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When we started TP back in 2005 or so, we were just a few mates who had met on other forums.
As time went on, we grew and grew. We outgrew our hosting at every step, ending on a dedicated server and even having to keep upgrading that.
We also introduced advertising to pay for it, and a Limited Company to manage it, but stayed in our own full time jobs.
As the years have gone by and many members have come and gone, social media gave the forums a bit of a battering.
Software changes, visual upgrades, new fancy stuff and our very own app and we're still here though!
Loyal members through and through
Brian and Matt stood down a couple of years ago, leaving me as sole director of Slack Media.
When we started, I was a house husband who could give a lot of my time to the forums.
Sadly that's no longer the case. I just cannot give the time, energy and enthusiasm required to oversee the forums any more.
The moderators have all done an absolutely brilliant job in moderating the forum but it's not fair to expect them to continue to do this while I can't manage anywhere near the level of enthusiasm and time they put in to the forums. Words can't express how grateful I am for their help over the years. Without the mods there would be no forum.
Add in my own mental health issues that have never gone away means I've had some hard thinking to do, and have made the difficult decision to step away from Talk Photography.
What does this mean for the forum?
Well. I have a timeline in mind with certain actions I don't need to bore you all with, but the key details are :
Immediately : The TP app will be withdrawn from the App Store(s) this week, and will cease to function by 30/04.
Immediately : No new advertising requests, current advertisers may continue.
Immediately : Remove Facebook / Social Media Integration with the forums
By 30/04 : Old content will be deleted. (The criteria is yet unknown, but it will be the really old and useless stuff filling up the forums)
By 30/04 : Old member records to be deleted. (Again, unsure on exact criteria)
By 30/04 : All remaining members to be contacted via email and informed of what's going to happen.
The longer term timeline will depend on a discussion I'm having with the moderation team in private. Then, one of two things will happen :
First Option
The forums will be handed over to the new owner.
If this is successful, the forums will certainly be going back to its roots as a hobbyist community, as we used to be. I will stay as just a member, or mod/admin with a purely informal technical advisory role.
Second Option
I announce that the discussions fell short and I will set a close date for the forums
The forums will close and all data deleted.
Please note I will give at least 3 months notice for this option.
If you have any queries please add them in here, and I'll answer as best I can. Common questions will get added to this post as an edit.
If you are worried about your personal data, I can assure you it is safe and will not be sold. This has been my underwritten promise since day one.
As a further note, I will make a proper post at a later date but I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every single member, past and present, of Talk Photography. Banned or not.
You are what has made this community what it is. You are the heart of Talk Photography.
You have all shown TP some absolutely fantastic support over the years, and even myself personally.
I have made loads of friends on here and experienced many, many happy memories. The love, support, and encouragement you all showed me during my personal '365' all those years ago was overwhelming and I'll never forget it.
I'd best stop now or I'm gonna cry!!
**UPDATE**
I'd like to announce that discussions have been successful and TP will be continuing as is, with someone new at the helm.
More details soon, but I want to reassure you all that TP is not going anywhere and will stay as it is...infact you might not even notice the switch
As time went on, we grew and grew. We outgrew our hosting at every step, ending on a dedicated server and even having to keep upgrading that.
We also introduced advertising to pay for it, and a Limited Company to manage it, but stayed in our own full time jobs.
As the years have gone by and many members have come and gone, social media gave the forums a bit of a battering.
Software changes, visual upgrades, new fancy stuff and our very own app and we're still here though!
Loyal members through and through
Brian and Matt stood down a couple of years ago, leaving me as sole director of Slack Media.
When we started, I was a house husband who could give a lot of my time to the forums.
Sadly that's no longer the case. I just cannot give the time, energy and enthusiasm required to oversee the forums any more.
The moderators have all done an absolutely brilliant job in moderating the forum but it's not fair to expect them to continue to do this while I can't manage anywhere near the level of enthusiasm and time they put in to the forums. Words can't express how grateful I am for their help over the years. Without the mods there would be no forum.
Add in my own mental health issues that have never gone away means I've had some hard thinking to do, and have made the difficult decision to step away from Talk Photography.
What does this mean for the forum?
Well. I have a timeline in mind with certain actions I don't need to bore you all with, but the key details are :
Immediately : The TP app will be withdrawn from the App Store(s) this week, and will cease to function by 30/04.
Immediately : No new advertising requests, current advertisers may continue.
Immediately : Remove Facebook / Social Media Integration with the forums
By 30/04 : Old content will be deleted. (The criteria is yet unknown, but it will be the really old and useless stuff filling up the forums)
By 30/04 : Old member records to be deleted. (Again, unsure on exact criteria)
By 30/04 : All remaining members to be contacted via email and informed of what's going to happen.
The longer term timeline will depend on a discussion I'm having with the moderation team in private. Then, one of two things will happen :
First Option
The forums will be handed over to the new owner.
If this is successful, the forums will certainly be going back to its roots as a hobbyist community, as we used to be. I will stay as just a member, or mod/admin with a purely informal technical advisory role.
Second Option
I announce that the discussions fell short and I will set a close date for the forums
The forums will close and all data deleted.
Please note I will give at least 3 months notice for this option.
If you have any queries please add them in here, and I'll answer as best I can. Common questions will get added to this post as an edit.
If you are worried about your personal data, I can assure you it is safe and will not be sold. This has been my underwritten promise since day one.
As a further note, I will make a proper post at a later date but I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every single member, past and present, of Talk Photography. Banned or not.
You are what has made this community what it is. You are the heart of Talk Photography.
You have all shown TP some absolutely fantastic support over the years, and even myself personally.
I have made loads of friends on here and experienced many, many happy memories. The love, support, and encouragement you all showed me during my personal '365' all those years ago was overwhelming and I'll never forget it.
I'd best stop now or I'm gonna cry!!
**UPDATE**
I'd like to announce that discussions have been successful and TP will be continuing as is, with someone new at the helm.
More details soon, but I want to reassure you all that TP is not going anywhere and will stay as it is...infact you might not even notice the switch
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