Although not a regular poster, I am a long time member, including the old version of TWO (which I joined in 2003). I don't say this to show off, I say this because I have been viewing the Model Output Thread avidly for 13 years (mostly lurking) and I agree with the above wholeheartedly. In all of those 13 years, this is the year I have found the thread the hardest to access and digest. At times the content from some posters has 'turned me off' wanting to read the great contributions from others and I have only viewed other threads instead.

I also agree with Saint. The forum is worse off for the absence of posters such as Bren (remember the good old days with his cheeky insights and snow maps etc.), Gooner et al...........a real shame.

Personally I hope Gooner starts posting again because I also enjoyed his JFF charts! 

On the bigger picture I'll take a look at things in the summer but the forum (forum only) stats for 2016 show traffic up between (depending on the metric) 5% and 15% on the same period in 2015. There hasn't been an increase in forum usage like this for a good while.

The Winter moaning and gloating thread has been a huge success 

In regards to the MO thread/quality you win some you lose some, In the time I have been a member I have certainly enjoyed reading the efforts from the likes of Gibby, Stormchaser, Q all to name but a few, very rare on TWO do you have to see Mods or Admin keep stepping in to keep the peace....just my opinion of course. I'm also happy to read Brian's comments about the traffic being up, would hate to lose the Forum from TWO as I for one would probably then use the site much less which would be a shame as I enjoy TWO.

I hate to say it, but I agree. I've also been a member since the old version and this year the M.O. thread has been very difficult to follow - there is definitely an undercurrent of nastiness that wasn't there previously and if I'm truthful it's made reading it less enjoyable. A little bit of back and forth is always expected but first and foremost I read it for the excellent analysis and as the winter has gone on there has been less and less of this. I don't want to grumble because I'm very fond of TWO but it doesn't feel like it did. Maybe I'm just getting grumpy and sensitive in my old age!

FWIW I've visited and posted less this year as it's not felt quite as welcoming.  "So what?", I hear you ask... but notwithstanding the stats that Brian quotes, this must represent a missed opportunity to be more inclusive in the wider sense and generate more views/posts.  Anyone who takes the time to look at the models and seek out possibilities is fine by me, but those choosing to fire in one-liners and/or unsubstantiated opinions (both cold and mild preference) wind people up.  There just seems to have been more of the latter this season.

Feck me, reading some of the posts in here you'll likely have a better chance of finding some balls in the Ladies' Knitting Circle.

Time for certain people to grow some methinks.

Looks like the thread has run it's course now, with the above post confirming exactly why people occasionally take umbrage to posts now and again 

Mind you, doesn't Gooner tend to post much less in here in the Spring and Summer months anyway? Perhaps he decided to take a back seat sooner than usual.

and exactly what do you mean? 😕 

Listen, this thread started off as a simple clarification of quite a small issue. People are frustrated about this winter, I've got that. It's been a crap winter and no-one likes to be told something they don't want to hear. I don't agree that this thread should then be a place to vent about other peoples comments/posts. If you, or anyone, has an issue with someone else's posts, then PM them rather than stirring the pot in public. 

Perhaps this sorry excuse for a thread wouldn't need to be started in the first place if simple rules were adhered to? 

I'm happy to let this thread continue if people feels that it serves a purpose. However if it does not remain civil and constructive it will be locked without prior warning.

Doc, 'once and for all' in the thread title is at odds with the 4 pages it's already run. It might just be a great topic, but I for one am tired of seeing it on the 'weather' section when the MOD was almost always at the top. Maybe just remove the 'sorted' tick?

There is only one pot stirrer in my eyes on two, and that individual has been on some sort of mission to get at me with every opportunity for a couple of months now. 

I've observed it, and I'm sure others have too, that over the years on here the rules are not always applied in an indiscriminate nature. 

Regarding the what the whole thread is about Im not sure what rules were broken? It seems a case of irritates nerves and clash of opinions/ desire.. But unless you want to run this place like North Korea one has to except & respect that we're not all of one single mind, people will have disagreements, and we all should have the right to defend/ explain ourselves ideas to those who see differently. 😊

People are nobheads shocker. This forum certainly isn't an exception - the place is swarming with smarmy gits. 

Thankfully, there are some nice and informative individuals that are worth sticking around for. 

Personally, I don't blame Marcus for taking a sabbatical, so to speak. I don't think he was necessarily hounded off the forum but a lot of people on here take the typical British passive aggressive route by making subtle, indirect, snide remarks at other users. I could name people but I won't. 

Can't say I agree with your above view of Matty, Andy. In all of my dealings with Matty here and elsewhere, he could take a joke and a bit of humour just as much as he could dish it out.

Although I don't know Matty personally, from my many exchanges with him both here and on other social media, I'd say he was one of the least easy to offend people I have come across.