POTN about to cease its existence

[Wilt]

While many/most on this forum are ex-pats from POTN, they might have not seen the update posted about the anticipated end date for POTN...end of year, 2023

THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL -- Forum Talk in photography-on-the.net forums

THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL in Forum Talk

photography-on-the.net

 

[i-G12]

End of an era -- bookmark removed!

 

[Jeff USN Photog 72-76]

I never saw it but got a PM notifying me so I came here, happy I did

I see people on POTN that are not here yet, hopefully once POTN is gone they will manage to find their way here. I should probably start PM'ing people

 

[05xrunner]

End of an era -- bookmark removed!

That is true. Its gonna be hard to delete that. Its been in my bookmark bar for almost 2decades and has some personal emotional value to it as well

 

[bobpal]

I agree. It is hard to believe it will be gone. I must have visited 10's of thousands of times and I learned a lot there.

 

[DavidWatts]

I couldn't even try to begin to figure out how many posts and pics I've sorted through at POTN over the decade and a half I've been there. What a fantastic resource and learning experience it has been. One heck of a forum community. Gone, but not forgotten. And yet, many of us are still here! Thank goodness for that! It is if I and many of my friends all moved away but then all ended up in the same new town.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

It is the end of an era indeed. And sad. For 15 years POTN was my homepage in Firefox. I have now changed it to FOP.

But having said that, the community was never about the place itself or the software. It was always about the people and in the end I think we just all moved house is all. This new place may smell a bit of wet paint still, but we are all settling in, seeing our friends and we seem to go on where we left off on POTN. Some things work differently; some a bit worse, some a bit better (oh yes!), but we'll get used to it. I am very happy with our new home.

 

[ct1co2]

I had missed the revised date, thanks for sharing. Hard to believe it’s been just shy of 15yrs there for me. It‘s been a great place that has helped me become better, and also fueled several cases of GAS, haha! On one hand sad that chapter is ending, but on the other hand, glad this new chapter has begun.

 

[gjl711]

I never saw it but got a PM notifying me so I came here, happy I did

I see people on POTN that are not here yet, hopefully once POTN is gone they will manage to find their way here. I should probably start PM'ing people

If there are folks you know of that are not yet here, please PM them on POTN or send me a PM with their user names and I will invite. Our goal is to reach as many as possible and invite them here.

It's going to be sad to see POTN close, it's been part of my day for years, but it is what it is.

 

[NigelD]

But having said that, the community was never about the place itself or the software. It was always about the people and in the end I think we just all moved house is all.

That's a good way of looking at it Levina.

 

[umphotography]

Jeff USN sent me a PM at POTN - I was really shocked to read POTN is closing down. Wondering why he just didnt sell it to someone and keep it going...Too much info that is going to be lost forever and thats a real shame. Hoping they will rethink some of this

 

[NigelD]

Jeff USN sent me a PM at POTN - I was really shocked to read POTN is closing down. Wondering why he just didnt sell it to someone and keep it going...Too much info that is going to be lost forever and thats a real shame. Hoping they will rethink some of this

If you have a look on POTN there are a number of discussions including one from Pekka detailing why it's happened. I'm pleased that some of the guys took it on themselves to continue the faith on here.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Jeff USN sent me a PM at POTN - I was really shocked to read POTN is closing down. Wondering why he just didnt sell it to someone and keep it going...Too much info that is going to be lost forever and thats a real shame. Hoping they will rethink some of this

Yes, it pretty tragic that 22 years of people's history will vanish. But we are here now and we will make new history.

 

[gjl711]

Jeff USN sent me a PM at POTN - I was really shocked to read POTN is closing down. Wondering why he just didnt sell it to someone and keep it going...Too much info that is going to be lost forever and thats a real shame. Hoping they will rethink some of this

There is a thread at POTN that has a lot of the details.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL -- Forum Talk in photography-on-the.net forums

THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL in Forum Talk

photography-on-the.net

It's a long thread but Pekka does offer some insights into his decision. To summarize (a lot) Pekka can't sell POTN due to other obligations. POTN is propitiatory thus not transferable. Pekka did explore other options but finally decided that it was time for POTN to shut down.

Thus, Focus came into being where we are trying to continue the unique forum experience at POTN as well as grow into new areas as well.

 

[Wilt]

latest from Pekka on this topic...a banner that appears at top of page on POTN

"POTN forums are closing 31.12.2023. Please see https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1530921 and other posts in that thread for details."​

 

[Nature's Spectrum]

Sad to see it go, but the initial shock is over. Additionally, I think the group here has done a masterful job getting this site set up and going. It's already better than most IMO and has just started.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Sad to see it go, but the initial shock is over. Additionally, I think the group here has done a masterful job getting this site set up and going. It's already better than most IMO and has just started.

We have tried hard to do so and it is gratifying to hear fhe kind words!

 

[OhLook]

latest from Pekka on this topic...a banner that appears at top of page on POTN

"POTN forums are closing 31.12.2023. Please see https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1530921 and other posts in that thread for details."​

I was relieved to see the banner. A bright color for it would be even better.

 

[Nature's Spectrum]

I was relieved to see the banner. A bright color for it would be even better.

Relieved why?

 

[OhLook]

Relieved why?

Because it's become clear that many POTNers don't even know POTN is closing. Some reply to my PMs saying this is the first they've heard of it, or they just recently heard of it some other way. People should be informed so they can gather up what they want to keep, such as copies of posts they wrote, lists of resources on photography, or contact information for other members. Doing this can take more time than you'd think. It doesn't help that this is the winter holiday season, when time is scarce for many.

Pekka's announcement also may motivate members to look around for substitutes. Focus hasn't been publicized as much as it might be. Out of courtesy and ethics, those of us who are trying to recruit at POTN have mostly avoided posting "ads" for Focus. See Focus's Forum Talk for a run-down on efforts at publicity.