O.K, I hoped I would never have to make this post, but I suppose it was only a matter of time.

I realise that a lot of off topic posting and banter goes on within this forum, and that is fine, and will remain providing it stays light hearted and causes no offence. What I don't want to see is the forum reduced to a level of posting which is personal and may cause offence to, or be taken in entirely the wrong context by the party or parties concerned.

Some post's can start has a harmless bit of fun, or seem a good idea, and rapidly escalate to a level where people are hurt or offended, especially if the information was given in confidence to the member posting in the first place. As we get to meet each other and hopefully form new friendships off the forum as well as online, then no doubt that some people will at some point confide problems etc to each other, and its a shame when that element of trust is broken and the personal information used, purely, as an interesting topic!.

I had to delete such a topic earlier, perhaps not as serious as it could have been, but certainly enough for me to make this post. I don't doubt that the person who posted the thread meant it as a bit of fun and no harm has been done, but it could have been embarrassing to the people who read it, and don't forget that this is a public forum after all.

I know that I have, myself, made friends on the forum and discussed personal issues which I would never dream of posting on here, so Please use a little bit of discretion when making your posts

Something that i would like to add to this is that while it's great that we all get on so well, and there are a lot of lighthearted posts, in my opinion it's getting a little silly recently in that almost every thread ends up up completely off-topic sometimes after just 1 or 2 replies. This has also happened to newbies who have asked legitimate technical or work related questions.
We complain about the lack of newbies posting, but I would not be surprised if some of them have not posted a 2nd or 3rd time cos of many threads being almost clicky conversations, which would be totally lost on any newcomers to the site.
I realise that I'm also guilty of contributing to this, but maybe some of us could tone it down a little and keep it on thread, especially where a new member has posted a technical/work related issue?
There are some people who almost seem to go out of their way to go off-topic/give a "hilarious" reply on many threads!

I agree, on quite a few occasions I have been looking at an interesting post when suddenly you end up reading a conversation between two people, which unless you know them does'nt mean nothing to you at all!!

I can see that its going to be difficult to find a happy medium here. First of all, nobody wants to post on a forum complete with tumbleweed, and sadly, lets face it, its the off topic posts which keep it alive...take a look at todays content for example - remove the "chat" and you would have around 3 on-topic posts - hardly representative of a membership of 600+ is it??.

Then again it could be the clicky aspect, as Eskie has pointed out that is discouraging new posters and detracting away from the main topic of the community - i.e The Mobile D.J, although there is only so much you can talk about with regard to D.J'ing.

The chat was set up to cope with this problem, yet rarely sees more than 2 or 3 people in there at any time. The "Off-Topic" area, again started off as a success until the off topic stuff started creeping into the other areas!

I really don't have the answer or solution to this one

Yes i totally agree to all of the above and am personaly sorry coz i know i am sometimes guilty of this. maybe now after plasa we may get back on track with this great forum.

I think that instead of this turning into a long winded moral discussion that perhaps most of us adult members should perhaps have a look at the way we comment things on the forum.I know that i am guilty of daft and stupid comments and sometimes downright offensive comments. I for one shall try and keep my fun comments for the off subject discussion in future. Lastly i feel that we should be grateful that we have the lady users that we have because some of the offensive,pornographic, sexist stick they have had to put up with from people that they barely know is unbelievable- I certainly in future shall think carefully before replying to serious posts that deserve more respect. I apologise if i have offended anyone

I've just taken a look around the forum, and I can see where Eskies comments are coming from. I mean we have introduction posts and questions from "Newbies" with only 1 or 2 replies. Yet at the same time, we have on-going off topic chat between 3 or 4 members which goes on for 40 or 50 replies!. Ever likely people are feeling a little left out and not coming back.

The same applies to the chat sessions, Last Wednesday we arranged for a Plasa Chat (I gave 2 weeks advance notice about this HERE) to discuss an official meeting time. Today people were complaining that they weren't told of an official meeting time and place . These people were on the forum during the time that the chat section was active, but made no effort to join in and find out the information. We had 3 people on what should have been the busiest chat of the year - two of those weren't even in the UK!. There were 10 people on the forum when I opened the chat and in total 26 members visited during the duration - so where were you???.

I think this conversation is swaying slightly, it's not so much the threads going off topic but more or less whats enclosed within these theads! or should I say comments that are within! ie personal!

If a thead has gone off topic, your not forced to read it! If you read the Independent and I bought you the Sun! Would you read it? No!
And anything that has led into this means that the exisiting subject has allready been answered or become dry anyway! or never really served a real purpose in the first place.

But the sexist comments and the un researched obsevations that are made from these are a problem, that are leading people to beleive what I would see as un thinkable!

I know why this topic was started in the first place and the such deleted post was removed due to the fact that even though it was in jest a member in paticular could become embarrssed over the situation as well as myself and being as they are a useful member to have the forum would not benefit from there departure.

Without probing out active members as "not to be bothered" or taking offence to it!
I personally never attended the chat session due to other commitments but I was well aware of the meeting time and place through topic postings! as well as the general dissuscions via msn and the exchange of phone numbers!

There was at least 4 attending members that had posted there numbers Here

And the general discussion on times etc was in a recent poll.

Personally, the reason I contribute to this forum, and not others, is that it has always been a friendly, imformative and fun place to be. The information available on here is widely and easily accessible. It seems that the people who have made the most "hilarious" posts are also the people who tend to take the time and trouble to actually respond to most questions, to welcome newbies and to actively participate in this community.
I have looked at other forums and have found that the djs belonging to them are egotistical, pompous idiots who just seem to want to out-do each other. DJU has been run in an entirely different vein. Yes, topics go off reasonable quickly - but I would bet money that every newbie/member who has asked a question has had a quick response.
I would rather belong to a community that has all the elements - fun, information, general discussion - and lively discussion. Nobody is forced to read evey post - and it is relatively easy to access information that you want.
Remember at the end of the day, most successful DJs are people who are quick witted, intelligent, have a great sense of humour and are not easily rattled.
Up until now, there has not been a problem. Should we let this become a problem then this site will come head and shoulders with the other sites - If you have an ego that wont accept banter or feel you are above the general "feel" of this forum then there are plenty of other sites that will allow you to massage your ego and allow you to pompously stand on the "I am a better dj" box.
This will only become a problem if we let it - I for one will not!

As I read the comments, like I'm sure others have, sometimes all possible angles and 'input' is covered.

At first, I couln't think of anything else to add - which could be a slap on the back to the DJU membership, as it may go to prove we have some resourceful, experienced and 'handy' people on this forum as guides to others / newbies, etc.

But if we look at this another way, how many newbie DJs also feel that they have nothing to contribute, and don't bother? Or how many EXISTING members feel that the 'same old tune', so to say, is being played?

I, and others on here, have repeated themselves as regards to how wonderful this forum has been as an outlet, experience share and resource. But I strongly believe that more can be achieved.

Chris (Admin) has taken an idea and offered it to the world, inviting us to join in, share and guide its development. But only a little progress has been made on our part, I believe.

So to take a leap of faith - I'm going to say "I think members need to question what they really want out of the forum - as one would ask at an Annual General Meeting!"

We have an opportunity to make or break the future progress of a DJ related site, that not only benefits our needs in technical questions being answered, but has contribution from the 'industry' itself.

Yes, there are 600+ members. There could be 6000+, but if you consider, say, the Plasa Exhibition as an example, there was a lot going on, but did it really cover the practical needs of the mobile entertainer?
The show was fun and informative - but only what the 'punter' made it, in my opinion.

Although I'm trying to express in a few lines sentiment, feeling and opinion, I am also aware that this posting, like others, will be viewable to the world.

If the DJU is going to make further progress by getting more members on board and invite input from the industry, we need, therefore, to pull-together and decide UNITEDLY what, how and when we are going to progress it.

After all, the rewards will be for the benefit our profession, be it mobile, club, Karaoke, semi or professional.

Chris, as we all understand it, works hard to maintain the stability and running of this forum. I wouldn't know where to start or have the time!

Perhaps we could 'give that little bit more' back, in a manor of speaking, and prove that THIS IS the best forum for DJ related material - and create that 'bit more interest' to the industry we work, or plan to work in.

Like I said earlier on - it's my opinion. I don't expect every one to agree with everything I say, but I feel that we all need to move forward and treat any misunderstandings or difference of opinions as a learning curve, like we would a 'DJing experience'.