Posting on the UK Forum

You have to join the group..... Just like any group.....

Unfortunately, they usually post most stuff on the UK forum... instead of the main forum... so you have to join their group to post...

Still smoky..... but not as bad....

No offense to our esteemed UK members, but the way the UK group has evolved is a prime example of why I absolutely hate groups on this site. In theory they're great for sharing pertinent information regarding a specific locale or demographic. However, in practice, they're almost always divisive and exclusive.
The UK group has essentially become a completely separate forum. And with each passing day there is less and less interaction between members of the UK group and the forum as a whole. I don't mean to sound like a jerk here. I think what Danny, Wade and all the members have done for smoking in the UK is pretty damned amazing and they deserve a ton of credit. I only wish they were more a part of the community as a whole.

My point was in no way that the UK members are unwelcoming or hostile in the least. I too joined the group and have been treated very well. My point was that the way the groups are set up tends to promote isolation of a group from the main forum. As Dave pointed out, most posts from UK group members are put in the UK group, where the vast majority of SMF members can't reply. So, there develops a wonderful dialogue between members of the UK group that is completely separate from 99% of the rest of the forum. This isn't an intentional separation, it's just how it works out. If, on the other hand, groups were eliminated and made into sub forums, there would be much more interaction. In addition, group members would be more likely to post their smokes in the appropriate forum. Just today there is a wonderful write up on smoking pork cheeks which has zero replies because it's in the UK group.

I unjoined from the UK group.....

I think it's time to eliminate the "joining" portion of groups... maybe even eliminate "geographical" groups completely.....

Seems, lately, divisiveness is the only thing that's PC.....

You've got my 2 cents...

Hello.  WOW!!  I have been so busy trying to "spread the word" and get folks to join in I lost sight of this,  In the U.K. BBQ/Smoking is a new thing.  The U.K. public idea is grilling burgers. sausages and chicken parts,  The sausages are burned and the rest is not cooked..We are not trying to be " aloof!.  I/we are trying to build up the Group.  We welcome everyone.  We are trying to spread the "word" here.  Your points are well taken.  I will take this back to the Group.

Folks.  BBQ/smoking  is a foreign concept here.  Like meeting someone from the moon.  We do not mean to be "standoffish.  I/we just need to hold the folks who know their stuff together,  I and others are trying to build something here.  We WANT! to be contributing members!  We WILL be contributing members.  Please give us a chance'  Let us build our core base and then "WATCH OUT!"   Keeep Smokin!

Danny

Mdboatbum said:

My point was in no way that the UK members are unwelcoming or hostile in the least. I too joined the group and have been treated very well. My point was that the way the groups are set up tends to promote isolation of a group from the main forum. As Dave pointed out, most posts from UK group members are put in the UK group, where the vast majority of SMF members can't reply. So, there develops a wonderful dialogue between members of the UK group that is completely separate from 99% of the rest of the forum. This isn't an intentional separation, it's just how it works out. If, on the other hand, groups were eliminated and made into sub forums, there would be much more interaction. In addition, group members would be more likely to post their smokes in the appropriate forum. Just today there is a wonderful write up on smoking pork cheeks which has zero replies because it's in the UK group.

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I totally agree Dave. The Groups do give the impression of isolation and I think that is not good. It has been very helpful though to be able to group our common posts so that they are easily seen by the new UK members as it makes it feel more relevant to them and encourages them to stay. My ideal scenario would be to have a UK "group" where anyone who wanted to post or respond did not have to actually register in order to post in it - but this may be defeating the purpose of the forum group design. Although everything posted in any of the Groups is fully visible by the whole forum community when viewed through "New Posts", I think that having to register before being able to reply certainly puts a lot of people off. I know it deterred me at first when responding to threads in other groups.

Maybe, as you suggest, a better solution would be to have new section under the main forum called something like "Geographical" and have sub sections for a geographical region that has sufficient following to warrant it. OK, maybe at the moment it would only contain "UK Smokers" but maybe in the future it could also contain "Canadian Smokers" or "Australian Smokers" too. This would be along the same lines as the other forum sections

• Community
  • Blowing Smoke
  • SMF News
  • OTBS
  • ...
• Smoking Meat (and other things)
  • General Discussion
  • Pork
  • Beef
  • ...
• Geographical
  • UK Smokers
  • Canadian Smokers
  • Australian Smokers
  • ...

At least this way the posts could still be "Grouped" but they would remain fully integrated into the main forum.

Just to be clear, these are my own thoughts and I am not suggesting this in any formal capacity from the UK Group or on behalf of any of the other UK Smokers group leads.

We should also try to encourage more posts that are not UK specific to be put in the appropriate main forum sections - and maybe post links to them within the section itself, if appropriate. The main UK section should probably be used as a regional version of "Blow Smoke Around the Smoker"

I think that is a good start Wade.

From time to time, I end up wandering about in the UK section.

First, let me say, a GREAT group of folks!! Believe me, I've thought of ways to get to next year's smoke in!!!! And yes, you've basically introduced smoking to the UK!

However, I have to agree, there is a perceived exclusiveness. The fact the you have to join a "second time" to post there is a lot of it. I myself haven't joined simply because I don't think I have a ton to offer that particular group, other that "looks great", "good job". I am, however, heavily Manx, as my grandparents moved here a few years back.

Be that as it may, there is a "problem" here, but both not sure if it really needs addressing or what the "ideal" solution even is.

There's my two pence.

DaveOmak said:

You have to join the group..... Just like any group.....

Unfortunately, they usually post most stuff on the UK forum... instead of the main forum... so you have to join their group to post...

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I have not noticed any other groups here I had to join, but, that is quite likely my fault. Also, it took me a few years before I even knew I had to join the UK group to post there. Things like that aren't made very clear here, just as becoming a "Premier Member" isn't either. If more people knew, more people would pay. Just waiting to get a few bucks free, as I just found out I could pay to be a Premier Member a few weeks ago. And I've been here for years. YEARS! I just though Premier Member was another one of the exclusive clubs on here like OTBS. Sure can't buy your way into that one!

Anyway, General knowledge about all the bells and whistles around here is a bit lacking. All you could ever wanna know about anything else is on here though!!!

Good Evening Gentlemen,

I have read your thread and feel that is is appropriate to post a reply.  The last thing we want to do is cause  animosity with any members.

I don't want to bore you but to give you a bit of history about BBQ in the UK.  If you mention BBQ or Smoking food to 99 out of a 100 people in the UK they will mention cremated burgers, raw under-cooked chicken and sausages that are inedible, that's it,  they have never heard of pulled pork or ribs, and are not aware that you can cook on a BBQ/Smoker for 5, 8, or 15 hours.  it is a totally alien concept to them. 

It is only the past couple of years that things are starting to change.  We now have the odd BBQ restaurants, pop up restaurants, and even the main supermarkets are selling pulled pork brisket & ribs.  I spoke to a man last week and he is importing container loads of BBQ Sauce & Rubs into the UK, so basically we are undergoing a food revolution in the UK, that has not been seen in this country since the microwave oven was invented !

Our options are to join a US forum which is fantastic, but we cannot get products that you take for granted in the US.  For example we cannot get hold of brisket (ours is rolled and then simmered for hours in water), pulled pork and kosher salt just to name a few.  Equipment is another huge problem, you try finding a 50 gallon drum in the UK to make a UDS, it is near impossible.  But one of our members has made a couple, and posted the photo's on the UK forum (complete with parts list) and this has encouraged a couple of new members to try.  This would not have been possible if he had posted on the main forum, as we do not have the same stores as you.  Therefore there is a huge void, and because of this there was a void that needed to be filled, and we just happened to have a Texan who was more than happy to take on this huge challenge and therefore the UK Forum was born.

Our members  are increasing weekly so we are really making a difference.  We held our second annual smoking weekend a couple of weeks ago and the turnout was amazing, and we fed most of the campsite, which helped to spread the word.

I understand where you are coming from that we are not posting on the main forums, and we mean no disrespect but we feel we would lose some of our members because we would not be able to give the members the support they need,and if we missed their post, they would go elsewhere.   The only way to ensure that we do not miss a post or a reply is to keep it in the UK forum, not ideal but it works.  Since the numbers are growing, and more time is needed to support our members Smoking Monkey, Wade & myself have joined Danny as group leads.  

We feel passionate about BBQ & Food Smoking and want to spread the word, and feel honoured (spelt the UK way) that some of our fellow smokers from across the pond have posted on the UK forum.  We are certainly open to suggestions how we can contribute to the main forums, and also give the valuable service that is needed by our UK members, the last thing we want  is a them and us culture and cause a divide.

Regards & Best Wishes

Smokewood

Smokewood..... point taken...... Why is it necessary to join, to post comments... If you are in the learning stages, seems odd you want us to join to make comments....

DaveOmak said:

Smokewood..... point taken...... Why is it necessary to join, to post comments... If you are in the learning stages, seems odd you want us to join to make comments....

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Hi Dave, it's not the UK Group that make you join, it's how the site is set up. We welcome everbody to post on the forum.

Smokin Monkey said:

Hi Dave, it's not the UK Group that make you join, it's how the site is set up. We welcome everbody to post on the forum.

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Yes, we would rather that people didn't have to "join" in order to post but it is the way the Groups have been set up on here.