So I was reading the Business pull-out of the evening news last night and the guy behind Marketing Manchester was over at MIPIM giving it 'Manchester has no real representation on the net' and all that jazz.

I have a spare vBulletin license I wanted to set one up, but I love SSC too much, could a discussion focused site all things Manchester co-exist peacefully? :drunk:

I'm not suggesting any site I set up could fulfil this 'world class internet presence' he was banging on about, but I have a bit of experience building communities (here's one I made earlier (http://www.startrek-online.net)!) and wouldnt mind giving it a go. What do you think, should I bother? Anyone care? :p

manchesteronline.com ain't bad and virtualmanchester-but what kind of representation do you think we need that we have'nt already got?

Indeed, I wouldnt want to compete with those sites either, and I'm not entirely sure what the guy from MM was on about, but his comment only made me think of doing something really. I guess it's a community based site I'm thining of, really. But I get my fill of that here, really which is why I'm not sure. I think there's space for it without a doubt, whether it would pick up is something else. I could see it turning into Postbag online and being overrun with complainers. Though I do like complaining.

Doesnt http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/ sort of fill the brief already though?

EarlyBird started to make a fairly impressive site about Manchester before he was banned. Never really got off the ground though.

Doesnt http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/ sort of fill the brief already though?
I'm really only talking 'forum' with some site pages attached more than anything. I don't have the time or the resources to build something on par with that place! :) I guess I just want to put my spare license to use and this was one idea!

Good idea Jon, i'll help you however i can.

manchesteronline is ok?

manchesteronline is ok?
Sure is, but again I'm not suggesting setting up anything to compete with those kind of sites really, more providing a forum for manchester, maybe I should have made that clearer in the title.

Sure is, but again I'm not suggesting setting up anything to compete with those kind of sites really, more providing a forum for manchester, maybe I should have made that clearer in the title.

I think its a jolly good idea. This is a fantastic forum, but I know a lot of people who are deeply passionate about all things Manchester but not particularly into tall buildings - they'd be really interested in many things that are discussed on here but wouldn't be attracted to a skyscraper forum.

Events, Manchester on the TV, what Piccadilly Gardens looks like, whether or not the BBC is coming to Manchester, whether more US banks will bring jobs to the city...loads of stuff is discussed on here that's not directly about lots of storeys. All of this could quite happily find a more general audience (ie not people interested in large erections) in Jon's new website...

It's your bag Jon, why not give it a go anyway... I doubt I could contribute much to another forum to be honest... this one takes up a fair bit of my time already.....

Jon, you should identify the community you're aiming at (not just georgraphical), and consider what you want the forum to achieve. Once you know, you can better consider if any other site is currently offering that.

I mean, a forum aimed at predominantly young males talking about buildings is likely to clash with another, but if you widen that scope to talk about civic issues in general, the overlap will likely be much smaller. For sure, you'll attract a great deal of ranters, but why not? Just read the letters pages of the MEN to see how much other folks have to say on issues.

I absolutely double plus thumbs up this idea. I love Manchester loads, but architecture is maybe only 1/4th of my love. And to be honest I really don't know a lot about them - only what I gather from lurking on here. For kids like B4mmy or Longford, who are extremely knowledgeable on whats getting built and local history, maybe it'd be less interesting. But I've got loads of mates who live here as well but don't give a flying shit about buildings. But love gigs, clubs, gossip and events.

It's your bag Jon, why not give it a go anyway... I doubt I could contribute much to another forum to be honest... this one takes up a fair bit of my time already.....
It's a conundrum I face myself, especially with my involvment with the site I linked up top!

Ephemera, good points indeed. I guess there's a lot of food for thought to go over before pulling it off successfully, I know only too well what kind of dedication and management a new forum based community needs to get off the ground and grow too. I might throw the forum up on a new domain on my server and start playing.

I think some suburbs have their own online portals that act as communities, one for Manchester as a whole wouldn't and hasnt worked in the past but I'd like to see someone with the proper investment and skills to give it a go.

EastServe (East Manchester) - http://www.eastserve.com/component/option,com_mamboboard/
Wythit (Wythenshawe) - http://www.wythit.com/wythit/System/Sub_Menu/Discussion_Forum/
Hulme Residents Manchester - http://www.hulme-residents-manchester.co.uk/

I absolutely double plus thumbs up this idea. I love Manchester loads, but architecture is maybe only 1/4th of my love. And to be honest I really don't know a lot about them - only what I gather from lurking on here. For kids like B4mmy or Longford, who are extremely knowledgeable on whats getting built and local history, maybe it'd be less interesting. But I've got loads of mates who live here as well but don't give a flying shit about buildings. But love gigs, clubs, gossip and events.

i think ssc is a bit wider than its title might suggest... I mean to be honest I post all sorts of shit here, and as Manchester SSC appears to be self moderating that suits me fine... for wider bollocks there is the main skybar, bur even in the mcr subforum ppl talk about things other than architecture... if you want to start a thread about the Music of Manchester for example then start a thread here, we can all talk about it and we all get along fine I think... erm... there's already a MoM thread btw, but you knew that... anyway waffle waffle.... the main premise is of course urban, but that covers a massive spectrum....

Hey, Jon why dont you give it a go and see what happens, I would definitely have a look...

:)

You could try a forum with different sections for each area of the city. A kind of local community forum?