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Post by Hoist on Dec 11, 2012 3:28:46 GMT -5
So we've noticed things are a bit quieter here these days, a lot quieter. Unfortunately the struggle with activity isn't a new thing, it's a been a problem for a few years and we keep saying "It'll pick up" but unfortunately it never does. So what we want to know is how can me make things better or what stops you posting when you can be here? Are you bored or put off by anything?
We want to make this absolutely clear that we are not talking about how often you come and go, we are all pretty busy in real-life. We just want to know what stops people, you or what you think stops others maybe, and what we can do to change things?
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Dec 13, 2012 14:00:16 GMT -5
Was it not perhaps always slightly inevitable that, as a dual result of the rise of social media and the aging of the new movie franchise, that activity would drop? Plus, I think alot of people joined when they were abit younger, when they had fewer commitments- I'm not ashamed to count myself among these people. I think, at the end of the day, there are some punches we simply have to roll with as a community. However, I don't mean this in any way as an excuse for my personal drop in activity- that is, in large parts, due to simple laziness, for which I apologise. I'll always make time for a good RP, and discussing anything with you guys is always great fun- and friday night chats are never a dull night! I think the only thing that puts me off would probably be when we have discussions like this, which are becoming more common and the time between them shorter...
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Post by Hoist on Dec 14, 2012 4:07:05 GMT -5
If any think the movies should have helped, it's the social sites that are more to blame I think the only thing that puts me off would probably be when we have discussions like this, which are becoming more common and the time between them shorter... I don't think they're as common as your making out, but they are necessary. What your not getting is that it comes to a point when you have to ask if it's worth keeping the place open for the 6 members out of hundreds that are registered here. One answer if to completely strip the board down (Ala TF @ The Moon) to cater for those that do come. I've already tested this on the V5 test board. As the staff have agreed though, this wouldn't be a fix necessarily, just a patch which will keep those forums looking active. (Though it may or may not get more people interested in the board if it looks more active. The reason why this thread is necessary however Neo, is because it has reached crisis point. This forum I feel, is on it's last legs. That said I personally don't want to give up on it after 10 years, as it's my baby. In the end the staff can only do so much, which is why we need feedback to know would members want out of this place. I saw another Proboard that is perhaps a year older than us, and the admin has posted lots of times "Where id everyone/anyone still alive", now I haven't done that because I think it looks bad to guests and I also realise people are busy - it's a fact of life. That's nothing against either that forum or it's owner either, but we are hitting that same desperation point. Not because people aren't here, but because activity on the board itself has dropped massively in the last 5 years. Which is why we need to know what would members like here? Are there other factors (besides real life of course) that put members of posting whilst they're here?
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Post by Onix Solo on Dec 14, 2012 13:22:28 GMT -5
While the movie boom did leave a lot of places suddenly less active as interest waned from bandwagon fans, it definitely isn't the sole problem. It helped liven the forums up in 2007, and again in 2009, but it didn't bring in that much traffic in retrospect.
As a brand, Transformers has sunk back into the pre-movie swing of things. It's just not the most main stream of properties.
At the same time, message boards are a bit of a dying breed, as it has become easier to stay connected with other fans via social networks, where it used to be that message boards were the only place for us to gather.
I say consolidate the forums. Sure, it might just be a mask, but still, there is a lot of unused space that can just be combined into one. Until there is no one left, there is no reason to kill it off.
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Post by Neo Calrissian on Dec 14, 2012 13:45:08 GMT -5
I totally agree. I honestly wouldn't know what to do with myself if I didn't have you guys. I know it's been less active as time's gone on, but you were my first foray into the internet and losing you as a group would be like losing loved ones. Perhaps we could advertise? Bring in old members via e-mail or other forms of contact, or advertise on other boards? Of course, we could always broaden our scope to include other things in our discussions- we already do this somewhat in the chatroom, so maybe if we sold ourselves as more broad, it would bring in more people...
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Dec 15, 2012 1:54:59 GMT -5
All there good points have been brought up, and I have spoken with Onix and Hoist about my theories but it all sums up to one thing that missing.
Posting.
Posting our interests, posting in RPGs, even posting some straight up retarded s*** for the sake of having fun no matter how silly. Thats what TTF has lost.
Now that being said, Neo has made a bunch of posts in the last few hours, really thats what TTF needs. It needs posts so that it goes on, so now what do we want to post about? What are we interested in? That was the basis of what I brought up with the staff, it seems that what interested TTF ppl before doesn't interest us anymore.
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Post by Hoist on Dec 15, 2012 2:54:06 GMT -5
A combination of advertising + posts is the key, although it's trying to find places to advertise. I had the link to here in the smaller TF boards I went to but most of them have fallen now. I don't really like the big TF forums (From big fan TF sites) as there can be a lot of a**holes there. In desperation earlier in the year I put our website in a TF webring, a very old method from yester-year to get attention to the site. Jazz is right about posts though, when people come it's posts that are needed to keep this place alive. About the re-organization of the forums, if it does happen - it will be a 2-part process. Part #1 as soon as we can (Maybe in the new year), and part two when V5 of Proboards comes out. This is important because, at the moment we can't have sub-boards in sub-boards, yet. This will be the key to reducing the roleplay section and Interactive stories more effectively. In V5 (Anywhere between January and end of March latest, with a possibility to upgrade the forum earlier when it presents itself.), you could have one forum on the main page for RP & Interactive Stories, within that two sub-forums for each of those, and sub-sub forums inside each for the actual stories. This can also be view simply on the V5 test board in my previous post.
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Dec 15, 2012 15:41:50 GMT -5
I think that the re-organization will be good for these reasons....
1: A small forum with look more active, be more manageable and be easier for new ppl to access and see whats going on. Not as intimidating and easier to get a handle on.
2: We ourselves know what we like and perhaps we don't need so many categories. Lets concentrate on our needs first and worry about ppl later.
3: It'll make Hoist's admin life easier. He works so hard on TTF.
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Post by Hoist on Dec 15, 2012 21:19:53 GMT -5
I'll probably do it in the new year, maybe Jan 1st - a new condensed forum for a brand new year. This will take us down from 5 categories down to 3, and when ProBoards V5 comes out the RP section can be done, taking it from 5 main boards down to 3. I might even just have the 2012 threads in there, and have a sub-board forum for all the old archived topics, which still could be answered if desired.
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Post by Highram on Dec 17, 2012 16:26:11 GMT -5
Personally, I only ever post around the Sharkticon pit, RPs and creative outlet. I've never been much of a fan of the toys and have no extremely strong opinions on the shows.
Be careful with doing things like TF@TM. That place is, sad to say, pretty much dead. Friend of mine from there also agrees. However looking at your test it doesn't look like too much board pruning would be a problem.
I'll advertise on deviantArt. See if I can get some peeps from there involved. c:
You''re right Jazz. That's what this place is missing. It's usualy crazy charm. I'll see if I can help liven things up a bit!
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Dec 18, 2012 3:13:29 GMT -5
You''re right Jazz. That's what this place is missing. It's usualy crazy charm. I'll see if I can help liven things up a bit! I just think that first and foremost, we need to do it for ourselves.
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