The Auswine Forum

The Australian internet wine community is small. I see that many participants in the WineStar forum are the same as those over here (have a guess...70%? - more if you count the regular contributers).

What is everybody's opinion on having the two different forums? Will they both evolve into with different emphasis? Or will the same issues just be split across 2 places. Is it competition or complimentary? Can all issues be dealt with in the same forums?

Two forums; you're talking Auswine and Winepros, correct?

Both forums (fora?) have been around for a few years now and have their own niche and group of core posters.

In the online community there are a number of posters who are present on a number of forums. I don't monitor or post often on the Winepros forum but am considered a regular on Auswine, WLDG, eBobby, Pommy Tommy's and more recently Bert's as well as popping up responding to Rogov and the off niche post at WCWN. But then I've also responded on Strats and Winepros as well as my columns on wineoftheweek and the Winestar Journal over the past few years; then again you are probably not that interested in my postings on the Acoustic Guitar and nfte.org pages.

I don't see that there's an issue here, the various forums have their own niche. Bert has invited a few of us to review samples on a structured basis, he's done that with Ric and I for around 18 months now, not just in the last 6 weeks, and invited weekly columns on various aspect on wine; Gavin has brilliiantly concieved Friday quiz's and an essentially vibrant wine-related discussion.

This is an online community, it will find it's own balance. The same, and similar, topics will be discussed similarly or separately on the various forums; this is because they are good topics for discussion, not because they are competing. However there will be disparate viewpoints shown; this is a good thing; not a negative. Each site, and forum, has it's own anchor, niche, and culture. We're not going to see a sameness, we're going to see variety

Don't criticise or avoid it; embrace it.

Murray

Murray,

I was talking about he StarForum (Winestar) recently started and this one. There seems to be a high numbers of posters from both forums that are the same. I am wondering whether the audience is also largely the same. If so, is having 2 forums beneficial (apart from the links to Gavin's and Bert's business)

Maybe it is a non-issue.....

David

I find it frustrating to have the split but its happened and there is no going back. I can't devote the time to both properly unfortunately now, as I actually have a life outside the internet, and it now takes longer to keep up with all the goings on and notes across the boards

regards
Chris

Murray wrote:Don't criticise or avoid it; embrace it.

Murray

murray,
a most eloquent and proper reply.

Murray wrote:Bert has invited a few of us to review samples on a structured basis, he's done that with Ric and I for around 18 months now, not just in the last 6 weeks, and invited weekly columns on various aspect on wine;

Well said Muzz and I agree with your comments. The only point is that the last time Bert sent me wine for review was about the end of April, four months ago.

There are some differences in the boards already and as time passes they should become more apparent and each will develop their own more discernible identity.

For example, Gavin has a very lay back and liberal attitude towards what can and can not be said here. Bert runs his with a tighter hand. My gut feel is that this will be a bit more lay back and a bit less formal whilst retaining many of the older contributors.

It will be tough for many people to read two all the time so over time they will pick the one they are most comfortable with and gravitate towards that site.

I certainly have no intention of joining the same debate or answering the same question and cutting and pasting my answers on both forums.

davidWL wrote:The Australian internet wine community is small. I see that many participants in the WineStar forum are the same as those over here (have a guess...70%? - more if you count the regular contributers).

What is everybody's opinion on having the two different forums? Will they both evolve into with different emphasis? Or will the same issues just be split across 2 places. Is it competition or complimentary? Can all issues be dealt with in the same forums?

David,

As several others have told you, Bert's has been around for yonks.
While I'm not as promiscuous as Murray & TORB in my posting's - preferring to post only on WLDG and AusWine - I do check out the other forums from time to time because occasionally an interesting readworthy topic will surface and it is nice to know what is going on 'over there'. I think multiple forums are totally complimentary because, while there are those that will post on several forums and the same issues may surface, there are those that are loyal to just one or maybe two of those forums so there will always be that element of uniqueness.

You just have to look at the 3 or 4 major US forums to see how different they are.

Cheers,
Sue

SueNZ wrote: As several others have told you, Bert's has been around for yonks.

Hi Sue,

Not quite true, Bert as a retailer has been around for yonks but his forum has only been going for about a month. I wonder if this sort of debate would be allowed on Bert's site? (Rhetorical question.) With the answer to that question you have the reason why the sites will develop differently.

Cheers
Ric

David,

An interesting topic, another Melbourne-based retailer has started one too. I don't visit the US boards that much, but obviously they have a pretty diverse style and largely different populations of posters, with an amount of overlap from the wine-obsessed or self-obsessed. There seems to be a fairly small amount of cross-posting last time I looked.

I'm certainly struggling to keep up with both the local ones, not that I post as much as in years past (for a variety of reasons) but I think I'll be more active here than on the other.

One of the reasons has been mentioned already, the intervention threshold, yesterday a short and uncontroversial post by Ric in a thread specifically directed to RB's and simply referring to this forum (quite smartly as the red chamber) was deleted (with email explanation).

I'm not interested in fueling a 'them-and-us' debate, that's not what it's about, it's up to each person to decide whether the new Auswine forum can capture the good aspects of the old free-wheeling style, whether they frequent both or only one. I hope there is room for both to prosper.

Hi All

Interesting topic.

My point of view is fairly straightforward.

The auswine forum was the first, indeed, one of the first of any wine forum, back when Robin Garr and Brad started, back when dinosaurs roamed the internet.

As has been aired for 6-9 months I have been considering updating the software, and have now done so.

In the meantime Bert has started his own forum. This is his right and business decision, completely separate to and from me, and there is no overall "authority" contolling the Australian wine scene to over view all this.

So auswine continues as it always has, and I would hope for all auswine regulars and many newcomers to join us and keep on building us as has always happened.

If you also visit the StarForum then that is your choice completely.

DavidWL,

Good morning. I actually agree with you. I understand and appreciate what others are saying - that the 2 Forums will develop their own character - but the BIG point in my mind is that there is now 2 active Australian Forums (I do occassionally view Winepros - about twice a week - but rarely post) when previously there was one AND they are both slower to view than the original. So, I would love them to merge but I think the result will be that I view and read each as much (too many times a day) and write less. That seems to be the case so far.

Actually, I think I would enjoy it if Gavin and Bert were to merge businesses but I don't think that is going to happen too soon either.

Regards,
Adair

TORB wrote:

SueNZ wrote: As several others have told you, Bert's has been around for yonks.

Hi Sue,

Not quite true, Bert as a retailer has been around for yonks but his forum has only been going for about a month.
Cheers
Ric

Uh Oh, Thanks for setting me straight Ric.
Cheers,
Sue

Just to set the record straight, a quick browse through Winestar's archives reveals the first post on the site was 10 May 2003 by a person called TORB

Just to set the record straight, a quick browse through Winestar's archives reveals the first post on the site was 10 May 2003 by a person called TORB

Actually, the site was not officially opened then - Ric was helping with the testing and setup.

regards
Chris

And they don't appear to have a quiz

And they don't appear to have a quiz

Yea you can talk Sunglass boy, they also don't have an under paid and under appreciated lackey to sweep your dungeon and decant your Lakes Folly.

(footsteps fading) Five gold goddam stars, anyone knew that, why doesn't he develop proper quizzes. One day when he's least expe.....(voice fades)

ChrisH wrote:

Just to set the record straight, a quick browse through Winestar's archives reveals the first post on the site was 10 May 2003 by a person called TORB

Actually, the site was not officially opened then - Ric was helping with the testing and setup.

regards
Chris

If this is the case, I offer TORB an apology and no c-thrus for at least a cuppla days. Now, what nice reds can I drink over the weekend.........

I certainly would be looking (and contributing) to both forums. I wouldn't like there to be an "us-v-them" between the two forums. There was a split up group from the Wine Spectator gang and it bacame very much an "us-v-them" and hating the old group.

Also, there are many US forums as there are many more global wine issues - Bordeaux enthusiasts, Robert Parker followers, etc. But the active ewine community in Australia is much smaller and arguably less diverse (and topics less diverse too).

I would welcome it if both forums develop their own personality. If they increase the overall audience and contributers for Aussie wine forums - then great. I just do not want to see the same people halved or the same topics being covered twice.

Cheers.