Acamas

Coming back to this forum after some months in Turkey I was disappointed. I returned to England with some practical questions and concerns about life in Turkey and thought it worth trawling the forum for info.

The 4 months of postings that I had missed whilst away took up a bare 30 minutes to scan due to lack of content. This forum used to rich in information of a useful and practical nature about living and buying in Turkey. No more. The more useful posts date back more than a year or so...

Recent postings seem to produce more heat than light. I now find that i need only check in to read posts every month r so and even then count myself lucky to find any discourse of interest. On a straight line trend I won't be checking in at all by this time next year. I wonder how many others are also of this mind? I do notice that some of the more informative and valuable members of the forum no longer call in...

It's a pity as this was once the premier online forum for first hand and useful info about buying and living in Turkey. In my opinion it is slipping.

beachhhhhhh

I think most topics with regards to buying a home etc in Turkey have been covered in the past. And what a help it has been (still is) for me and my wife.
The forum has an extensive "back catalogue" which, of coarse, can be viewed with the search button.
Members still regularly write in with new topics and updates/news on various subjects.
I still think it's a great forum.
Mel (and Anne)
(Beachhhhhhh)

immac

Acamas, I agree up to a point. There is still a lot of information, but there is far more drivel, which makes finding information harder.
I am particularly irritated by serious subjects which are taken off course when a few old friends decide to use it as a venue to have a chat and gossip about their personal lives.
All is not lost. Take, for example, the action taken to get rid of the jokes which were dominating the forum. After brief discussion they were shoved off into one section thus clearing the front page. So I think this is really down to the moderators who should remember the point you are making - that this is a forum for the sharing of information and not a forum for the development of cliques. There are plenty of places to gather information on the internet, if this forum is to remain relevant it has to be managed with that in mind otherwise people will opt out.
A recent example is the thread on taxing solar systems. I am personally embarrassed by this as I have asked Turkish friends to check it out and now have to tell them it was a 'joke'; how are casual visitors to the site to make sense of such posts?
Ian

jcrian

TLF is a discussion forum for lovers of Turkey .That's what it says at the top of the home page.

Most of the serious questions (tapus etc) have been covered many times and any information can be found by searching the archives.
A bit of light banter and discussions make the forum more interesting although if anyone has a question it is soon answered by members who have any knowledge of it.The moderators do a first class job keeping the 'community' on an even keel.

As regards the Green tax on solar panels......Think about it.....the majority of properties heat their water from the sun and it certainly wouldn't have been a green tax - quite the opposite.

Do you believe everything that you read?

mushtaq

I agree with Acamas to a point, there maybe more banter and non Turkey related posts on here now then it did in the past, this is in some way due to the fact a lot has been covered already.

This is forum to share information, ask questions so others can help answer it, this not an information publishing website where you come to read the answers to your questions, this is a forum to participate in.

Let me put it another way, if you only read the posts and don't make posts, there will be no forum.

I know you have had problems in Turkey and have spent a great deal of time there, lot more then most of the members, would it not be useful to share your experience and knowledge with us? It is because not a lot of people are posting about what they know that you can't find the information.

david & emma

I think that the forum is still very much no1 as more and more members are joining every day. I also think that a lot of members are joining due to the fact that there is a bit of banter going on. Anybody needing any sort of advice on turkey related questions will get help on here (and a lot of it from the people having a bit of fun) If this was just an information site then surely there would only be a couple of sections, as it is, there is something for everyone. A lot of members are becoming friends without even meeting one another. This doesnt make it a clique it just makes visiting more inviting.(thats why there is a buddy list) Should anybody want to find anawers to a question then surely go to relevant area of the site, Not the arcade area! The thread by Strawberry7 recently was being read & replied to faster than any thread on any forum, but had no advice whatsoever so this goes to show how the majority of members stuck together (clique if you want) to defend the other members, and the place they love.

If you dont want to read it dont click on it!!!!!!!!!!

Damian

Its a good and useful Forum and theres no reason why we cant enjoy a little fun from within.

LIGHTEN UP.

Rachels100

I disagree with your comments Acamas. I think this forum is great. Every single question I asked on here in the past was answered and I now have a great place to meet and chat with fellow people like me who love/ live in Turkey. I come on here everyday and learn something new most days..

Rach

Terry&Sue

Ditto David
Well said.
A mixture of serious topics to help new members as well as good natured banter once we get to know the forum better.
We all agree life is a serious matter but light heartedness and humour are equally important.
Whats wrong with Andy,s joke thread and the occasional banter?
Should we be thinking of bombs,terrorism,bad experiences,technical issues etc etc all the time?
There is a place for everything on this forum and we look at what we want and post.
Obviously the more you post ,the more you leave yourself open to critical comments but frankly you get used to it!
Its a FORUM and nobodys life which we all lead separately and hopefully enjoy with our own families and friends.
Some on here I have clicked with and would love to meet and others I can see have different personalities so perhaps less keen.
That does not make anyone less important or "outside the clique" as there is no clique because we are all hundreds of miles away from each other on average and are independent.
As I say again its only a FORUM so enjoy your own lives and be happy!!