Giving up footy, thus this forum

[jazzadogs]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

This announcement probably deserved its own thread!

If we're eulogising Woof, I joined here as an 18yo who just wanted to drink in as much about the bulldogs as I could. This site has informed the way I communicate with others, how I engage in debate and how I view football. It is a place unlike all other media that I see, with long responses and a strong community particularly amongst core/regular contributors. I have learned plenty from all contributors, and I thank you Gary for facilitating this magnificent place for so long.

If you feel the time is right, no hard feelings from me - but I will miss this place.

[GVGjr]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

This announcement probably deserved its own thread!

If we're eulogising Woof, I joined here as an 18yo who just wanted to drink in as much about the bulldogs as I could. This site has informed the way I communicate with others, how I engage in debate and how I view football. It is a place unlike all other media that I see, with long responses and a strong community particularly amongst core/regular contributors. I have learned plenty from all contributors, and I thank you Gary for facilitating this magnificent place for so long.

If you feel the time is right, no hard feelings from me - but I will miss this place.

I thought of doing that but BT's Segway was too good to pass up.

I might duplicate it on it's own thread in another day or two.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

I too am really sad that this is seeming like the end of the road for WOOF.
I know this year I've been one who has had some challenges that have prevented me from engaging beyond a limited level in football related activities.

However this site means a heck of a lot to me, and my lack of posting this year has not meant a lack of reading.
As my circumstances have begun to positively change in the last month in particular I've really been looking forward to next season and getting more involved again.

However I understand your perspective Gary and know how much effort you've put in over the years trying to build this little community via this platform.

It really will be a shame personally though, as this forum and many of the posters in it via their WOOF persona have become constants in terms of; regular contact and discourse, disagreement, reasoned discussion and comraderie in a common cause.
If the decision to end is a mix of effort/cost, I would he happy to step up cash/timewise to help keep it viable, either here or on a more intuitive and functional platform (if that's even necessary). I'm sure others would have similar levels of value ascribed to this place to also make a similar commitment.

If its not that, then all I can say is what a wonderful pleasure it has been to converse and get to know many of you here via your persona, just a little bit. It really is a net positive experience for me, and losing the connectivity with the community would significantly diminish, by a massive amount my engagement and overall Bulldog supporting experience.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

For me there's really no alternative to WOOF. Any other source of Bulldogs chat is just garbage. When big footy is the next best you know it's bleak. No other source comes close to rivalling the discussion, banter, insight and intelligence posters offer on here. It'd be sad to see it go.

FWIW, I used to post on BF but gave it up a while back. A few people commented on there that WOOF wasn't an option for them due to lack of mobile compatibility/a rather archaic look and feel. I know that can mean more $$$ to put in but thought I'd share some feedback I had heard.

[soupman]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

WOOF rules and would easily be my most visited site of the last 15 years.

Understand the decision if it does go that way, and am curious how much more time in my life I'll have without it, but won't lie I'll be disappointed and sad to see it go.

Have tried to be a part of a variety of other forums and they are a shitshow both in quality and quantity of content. WOOF is so far ahead of anything resembling competition it's ridiculous.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

I also started with BF but I wasn't there for long when I stumbled onto Woof.
BF was not very appealing with trolls from other club supports stirring the pot where here was a more controlled environment with great insights to the club we all love.
I too understand reason why the site would come to a close and that will be a very sad day and I will miss the game day chat (even the more passionate calls) but I think the insights to the draft and training reports as being interstate you don't get that sort of access.
As for social media what's that? I don't have instagram, I've only gone on twitter from links on this site and I do have FB but only to look at market place.
If the end is nigh I would like to thank GVGjr for all his work and the moderators that keep this site a home away from home.

[Jasper]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

I really enjoy logging on for a read and a chat but Im not an overly active contributor. I will try and do my best to lift my contribution if that helps. Gaz did reach out to me and I did lift my contributions.

[ledge]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

If you come to the conclusion you will shut the site down could we have a celebration of the site over the years and maybe a VFL game meet up, I have conversed with so many people over the years and met very few .
I say VFL due to it being Whitten oval forum and it’s home.
I would also like to thank you in person with a few beers and a pie or two.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

It will be such a sad, sad day if WOOF were to close. Thank you for keeping it running for so long. For me it is easily the best source for anything Western Bulldogs.

Yes, there are more modern ways of communicating than forums, but this closed Bulldog community with its passionate, knowledegable and insightful contributors has no equal anywhere else across the internet.

[LifeLongBulldog]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

This is by far the best source of information for a Bulldogs supporter. A very supportive and informative community, which is fantastic for a fan that lives interstate in Sydney. Having this information is amazing in particular the thread about the preseason at the start of the year was fantastic, all the posts made it feel like I was right there, which is challenging when the club does not always update fans on what is going on in preseason. I also love reading about the AFL Draft thread, I am not the most knowledgable person in that area but I love reading about the different players supporters think would be an asset for our team. It will be a sad day if WOOF were too close and I hope it stays open for many years to come.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

Coming soon...

Woof v2.0

This time, there's two tents.

This is what AI created for GVG at training without woof.

[GVGjr]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

However this site means a heck of a lot to me, and my lack of posting this year has not meant a lack of reading.
As my circumstances have begun to positively change in the last month in particular I've really been looking forward to next season and getting more involved again.

That point isn't lost on me, we have some exceptionally loyal and terrific members and I don't want to let down the people who have contributed so much to the discussions. With a dwindling participation rate though and a very clear message from many forum members that they only want to read the content on WOOF and are very unlikely to contribute to discussions going forward it's hard to ignore that feedback. We were never a news board but that's what people prefer and they can get that quicker on other social formats.

I'm exploring other options so all is not lost but I felt I should give the good folk here a heads up.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

That point isn't lost on me, we have some exceptionally loyal and terrific members and I don't want to let down the people who have contributed so much to the discussions. With a dwindling participation rate though and a very clear message from many forum members that they only want to read the content on WOOF and are very unlikely to contribute to discussions going forward it's hard to ignore that feedback. We were never a news board but that's what people prefer and they can get that quicker on other social formats.

I'm exploring other options so all is not lost but I felt I should give the good folk here a heads up.

Happy to help out in any way G.

Obviously I have no life so I'm here regularly, and it is literally the only place I go for Dogs discourse.

It is a real shame we can't get more new folk involved, other than the advertising space, it's been few and far between.

We've had a couple of great additions on the back of your training reports, however I'm not sure what point of difference we can offer that will attract more regulars.
Game plan/match day analysis would attract me.

Let's all chip in and pay MJP to do a coaches report on each match!

[azabob]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

Game plan/match day analysis would attract me.

Let's all chip in and pay MJP to do a coaches report on each match!

What we can do is start the match day thread earlier in the week and have a weekly volunteer to write a match preview like we did previously.

[mjp]

Re: Giving up footy, thus this forum

Geez.

Sad times.

This site is my one way to TRY and stay connected.

The crew I met via BF helped me negotiate my move to Melbourne all those years ago AND went out of their way to make me welcome in person once I arrived. When WOOF started (post Tri-Colour) I moved here and have essentially never logged onto BF since.

I log in here every day - well, pretty much every day - and try to post...

I will support whatever decision you make mate and will forever be grateful for the work you have done. When you live in Perth and support the Bulldogs, well...it can be bleak. This place has always made me feel welcome and (just a little) less crazy.