Feedback Suggestions To Improve Forum Participation

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snake

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I totally see his side of things, as I've thrown in the towel here, but for different reasons. Several others I've referred are gone as well. I lurk to see if there's something to pull me in, but like Retow's thread detailed, there are fundamental problems and IMO, closed-mindedness, as well as the fact that this place has become an LOLCAT site. There are chances to identify and fix problems, but it seems few are interested in fixing things and breaking from a status quo.
 
What changes do you want to see Snake?

I've already posted about that in a previous thread, but in addition, it's becoming conspicuous that the forum is turning into an LOLCAT site. In addition, whether you see it or not, there's a clique here and you guys mostly ignore people. As people go, the clique is being reinforced and I'm seeing that and the LOLCAT angle increasing over the last couple months I've been watching the site. I've referred several who didn't stay for one reason or another. One angle is how apparent it is that people are ignored, but the moment an LOLCAT is posted, the forum goes right to it.
 
It's almost as if you wish to provoke a "flame war", snake ... Otto's original post did not complain about the tone of the site, but the range of cameras ... if you wish to have a dialogue about "LOLCATS" (of which I haven't seen any) or cliquey-ness, then perhaps it would be best to start a fresh thread?
 
I am not trying to start a flame war. In fact, I've connected directly with the staff about this in private. So you're off-base. Tone yourself down and there won't be a flame war or escalation to speak of.

As far as starting new threads, I don't see how that helps anyone except you. There's already one thread about that and it got no one anywhere.
 
Snake, sadly I don't have enough time to read every thread, but I do remember Retow's thread which helped borne the interest in the single in January challenge to get members focussed on images rather than the gear, and stimulate discussion about the images.

I'm not aware of it being cliquey here, it just seemed to me that some members are more active than others. I find, in life in general, that the best way NOT to be missed out is to join in. You've got to give a little to get a little. People are human you know, we like the give and take. If people want comments on their pictures, they should ask for comments, if people just post pictures and ignore other people's images then they shouldn't be upset that their own input is not generating comments. You also have to acknowledge that art (even what can be classed as art) is all subjective. Not everyone sees wonder in an image that you see and vice versa.
 
Sorry Otto, I don't know of any other site that would meet your needs.

Snake, sadly I don't have enough time to read every thread, but I do remember Retow's thread which helped borne the interest in the single in January challenge to get members focussed on images rather than the gear, and stimulate discussion about the images.

I'm not aware of it being cliquey here, it just seemed to me that some members are more active than others. I find, in life in general, that the best way NOT to be missed out is to join in. You've got to give a little to get a little. People are human you know, we like the give and take. If people want comments on their pictures, they should ask for comments, if people just post pictures and ignore other people's images then they shouldn't be upset that their own input is not generating comments. You also have to acknowledge that art (even what can be classed as art) is all subjective. Not everyone sees wonder in an image that you see and vice versa.

See the last paragraph, like retow's thread, displays a lack of acceptance. In his thread, instead of learning from constructive criticism, the blame was put in the laps of the people offering suggestions. Of course, you have to throw down to get something. Who here isn't? That's a silly comment. The simple fact is only a few posters are being given attention and the hell with everyone else. Why would anyone want to post content here if it's going to be a battle with a closed community? Then what is the point of this forum when there are forums all over the web?

I don't see the point of people explicitly saying "I WANT COMMENTS ON MY PICTURE AND THAT'S WHY I"M POSTING!" as a disclaimer on every picture. It makes the forum forced, but in that sense, perhaps LOLCATS and a very narrow spectrum of photo styles is what the majority wants.

I'm offering constructive criticism- the forum is closed and cliquey, only a few people are paid attention to, and the cat theme and attention those posts get compared to anything else is very apparent.
 
I'm sorry that you do not like the way things are. In my opinion, Briar has made some excellent observations.

Snake, obviously, Serious Compacts doesn't meet your criteria either. I'm sorry about that. My guess is that 99% of the people here would disagree with you, or they wouldn't bother to come back. The world wide web is a big place with a variety of different forums. We all need to find the types of places we enjoy.
 
My problems with SC

Snake, I can only speak for myself - no flaming of Otto. I don't read anyone's posts as flames, though I see some people trying to state why they see SC to be a good place to for the kinds of camera's Otto's talking about.

I'm sorry that you do not like the way things are. In my opinion, Briar has made some excellent observations.

Snake, obviously, Serious Compacts doesn't meet your criteria either. I'm sorry about that. My guess is that 99% of the people here would disagree with you, or they wouldn't bother to come back. The world wide web is a big place with a variety of different forums. We all need to find the types of places we enjoy.

actually, the number is nowhere near '99%'. Look at the stats on the front page-it's there, broken down as the number of regular posters (a generous figure) over the total registrants. 397/1747*100
That makes 23%, at most.

I figured, since interest off-forum was encouraging, I'd bring it up on board, but it appears to be met with the same head in the sand defensiveness as before. I mean, it didn't strike anyone as a bit odd that people are complaining and even asking on forum about wherd else they can go? Seems like people want this place to work out, but it changes a lot, even from when I first joined, but outside of a few, eveyone is ignored until they complain.
 
Snake since you persist, I've given you your own thread, rather than continuing to derail Otto's thread.

What more can we say than if you don't like the way things are, you can either try to improve them by becoming involved in a positive way by getting involved in various discussions or deciding that Serious Compacts is not the place for you. The door is open.

If you would like to start a thread discussing what interests you, please do.
 
Snake since you persist, I've given you your own thread, rather than continuing to derail Otto's thread.

What more can we say than if you don't like the way things are, you can either try to improve them by becoming involved in a positive way by getting involved in various discussions or deciding that Serious Compacts is not the place for you. The door is open.

If you would like to start a thread discussing what interests you, please do.

You actually don't have to be insulting, along with making a fairly degrading title for the split.

I've actually been involved and have been one of the people recruiting others to the site, who don't stay, in case you didn't notice.

It might reveal more of the mindset of why this forum is an LOLCAT site and on an ever-increasing basis.

Actually, you might ask your fellow staffers, who encouraged me to share why I left the forum in the first place. Unfortunately, you're less open than they are.
 
At risk of being told my head is in the sand, I've generally found this a friendly helpful community. I didn't feel any particular clique-ness and was very encouraged by some of the kind advice I was given.

There are plenty of threads that don't interest me or photos that I don't like, even sometimes when other folk think they are wonderful. I tend to apply the principle of if I don't have anything nice/helpful to say, don't say anything at all.

This is not leaping to the defense of the cliques that are percieved, it's just my honest appraisal of the site. I've joined and left plenty forums before - I like the variety here and the focus on images - I stopped playing with TalkNEX because it didn't have enough pictures for me. Purely my preference, plenty folk were having a great time chatting about gear.
 
Is it too simplistic to suggest that if you aren't finding what you want here and believe the people who contribute have "closed minds" then maybe you could consider starting your own site?

It might be a more constructive way of proceeding in a positive way, rather than in a negative complaining way.
 
Nothing degrading was intended by the title, snake. Myself and the other Moderators all are quite open with each other in letting each other know about concerns, complaints, suggestions and the like. I'm sorry that you've misread me. That is one of the pitfalls of writing anything, as it can easily be misinterpreted.
 
Serious Compacts is a relatively small forum, and many of us have known each other for months or years. I know from my experience on some other forums that it can feel like you are an outsider when you come to such a board. However, we see member after member come in, get involved, and realize that things aren't cliquish here.

Look at Phoenix, who came to this site exactly 2 days ago, introduced himself, and dove right in. I highly doubt that he is going to find this place cliquish. On the whole, we're a very welcoming and open-minded lot.

Regarding the suggestion that this is becoming a LOLCAT site, I know what LOLcats are, but I don't know what the criticism means. Is it a complaint that there are too many cat photos?
 
You actually don't have to be insulting, along with making a fairly degrading title for the split.

If you don't like the title for the new thread, feel free to change it. You are the OP so just go edit > advanced > and change the thread title.

We actually went out of our way to preserve your posts here instead of just deleting them from the other thread where they were clearly off topic.
 
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