Whither the Watch?

[Sorus]

So, it seems SRD needs to write something new and awesome.

Or more Gap books.

[Sorus]

Also, how many of those 50 stayed active? How many leave after a few posts, or create an account and don't contribute at all? It seems that everyone who posts in the 'new members' areas gets a welcome, but what else can we do to make people stick around?

Sorry to double post, it wouldn't let me edit the first.

[aliantha]

Good question. What can we do to make newbies stick around? I got nothing.

It would be interesting to see the percentage of folks who have joined the Watch and only posted once or twice (or never). It may be that the percentage hasn't changed all that much -- just that we're not attracting as many people.

I'm also thinking that some of our "members" are spammers. The mods try to catch 'em all, but I don't know whether all of the spammers have been banned or whether their posts have simply been deleted.

[Sorus]

I'm also thinking that some of our "members" are spammers. The mods try to catch 'em all, but I don't know whether all of the spammers have been banned or whether their posts have simply been deleted.

Hey, I said I was sorry for double posting!

But that is a good point too; bots just keep getting smarter.

[I'm Murrin]

That drop off in February seems like more than just the new book's influence passing, or some fault on our part for keeping people engaged. It's six months of less than 10 new members a month - look through the history, that's never happened. There were 31 in January! It doesn't add up...

[Sorus]

Is there maybe an issue with registration that people are unable to report due to being unable to register?

It's unlikely, but it did actually happen to me on a forum.

[Avatar]

So, it seems SRD needs to write something new and awesome.

Or more Gap books.

A Killing Stroke series.

No registration issues we're aware of...people do register, so it's unlikely to be the case.

...spammers...

Currently, (for the last...uh...6 years odd), spammers entire accounts are deleted, so they don't count toward the total. (Banned accounts do count toward it.)

Can't make people stay and post guys. Can't make old members stick around either or stay active. It's nothing unusual...regularly active members usually account for less than 10% of any forum/community/whatever membership.

Takes a special brand of crazy to insert yourself into an environment like this and become part of it. Especially given how long so many of us have been doing it. It's like walking into a pub and joining a big group of regulars having a party without (usually) the benefit of social lubricants.

--A

[rdhopeca]

NORM!!!!

[Iolanthe]

It's like walking into a pub and joining a big group of regulars having a party without (usually) the benefit of social lubricants.

--A

Nail on the head and all that, Av. I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Before June I hadn't met anyone except Frosty (aka Softy) from the Watch, but during June I met, talked to and became friends with 30 others. Before June I didn't understand a lot of what was going on on the Watch, now I understand a lot better. There are a lot of "in" jokes that went above my head, but now I feel I can join in more (even if a silencer is called something that we use to wrap round our necks in winter").

To put it bluntly, before June I was an "outsider", now I feel more of an "insider". This will not necessarily apply to anyone else, this is just how I feel. And I doubt that it applies to anyone who has been on the Watch for a long time and who has over the years got to know other Watchers over the net but has never met another Watcher.

But isn't it the same with any club, organisation etc. that we join? There are always people who have been there for yonks, there are always cliques. Perhaps we survivors have a particular attitude to "joining in". We persevere even if it's not that easy to do so? Perhaps those who join then don't post are not the kind of people who would normally join this kind of forum, whatever we do to welcome them?

[Sorus]

Can't make people stay and post guys. Can't make old members stick around either or stay active.

I don't know, that could be taken as a challenge.

NORM!!!!

NOM!!!!



Suggest running for the hills.

[Avatar]

But isn't it the same with any club, organisation etc. that we join? There are always people who have been there for yonks, there are always cliques. Perhaps we survivors have a particular attitude to "joining in". We persevere even if it's not that easy to do so? Perhaps those who join then don't post are not the kind of people who would normally join this kind of forum, whatever we do to welcome them?

Only one I've ever met is Vain. But after 10 years of talking shit online, it doesn't make a difference whether we ever meet in person to me, although of course it would be nice.

The Watch has (in the past) being accused of being clique-y. And by some definitions of course, it is.

But it's an open one. We do try and make people welcome. The rest has to be up to them.

(Except old members...damn them...where are they? How could they abandon us? Return now or else. )

--A

[Savor Dam]

We do try and make people welcome. The rest has to be up to them.

Quite so, and to address Io's point about feeling like an outsider before meeting many of us in June, there was a concerted effort to extend as effusive an invitation to Elohimfest as possible. Virtually every new member who posted in the Summonsing was made aware of it and encouraged to come. In countless other threads, members old and new were bombarded with reminders about 'fest.

Yes, it is true that not everyone could manage to attend...but nobody failed to attend due to lack of welcome or encouragement. Kevin's Watch is not just an online community; we want to meet fellow SRD readers in person and get to know them. If that is not possible, it does not lessen the welcome, but the personal contact certainly helps cement the relationship.

More is the irony, post-fest, some of the most energetic Elohimfest promoters found that they had been "unfriended" by certain Watchers in other venues...but prudence and charity dictates that this needs to be considered normal maintenance of people's extensive inventory of acquaintance, rather than any sort of personal affront.

[aliantha]

NORM!!!!

The Watch is, after all, a place where everybody knows your name. Uh, your avatar. Uh...

[Fire Daughter]

I like that the Hall of Gifts is on the main page. It's a very special place on the Watch. All the re-organization is great. I think it will help new people find things easier and maybe that will encourage them to post more after they register.

There is a such a large membership here now, it is surprising to me that there isn't more activity. "Real life" keeps me from participating more and I'm sure that is true with many of people who have joined. But, I will never stop coming here...it's home.

[deer of the dawn]

Coming back on this after really being out of it. The only 'net I had in Liberia was my phone, and the Watch doesn't translate too well to Android (when's the app coming out? :p ).

I think a friendly e-mail acknowledging the noobs as valued members would help. Of course I don't know how practical that would be, and don't even remember if an e-mail is required to register?

Sorry for being such a slacker. i didn't even know that the forum of which I am moderator was moved. :rolleyes:

[aliantha]

You're excused, deer.

[Sorus]

A Killing Stroke series.

I'd be okay with that.

The Watch is, after all, a place where everybody knows your name. Uh, your avatar.

What if I lost my avatar?

[aliantha]

The Watch is, after all, a place where everybody knows your name. Uh, your avatar.

What if I lost my avatar?

It's okay. We'd know you anywhere.

[Sorus]

Aww, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Maybe one of these days I'll get around to making a new avatar.

Or finding my old one. I blame the UMCP.

[Ananda]

NORM!!!!

Uh, your avatar. Uh...

No, That was rdhopeca, this is avatar