Toledo/Northwest Ohio Forum (Cincinnati, Lancaster: beach, activity, metro)

[aquila]

Originally Posted by ImaMichigander

Honestly, I may have given up the fight. For some reason, we are not what they are looking for in a forum. "It's not us, it's them."

I posted a gagillon posts and at one point we had 50% of the recent posts of the whole OH forum.

That might be part of the problem...you've made a lot of posts and started a good number of threads about Toledo, so it kinda looks like the numbers are being artificially inflated for the sheer purpose of trying to get a new sub-forum. Wish I could offer you better news about this, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

[vroomster]

Originally Posted by aquila

That might be part of the problem...you've made a lot of posts and started a good number of threads about Toledo, so it kinda looks like the numbers are being artificially inflated for the sheer purpose of trying to get a new sub-forum. Wish I could offer you better news about this, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Unfortunately, despite some honestly good intentions, this angle probably isn't helping the cause.

I am genuinely surprised that so much effort and persuasion is needed just to get our region recognized. Toledo should be worthy of a forum simply of its own merit. Saying X amount of posts are needed is borderline bullying and demeans the integrity of a significant and perfectly valid metro area.

I also think it's a bit of a snub that we didn't get a sub-forum at the same time as Dayton. That metro is arguably boosted in importance by its proximity to Columbus and Cincinnati.

[aquila]

Originally Posted by vroomster

I am genuinely surprised that so much effort and persuasion is needed just to get our region recognized. Toledo should be worthy of a forum simply of its own merit. Saying X amount of posts are needed is borderline bullying and demeans the integrity of a significant and perfectly valid metro area.

That's been my contention from the beginning...and not just in this thread. The very fact that Toledo is geographically isolated in the northwest part of the state (not to mention its sizable metro population) is in and of itself significant enough justification for having its own sub-forum. I've already shown on several occasions what the numbers are, and have yet to hear what the magical threshold is that needs to be reached.

Originally Posted by vroomster

I also think it's a bit of a snub that we didn't get a sub-forum at the same time as Dayton. That metro is arguably boosted in importance by its proximity to Columbus and Cincinnati.

As it is, since Toledo doesn't have its own sub-forum, then I don't think Akron should have its own space either, but they threw Canton into the sub-forum's title which makes it seem as if Akron is somehow far more popular than Toledo, when at most it's not that much farther ahead of Toledo with respect to the number of thread titles that contain its name.

[rrtechno]

I used to think it was just the politicians in Columbus who didn't think NW Ohio was part of the state. You know, everything for the 3Cs and nothing for the Toledo area. So maybe it would have been better if Michigan hadn't won the Toledo War (just kidding. ).

[SCBeaches]

Maybe if Toledo were renamed Coledo, it would get some attention. The letter "C" seems to be a big hit.

[ImaMichigander]

I've read the posts today, in spite of myself.

So here's the deal from my perspective. The last time we addressed this issue-- and it was shut down so we couldn't talk about it anymore-- we were told to have more posts. So when I've logged on each time since the last push, I've noticed that Toledo is getting a lot of play lately. Which is why I politely and calmly asked for the issue to be addressed again.

So I wait. And I appreciate any help by MaryBeth or other moderators in checking with the Administrator. During our long wait, we still have a lot of chatter-- we're really holding our own in terms of action on the OH forum.

We get our answer, and we are told again, it is based on the number of posts. We don't know what the magic number is-- and there must be a reason for that. But we are encouraged to continue to post new threads and replies.

As you may be able to tell by my screen name, I am, in fact, a Michigander and from my posts over the last 18 months I just moved to OH. So when I am told that we need more posts about Toledo, I agree wholeheartedly!!! The threads that I started, but for the one about which discount club do you prefer, are all legit. I hate our Chrysler dealer in Findlay and I'd rather not have to drive the hour and a half back to MI to my dealer back home. I really would like to know the cheap places that have great flowers. I know where to go for things back in Metro Detroit-- but this place is foreign to me. So you tell me we need more posts to get a sub-forum that will more directly provide me information, I'm going to work to get that. So anyone who thinks that I tried too hard or posted too much, thanks for your opinion, but I think that you are wrong.

I don't know what more to do, and so I don't feel like trying any more. And please excuse me, for typing that out loud. I waited politely. I was a cheerleader. I tried to be a force of positive change. But ultimately, I came to this website for information-- which is what the intended purpose is. So I don't think I have negatively impacted the cause by posting.

This experience, like so many others in my time here in OH, is frustrating. So, like I do now in real life, I'll just look to MI for the answers I need.

[rrtechno]

Please don't just give up and go to Michigan. If you keep posting in the Ohio general forum I will see it as that is one of about 4 in my subscribed forums. If I see Toledo or NW Ohio in the thread title, I always automatically look at it. (except the question about bars. sorry. I don't know too much about them.) So please keep posting and asking. We will do all we can to help you. Just remember to indicate the region and we will see it.

I too am frustrated about the lack of a subforum. I think the state should have automatically been divided into 4 regions like for the news and weather on ONN. NW, NE, SW, SE, and Central and give each area it,s own subforum.

[vroomster]

It's probably going to take a while to get our forum under the current guidelines. People who are searching for a Toledo forum and would be making posts there aren't finding it because it doesn't exist. But then we're not allowed to have one until enough posts are made.

It's kind of like the 'which came first, the chicken or the egg' scenario.

[costello_musicman]

You know, after thinking about it, I really don't see how Toledo does not have its own thread. It has a population of 316,000 people.

To put this in perspective, Toledo is bigger than:

Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Buffalo, Orlando, Rochester, Boise ID, St. Paul MN etc...

[aquila]

Originally Posted by costello_musicman

You know, after thinking about it, I really don't see how Toledo does not have its own thread. It has a population of 316,000 people.

To put this in perspective, Toledo is bigger than:

Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Buffalo, Orlando, Rochester, Boise ID, St. Paul MN etc...

And if Westwood is successful at seceding, Toledo will be larger than Cincinnati, too.