Should we close down SOH

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I have been a member for many years. I have met many wonderful people from all over the world on this site. Like many have said it is home. Please don't shut down the SOH.
I would also like to thank Ickie, and the rest who watch over the SOH for all their time and effort.

Jeff
 
I ran an enthusiast website (non-flight-sim) for six years, by myself, and finally shut it down when the signal/noise ratio become unfavorable. The first years of the Internet were great but when we got broadband, everything changed. It was a great thing for a few years, but I can see why some may have grown tired of keeping up this site. Package it up on a DVD set and sell it after you shut down (if that's the final decision) so that all the good stuff will be there for posterity.

I am not about to plead for y'all to keep the site going because I know what a drag it can become. You have given far more to the "community" than anyone could have contemplated. If it's no longer rewarding, do as you must. You only live once.
 
To administrators,

I have really enjoyed my time as a member here at SOH. I can only imagine what it takes to keep this site running for all of us. It would be a sad day if this website closed. I'm not sure where CFS2 would be without it.

If y'all would like me to step up and help, let me be the first to volunteer. Many in the CFS2 forum know my reputation, (Jagdflieger would give me a good reference) and I would be happy to do as much as I can to help operate and maintain the site which has meant so much to my hobby.

Please consider my offer...I'm happy to help in any way that I can.

And to Ickie: Thanks for everything. You've come to my aid a couple of times!
 
Well, I have been coming here since the days of Combat Flight Center, CFS1 and FS98. I've learned a lot, stepped on some toes in the past and had mine stepped on too. I learned about Trogfighters back in the day (anyone remember that, uh, debate?), and the glories of BR planes and their 1% 'rivals.' I've also learned about aircraft I never knew existed, that my computer does a heck of a lot more than write documents, a little history here and there, that some good folks are just as wacky as I am even if our opinions aren't the same, and most importantly I've learned this is a place I like to visit every day even if I just lurk.

While I respect any decision the folks who make this place happen end up making, I sure know my days would be a lot less interesting without SOH, and I know I've been in the debt of good folks like Ickie for many a year now. Whatever happens, I know I'd likely have shelved flightsims years ago because this place taught me there's a wide virtual world there out there to explore beyond the box even if I can't land my Supermarine Scimitar to save my life. Back in 98 or early 99 I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to get a Hurricane airborne, let alone landed. Some good folks here like Joe Amodea, Mauro Giacomazzi, and especially a couple of remarkable chaps named Bruno and Sonny showed me not only could I land, but I could do so in style. I still can't land the Scimitar, but the point remains a lot of good folks have given a lot of themselves here, and I for one am grateful.

Happy Flying,
MT
 
This is the one forum that I frequent regularly and when I need help with something this is where I go. Its a place where everyone knows your name!
 
I think the bigger picture here is we all appreciate what the staff does especially Ickie, but we really don't have a clue as to what it takes to run a site like SOH.
The only thing I could imagine it is like is a kindergarten class being taught on a computerized assembly line with the teachers trying to deal with the students and keep the machines working. I'm not trying to offend anyone here just trying to imagine what these VOLUNTEERS have kept alive all this time with their dedication and hard work. God Bless the Staff and what decisions they make, Ickie I wish you well sir, and I don't think I could say THANK YOU enough for ALL you have done for us. Please mind your health the world needs people like you.
 
Good_2_Be said:
I think the bigger picture here is we all appreciate what the staff does especially Ickie, but we really don't have a clue as to what it takes to run a site like SOH.
The only thing I could imagine it is like is a kindergarten class being taught on a computerized assembly line with the teachers trying to deal with the students and keep the machines working. I'm not trying to offend anyone here just trying to imagine what these VOLUNTEERS have kept alive all this time with their dedication and hard work. God Bless the Staff and what decisions they make, Ickie I wish you well sir, and I don't think I could say THANK YOU enough for ALL you have done for us. Please mind your health the world needs people like you.
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LOL
i would never put it that way
but thats purty darned close
H
 
OBIO said:
I truly hope the site stays up and running. This is my hang out....I don't go to bars, clubs, discotechs, theaters, malls or family reunions (unless it is a reunion for a family other than my own....crashing a reunion is great fun and a good way to get free food...I once won a door prize at a reunion where I knew absolutely no one).

The loss of the download library alone would be on par with a 10.0 earthquake, a F-5 tornado and a F-3 hurricane rolling into one package....a great big disaster. A wealth of files there that I have found no where else....and I have not even come close to browsing it all.

I have no suggestions on how to keep the site running.....I have no clue what all is involved. Wish I did have a grand plan for keeping my home away from home running at full steam.

OBIO
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My feelings too. SOH is the only forum good info, great addons and exchange of ideas. I primarily only look at the CFS2 forum and never noticed any problems there. It would be a shame for the many to suffer for the deeds of a few.
 
Ferry_vO said:
"Let Being Helpful Be More Important Than Being Right!"

That's what it says, right above the 'door'.

Please read it, let it sink in for a moment and try to keep it in the back of your head everytime you post.
A little respect and consideration for other members is all we ask for; it's what makes this place the best FS forum on the net.
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That's what makes this a great place to hang out.

I appreciate the help I've had from the members here and I thank you all for it.

Thanks to the admin who look after us and keep things ticking along.

Lets make 2009 an even better year.

Regards to all,

Pete.
 
(Deleted long four lettered rant about those responsible for this mess)

Absolutely keep it open!

Most of us didn't know Ickie was running this show by himself free of charge. The man deserves our respect and some sort of compensation. Everthing should be done to help him out and keep him here.
 
I do...

....appreciate the amount of work that Ickie does in the thankless jobs he holds, along with the other volunteer admins on SOH.

I may rag on some of my fellow basement-dwellers around the CFS2 Forum from time to time, but the SOH Staff have my never-ending admiration and respect because they're usually working their butts off instead of enjoying the SIM.
 
i wish i had seen this earlier, i wouldn't be one of the last to post.
i agree with many of the others. this is the best forum on the web, and to close it would be a huge loss to the fs community. if we allow a handful of bad apples to ruin it for us it will be to our discredit.

that said, i'll offer the only thing i have, my time. i'm not allowed to work until i get my papers sometime next fall, so if there is something i can do to help, please let me know. i don't have a powerful computer, and i'm not wiley coyote, but i'll help if i can. if i did have $$ to offer, i wouldn't hesitate.
but i do have time. it's yours if you need it.

while i'm here, no matter what is decided, thanks for the time we've already shared. i hope there is a future.
 
Guys, overall, Sim-Outhouse has a very mature and reasonable discussion tone, and its one of the few places where warbird fans can really find useful info.

I can see why Ickie would get sick of the abuse for something that he puts an obvious large amount of time, effort, and passion into. But for every mouthy, privileged ingrate out there, there are dozens of people who really appreciate having this great watering hole to hang out in. Alas, they're not as loud or attention-seeking as the troublemakers.

The Internet is a microcosm of society, and society has plenty of jerks. Add anonymity and an audience and some reasonable-in-real-life people become even bigger jerks. But over at the most mature and reasonable general gaming forum (QuarterToThree.com), the admin warns 'em once, and if they keep it up, the banhammer drops. Problem solved.

I'd hate to see S-0 disappear. Along with Qt3, it's one of only two forums I visit on a daily basis. And I for one sure appreciate the time, effort, and passion from Icky, Moe, and the rest of the ops here, and I feel it would be a great loss for the sim community if it shut down.
 
I started a post ... it got too personal and too long. Here's a shorter one.

I come here every day to see what my friends are up to ... maybe exchange a few words with them ... catch up on their lives ... their families ... what good things have been happening ... and sometimes ... the bad.

I would miss this special place more than I can articulate if the plug were pulled ... especially over some petty comments made by a petty person.

When I think of the friends I've made ... FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD ... I'm thrilled and truly amazed!

So, I VOTE NO ... AS EMPHATICALLY AS I CAN SHOUT IT!
 
I would also like to thank each and every moderator and staff member for all they do here. When I first joined, it was just to download, but now I can find info not on just sims, but real world aircraft and aviation too. Like many have said, this is one of the few places I visit regularly on the web.

I would also like to volunteer to help run this site, and would be honored to do so.

WH
 
I haven't read any of the posts in this thread so I am not responding to anything in particular. SOH is a very essential part of this hobby community and it would be a terrible loss if it were to go away. Please keep it going if only for the people who enjoy logging in everyday with the hope they could help someone out or the hope that someone could help them. Thank you for all you've done Ickie, I don't always agree with you, but I'll fight for your right to make the decisions you do. God bless you, may your health improve, and please allow this community to go on and prosper.

Salute,

John
 
I've also 'met' lots of great people her over a number of years now. A big thanks to Ickie for all you have done even though I had no idea what it took in the background to run the site (just like turning on a tap really - you get water out but don't spend a second to think how the water got there).

I hope the site continues to run, but if it doesn't thanks again to Ickie and all the admins and the people I've 'met'

Murray

ps. and good health to you Ickie for many years to come
 
Henry said:
as i have been reading posts and see where some members stand
boom a light!
i see some members who do not care if we are here or not!
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I care very much for SOH, but I can understand the stress put on Ickie and the staff. Just in case you misunderstood my vote to close it if it's that bad of a situation.
 
I don't think there is much doubt about where I stand on this one. The site has to go on - it is a unique source of information, help, and cameraderie in the field of aviation simming and beyond. My pals and I in the Historical Wings sanatorium (sorry, forum) would miss it terribly.
I am one of those tightwads who rarely indulges in payware, but am happy to divert a few dollars now and then in the Outhouse direction, as it is an asset worth paying for.
In any group of enthusiasts there are always going to be the intemperate, the immature, the unreasonable, the abusive. Gently ask them to sound off elsewhere - there are enough good guys in here.
 
I'm fairly new here and don't understrand what happened. I will say that if help is needed I will try to, any way I can. SOH is THE BEST for FS on the internet in my opinion.
Please keep it open.
Thanks
 
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