ForumGarden

It seems to me that general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur. Sites like facebook are owning the virtual social world currently. They offer a lot of features and control to their members.

Specialized forums seem to work well but lack large enough memberships to hold the interest of people who want to have quick responses to posts.

My first forum was Ubuntu when it was relatively new where I made a few friends and had lots of very interesting discussions. I prefer forums over the other type sites for the content of the conversations.

What are your thoughts?

What will become of this forum?

How can FG be enhanced?

What would you like to see change or remain the same here?

Facebook isn't spidered by Google so it's not going to come up on searches. I like the permanence of forum threads for developing ideas. I also like the idea that forums can focus very tightly on given subject areas and gather people together who have that specific interest. If there's a competitor at the moment it would be the wiki approach.

It seems facebook and the other one (can't think of the name) doesn't need the search engines. They do their own advertising and word of mouth works as well as it ever has.

I like what you like about forums, but thats why I think the small talk types are vanishing and migrating to the facebook's.

Robert J;1265575 wrote: It seems Facebook and the other one (can't think of the name) doesn't need the search engines. They do their own advertising and word of mouth works as well as it ever has.Let me rephrase it then. I, sat here, can't do a Google search (or any other sort of search) which will bring me up anything discussed on Facebook. I'd need to be a Facebook member to find a discussion (not that I know it's possible, I'm not a Facebook member) and I'd not be able to find anything discussed by any member who had flagged the conversation for friends only. It's the equivalent of a private forum area, it's not public unless I'm mistaken. I've taken very little interest in that sort of interaction. It's like members-only MSN or Yahoo groups in that regard.

Robert J;1265571 wrote: It seems to me that general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur. Sites like facebook are owning the virtual social world currently. They offer a lot of features and control to their members.



Specialized forums seem to work well but lack large enough memberships to hold the interest of people who want to have quick responses to posts.






I dont agree, IMO Face book etc is okay if you know the people you have on your friends list.

On forums you are pretty much anonymous, You only give out the info that you are comfortable with, whereas on FB everyone knows the real you.

Robert J;1265571 wrote: It seems to me that general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur. Sites like facebook are owning the virtual social world currently. They offer a lot of features and control to their members.

Specialized forums seem to work well but lack large enough memberships to hold the interest of people who want to have quick responses to posts.

My first forum was Ubuntu when it was relatively new where I made a few friends and had lots of very interesting discussions. I prefer forums over the other type sites for the content of the conversations.

What are your thoughts?

What will become of this forum?

How can FG be enhanced?

What would you like to see change or remain the same here?




facebook is not a forum

its somewhere to hook up with your 'real friends and family', either by posting messages, live chat, playing games.

spot;1265578 wrote: Let me rephrase it then. I, sat here, can't do a Google search (or any other sort of search) which will bring me up anything discussed on Facebook. I'd need to be a Facebook member to find a discussion (not that I know it's possible, I'm not a Facebook member) and I'd not be able to find anything discussed by any member who had flagged the conversation for friends only. It's the equivalent of a private forum area, it's not public unless I'm mistaken. I've taken very little interest in that sort of interaction. It's like members-only MSN or Yahoo groups in that regard.I understood your post and I agree. I'm only saying that its where many people who used to frequent forums have migrated to.

Most people are not interested in more than small talk.

Odie;1265586 wrote: facebook is not a forum

its somewhere to hook up with your 'real friends and family', either by posting messages, live chat, playing games.I didn't intend to say it was a forum. If I gave that impression, then I apologize.

abbey;1265583 wrote: I dont agree, IMO Face book etc is okay if you know the people you have on your friends list.

On forums you are pretty much anonymous, You only give out the info that you are comfortable with, whereas on FB everyone knows the real you.Hum, maybe I'm not having a good day. I didn't think I said anything contrary to this.

Robert J;1265575 wrote: It seems facebook and the other one (can't think of the name) doesn't need the search engines. They do their own advertising and word of mouth works as well as it ever has.

I like what you like about forums, but thats why I think the small talk types are vanishing and migrating to the facebook's.


Small talk is often frowned upon by forums. And some forums can be like some kind of secret society, if at first you don't fit in you don't always feel welcome. Heck even to some people here they feel their small talk is not always appreciated, that is why members come and go, and return etc. Not everybody is cut out for serious conversation, or some feel intimidated by it, or just don't care to share their insight for other reasons.

minks;1265599 wrote: Small talk is often frowned upon by forums. And some forums can be like some kind of secret society, if at first you don't fit in you don't always feel welcome. Heck even to some people here they feel their small talk is not always appreciated, that is why members come and go, and return etc. Not everybody is cut out for serious conversation, or some feel intimidated by it, or just don't care to share their insight for other reasons.


Sufficient active threads in the Garden and sufficient active members posting in them that most people will find a niche their comfortable with somewhere.

Bryn Mawr;1265602 wrote: Sufficient active threads in the Garden and sufficient active members posting in them that most people will find a niche their comfortable with somewhere.


Oh true indeed. And some days it's just plain "mood" hahahaha the individuals and the forums.

:wah:

Robert J;1265571 wrote: It seems to me that general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur. Sites like facebook are owning the virtual social world currently. They offer a lot of features and control to their members.

Specialized forums seem to work well but lack large enough memberships to hold the interest of people who want to have quick responses to posts.

My first forum was Ubuntu when it was relatively new where I made a few friends and had lots of very interesting discussions. I prefer forums over the other type sites for the content of the conversations.

What are your thoughts?

What will become of this forum?

How can FG be enhanced?

What would you like to see change or remain the same here?


Many of us belong to both this forum and at least one social networking site. For me they serve completely different purposes.

I don't care about the search engine aspect. If my own immortal words do not reach a wider audience, I won't lose any sleep. What I write in this place is for the here and now, and sure, most of it is invisible - but so what. This is chat. Mostly undirected, amorphous etc. Cathartic. On Face Book the talk is specific, between family and close friends. We ask real things and get real answers. We actually know each other and want to keep in real touch.. exchange news, photos, thoughts... stuff I wouldn't dream of doing in an open forum. I ignore applications, games etc..

I am not a member of facebook as I prefer forums. I like friendly forums where moderators will delete any nasty posts. I like a bit of banter but do like debating current and wide ranging topics.

Unfortunately, it seems the most popular forums are the ones where anything goes. Troublemaking posts are very popular and good entertainment for some!

AussiePam;1265607 wrote: Many of us belong to both this forum and at least one social networking site. For me they serve completely different purposes.

I don't care about the search engine aspect. If my own immortal words do not reach a wider audience, I won't lose any sleep. What I write in this place is for the here and now, and sure, most of it is invisible - but so what. This is chat. Mostly undirected, amorphous etc. Cathartic. On Face Book the talk is specific, between family and close friends. We ask real things and get real answers. We actually know each other and want to keep in real touch.. exchange news, photos, thoughts... stuff I wouldn't dream of doing in an open forum. I ignore applications, games etc..Thanks, Pam! For a while there I though I was in never-never land.

But do you think its safe to say that forum participation on a non-specific social level is declining? It sure looks like it to me. FG is one of the exceptions with some long term members.

Maybe i have it backward! Wouldn't be the first time thats happened to me.:wah:

Skylark;1265620 wrote: I am not a member of facebook as I prefer forums. I like friendly forums where moderators will delete any nasty posts. I like a bit of banter but do like debating current and wide ranging topics.

Unfortunately, it seems the most popular forums are the ones where anything goes. Troublemaking posts are very popular and good entertainment for some!I agree. On those other forums, people are able to play out and spend emotions.

Emotions - Tough business!

Robert J;1265598 wrote: Hum, maybe I'm not having a good day. I didn't think I said anything contrary to this.My reply was answer to this.......



Robert J;1265571 wrote: It seems to me that general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur. Sites like facebook are owning the virtual social world currently. They offer a lot of features and control to their members.






I should have said that I dont think forums are "Going the way of the dinosaur" because

IMO Face book etc is okay if you know the people you have on your friends list.

On forums you are pretty much anonymous, You only give out the info that you are comfortable with, whereas on FB everyone knows the real you.



:rolleyes:

Robert J;1265624 wrote: Thanks, Pam! For a while there I though I was in never-never land.

But do you think its safe to say that forum participation on a non-specific social level is declining? It sure looks like it to me. FG is one of the exceptions with some long term members.

Maybe i have it backward! Wouldn't be the first time thats happened to me.:wah:


Robert - Change is so rapid in technology now, that who knows for sure. The cinema was to be eclipsed by TV, DVDs, direct download to iPods etc... it's reinvented itself and is still going strong. From bulletin boards we went to forums where discussion was stored and time zones were transcended, to direct real-time chat by keyboard and microphone and webcam, to concern for privacy and the rise of private chat, to the realisation of commercial exploitability and the rise of social network sites. And for the attention span challenged, or the sound bite quotability conscious - we now can twitter. Kids usually ride at the front of the changes. Older folk ride a bit further back. But we're on the same broomstick.

I've used all the levels (except twitter) and could not even guess where we're headed - but it's exciting

As for this Forum. It's a bit like a church. People gather here.. come from all over. Some are more pi than others. Or more sinful :sneaky: Some don't like the sermon or the elders and go off and found their own religion. Some come in only for weddings or funerals. As a group, we tend to be older, rather than younger - but as I said, for many of us, this is just one part of our online interaction. While any of us still see value in coming here - and our membership is not small - Forum Garden will continue to thrive.

I live in never-never land.

I think forums are always here to stay. I don't MySpace or Facebook, or twitter either. I like a forum setting, where you can pop in when you want to, post with friends, and then when din-din calls, you can pop out.

chonsigirl;1265643 wrote: I think forums are always here to stay. I don't MySpace or Facebook, or twitter either. I like a forum setting, where you can pop in when you want to, post with friends, and then when din-din calls, you can pop out.


I agree with you Chonsi.

I think too FG is the exception because of some of the lifer's here who have met, and become good friends, plus our mods keep it a pretty clean place which has obviously proved to be a good thing when you look at the age of some of the posters here (age in how long some have been members)

Well, I'm in!

Twitter = virtual bumper sticker mentality. But I think I like Pam's description more.

I do like forums because I'm able to meet people from around the world and become friends with them, even if we never meet, yet we can talk to on the phone, thru emails, and a lot of them filter over to other sites like Facebook and we can get to know each other even more intimately.

What the forums, like FG, offer that you can't get from Facebook or MySpace are interesting discussions with such a wide array of people and opinions. The other sites you are usually only getting opinions and comments from people that you know, and a lot of the time they just agree with you.

I've found that FG is like a virtual family...I know I can come here for support when needed, and I can offer support when needed. I can take part in the useless but fun threads, or go into debates with others if I want to...it just all depends on what I'm looking for any particular day, or what really hits home.

Not to long ago I just stepped out of the forum for awhile because it seemed to be filled with constant drama and bickering...two things that turn me off everytime. It does seem that it's calmed down a lot lately, so I'm enjoying being here more and am participating more again.

The other sites are not perfect either, but it is easier to control. I had an extended family member giving me a hard time about something that was none of his business on Facebook, so I deleted him from my friends list and blocked him so he could not see anything I posted. I didn't want the drama.

So I believe both types of sites have their purpose and will continue to use them both.

There's a parallel between "general discussion forums are going the way of the dinosaur" and IRC. These days IRC might appear to be superseded as a protocol but in fact the traffic on it, and the number of users using it, is greater now than it ever was before forums arrived. It, like forums, has a very specific utility and it's settled down in its niche. It's not become extinct, far from it. Forums will, I presume, become a background part of the Internet in much the same way.

Some of the threads here in the Forum do have discussions and astute observations. Some just have friendly chit chat. You just have to find your niche. Everyone has a choice as to which thread they want to participate in.

Sometimes I'm serious. Sometimes I'm silly. But, the thing is, I feel comfortable here at Forum Garden to be myself. I may indeed have an anonymus user-name, but you still know me. By my threads........by my posts.

As long as we have the internet, Forums are here to stay.

What do you all think about membership drives and contests?

Robert J;1265753 wrote: What do you all think about membership drives and contests?


Do we have any?

How would they work?

Bryn Mawr;1265757 wrote: Do we have any?

How would they work?Usually the owner of the forum offers up something like a chocolate lollipop or something to the member that gets the highest number of new members to join and remain for a period of time within a certain amount of time.

Robert J;1265761 wrote: Usually the owner of the forum offers up something like a chocolate lollipop or something to the member that gets the highest number of new members within a certain amount of time.


I can see I have to get out in the world :wah:

Bryn Mawr;1265764 wrote: I can see I have to get out in the world :wah:Incentive marketing. probably unique to Americans.

Robert J;1265761 wrote: Usually the owner of the forum offers up something like a chocolate lollipop or something to the member that gets the highest number of new members to join and remain for a period of time within a certain amount of time.


Is it a real chocolate lollipop or is it just a gif?

Do you only get one chocolate lollipop?

Can the chocolate lollipop be sent overseas?

What brand of chocolate is the chocolate lollipop? Is it Thorntons?

Hey this stuff is important! This is chocolate we're talking here! :-4

Rapunzel;1265771 wrote: Is it a real chocolate lollipop or is it just a gif?

Do you only get one chocolate lollipop?

Can the chocolate lollipop be sent overseas?

What brand of chocolate is the chocolate lollipop? Is it Thorntons?

Hey this stuff is important! This is chocolate we're talking here! :-4 :DI know - I know. It all depends on how much he's willing to lay out.

Rapunzel;1265771 wrote: Is it a real chocolate lollipop or is it just a gif?

Do you only get one chocolate lollipop?

Can the chocolate lollipop be sent overseas?

What brand of chocolate is the chocolate lollipop? Is it Thorntons?

Hey this stuff is important! This is chocolate we're talking here! :-4


All very good and important questions Rap...I'll be looking forward to the answers impatiently. :wah:

Robert J;1265761 wrote: Usually the owner of the forum offers up something like a chocolate lollipop or something to the member that gets the highest number of new members to join and remain for a period of time within a certain amount of time.


We have that at my job. It's called "sponsorship." A current employee sponsors a brand new employee and if that brand-new employee stays employed for 90 days, the current employee get a monetary bonus.

I come here to relax and visit with my buddies, not to compete.

I'm just the "welcome mat lady".

along-for-the-ride;1265791 wrote: We have that at my job. It's called "sponsorship." A current employee sponsors a brand new employee and if that brand-new employee stays employed for 90 days, the current employee get a monetary bonus.

I come here to relax and visit with my buddies, not to compete.

I'm just the "welcome mat lady".


And you are the best "welcome mat lady" aftr! :-6

These don't actually say 'Thorntons', but they do look like Thorntons chocolates !

:yh_drool:yh_drool:yh_drool

G#Gill;1265810 wrote: These don't actually say 'Thorntons', but they do look like Thorntons chocolates !

:yh_drool:yh_drool:yh_drool






and I wasn't even on this thread!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

those hit me in the eye and I was here!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

shelbell;1265774 wrote: All very good and important questions Rap...I'll be looking forward to the answers impatiently. :wah:


Too right. :wah:

I mentioned on another thread that it was Healthy Eating day at school today and we had a (rather luverly) chap in to talk to us. Back in the classroom one of the kids said "My mum loves chocolate mousse, but it's bad for her and I'm going to make her give it up!" I kinda laughed and said "I wouldn't try that, she'll probably bite your head off!"

Why don't people realise that chocolate is actually one of your five-a-day containing healthy feel-good chemicals and plenty of bone-building calcium!?

Don't they realise that women can pass out if they don't get their daily dose? It's medicinal, for goodness sake! :yh_angel

G#Gill;1265810 wrote: These don't actually say 'Thorntons', but they do look like Thorntons chocolates !

:yh_drool:yh_drool:yh_drool






Yummmmmm! I neeeeeeeeed these! Right NOW! **drools**

Rapunzel;1265812 wrote: Too right. :wah:

I mentioned on another thread that it was Healthy Eating day at school today and we had a (rather luverly) chap in to talk to us. Back in the classroom one of the kids said "My mum loves chocolate mousse, but it's bad for her and I'm going to make her give it up!" I kinda laughed and said "I wouldn't try that, she'll probably bite your head off!"

Why don't people realise that chocolate is actually one of your five-a-day containing healthy feel-good chemicals and plenty of bone-building calcium!?

Don't they realise that women can pass out if they don't get their daily dose? It's medicinal, for goodness sake! :yh_angel


And it's even a proven fact that dark chocolate is good for your health! So bring it on!

Kinda like

WILL WORK FOR FOOD

WILL POST FOR CHOCOLATE



:-4

i hope TS reads this thread and gets a new idea.

Robert J;1265843 wrote: i hope TS reads this thread and gets a new idea.


Like letting women talk about chocolate on every thread just to keep them as posters here? :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

Robert J;1265761 wrote: Usually the owner of the forum offers up something like a chocolate lollipop or something to the member that gets the highest number of new members to join and remain for a period of time within a certain amount of time.


Robert, I have never heard of that before, are you joking?

As someone else said it is nice to talk to people from other countries and find out a little about everyone!

shelbell;1265844 wrote: Like letting women talk about chocolate on every thread just to keep them as posters here? :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl


you already do that!:yh_rotfl

Skylark;1266191 wrote: Robert, I have never heard of that before, are you joking?

As someone else said it is nice to talk to people from other countries and find out a little about everyone!It is done, Skylark. Good old fashion American 'hit the streets and sell this thing' marketing campaigns.

Actually though, it's usually a monetary prize like $50.00 or $100.00.

The problem with this idea IMO is that you end up with an awful lot of really silly stuff on the forum, and most usually fall away leaving perhaps a couple or three additional committed long term members. But if TS treats this as a business then marketing strategies may be whats called for.

Maybe looking for other forums to merge with or buy out is a good idea too.

Just throwing some idea's out there. If each member here were to recruit what they considered a person that could contribute some quality to this forum just once, we'd be in pretty good shape.

I've been emailing members on my own asking them to return for a new looksey. So far only one has responded and she has only been here once since I think. But I'll keep at it.

Salespeople are used to having doors slammed in their faces, but when you hit one that remains open, its usually a winner. Using quantity to find quality.

Robert J;1266680 wrote: It is done, Skylark. Good old fashion American 'hit the streets and sell this thing' marketing campaigns.

Actually though, it's usually a monetary prize like $50.00 or $100.00.

The problem with this idea IMO is that you end up with an awful lot of really silly stuff on the forum, and most usually fall away leaving perhaps a couple or three additional committed long term members. But if TS treats this as a business then marketing strategies may be whats called for.

Maybe looking for other forums to merge with or buy out is a good idea too.

Just throwing some idea's out there. If each member here were to recruit what they considered a person that could contribute some quality to this forum just once, we'd be in pretty good shape.

I've been emailing members on my own asking them to return for a new looksey. So far only one has responded and she has only been here once since I think. But I'll keep at it.

Salespeople are used to having doors slammed in their faces, but when you hit one that remains open, its usually a winner. Using quantity to find quality.


You are obviously committed to the forum but I think it needs some more hard hitting topics. I must start one!

Skylark;1266835 wrote: You are obviously committed to the forum but I think it needs some more hard hitting topics. I must start one!go for it!:) Just don't forget your personal integrity.