Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: Darran on August 20, 2024
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Hi all,
I must say that I really didn't expect the NI Wild Forum to be one of the things hit hard by covid, and I really don't understand why exactly, especially given how the forum was at it's most active in Jan 2020. I would have imagined outdoor pursuits to be the least of the things to drop!
Nevertheless, as someone who still occasionally stops by to see what's going on, I want to say that I really am thankful for this forum. It made up a large part of the awe that the outdoors has put into me since I first started heading out all those years ago.
So, to the owners of the forum. Thanks. You're awesome. You've made me and I'm sure plenty of other people just that bit happier for making the outdoors and the Mournes just that bit more accessible. We have wonder where we previously didn't. Job well done :)
If there's any help that the forum could use in order to keep going, be it admin or advertising or anything else, do be sure to holler. I'd want it to keep going as long as possible.
To anyone else dropping by, do be sure to comment on here. Don't just pass by!
All the best,
Darran.
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Just passing, hi Darran, must have a reunion camp some time. Hadn’t camped for a few years but just back from a weekend camping in Donegal so have caught the bug again. I echo your comments. this forum has made major positive impacts to my life, thank you NI-Wild.
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Just passing too!! I haven't been out much lately myself. Need to get back out more often again!!
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would be great to see the forums active again, so much local knowledge was here
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I think covid/lockdown hypnotised a lot of people into habitually staying closer to home.
For me personally, that whole timeframe coincided with having a young child at home.
I had subbed my hill walks for greenway walks around Belfast and 1hr slogs on the stair master. Decent exercise, but not the sort of thing you'd rush to discuss with others here.
I'm getting out a bit more now that he's bigger, and sometimes he even comes with me.
Forums belong to that "old fashioned" type of long form communication that I often think is preferable to be honest. Reels and 20 second soundbites have their appeal (ahem, dopamine) but for the most part, I'd say that posts on a forum tend to be somewhat more considered, less given to breaking down into trolling/abuse or 5000 replies of "nice try Diddy".
Yes, the traffic on NI-Wild has reduced somewhat, but I do hope it sticks around
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Unfortunately age and life got the better of a lot of us.
There's still people wanting to hike and camp, we could probably get something organised if anyone fancied getting the old band back together ;D