I'm Closing THL

[gitano]

I'm going to close THL.

It costs me something north of $1000/a year to keep it running, and these days, there are only about a dozen or so 'regulars'. (And there will be fewer soon.) Barring something unforeseen at this time, this coming year will be THL's last. I will renew all the licenses in January, that will then expire in January of 2024. So...

"You" have a year to download/copy the post/threads you want. In January, I will post a "how to" on the various ways you can accomplish that and still be able to access them. I am going to try to get GoDaddy to either provide, or point me to someone that can provide, DVDs of the entire database, that can, in the future be accessed in a fashion that allows preservation of all of the information therein. That's been a tooth-pulling exercise in the past, but maybe I'll be more successful this year.

I believe that THL was, and is, THE BEST, most informative, most HONEST, most 'user friendly', hunting/outdoors FORUM on the World Wide Web. I have met the best friends of my life here at THL. I have learned more than can be quantified. THL has been a blessing in my life.

There are "things" that could be done that could keep THL alive, but those things, (at least the ones I can think of), would ALL change the nature of THL. If the nature of something changes, it is a different "thing". I don't want a different THL just for the sake of maintaining a "name". (Consider Barnes bullets, or Winchester rifles, or ...)

It is a fact of existence that things change. That change includes going out of existence (death) as well as coming into existence (birth). That's just a fact of Life. Coming to terms with that reality is part of "going gently into that good night". Peace comes, (to some extent anyway), when one realizes that nothing remains the same forever. Not even the really good things like friends, relatives, and THL.

I love you guys,
Paul

[sakorick]

What has to be is not good for us all, however, it sure was fun while it lasted. Thanks for all your hard work, Paul and for keeping it going this long.

[sakorick]

I have a plan of sorts. I would be willing to contribute $10 per month for this year now to keep THL going $120 paid in January. If everyone can come up with some cash I think we can keep it going. Anybody else interested?

[Jamie.270]

I can kick in some, surely around the same amount as Rick.
But I get the impression it's the work involved as much as it is the money, and the severely reduced participation.
It amazes me how frequently I click on the member birthdays, and regularly find members that haven't been here in 10, or 12, or 15+ years.


That's kind of disheartening, and I'm sure it's disappointing to those that were here in "the good old days" to see the remnants of what was once a great site with great people having lively discussions.
Not that there isn't good info available here. But it seems it's far from what it used to be, in terms of volume and the kind of banter that indicates community.

[sakorick]

Paul and I talked and he plans on closing THL and going to our facebook page. I think this is a very good idea when you put it all together. We will still be have a free venue to stay in touch, post pictures etc.

[gitano]

The issue is that there are only about a dozen of us that regularly visit here and it costs about $1000 a year to maintain. The version of software we use is long out of date (unrenewed annual license fees from before I took over), and bringing it up to date along with transferring the database would cost MANY thousands of dollars. Then there would be the annual upkeep/renewal of the license of that specific software PLUS all the current annual license fees for the site maintenance. All so about a dozen people could stay in touch. Furthermore, we get new members at the rate of about two per month, and NONE of them EVER post. It just doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money so a few people can stay in touch, especially when there are other ways to do that. Not necessarily Facebook, but a FB page currently exists. It was created when THL was going down regularly, and we needed a place to get updates on THL's status.

As I said, I'm quite certain that steps could be taken to increase the membership and get more participation from new members. THL would have to 'advertise', 'generate revenue', 'get sponsors', etc. All of which WOULD, WITHOUT DOUBT, corrupt THL. I won't do that. The result wouldn't be THL anyway. It would be something CALLED THL. Again I would remind you of the likes of Barnes Bullets, Winchester Rifle Co., and MANY more companies that changed, FOR THE WORSE, when they changed hands for "business reasons".

It was good while it lasted. THL's time has passed. It's demise is just a small part of the "circling the drain" our culture/society is currently experiencing. I'm unwilling to be one of the frogs that thinks the slowly boiling pot they're in is actually a Jacuzzi.

We have a year. Let's make the best of it.

Paul

[branxhunter]

Well I must say I am sad to hear this, but I completely understand the reasons why. And I know that I am part of those reasons; while having been a member for some time I only sporadically check in, and these days rarely post a new thread or any detail.

There are a number of reasons why. Partly because it seems like life becomes increasingly busy. Partly because THL was my first foray into online shooting/hunting forums and now I am a member of a few different forums. Partly because in recent months I have taken the decision to step away from such forums as I was concerned about how checking in was starting to dominate my waking hours.

But in relation to THL a significant contributor was that a few years ago something changed that meant that attaching photos to a post became increasingly difficult. I’m not great with IT, and hence don’t know whether it’s a setting on the iPad or phone, or something else. Regardless detailed posts on hunting or rifle restoration or reloading group results etc without photos can be a bit dry, and when attaching photos is difficult I guess my interest in actively posting waned.

for other forums I follow I am able to use Tapatalk as a means of uploading photos to posts which is very intuitive and straightforward.

Whatever the future for THL, I have one suggestion - I consider THL to be THE leading online source for information on Parker Hale rifles, and to some extent BSA rifles. And this is primarily due to the input from Brithunter, but also from Sakorick and others. Whatever happens with THL I strongly urge that this info is preserved online somewhere.

And a big Thankyou to Paul and others that have continued to contribute over the last few years and kept THL going. I’m not on Facebook and don’t have any plans to join, so will try and drop in a little more often to enjoy your company in this last 12 months or so of THL as we know it

Marcus

[Jamie.270]

It would probably be best if this thread was pinned, so it shows up on the main page.


Not everyone who visits the home page is going to click on the Campfire Forum page automatically.

[Jorge in Oz]

It has been a fountain of knowledge for me THL since joining in 2006, when I had just got back to shooting after not having touched a 22LR rifle since I was 12 years old.

Thank you to Paul and all the contributing members that have gone and remain. It was nice to be part of a forum full of gentlemen with the courtesy and knowledge that helped me to learn about shooting and hunting, learn to repair my firearms, provided reloading advise and general advise on firearms including the procurement of parts from the US (thanks Paul).

But the thing I valued the most are the friendships made here. It has been a one of a kind forum and I am blessed to have been part of THL.

Thank you Paul and thank you guys.

Many blessings

Jorge

[gitano]

It's "stuck".

Thanks Jorge. Those are very kind words.

Paul