing for the past year until I had a device that could use it. So you're argument is flawed.

Also, you say people can't see the discussion after the event. I think it looks worse to have to trawl through a thread that consists of;

Nice goal
GOAL
Lovely finish
He's got stupid hair
Haha
I know
What a goal
Good tackle

Here Here!! clap

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:55 pm

Beer wrote:
Beer wrote:Correct me if i'm wrong.

But more people on commenting on threads, posting more messages on the forum increases your costs? Cause it's based on a visits/posts method?

Correct.
Which would people prefer though? New blood continuing to come in and stimulate debate or an ever decreasing circle of a few sat in a pub whilst people walk by as they think nothing happens within?

Jun 2012 1708 9%

Jul 2012 1299 7%

Aug 2012 1160 6%

Sep 2012 1107 6%

Above is the past four months number of new topics

Jun 2012 93557 10%

Jul 2012 74990 8%

Aug 2012 76883 8%

Sep 2012 68094 7%

Above is the number of new posts in the past four months.

There is evidence that the board is quiet ending down and from past experience I fully believe the chatbox is part of the issue.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:57 pm

Maybe that might be because of the Olympics and European Championships Hero Whistle

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 5:59 pm

It was actually around the 2000 figure in March for new topics and had hit over 100000 posts per month earlier in the year so no the Olympics/Euro Championships are not the reason behind that,

by Guest Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:00 pm

Hero, i thought you were the owner of this site?

it appears to be adam making all the decisions..

by MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:00 pm

Olly wrote:Maybe that might be because of the Olympics and European Championships Hero

Beat me to it

And couldn't March just have been an anomalous month?

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:01 pm

Nov 2011 1931 11%

Dec 2011 1694 9%

Jan 2012 1862 10%

Feb 2012 1898 10%

Mar 2012 1980 11%

No, it peaked then certainly but it's been a steady downward path since then.

by Bull Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:01 pm

March was the start of the F1

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:05 pm

I find this all very strange and confusing.

So are we saying the chatbox harms new threads being created. Which then stops the post count going up. Which then costs the admin team cold hard cash?

Because I would like to see how many new topics are created in a month of no chatbox. Sorry I can't see the correlation myself. There are about 10-15 people on chatbox at any one time. Are we then saying that these people are the ones that post the most topics out of all of us, and thus them being on chatbox stop these mecca of posters making threads? Thats just stupid.

by Uryu Ishida Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:13 pm

TwisT wrote:I find this all very strange and confusing.

So are we saying the chatbox harms new threads being created. Which then stops the post count going up. Which then costs the admin team cold hard cash?

Because I would like to see how many new topics are created in a month of no chatbox. Sorry I can't see the correlation myself. There are about 10-15 people on chatbox at any one time. Are we then saying that these people are the ones that post the most topics out of all of us, and thus them being on chatbox stop these mecca of posters making threads? Thats just stupid.

i'm 1 of the main guys on the box and my topic starting i think is barely double figures if that!

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:14 pm

TwisT wrote:I find this all very strange and confusing.

So are we saying the chatbox harms new threads being created. Which then stops the post count going up. Which then costs the admin team cold hard cash?

Because I would like to see how many new topics are created in a month of no chatbox. Sorry I can't see the correlation myself. There are about 10-15 people on chatbox at any one time. Are we then saying that these people are the ones that post the most topics out of all of us, and thus them being on chatbox stop these mecca of posters making threads? Thats just stupid.

I see I'm going round in circles now, the temporary nature of the chatbox reduces the amount of content being posted on the normal board, this as a result stems the flow of newcomers to the board as the level of activity is diminishing.
It's basically a members club where it's taking no new members in at present, as one by one the members die so does the club. We wish to show to the outside world it's a vibrant community that has open doors to newcomers, it's failing to do that currently.

by Beer Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:16 pm

Hero wrote:
Beer wrote:
Beer wrote:Correct me if i'm wrong.

But more people on commenting on threads, posting more messages on the forum increases your costs? Cause it's based on a visits/posts method?

Correct.
Which would people prefer though? New blood continuing to come in and stimulate debate or an ever decreasing circle of a few sat in a pub whilst people walk by as they think nothing happens within?

Jun 2012 1708 9%

Jul 2012 1299 7%

Aug 2012 1160 6%

Sep 2012 1107 6%

Above is the past four months number of new topics

Jun 2012 93557 10%

Jul 2012 74990 8%

Aug 2012 76883 8%

Sep 2012 68094 7%

Above is the number of new posts in the past four months.

There is evidence that the board is quiet ending down and from past experience I fully believe the chatbox is part of the issue.

My point is that you're publicly asking members to click ads so you can pay the bills, whilst at the same time removing something that encourages people to come to the site? More members and more posts means more money, which you can't self sustain at the moment?

I actually see the point about the chatbox to an extent. Nothing annoys me more than going on to see fantasy league discussion and deal making when the point is for live discussion, but at the same time, if people enjoy using it, and make use of a site function then don't punish them, look at ways of encouraging people to comment more.

by Bull Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:18 pm

as for the March thing its cause its near Mania time and F1

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:19 pm

Oh and here's the list of new members to illustrate that point as well:

Nov 2011 181 15%

Dec 2011 126 11%

Jan 2012 152 13%

Feb 2012 151 13%

Mar 2012 112 9%

Apr 2012 94 8%

May 2012 97 8%

Jun 2012 109 9%

Jul 2012 63 5%

Aug 2012 40 3%

Sep 2012 40 3%

We're down to basically a quarter of what we were bringing in just 8 months ago.

by **Enforcer** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:21 pm

There is obvious disagreement, but as Hero said the board appears to be (is) in decline, we're trying to do something to halt and reverse that. Any other ideas are greatly appreciated!

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:24 pm

I would say you need to make a lot lot better use of social networking sites such as twitter. The last time the @606v2sportforum twitter account tweeted was April 29th and the time before that was March 6th. You need to use these things much much more effectively to bring people in.

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:28 pm

I have said before Beer that CPC ads is the wrong way to go. Frankly, because this has been churned out as chatbox stopping new members joining the forum, simply tells me I should not waste my breathe.

Bottom line is I cannot see the connection between

"temporary nature of the chatbox reduces the amount of content being posted on the normal board"

being linked to

"this as a result stems the flow of newcomers to the board as the level of activity is diminishing."

Because:

1) The number of members on chatbox means that it would be only a insignificant upshift if they chose to post/make new threads
2) Turning chatbox off does not automatically mean those members will then post/make new threads
3) Having a chatbox with members on discussing sport surely shows a vibrant community when without chatbox there is no guarantee that it will increase post count to try and have the same effect.

I'm sorry. Chatbox is not the reason for the lack of posts/new threads. You can sugar it as much as you want, but there is no connection.

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:29 pm

Agreed with Beer above.

If you had a problem, come and discuss it with us. Don't just say you're pulling the plug without a credible explanation. I recall one time last year, the golfers said to Gav that the box was on for golf, and people weren't chatting that much about golf. Gav told us, told us why, and the box agreed. So we talked golf.

See the difference? We were told what the problem was in a non-confrontational way. And it worked.

Still time to save this guys.

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:31 pm

I disagree and I've been on boards where I've seen it firsthand kill the forum.

by GSC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:31 pm

And when the box doesn't improve the situation, what then? Considering people in the box already posted on the boards already, are the 10-20 of us supposed to provide enough extra posts on our own to entice new members?

The board is declining because the majority of posts and posters are rugby orientated, perhaps try that as a reason rather than cherry picking things that have a small effect at best.

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:32 pm

Olly wrote:I would say you need to make a lot lot better use of social networking sites such as twitter. The last time the @606v2sportforum twitter account tweeted was April 29th and the time before that was March 6th. You need to use these things much much more effectively to bring people in.

That however IS a reason for lack of new members. Amount of companies now going on FB and twitter to get sales/members/interest is biblical at the moment. All you are doing is peeing off the people that are part of this experience already. Basically you are sh*tting on your own doorstep.

by **Mat** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:32 pm

I enjoy the chatbox. But I can also see some of the issues that arise from having it present all the time, particularly if the chat is about fantasy transfers and maybe when everyone is talking about 6WF on there as well.

But I don't really see the point being made about Chatbox meaning people post less topics or comment on less topics. By the same reasoning, I think you'd have to bin the following:

Any discussion threads in Fantasy leagues
Trash Talk
Rugby Pub

As we all talk about sport either live or post event in those threads, which takes away posts from the boards that these comments could go on.

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:33 pm

I think you're comparing apples and oranges though Hero.

Niceboard was a wrestling only site, this is multisports.

It's the principle of all this that I don't like.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:34 pm

If I type in #606v2 into my twitter search bar, I get one tweet by (Viva of all people) with it in. If I type in 606v2, I get some tweets come up from rugby, and the odd boxing one and that's it.

If you aren't putting it out there, onto such sites as twitter, how are people to know it exists? I think that decline is much more related to things such as this rather than the chatbox tbh

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:35 pm

Indeed Mat, I'm not saying the Chatbox is a paragon of virtue. But its not the cause of all these things.

Reform yes, Abolition no. But that needs discussion, which I'm open for.

by GSC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:36 pm

Mat wrote:
But I don't really see the point being made about Chatbox meaning people post less topics or comment on less topics. By the same reasoning, I think you'd have to bin the following:

Any discussion threads in Fantasy leagues
Trash Talk
Rugby Pub

As we all talk about sport either live or post event in those threads, which takes away posts from the boards that these comments could go on.

Yeah I said this earlier.

And Dave is right, instead of discussing any potential changes with the majority, the 5-6 of you go onto a private section, make the changes, then deign to tell us the changes a day or so later. Even if the reasons and logic were that sound its been handled poorly and the outcry is of your own doing.

by MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:37 pm

Mat wrote:. By the same reasoning, I think you'd have to bin the following:

Any discussion threads in Fantasy leagues
Trash Talk
Rugby Pub

As we all talk about sport either live or post event in those threads, which takes away posts from the boards that these comments could go on.

Alright Mat, bloody hell, steady on Laugh

Don't give them ideas whilst the axe is still in their hand Laugh

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:37 pm

Dave. wrote:I think you're comparing apples and oranges though Hero.

Niceboard was a wrestling only site, this is multisports.

It's the principle of all this that I don't like.

But you saw firsthand the effect it had on the board, it did contribute to its downfall no question.

by NickisBHAFC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:37 pm

Well i for one really enjoy the chat box and am very upset and angry to see it go.

But seeing some comments just for the record 606v2 will never die!

by GSC Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:38 pm

If you're closing the chatbox then any posts containing off topic conversation would have to be a moddable offense also.

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:40 pm

Hero wrote:
Dave. wrote:I think you're comparing apples and oranges though Hero.

Niceboard was a wrestling only site, this is multisports.

It's the principle of all this that I don't like.

But you saw firsthand the effect it had on the board, it did contribute to its downfall no question.

Solely a wrestling site with nowhere near the number of posters as here.

I'm willing to talk to admin to reform the chatbox.

by Uryu Ishida Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:43 pm

Dave. wrote:
Hero wrote:
Dave. wrote:I think you're comparing apples and oranges though Hero.

Niceboard was a wrestling only site, this is multisports.

It's the principle of all this that I don't like.

But you saw firsthand the effect it had on the board, it did contribute to its downfall no question.

Solely a wrestling site with nowhere near the number of posters as here.

I'm willing to talk to admin to reform the chatbox.

heck, several of us would probably want a say.

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:43 pm

Uryu Ishida wrote:
GSC wrote:I can verify thats what was said.

verifying as well.

And Twisty, can you explain your idea what you mentioned on the chatbox that night for those who were not there?

Forgot about this....here goes.

CPC is banner adverts that have to be clicked to get any revenue coming in. Biggest provider is google. It is good for sites with a few pages and members. However, forums and major websites usually go for CPM (cost per mile). Basically, when an x amount of people visit a page with a banner on then you get some cash.

The benefits of this is you don't have to click the banner to get revenue. As soon as a member visits a page with a banner on, then it goes towards the x total. When that total has been reached, you get some cash. Great when you have lots of members going to the same pages. A perfect place for a CPM banner would be here:

https://www.606v2.com/f157-sports-gaming

The amount of people that pass through that page to get to the thread they want must be huge. And there is a clock reset. So I could visit that page. Then an hour later view it again. Even though I have the same IP, and am the same person, it counts as "2" visits to the X total.

There is a lot more to it, but that is the very basic gist.

by MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:44 pm

Plus niceboard was ugly and garish, and I seem to recall it being incredibly hostile at times towards newcomers or anyone who posted an opinion that wasn't in keeping with "the IWC". That's probably why it failed

This site is very attractive and inviting

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:47 pm

Can I state personally that I do not care if people click on a banner or not, given the choice Id love to go back to the option where no banners were part of the site but that's not an option as I was paying for that out of my own pocket.

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:51 pm

Hero wrote:Can I state personally that I do not care if people click on a banner or not, given the choice Id love to go back to the option where no banners were part of the site but that's not an option as I was paying for that out of my own pocket.

That's exactly the opposite of what Adam said two nights back. He was saying he was fed up of paying out of his own pocket, and chatbox stopped people going on topics and potentially clicking on banners. He wanted us to click the banners. For him, chatbox = lack of revenue. It was clear to see that is what he thought, he said as much.

Lo and behond.....chatbox is taken off 24 hours after that convo.

This is how this all started Hero. So if there is a way to combat that and stop you guys paying out money, then surely it should be explored?

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:52 pm

On that note as well I'm not being rude if I am no longer on this, I've spent the last two hours with my kids wanting to play with me whilst I have to type to you all so excuse me if I have more important things to deal with than a chatbox.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:54 pm

Enforcer wrote:There is obvious disagreement, but as Hero said the board appears to be (is) in decline, we're trying to do something to halt and reverse that. Any other ideas are greatly appreciated!

This may be the only idea I have, but you gotta use twitter. The only twitter accounts that tweet regularly are the boxing one and rugby one, (the American Football one does too tbf), but I think that not having a cricket and football specific ones set up is scandalous, considering they are (arguably) the nations two most popular sports.

Get proper dedicated twitter accounts for the site, to advertise it on twitter, and get them involved in discussions. Use the hashtag #606v2 on the end of tweets, link articles on the website, get famous people to retweet our stuff, that is how you can bring in some new people in my view

by Dave. Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:54 pm

It's just been a PR disaster.

The official reason of the box being dropped changes.
You don't discuss the problems you have about the box with the people who use it, you just drop it, no questions asked.

That's wrong guys. I'm not accepting a decision made in this way. Talk to us and solve the problem.

Let's get round a virtual table and talk to sort this.

by **Hero** Sat 13 Oct 2012, 6:55 pm

TwisT wrote:
Hero wrote:Can I state personally that I do not care if people click on a banner or not, given the choice Id love to go back to the option where no banners were part of the site but that's not an option as I was paying for that out of my own pocket.

That's exactly the opposite of what Adam said two nights back. He was saying he was fed up of paying out of his own pocket, and chatbox stopped people going on topics and potentially clicking on banners. He wanted us to click the banners. For him, chatbox = lack of revenue. It was clear to see that is what he thought, he said as much.

Lo and behond.....chatbox is taken off 24 hours after that convo.

This is how this all started Hero. So if there is a way to combat that and stop you guys paying out money, then surely it should be explored?

That's Adam's view and you'd have to take that up with him sorry. This site for me was to chat to friends and was never a business venture, even Beer will testify to that.
I do really have to spend time with my kids now before the Mrs makes me sleep on the couch.

by TwisT Sat 13 Oct 2012, 7:00 pm

How about you play with your kids, and Adam actually comes he and says why it has been taken off.

I feel sorry for you Hero, because you may get cr*p thrown your way, but I don't actually think it is your fault.

So, I will just wait for a)adam saying something b)adam saying nothing or c)topic being locked Laugh

I am off to have a beer

by Beer Sat 13 Oct 2012, 7:02 pm

The fact that the only people commenting on this are those who use the box says a lot.

If there were 1000 people online and 10 on the box, that's 1% of your total site. How can such a small minority have such a major effect?

Olly has a point regarding the advertising of the site. I tweeted the wrestling one and it was last used in 2011. The podcast on the wrestling board clearly takes a huge amount of time to put together yet reaches an audience of what? 10? 20?

When this was set up, it's core value was to give people from 606 a home to continue their sports discussion, as far as I can see, regardless of whether there is a Chatbox or not, that is taking place.

If you want v2 to become some sort of global brand then by all means, I'm sure myself and the rest of the board would welcome and encourage such success. However, this seems like a petty punishment without cause, if anything, it's a smokescreen for deeper routed issues.

by Sponsored content