Future of the Unofficial Forum

[peridot]

It hasn't become too heated in the 'other place' as yet so I'm not sure if anyone will drop by here. Chatting to some folk last Thursday, there seemed to be some enthusiasm for keeping this forum alive.

Certainly, given the limitations of the Official Forum, it's useful to have somewhere that can host files, pictures, other attachments, etc.

I was thinking of perhaps making it a bit more of a 'Family Forum' with areas for kids / teens and also using it as a comprehensive 'FAQ' type resource. On the assumption that the organisers remain happy for the two forums to peacefully co-exist it would be useful to refer new folk here when the same questions are asked again and again on the main site.

With a kids section we would need a few policies on language and behaviour but I'm sure we could live with that (there's still the main site for the free flowing banter!)

If anyone does see this post, I'll be grateful for thoughts, suggestions, ideas, etc.

[cyfarthfa]

I think this is a really good idea. The eldest Ms Cyfarthfa came away from GM this year with a feeling that there really should be more for tweens/teens- esp. since they were charged £75. She and her friends have come up with a couple of ideas that they are developing maybe as part of their Welsh BAC stuff in the coming year. This might include an Alcohol free bar and other things within the future generations thing. There are also some artists who might be into this. I'd like to do something too, and would like to do some film/video/new media stuff. It's the kind of thing that could attract money and I think would add to the festival.

It's all about creating communities isn't it? Even if that community exists physically for four days in a field in Glanusk and then for the rest of the year online and the occasional random meeting. I've been thinking about this a lot lately- do you remember Jarvis Cocker few years back when he said about how there were no police or anyone telling people what to do, that the festival was self regulating and somehow worked- I think this place is part of how the festival works, it's part of how it regulates itself. This place gives the Green Man a memory and a sense of history. It helps people who want to belong and identify with the festival understand how it came about.

Years ago I posted about how this place was like the public bar to the Lounge Bar of the Official forum. And I still think that. So I think it should stay. With renewed purpose.

[rayrad]

all sounds marvellous

and i applaud your community spirit!

i don't visit here much - but i'd be sad to see it go

one thing - i taped a bunch of bands' sets this year (as i've done in the past) but am reluctant to post links to the recordings on the main forum

i suspect they'd prefer i didn't - don't want to upset any bands, etc. (though bands very rarely do have a problem with it)

anyway, if there are no objections, i'll set up a 'festival recordings' thread on here and post links

i won't do it though until someone in 'authority' here says it's ok

cheers
ray

[peridot]

Thanks for the replies guys.

As far as the 'authority' goes that's us, so go ahead ray (especially if it includes the Damien Jurado one

I've amended the second sub-forum to 'Photos, Videos & Recordings' so it's just the place for them. It is only visible to registered members of the forum.

Chris originally established the forum and still 'owns' it. He's busy with other projects at the moment so has left me with the keys so to speak. He'll be very happy for us to find a new purpose for it that keeps it alive and in peaceful co-existence with the official one.

I think it's a very good point about the teen facilities cyfarthfa. There's huge focus on the younger kids but the teens / young adults paying significant amounts for their tickets have no distinct benefit in return. I'm sure our daughters can come up with some ideas on how to best structure a section of this forum to discuss their ideas and pull in some new ones.

I'm away on holiday at the moment so when I'm back next week I'll have a better look at how this whole thing works. I think we certainly need to freshen up the layout and styling and that's all new to me, but should be fairly straightforward.

Once I've got my head around it, I shall be back looking for further input and assistance

[rayrad]

marvellous!

just sorting out mp3 versions of the first couple of sets i've edited now (slow club and dexys)

and will add links there when they're done

lots more to come

including mr jurado!

[mojopearl]

I alway did prefer this place.
The official forum alway feels rather like Big Brother is watching you.
I also believe GM should provide more for tweens/ teenagers.
On the official GM page there's a feedback form, which might be worth filling out.
greenman.wufoo.com/forms/q7x2z7/

[krasnyi]

Good to see this place still going! This is where it al started for me back in the run-up to 2007 when I posted questions about taking little 'uns to Green Man and such - will always have a place in my heart! Now I'm off to sample the sounds!

[fergal]

I had forgotten I was a member of this forum...