LFGSS and Microcosm shutting down 16th March 2025 (the day before the Online Safety Act is enforced)

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Discord?

Noooooo...the hours I spend on here, soaking up knowledge, culture, opinions, and memes. I only managed to join one ride (MTB around Haunts/Berks, so it wasn't even actual FG, SS, or in L) but it was great, with lovely people.

@Velocio - thank you for running it so well for so long. It's an absolute pleasure compared to the rest of the internet.

I think you're joking, but if you're not:

https://www.lfgss.com/microcosms/556/

Discord is so pish and not really a good alternative imo.

I’m still at the denial stage. I like your attitude skydancer, and Sparky - no pressure on your article.
I actually know, I think, two, maybe three of you lot in the real world. The rest of you, are somehow still some of the best people I know. I doubt I’ll figure out discord. There will be a hole. Maybe I’ll do something else more worthwhile with my time, but I doubt it.
So much friendly information, comfort, cuntery, smiles, help, there when friends are in need, reassurance, more. It can’t end…

I was going to do a LFGSS CC skinsuit order in the new year. If there is enough interest, I'll still do it.

I'm also happy to play a role in formalising the LFGSS CC if there is enough interest in that too, despite my views on cycling clubs generally. I'm still interested in competing under that banner, even if BC don't recognise the club.

I think you're joking, but if you're not:

https://www.lfgss.com/microcosms/556/

Yes, joking to cope, not ready to write the obituary yet..

Gutted.

Sadly, scrutinising legislation is something that most MPs just don't do any more. They vote along party lines and leave it to the Lords to look at the detail. Maybe it's worth letting our MPs know about the huge unintended consequences of this component.

Got told I might have cancer earlier and still not sure if that's the most upsetting news I've had today.

I've read so much funny stuff on this forum, will miss it hard :'(

Looking at the legislation and the Ofcom guidance, it looks like the obligation is to carry out risk assessments for "illegal content", whether the platform is likely to be accessed by children and if so a "children's risk assessment" and then take "proportionate measures" to manage risks of harmful content and harm to children.

Its a lot like the obligations under the GDPR.

I can imagine that doing the risk assessment and deciding/implementing the proportionate measures would be a massive pain in the arse, but I don't think to would require outside consultants (and their costs) to comply. The guidance identifies different levels of risk and I guess LFGSS would be very low risk both re illegal content and child protection.

I am mostly a lurker on here but I have got a massive amount out of the forum practically and spiritually - bikes are good and LFGSS is everything good about bikes.

I am happy to do some of the heavy lifting on this if @Velocio has the appetite. I totally get it if, despite all that, the risk is too much.

despite my views on cycling clubs generally

I always assumed you rode for dulwich paragon ;)

@BareNecessities will be rejoicing at finally being able to close the gravel thread. The final post should be "just buy an arkose" for posterity in perpetuity.

This is really fucking shit though in all seriousness. I moved out of London a little over a year ago and I can count on one hand the amount of IRL friends I have outside of here. In that year I have seen a couple of them 0 times and the other couple 3 or 4 times. I use The Forum daily and without it I am going to feel very lost and isolated.
I think a few small groups will make efforts to keep something going but no doubt they'll eventually all fall quiet. This place is irreplaceable.
If there's a way to save it and if I can help, I will.

I have made some... very weird friends through LFGSS

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't mean me @youramericanlover

Risk assessment is first, then whatever actions it reveals, and it's an ongoing process and as the law is new you're in the territory of lawyers figuring it out rather than just applying a template.

And after it's done... the personal risk as the site owner remains, the disproportionate liability remains, and a grudgeful person could still weaponise it.

On the other hand, I have met user @amey so it's not all been good

The £18m fines etc will almost certainly be levied at Twitter/X as a high profile head to put on a pike, we've already seen this with the EU Digital Services Act earlier this year.

The porn and gaming industries will also very much be in the line of fire as a priority rather than a bike forum, given their subject matter and safeguarding issues.

As @Psmith says I don't imagine there's going to be a huge lift in terms of compliance, and I'd probably be able to lend a small amount of time to help navigate whatever needs to be done from a compliance POV.

Well that fuckin sucks. Hoping for the best for you. I've no doubt at all that you'll absolutely smash it if it ends up going that way. ♥️

a grudgeful person could still weaponise it

It's not as if we have a whole thread listing that kind of person and their repeated attempts to get back in.

I get it. But if on reflection you want to go to that first stage I will definitely help. I can give you my background in dm

It's not as if we have a whole thread listing that kind of person and their repeated attempts to get back in.

Or a whole hidden history documenting someone who tried revoking the domain via ICANN, claiming copyright to the ISP, and then finally escalating to a defamation lawsuit.

Grudgeful people will be grudgeful.

I can give you my background in dm

Just found that (I'm good at the internet).

Happy to speak more to see if there's a way... but if the liability isn't reduced or the risk reduced (and this one is harder, grudgeful people, etc)... then the outcome remains.

well this sucks. Thanks @Velocio for all the hardwork over the years. Met a lot of ppl on here (that I no longer see due to flying to the other side of the world!)

You could look into hosting on the internet computer, it can be anonymously managed and there are eu data centers. It is a bit more expensive than traditional hosting right now, but you can remain anonymous and everything is hosted on a blockchain instead of traditional means

I'm allergic to blockchains unfortunately, I come out in a nasty rash just thinking about it.