Hi all that are reading this thread,

I'm posting a thread for the first time in nearing on three years as I'd like to address an underlying topic that I feel greatly against in how the fingerboard forum and community has changed.

I guess I ought to re-introduce myself first as I've been so distant from the scene due to my feelings towards the social platform, I'm Morgan Berry, I have been fingerboarding for over five years so I guess I'm classed as one of the 'Oldies'. I'm from the days where ToeBex killed the game and the biggest UK event was Littlewheels in London (If any of you can remember what that was).
From what I can recall I joined the forum well over four years ago after being introduced to the world of fingerboarding past what is seen on YouTube. Back then the feeds were so chilled, relaxed and you could use the forum at your own leisure without what appears to be restrictions from accessing certain aspects of the forum. This is one of the many reasons that I loved using the forum and I did so for easily 2+ years. However nowadays I feel like you have to constantly be active in order to gain any social recognition allowing you acces to the 'buy/sell/trade' thread. As seen by my amount of posts that quite clearly isn't me, I am much more of a browser that on occasions will post a thing or two in any thread that takes my intrest. It really fucking sucks how much the game has changed since my day, like mant users I've recently come across won't converse, chat and dig the whole entirety of the Fingerboarding world. I literally think the last conversation (over PM's) was a guy telling me how pathetic I am from taking a brake from posting because of a family member of mine had recently  passed away?! I guess I miss the hype towards everything within the community ,whether it be event lead-ups or stock drops. Nowadays it seems I can't even message the forum administrators to get a reply as to why I can't access threads after the dedication I've had to the scene. (Below is me messaging 'Harvey Glynn' back In 2014 expressing my feelings, to which he never replied).

Morgan B.
To: Harvey Glynn
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:03 am
Subject: Access to Buy Sale Trade thread
Hey Harvey,

Im messaging you as it seems you are the manager of the Sale/Trade/Buy part of FBHQ,
I have been on this forum for nearing on three years now, though I am not a consistent person in using it unless I need to be. Earlier on in the year (around 4 months ago) I applied to gain access to the thread though was denied, I assume for my inconsistency. On seeing I had been denied I took a silent protest against the forum and was put of using the page all together, though it left me feeling distant and isolated from the fingerboard community so I decided today to come back. Before this website became as regimented as it did (I understand why it did so) I used to post sales, often make purchases and just generally comment on other threads within the forum however I'm generally a quiet person, as I am on the forum, therefore I felt no need to constantly comment on topics as I proffered to just read them/ponder around what people had for sale. Within my time of being able to post Sale/Trade related matters I bought several items, posted 4 threads made 5 trades and sold 4 items in which was all successful and had no issues whatsoever. I am greatly disappointed that I have been denied access to the thread as I am a legitimate person with no real reason (that I see) to be denied and would simply like to be enlightened on why I have been prevented from accessing it.

If I am correct I have met and had a game of skate with you at Meet Up North, some people to back up my legitimacy are Zach, George and Fred Alexander, James Johnson, Jake Le Grys and I do believe Kerry knows who I am.

Please get back to me,
Much obliged, Morgan Berry


All being said I guess I'd like some reasoning as to why even old-timers of the forum like myself are being restricted soo badly after everything I've done for the scene.
Would greatly appreciate any replies,
thanks for reading,
safe

I miss the good old days too, although i was never around for this forum in its prime, i was around for FFI in its prime. I miss the pre instragram days and when the forum was the place to be! I miss those crazy rail jams and insane parts people would drop. Back then it wasn't about having the coolest setup, it was about having fun and being apart of the community.

Fingerboarding is still fun, there is no doubt about that but i really don't see how it could have gone in any other direction. Technology took over and its all about instagram. Forums are dying out in general which sucks but its just part of the world we live in.

In response to your words about the BST section, I think it is either hit or miss on getting in. I applied and was accepted a week or 2 after but some people never get accepted. I think there needs to be some new mods, ones that are active during the week if this place wants to stay alive. Running a forum is no easy task and I believe the mods are doing the best they can do especially when they have real jobs or are going to school. I do feel like Harvey owes you an explanation though.

good luck!

i agree with you and i can also confirm that you're legit af

The only staff members that will post on this forum in this thread are Simon and Danny.

I just wrote a massive response to this and then deleted it by mistake!

Basically me and Danny are pretty much the only active staff around here.

We're both massively busy are trying to clear up the forum with any spare time we manage to find!

you have to remember that the forum has had multiple 'scammers' that are hell bent on trying to take stuff off of people. The bst rules are in place so that none of the members here get scammed and know that they've got a genuinely safe place to come and do trades.

This forum used to be golden back in the day when Ross, Kerry, Xi Jin, Harry Yeates, Thom.. etc; was still active. Instagram did take a toll on the fingerboard scene quite frankly, I agree with you in not about having the best fingerboard setup; it is just about having fun.

There are a lot of scammers in the scene, a ton on Instagram and eBay as well. This forum needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up again and get the forum back up and running the way it used to be.

I agree with all you have said, it's like you have no reputation on this forum unless you are a keyboard warrior who is constantly active. It doesn't matter who you know or how involved in the fingerboard community you are outside the forum. This is especially sad because the forum was started by Kerry and was/is a big part in the UK scene and as one of the older (OG) fingerboarders in the UK you shouldn't be treated like this, or ignored fully in fact.

I can also second that Morgan is legit. He has been part of the UK scene for a long time as well as part of the N.H.B crew that included a lot of the older fingerboarders of the UK and the link below shows this.

http://nhbcrew.tumblr.com/

Yo I know who you are, should have just dropped me a PM man. I'll approve your access now.

The problem with applications is that only admins can grant access to BST, Harvey's busy with life and has just moved to Spain. I work full time so I don't have as much time for this place as I used to. Another thing is the amount of people who apply for BST and just don't read the rules, hardly anybody who applies meets the guidelines.

If people want access to BST they're best off sending me a PM and I'll accept them as long as I know who they are, I keep an eye on the forum so I know who's access and who's legit (particularly in the UK).

And just to reiterate why we're cautious over this shit.

cxplyy. (in this very thread) was a scam account, who's now been banned.

Be vigilant!

I do agree. I am well aware there are spammers, but you can avoid this through using Goods and Services through PayPal, and then banning the person after knowing they are fake. I've tried to also get in the BST section and wasn't allowed. That's fine, I don't have as much reputation here as on Instagram. Again, Instagram stole me as a user from this site because of it's ease of access. I post a picture and then say "for sale". I have sold and purchased tons of things just throw a pic and that text alone.  I also have been ripped off on Instagram too. I used PayPal Goods and Services to get my money back and a friend posted a warning on Instagram to other users about his/her account.  

In an open market (Such as Instagram) using things that protect you as a buyer (Goods and Services) is the "screening" of applicants. You can get ripped off and still get your money back if you use the correct way to pay someone. eBay and other sites have scammers too and this is how their issues are resolved.  

I don't know where I'm going with this... That's how the owner wants to run the forums and I can respect that. However having a closed door to potential users will never gain you traction. Heavily moderating what people post is also a good way to lose users.

here is a contributing factor

Robert wrote:

The only staff members that will post on this forum in this thread are Simon and Danny.

Lol, I was right.