PowerSwitch RIP

[emordnilap]

Good post Tess. In the end it's only a forum. Apart from the very concrete advice and knowledge from the likes of adam2, it's just a place to agree with or disagree with other people.

I don't like the trend away from practicalities towards politicisation in the forum but fortunately have learned enough to keep me occupied during the remainder of my life without PS.

I'm finding hope amongst various writers such as Pinker, Norberg and Bregman. More people should read their books and avoid MSM. Stay safe and happy.

[Potemkin Villager]

I've no idea what we'd call it as I've no idea if we have anything in common any more except our shared memories of this place and the many dramas it has brewed. Even after twenty years I've still no idea who most of you really are. I'm convinced though that in person we'd probably get on pretty well.

Best wishes to you all, Tess. x

Yes I agree with your sentiments. I have met a few PSers and ex PSers, have gleaned a fair bit about many from their postings, whilst some remain quite enigmatic and not keen to give away too much personal info which is fair enough. A few people I have come across here seemed quite seriously mentally disturbed and some rather ridiculously rude and arrogant but you get that everywhere. Apart from the general lack of numbers it has become pretty much a sort of online Men's Shed for folk who like worrying about things and have a technogadgety background.

[BritDownUnder]

Main problem with this site is that people are still willing to believe everything they read on the internet, or what where told at university, without looking for corroborating evidence.

I had a good look through the member list to see who is still active and very few of the first cohort, with a few honourable exceptions, are.
Most of the websites they listed are also inactive, with perhaps the exception of mobbsey who had a great site that he still updates.

People get bored or tired of the nonsense posted about them but being a pom, firstly in NZ and then Oz, gives one a very thick skin.

[johnny]

Main problem with this site is that people are still willing to believe everything they read on the internet, or what where told at university, without looking for corroborating evidence.

Well, quite true but if you dared to notice and mention it some years ago it wasn't as though it was appreciated in the least. More like...you know...

[Potemkin Villager]

I don't like the trend away from practicalities towards politicisation in the forum

I am always alarmed by folk who believe practicalities should be divorced from politics. ( A very common attitude amongst technocrats). There is also that telling phrase that crops up about "not being political". This usually means their politics are generally to keep things just the way they are because they are benefiting greatly from the current order of things.

[Potemkin Villager]

Most of the websites they listed are also inactive, with perhaps the exception of mobbsey who had a great site that he still updates.

The Mobbs respect!

His you tube videos are all small masterpieces that unfortunately are appreciated by far too few folk.

[emordnilap]

I don't like the trend away from practicalities towards politicisation in the forum

I am always alarmed by folk who believe practicalities should be divorced from politics. ( A very common attitude amongst technocrats). There is also that telling phrase that crops up about "not being political". This usually means their politics are generally to keep things just the way they are because they are benefiting greatly from the current order of things.

Interesting interpretation. Sadly, the recent predominance of politics in PS may have led to some people, with much to offer, leaving the group. However, I agree with your implication that not a lot can progress without political involvement.

[mikepepler]

Dropping in here after quite a few months absent... I don't get much time free for reading and responding on forums these days, but this is the one that I do still come back to and read every so often. The longevity of it is impressive, given where it started back in 2004 with just a few of us. And several from those early days are still here!

As with Tess, things have moved on a lot for me too since we started here, and I'm now much more involved with on-the-ground energy stuff, as I've moved jobs to a local Citizens Advice in East Sussex where I'm managing energy advice projects across the county. I'm still managing the woods too, of course.

There's several people on here who's views I deeply respect, so whenever there's a significant event in the world I always think it's worth checking in here to see what's being said.