Surely no need for this petulance, as I explained so clearly I gave an explanation and an expression of regret, not a criticism or an attempt at a veto, and followed up with an acceptance that the change in the forum was inevitable in current circumstances.
I'd rather leave the forum than have anyone stopped from posting as they wish.
Flecc, d8veh's posts in response to my questions have always been spot on as far as what I was looking for. Enough technical detail to spur me on to research more but not so much as to make them totally incomprehensible.
I have received some 'one-liner' summary responses to posts which were helpful but others which did not leave me any the wiser really (or in other cases no response at all to questions from other members). So I think the comments about regretting the way the forum is going are rather biased to the perceptions of what could be a minority (whether an established one or a new one).
I would not be reading as much on here if all we had was retailer-focused commentary. Once my bike was bought, that would be it basically until something went wrong that couldn't be fixed. For this to be a place primarily for technically experienced members to do the job of retailers and manufacturers (i.e. provide the after-sales technical support for free that the parties who have profited from retail sales are not giving people who can't keep sending their bike back for expensive maintenance and repair) ... whilst forum owners take relevant trade subscriptions ... is crackers.
After a while, technical contributions will not be forthcoming and the site will die a death. Is it not time to let be. Everyone has made their points and I'm still struggling to see the reasons for your "regret" at the way the forum is going. I hope that people can put these different viewpoints behind them and let each other be with posting help, technical or otherwise.
It will soon be warmer and everyone will hopefully be out enjoying their bikes more than sitting in front of their computers on forums getting through the Winter. It's prime time for building, planning, innovating and researching at the moment. Whether you meant to stop people posting or not it's hugely demotivating to read the sort of put-down you expressed.
It's rather like when the other half turns round and announces that they "are disappointed that ... " all men know what that means. To be perfectly honest, if you had directed that at me in a similar position I would have simply shut my computer and gone off to work on my bike. No-one is getting paid to offer their help and assistance and I think that is often forgotten. The knowledge shared is of great value (money cannot buy it, actually) and party politics getting in the way of free exchange of information is just frustrating to those of us who value and rely on the input received.
I can't understand or wade through most of what is on ES, so that leaves me .... back in the dark and losing interest fast. That is the sort of outcome about which regret can validly be expressed.
