What happens if U-brain is run over by a bus?

A snowHead

More to the point, what happens if our inspired founder is flattened by a Pistenbully, or expertly carves a turn into a crevasse?

We're all busy building this community, and newbies are joining by the day (welcome all!) but its destiny is a bit of an unknown. One reason I've advocated shared ownership of the site by subscription - or, say, a substantial group of people owning equal shares - is that we become the 'BBC' of skiing. Independent, protected from commercialism, a font of truth. And we collectively determine our destiny.

I've been a little reluctant to help fund the site to date, because it doesn't buy me a share of it, but many thanks to those who are making contributions.

There are issues here about ownership, security and the future. What if U-brain is struck by lightning in a desert, or eats too much cheese fondue? That said, I wouldn't wish for anything less than a 100-year life for our fast-moving founder!

A snowHead

Very good points, David, and thanks for the welcome to me and all other newbies. One important comment though - is there such a thing as too much cheese fondue?? Laughing

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Mmmmmmm, cheese. Very Happy

Or he might just get cheesed off. We probably should help him lighten the load, if we can and if he wishes it. Over to U?

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David, I think if anything happens to U, we'll all have to go to the reading of his will to find out who gets snowHeads. My money's on Gregory....who doesn't post much, but is a whizz with smilies Skullie

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I wasn't going to raise the question of U-brain's will, but now you mention it....

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Good point David, I'd be interested in your thoughts U. You have created something with a positve future, where does it go from here?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I'm not with you DG on this one. The workers' co-op, equal-shares-for-all, approach just seems a little clunky and old-fashioned. More to the point, there's not much evidence that successful online communities require this approach. To the contrary, most have evolved quite happily in fairly informal settings, while I can think of plenty of abortive attempts to launch formal sites.

I think U should do two things:

1. Present some very simple parameters, probably in the form of a short forum charter, telling us how he plans to run the site. That'll clarify the bounds of the space he's provided for us to play in.

2. Continue to rely on registered users who are prepared to take on additional responsibilities for the community (rather than demanding slightly spurious rights within it) by, for example, giving money, volunteering to maintain a FAQ or links list, or (my top suggestion) run a skiing blog for the front page!

Formal structures often lead to much energy wasted on rows about procedure. Informality is much much simpler!

And if he pops his clogs (or tires of the admin burden), I'm sure there'll be lots of people prepared to take the site on.

After all it is free

David. You don't like the BBC? The SCGB, for all its faults (and maybe we can remedy some), is 100 years old under equal shared ownership.

Not convinced by yuur last sentence. If U-brain pops his clogs (God forbid), his inheritors would determine the future of the site. Which might be sold to Rupert Murdoch.

I'm only raising an extreme hypothesis (!) but, sorry, life has taught me not to leave things to chance.

The BBC isn't collectively owned nor is there any choice about whether to fund it or not (unless you don't have a TV) - so the analogy is not really relevant (and could generate an enormous off-topic thread!).

The SCGB has demonstrated very clearly how difficult a traditionally-constituted organisation finds it to cope the needs of an online community. I understand your appeal to experience - but you should also understand mine. Many of the most successful online communities thrive under semi-formal arrangements - and efforts to develop communities with formal structures have often been unsuccessful!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

If something happened to U

wouldn't we just migrate to another board?

It would be similar to the MO day effect I'd've thought.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I think that's very true Marc (and a great graphic)! It also captures the informality of the whole thing nicely...

snow reports

David. I fully respect your point of view. I just don't agree with it!

We can be nomadic souls who have to move house every now and then (and lose many friends in the process), or we can build something permanent.

What's the problem with 100 people, say, owning this site? With built-in safeguards for its future?

You know it makes sense.

The more people you have running a site, the longer decisions take to make, and the need for a committee (or council). What happens if 200 people jointly own the site, they elect 10 to deal with the day to day running of it....and then those 10 make decisions that the other 190 don't like?

Sound familiar at all?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Horribly familiar Skullie

The simple answer to David's original question is that U would end up looking like a piece of Damien Hirst's art, the slightly more complicated one is this:

Firstly we would not instantly have no discussion board unless U's running this off a server in his home which I seriously doubt, we would therefore have time to make alternative arrangements, there would be no instantaneous cut off, it would take days, weeks or even months depending on how far in advance U has paid for the service, the other moderators would be able to carry on moderating in the short term and long term arrangements could then easily be made, should U come to some unfortunate accident he might want to make arrangements with the other UK moderators as to who would take over but that's entirely up to him

A snowHead

Or should that have been Hurst's ... I'm not a huge fan so I don't know Laughing

A snowHead

Aah, your concern for my well being is so touching Blush

Although these are probably mostly things U are all aware of, maybe they need pulling together, just to re-assure U a little.

1) I am not the only person to hold 'Admin' privileges on this board. They are also held by Christof, whom I can assure U, is as internet-culture savvy as anyone I've ever met and beyond that, a highly scrupulous individual. He provided both the 'high end' technical expertise and server resources to facilitate snowHeads' smooth genesis.

2) Within the Piste Patrol are a number of individuals who, I believe, could run snowHeads flawlessly in my absence and whose ethics I trust. Between them, Christof and Gregory I don't expect you'd notice me gone Sad

3)I always look both ways before crossing the road and check uphill before setting off on piste. I only eat fondue in moderation and never alone or in bad weather. (Crevasses don't exist in real life)
I am suddenly a little nervous about alien abduction though Confused

However the new snowHeads hats are nearly ready and the problem will then be resolved.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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See I told you we'd be fine NehNeh

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

u brain, that is scary. If aliens were to abduct anyone, why would they choose such weirdos?!?!

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We would have to have a week of virtual mourning! Crying or Very sad

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Let's face it, what's the likelihood of finding a bus running in London?

After all it is free

The new snowheads hats will only work if they are lined with kitchen foil.
Trust me they told me last year.

Does the kitchen foil need to be greased?

(and are we supposed to wear the hats or eat them?)

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

WTFH - That's the problem you wait for ages and get run over by four at a time!!!!!!

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

No, no, nothing like that. Its just got to cover your ears.

snow reports

so, it's not a hat, it's just earmuffs?

Thank for such a great laugh on a Friday! I take it Snowheads hats will come with a guarantee of effectiveness against alien abduction..... should I ask PG about alien activity around Les Arcs??

You know it makes sense.

So, if I wear a hat, doe it guarantee me that boarders won't hit me?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Only if it's a bicorne covered in green banana stains. You should know that by now.

A snowHead

No the hats got to cover all the head and the ears. Snowboarders won't need the hat, because the Aliens locate us by our brainwaves.

A snowHead

You have brains???

If so, why do you voluntarily attach a plastic-soldier base to your feet?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

No but U have brain

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What? They can track Ubrain waves.

Admin, best stay out of the bath. Laughing

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Will do! I just hope we can get a waterproof version of the Hat b4 the smell gets too bad or Mme.Brain may end up wishing for my abduction spoo

Help!!

What happens if U-brain is run over by a bus?

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