In order to keep informed, I follow other forums. And I occasionally post to them, and perhaps comment / very occasionally quote them here. Typically, they have a different metric to ours; whilst there is some overlap of interest, we're certainly not in competition.
The Coffeeshop is very clearly stated as being for customers or potential customers, and is equally clear in stating it welcomes, with open arms others - staff, administrators, managers, government officials, enthusiasts (let me add that in, although they're really a part of "customers"), politicians - indeed just about anyone with a genuine and legal interest in the subject. The Coffeeshop also keeps a very high proportion of its boards public so that members of the public can find answers to questions already covered without signing up.
I have just been looking at Railchat -
http://www.railchat.co.uk - which appears to be a totally non-public forum and states on the one introduction page "Private Members Forum For Railstaff" . That's fair enough if it's really what they intend, but I did have an idea that some of our members here may be members of that forum, but not employees of railway companies ... so I moved on to look at their forum agreement for clarification. It include the standard stuff we have, but nothing about "must be railway employee" at all - so no reflection of the headline from their banner page. But it does say
By continuing with the sign up process you agree to the above rules and any others that the Administrator specifies.
So - where can I read those other rules I'm being asked to agree to before I click in the "I Agree" button
I would be very interested in other member's comments here - I'm not going to apply for a membership if (as a rail customer) I'm unwelcome ... but at the same time, I do want within my community / volunteer role that slightly more than a customer position to be able to be well informed, and if occasionally necessary, to inform
