Why do you use this forum?

[Nielo]

Well, it begins to look like I was wrong and people do want an online community.

Do you think we are a community already or do we just aspire to be one?

Are there any features, which would help community spirit? Do we need a section for 'care in the community'?

[pigro]

well, strictly speaking, at present only 27 of the 43 voters consider themselves, or aspire to be, a community.

The rest of the 6000 (or 'active 255', if you wish) apparently either don't agree with the above, or can't be bothered to express a view (which amounts to the same thing).

So, looked at from that point of view you may not in fact be so wrong at all?

[Gabbi]

The advantage of analysing statistics is that you get to fiddle with the numbers Pigro. The top four responses could almost amount to the same thing in differing variations anyway. The problem, as this is a "closed" poll, is that we cannot see who voted where, or how many of the multiple choices were selected by each voter. So, it could be that every one of the 29 voters in favour of an "online community" voted on that section and possibly only some of the same 29 voted only on one other section of the multiple choice. Only 16 from the total amount of 45 voters didn't cast a single vote on that particular section and possibly more than one person voted in all sections in an attempt to skew this highly scientific poll or perhaps we really do have 6.67% of voters who are from the Guardia di Finanza!

Then of course, there is Alan, who may not fit into any category and may not have voted at all, but could only be expressing his concern about the lack of relevant sections for every possibility of every voter within a 6,000+ membership who all have the same voting abilities should they choose to vote before this poll closes, which is probably sometime in the future and could already be advertised somewhere with the possibility that I simply did not see it. Far too many variables as far as I'm concerned and it's probably easier just to look on my post as a way of contributing to the community by bumping the thread.

[pigro]

most of that was over my head I'm afraid Gabbi ... but you seem to be implying (correct me if I'm wrong) that I was somehow commenting on your "bumping"?

I wasn't ... all I was trying to say was that very few of the active membership seem to vote in any polls, irrespective of their subject. Those who do go out of their way to participate in votes (and who consistently start or sustain debate in other threads) are, I believe also the same ones who DO view themselves as part of a community. I count myself as one of them ... though I'm sure many would disagree :-)

[giovanni]

pigro.

apparently either don't agree with the above, or can't be bothered to express a view (which amounts to the same thing).

I dislike statistics, so do not enter into the poll.This therefore makes your assumptions above incorrect or atleast misleading.The very reason i dislike
stats......

[pigro]

Originally Posted by giovanni

I dislike statistics, so do not enter into the poll.This therefore makes your assumptions above incorrect or atleast misleading.The very reason i dislike
stats......

sorry Gio, I just couldn't resist it ... to quote your good self elsewhere (last time we crossed swords on a poll!) "Sorry but i do like facts and statistics..."
http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/gen...html#post67447

anyway, I see what you mean, but again, I'm NOT trying to deny that there is a community - quite the oposite - and my post above in response to Nielo's was just devils advocate.

my only point here is that there is a community but it's a pretty small one ... I don't really need a poll to tell me that anyway, as a regular visitor its fairly easy to see who chats/debates for the sake of it & who uses it mainly as a resource.

[Gabbi]

Originally Posted by pigro

most of that was over my head I'm afraid Gabbi ... but you seem to be implying (correct me if I'm wrong) that I was somehow commenting on your "bumping"?

No, not implying that at all Pigro, actually nothing was further from my mind, other than a vain attempt to baffle with bullsh!t (which I obviously acheived, even if somewhat misunderstood by the very person I thought would "get it".) Consider yourself corrected. (Not sure which smiley to choose here to convey a friendly tongue in cheek admonishment) Will this one do?

Originally Posted by pigro

I wasn't ... all I was trying to say was that very few of the active membership seem to vote in any polls, irrespective of their subject. Those who do go out of their way to participate in votes (and who consistently start or sustain debate in other threads) are, I believe also the same ones who DO view themselves as part of a community. I count myself as one of them ... though I'm sure many would disagree :-)

I know you weren't commenting on the 'bump' and understood exactly what you meant about community, which I'm sure you are very much an accepted part of.

[giovanni]

"Sorry but i do like facts and statistics..."

Which is true, or what i should have said was [facts with statistic] I believe you know what i mean, and the suttle difference between the two statements...

[pigro]

hearty agreement on your respective points above, and 'communal' saluti to you both Gio/Gabbi (just back from 1st Xmas do of the season & full of the proverbial spirit). I pretty much knew where you were both coming from, but I do like a bit of dialogue regardless!!

[Nielo]

I think there was a chat room here before but something went wrong and it was removed. However if the consensus is that members want to be part of an online community some sort of chat facility would seem a good idea. Has anyone any suggestions that we could put to Ronald? Especially as he has been hinting of a revamp in the near future.