The end of Ning: what happens to this community

[RSA Projects]

This morning's news is that Ning have announced they are stopping providing this kind of service.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/194379/ning_no_more_free_networks.html

I think we need to decide collectively what happens to this site; are we up for starting a debate in the forum below?

[Phil Slade]

mentioned by @jackschofield Many thanks to @colonnello @BeaBroderick and
@KickApps for suggesting alternatives to Ning re my Guardian story http://bit.ly/dBzRA2
@colonnello "hey @jackschofield please check out http://www.bligoo.com as an alternative to @ning"

&
@KickApps RT @BeaBroderick: @jackschofield read your article.. KickApps is the answer it let's them create/own their own content and network

[Phil Slade]

&
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/apr/16/ning-social-n...
"Alternatives to Ning include SocialGo, elgg, and Igloo. Other suggestions are welcome, but most people will probably just use Facebook"

[Sharon Shephard]

Oh no, this can't be happeNing. Please let this site continue in one format or another

[Cathy Fitzgerald]

Hi Will

This is a real shame - I manage a few sites on ning. I think it might be wise to investigate the new buddypress on wordpress - this is the new social network that you can host on your own site - I haven't used it yet but at recent wordpress camp it seems to be creating quite a storm and means you control the databases

Hope all well with the programme in general - did I hear the Arts Council over there has ended the art & ecology position?

Cathy

[Phil Slade]

of course Ning is not closing down completely, just the free version, so continuing on a paid basis should be considered if funds can be raised. Phil

[RSA Projects]

Well... the RSA/Arts Council Partnership is coming to an end as it was only funded to the end of this financial year, but that doesn't mean that Arts & Ecology will end... The RSA very much want it to continue.

[Anne-Genevieve Hanway]

What a pity. I would not like a facebook option. I have heard good thing about wordpress and do not know the SocialGo, elgg, and Igloo.

[RSA Projects]

OK... will investigate all those options. Apologies for not being round here much I'm being dragged off for another project but hope to get stuck in more again soon.

[Phil Slade]

do we know what the Other RSA Nings:
OpenRSA
Virtual Coffee House (NE region)
Yorkshire
Manchester
Cymru
West Midlands
East Midlands
Bristol
Portsmouth and Chichester
South Central
London
Fellowship Council
..................... are going to do ?

Here is my NotNing set of bookmarks collected so far

http://grou.ps/yahoogroups.php
http://www.igloosoftware.com/free?ref=igloohome
http://www.bigtent.com/
http://mashable.com/2010/04/18/ning-alternatives/
http://www.scriptstar.co.uk/seven-sexiest-alternatives-to-ning/
http://www.shutterfly.com/sites/create/welcome.sfly?fid=e861e46c1f3...
http://www.webs.com/

[RSA Projects]

... I think they're sticking with it and becoming paid nings. It doesn't cost that much.

I need to find a way to get a budget. I'm seeing the Arts Council tomorrow... Also thinking of finding ways to hook up with Arts & Ecology courses.