Could the forum have a General Chat section?

[Basil]

Could this forum not have a General Chat section to learn of people's interests away from amateur television, their personal peccadilloes and other facets of their lives, both on line and in reality?

Posts here are very are sporadic, (but not as sporadic as the tumble weed that blows around the AMSAT forum, admittedly).

I promise I could liven things up a bit

OK, there are plenty of other forums for general chat, and it's a political can of worms, how brave does the hierarchy feel to push the boundaries and unleash the members?

Let's have some summer fun.

I suspect my patience will be a virtue....

[G8GKQ]

Hi Chris

Running and moderating the Forum uses Club resources and volunteers' time. Recently the Committee (aided by Russ G4SAQ) have spent many hours working out how we can continue to run the Forum, Wiki and streamer given the legal responsibilties imposed on us by the Online Safety Act. Although our risk level is low, we still need to make changes to ensure our compliance. Widening the subject material away from ATV increases both our risk and the possibility of prosecution.

Also, such activity it is outside the Constitution:

2. Aims and Objectives

(a) To further the interest of its members in all aspects of television and to inform, instruct, co-ordinate and represent the activities of television enthusiasts.

(b) To promote the advancement and practice of television in all its forms, together with sound, control and data systems, and any other systems for the transmission or processing of images in any form.

In summary, whilst I can see some benefits to your proposal, I do not think that it is something that the BATC should do.

Dave G8GKQ
Forum Admin

[radiogareth]

If there is a new project/build/useful surplus gear flood the forum gets busy. Back in the early days of PD3/PD4/QO-100 it was very busy. I think those of us with the 'interest' pretty much have all the gear/bands we want so the market is saturated in terms of people posting new stuff.
That said, new project(s) suggestions or info always welcome.
Gareth

[Basil]

OK, understood, I hadn't realised the fear of OFCOM ran so deep

Ham Radio Deals General Chat seems nonplussed as do the comments section of GB News, but if such a sub section is against the "Constitution" I appreciate it's a none starter. Thanks for the reply.

[G8GKQ]

Thanks for your understanding.

There's a reason that there are over half a million signatures on the petition to the repeal the Online Safety Act!

Dave, G8GKQ