Sydenham web sites

Tim Lund · Post by **Tim Lund** » 1 Jul 2010 14:01

It looks like there's a new dark horse around, working up to be the web site for Sydenham. In case anyone here is not aware of it, it's from Sean of the "Official page for Sydenham SE26" on Facebook. So, for everyone who can't wait, here is the new venture - http://mrwestend.com/se26/

I hope Admin will admit that, on first viewing, it looks much better than this site's front page - basically because Sean has discovered Wordpress. It also helps that Sean really does know a thing or two about filming and editing. But in the past, Sean has also discovered other web software - for example something called SocialGo http://london-allotment-gardeners.socia ... /profile/1 with its promise that you can

make money from your own social network

.

On his new site, it says at the bottom

Copyright SE26. All rights reserved.

but no link to explain what 'SE26' might be as a legal entity, or any terms for using material on the site - such as Admin does offer http://www.sydenham.org.uk/usage.html

Sean is not the only one to have ideas about how there could be a better web site for Sydenham than Sydenham Town - I am one such, and if you ever see me and Admin deep in conversation in Sugahill cafe, there's a chance this is what we will be talking about. But for me, the oxygen for any such site has to be user driven content, such as we get on this forum. Given that there isn't that great a quantity of news in Sydenham, I suspect that a forum such as this has to be where we start.

Maybe the website for Sydenham just isn't going to happen - or at least none of us can predict how it will - so we might just as well look forward to the upgrade Admin has just announced here, and make the best of it we can.

Meanwhile quite a few other people are discovering how to set up Wordpress, and other web software. So we have Penelope Else with her own blog, and the Sydenham Got Talent site; there are Wordpress blogs for both Mayow Park and Home Park, and a nice professional looking Wordpress based site the Sydenham Lawn Tennis Club. I guess I should mention my own, now suspended efforts for the Sydenham Society, and the more active site for my allotments, which use the alternative content management system Joomla - which I chose because it makes shared editing easier - even though in practice it doesn't happen.

The technology is important, because it makes it easy for individuals to go off and do their own thing. Maybe one part of the future is just this - numerous more or less well designed, well focused and well maintained local sites and a forum with a number of active posters, and rather more just watching. It could work.

Apologies for the over long post. One reason is a GLA sponsored event I'm going to tomorrow on -

Community Organising: what contribution local online?

http://commorgandlocalonline.eventbrite.com/ so I'm thinking about it, and it makes sense to share this thinking with others on the Forum. Maybe those of us interested could meet up - the Dolphin - before too long? And a special invitation naturally to Sean!

leenewham · Post by **leenewham** » 1 Jul 2010 14:18

There a are a number of local blogs, these are 3 I have set up.

http://www.homepark.wordpress.com
http://www.whatifsydenham.wordpress.com
http://www.fairlawnpark.wordpress.com

Perhaps a collective 'blog of blogs' is a good idea. This seems to be what Sean seems to be doing, although his is more news based and about stuff that has already been reported elsewhere.

The great thing about the forum is that is is about stuff that is going to happen. Often you hear about it here before anywhere else.

Also people in the know can publish their own thoughts, correct and respond to others peoples thoughts, hopes and grumbles.

Post by **admin** » 1 Jul 2010 14:25

A look-up at http://whois.sc/mrwestend.com may surprise you!

Admin

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 14:55

Sean is not the only one to have ideas about how there could be a better web site for Sydenham than Sydenham Town - I am one such, and if you ever see me and Admin deep in conversation in Sugahill cafe, there's a chance this is what we will be talking about.

Sugahill cafe, early afternoon.

Timmy Lund: "Sorry I'm late, but I got rather distracted by a matter of most urgence!"

Admin: "Calm down, old stick. Here, sit, catch your breath and tell me what's troubling you."

TL: "It's him again."

A: "Who?"

TL: "That odious pretender, Sean! Trying to steal our rightful, local thunder."

A: "Ah, I see."

TL: "Is that it! Are you not the slightest bit concerned?"

A: "Not really. I've dealt with his sort before."

TL: "Well, what do you propose?"

A: "Something more permanent this time. Something to send out a message that I wont tolerate disrespect."

TL: "Excellent! I'll get in touch with his service provider right away!"

A: "That wont be nesessary, Tim. Lets just say that this time I want to make it look like a tragic accident......"

Post by **admin** » 1 Jul 2010 16:22

Bl**dy Hell BBW - I didn't know you knew shorthand. Nice skirt!

Admin

sean · Post by **sean** » 1 Jul 2010 18:33

Tim Lund: Sean is not the only one to have ideas about how there could be a better web site for Sydenham than Sydenham Town

We have never suggested that http://www.sydenhamse26.co.uk/ is better than Sydenham Town. Sydenham Town Forum, run by Stuart, is a very useful and used resource for Sydenham and long may it continue and gain support from a wider range of residents.

http://www.sydenhamse26.co.uk/ is not a forum and never will be as STF covers this very well. The main aim for http://www.sydenhamse26.co.uk/, which began in May 2010, is mainly a place for video news that can be updated as an event unfolds and users of STF should not fear it but use both. If you like it, use it, if you don't then don't.

Yes there is a facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydenham- ... 457?ref=ts
which accompanies the website but both sites have never billed themselves as being THE of anything. It's just a service that can be used or not by residents. At the end of the day we're all just trying to do a bit of good for the community.

There is enough space in the world, and Sydenham, for many websites. You can comment on stories below an article at http://www.sydenhamse26.co.uk/ but that's as far as it goes, and will go.

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 18:47

Sizing up your opponent with mute indifference, Sean?

A shrewd move.

Post by **admin** » 1 Jul 2010 19:09

Apologies to Sean on behalf of phpbb - the forum software. A bug in phpBB made his (and Lee's earlier post) blank. I have now fixed the posts so Sean does have something to say and hopefully will get a response.

Admin

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 19:20

Apologies to Sean on behalf of phpbb - the forum software. A bug in phpBB made his (and Lee's earlier post) blank.

A likely story, Admin. Next you'll be telling us that the discovery of an online rivals headless corpse was triggered by a faulty RSS feed.

sean · Post by **sean** » 1 Jul 2010 20:16

bigbadwolf - why should they be seen as rivals? I feel they both offer different things to the community.

Dorian · Post by **Dorian** » 1 Jul 2010 20:44

Handbags

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 20:45

From an observers point of view they're rivals because they both cover the same patch. Nothing wrong with that, but you set it up so people would look at it, which in turn could be interpreted as a newcomer trying to muscle in on an established local discussion boards' traffic.

Although your website doesn't have a forum capability it appears to be a platform for you to write up articles focusing on areas of local interest, and invites visitors to leave comments, 'discuss' and opine on your sites content. Though I'm sure if your site started to attract sufficient interest I'm sure you'd install a forum option. And you'd be a fool not to.

That said, I also think that Timmy's thread is unnessesarily hostile to a newcomer who hasn't in any way attempted to derail or mirror this board.

At any rate; you and Admin should ideally settle this with pistols.

Post by **admin** » 1 Jul 2010 21:14

bigbadwolf wrote:At any rate; you and Admin should ideally settle this with pistols.

I agree. BBW will you be my second?

I demand the Dolphin Garden as venue. Seconds have a duty to see their man is sufficiently fortified to hopefully fall over before he can take the bullet. Sean - are you on?

Admin

Tim Lund · Post by **Tim Lund** » 1 Jul 2010 21:32

Readers of the forum will be sad to learn that a great long screed in reply to Sean has been lost to posterity, thanks to my taking so long writing it that I had to log back in, at which point it disappeared. Parts may in due course reappear from neuronal RAM.

The proposed duel could be of interest - not least to find out who the other is in the 'we' Sean uses when he writes

We have never suggested that http://www.sydenhamse26.co.uk/ is better than Sydenham Town.

I assume such person or persons unknown would be able to second him.

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 21:43

he proposed duel could be of interest - not least to find out who the other is in the 'we' Sean uses when he writes

You disappoint us, Tim. I at least was expecting you to describe Sean's anonymous partner as his 'accomplice'.

Tim Lund · Post by **Tim Lund** » 1 Jul 2010 21:44

BBW - you think I'm being

unnessesarily hostile to a newcomer?

So you are a warm, caring person after all?

Sean knows how to look after himself, and he is not exactly a newcomer. The basic point of disagreement between Sean and myself - and this goes back some years - is about whether to do our would-be good for the community, it is better to work with this established forum or not. Sean is an excellent film maker, and on the evidence of his site has good visual design and web development skills. The point of this thread is obviously partly to poke fun at Sean, but more seriously, to get people thinking about how to get better local web sites. I continue to propose a meeting at the Dolphin, with Sean definitely invited, but hopefully not too much alcohol or blood split.

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 21:50

So you are a warm, caring person after all?

Hardly.

You should see the depravity I inflict upon the local ants with my magnifying glass.

Tim Lund · Post by **Tim Lund** » 1 Jul 2010 21:59

Thanks to Lee for those further local sites he mentioned. Here are some more:

Sydenham Community Radio - Wordpress
Sydenham & Forest Hill Youth Forum - Wordpress
Transition Town Sydenham - Wordpress
Sydenham Garden - Wordpress

Love Perry Vale - Ning
Our friends in the north - SE23.com

Chris Best's
Lewisham Council
Sydenham Arts Festival

Forest Hill Soc

The Forest Hill Society site is interesting for being the the most 'googlified'. It's 'just' a Google blog, but I don't mean to suggest it's any the worse for that. Just looking at it, I noticed at the top of its Forest Hill web resources, it had a link to Forest Hill as a search term entered into Google News http://news.google.com/news?as_q=&svnum ... orest+Hill... How simple and effective. As some readers to the forum will know, I feel we have to learn to love Google.

Post by **admin** » 1 Jul 2010 22:35

Tim - to return to your original point - and if I am to die in the Dolphin Garden (again!) - it would be good to do in the company of all who have an interest in promoting Sydenham online or have a blog presence.

Fix a date Tim, and lay on the first crate. It would be good if we can find ways of working together to everybody's advantage.

Before the 14th would be ideal for me.

Admin

bigbadwolf · Post by **bigbadwolf** » 1 Jul 2010 22:53

Tim - to return to your original point - and if I am to die in the Dolphin Garden (again!) - it would be good to do in the company of all who have an interest in promoting Sydenham online or have a blog presence.

I can just picture Lee Newham salivating all over his keyboard.