Keeping in touch

[j3gq_imp]

As far as I can tell the future of this site is less than certain. I've seen Guth's note of course, and many of the related answers, but nothing seems certain. Now as you're probably aware that some are working on solutions how to keep this site alive, but this may work, or it may not. Now image for a moment that the site was gone in a few days. How would you get in touch with other members ?
Correct, you could not, because the message board is down, the emails of other members are hidden deep down in the guts of this database, and I am not even sure that the admins have easy access to email addresses of members after the site is down. (Cormanus, could you confirm ?). This could be as much a blast to the future of our board and exchanges as the loss of the site itself.

I suggest two possible solutions - just as a backup in case things don't work out well for our site.
1) For all of us who are not too concerned about keeping their email address hidden / private: we create a central list of members with their email addresses. Anyone could volunteer to host this list which would look more or less like the "member list" on the top right corner. We could work out the details in the answers to this thread here. Each member would have to agree that the list with his user name and email is distributed freely. Admittedly, that's not everybody's cup of tea. Which takes us to solution 2.
2) all of you not willing to loose touch with the active members of this forum could (either temporarily or permanently) register at the German CB1100 forum. It is entirely irrelevant that the site is run in German language. Once you are registered (I would suggest to do this under your old user name followed by something like "US" (if permitted in a user name I would suggest _US or .US at the end of the user name created.

As the German site hosts the same "send email" or "send private message" system this would create a way for all interested members to stay in touch a) without exposing their email addresses, b) with or without ever reading one word in German on the site. All you need is a few instructions how to log in and send a message. Sounds convincing to me, and it is even thinkable that the separate threads in English could be added and slowly grow into the German forum. And if the US forum stays alive or comes back after a while, that's even better and no harm has been done.

Now, you might ask, why the German CB1100 site, why not some English Honda forum elsewhere ? Because many of the more generic Honda forums are much larger, and not focused on the CB1100. I think it is easier to take these steps on a smaller site with a relatively small user base.

If you want to have a look, the forum site's url is https://cb-1100.de/forum/

Please comment !

[misterprofessionality]

Thats actually a great idea. I dont know how accomodating theyd be tohave a large english speaking contingent using their platform, but it really helps that its a completely ready-to-go operational organization. Maybe if we had an english speaking mod to represent us?

[pdedse]

Good "preventive maintenance" ideas. I'm at the German site and have already learned that "zustimenn" means "agree"...I just don't know what I'm agreeing to! But all my grandparents spoke German, so I can do this.

And...I think I'm registered! Translated the page but some of the registration prompts were still in German, fun to guess.

[j3gq_imp]

My guess is that they wouldn't mind. First I don't think that all of us would register, and while we have 6000 members, many have left and sold the bike (or may be sold the bike and left), and others wouldn't bother. In addition, we would probably not create a lot of downloads of text and pictures (because we mainly used their site to stay in touch). It is large up- and downloads which cost money in the world of fori - messages and emails don't cost anything because of the small file sizes.. Just extra users, even many extra registered users, that doesn't cost nothing. Last not least, with more users the reputation of a site grows (and may attract more clicks and income).
@pdedse, I could easily "talk everybody through" the registration process, once I see that there is an interest.
Once in place, all it takes is another little procedure how to find and start a message or email conversation with your buddy.

[PowerDubs_imp]

I don't see what the fuss is about- if the current admin doesn't care enough about the site to keep it going- then he shouldn't care if someone else takes over paying the bill and doing the work.

Someone give him a few bucks, get the log-in & password. Done.

[Tev62]

I don't see what the fuss is about- if the current admin doesn't care enough about the site to keep it going- then he shouldn't care if someone else takes over paying the bill and doing the work.

Someone give him a few bucks, get the log-in & password. Done.

I think you have missed the original post about the site from the current Admin PowerDubs. You might want to withdraw that sentiment.

[Cormanus]

That's certainly a plan, j3gq. Don't give up hope just yet ... see this on misterprofessionality's thread about copying the forum.


On your direct question, I have no access to member's email addresses even while the site is up. Once it's gone, as far as I know, no-one will have access.

I don't see what the fuss is about- if the current admin doesn't care enough about the site to keep it going- then he shouldn't care if someone else takes over paying the bill and doing the work.

Someone give him a few bucks, get the log-in & password. Done.

PowerDubs, if your life has taught you that slinging a buck at a problem will always resolve it, you have my sympathy. Maybe, as Tev suggests, you could read [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=17860&pid=317109#pid317109]this?

[pdedse]

I've started a file on my hard drive with title CB1100 Forum Threads and have it divided into topics of interest to me: how to do X, a tire thread, road reports etc and save everything as word docs. That way I can access what I want / when I want in case we go blank at some point.

[Cormanus]

Are you just copying and pasting them, pdedse? Or saving the pages?

[j3gq_imp]

Thanks for the positive feedback. If we wanted to make it happen, those interested would have to say, and let me know if they need the sort of short procedures I have been talking about (registration, access to PM, etc.). That effort is not worth doing if only 3 of us are interested.