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Post by hollandr on May 25, 2008 23:40:07 GMT
I notice that typically the forum gets 1000 visitors per day and about 30 odd members with just a few posting
I suspect other Masonic fora are in a similar position as I find relatively few posting on those that I visit.
Has e-Masonry run through its first blush of enthusiasm?
Is something more required?
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Post by maximus on May 26, 2008 6:48:21 GMT
I've noticed it too, Russell. Seems to be on all forums lately. There was a noticible drop off on LRUS and NOS after the TSS forum started up. I guess people are hanging around with a different crowd. Maybe we have masonic cooties?
No matter, we'll just keep exploring the hidden mysteries of nature and science, with or without them.
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Post by leonardo on May 26, 2008 7:07:14 GMT
Is it a seasonal thing? I seem to recall it being a bit slow this time last year, too, though granted not as slow as fora are currently experiencing. Yes, we have many registered members still visiting but sadly they seem less inclined to post of late. But whatever the reason I am sure we will be back to normal soon enough. Even my music forum is going through a slow patch, with a few of the regulars discussing the "merits" of the UK and Ireland remaining in the Eurovision Song Contest  |
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Post by corab on May 26, 2008 11:53:26 GMT
It's seasonal; always happens around summer time (well, in this hemisphere anyway). I also think it has to do with Bro:. Theron's passing to the GLE -- seems a few of us have felt the need to withdraw for a short while and do what they need to do to come to terms with their loss.
On the other hand, it may well be that the 'market', if I may put it so business-like, is reaching its point of saturation, and that the cull in forums is about to commence. We shall see.
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Post by leonardo on May 26, 2008 13:33:57 GMT
The "cull in forums is about to commence," eh Hopefully not. Cora, your point about Bro. Theron may indeed be a contributory factor, his passing has certainly effected most of us in the Masonic world. |
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Post by billmcelligott on May 26, 2008 14:26:45 GMT
One thing I can confirm without a shadow of anyone's doubt, Theron would not want Masons to be quiet. He was opinionated and he put a great deal into making sure everyone had their say, even when he did not agree with them.
So do what he would have done and don't sit there and say nothing , tell others what you think.
For such a small section of the community we do seem to have too many forum. We are 1% of 1% but the Masonic Internet presence is or seems to be much more.
The other factor I think affecting the forums that we know is 'BLOGS', anyone within minutes can create a BLOG. Now I dont think that is a bad thing, but people who may well come to a FORUM and have something to say are now creating articles and just leaving links to their own Blog. Its something we are going to have to live with.
I prefer forums.
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Post by maximus on May 26, 2008 14:58:28 GMT
One thing I can confirm without a shadow of anyone's doubt, Theron would not want Masons to be quiet. He was opinionated and he put a great deal into making sure everyone had their say, even when he did not agree with them. So do what he would have done and don't sit there and say nothing , tell others what you think. Agreed. I like forums better too. More like a conversation over coffee. Theron's blog was really the only one I cared to read... |
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Post by leonardo on May 26, 2008 15:06:29 GMT
Not a great Blog reader, either. I read a few, and TD's was one of them. I am a forum kinda guy too.
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Post by corab on May 26, 2008 16:53:05 GMT
One thing I can confirm without a shadow of anyone's doubt, Theron would not want Masons to be quiet. He was opinionated and he put a great deal into making sure everyone had their say, even when he did not agree with them. So do what he would have done and don't sit there and say nothing , tell others what you think. True enough, Bill, bit it's not just about what Theron would have done, or would have wanted us to do. It's about how each of us individually deals with what his departure means to them -- and that cannot be rushed. Heck, it took me long enough! That's what I meant. The masonic forums are springing up left, right and centre at the moment, and there's only so much time you can spend at them. New forums always have a certain buzz to them, so for a while you might spend more time there than at your usual forums, and that, too, can be an influence. Ditto. There's a touch of "soap boxiism" about blogs, even though there is a comment facility on most of them. I prefer the arena of the forums. |
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Post by maximus on May 26, 2008 19:44:03 GMT
It's seasonal; always happens around summer time (well, in this hemisphere anyway). It's still spring, and it was almost this slow during the winter. This is likely a contributing factor. There are not that many of us who actually make up the e-masonic world, really. Most knew, or knew of, Bro. TD. There is that factor as well. And the "Flying Monkey" crowd chose to isolate themselves behind the wall of exclusivity as well. There were some prolific posters in that faction, and the other boards, including this one, have been deprived of thier input. The Law of Unintended Consequences has kicked in, going back to the regularity flap that heated up the boards from not long ago. |
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Post by penfold on May 26, 2008 19:59:45 GMT
Its cyclical, plus a lot of folks are busy with work and family commitments this time of year IMO
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Post by maat on May 27, 2008 0:20:55 GMT
I think that there are too few posters because we lack an enthusiastic, plain, basic, no esoteric type slant on things, commentator. Someone dedicated to looking after the EA's to masonic forums.
How would an EA feel coming into a lodge and being thrown straight into discussions on the ToL, the Qaballah etc.
Now I can't see we esoterics letting up any ;D so is there anyone out there to balance us out?? Serious. Masonry has something for everyone ... we need dedicated people to encourage new to masonry members, and non esoteric members to question and contribute more - but you will need to do it on a daily/weekly basis. Forums need regular nourishment like the rest of us.
Maat
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Post by maat on May 27, 2008 0:23:29 GMT
It also very important for us to remember how much positive influence previous posts can have on new people.. so much to take in. Does and author rely on the number of letters he gets from fans to gauge his success?
Maat
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Post by penfold on May 27, 2008 10:17:12 GMT
Of c ourse the other thing to remember is most of the 'guests' shown on the counter are crawlers, adbots and the like
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on May 28, 2008 6:13:17 GMT
Yup and scads of them. The ones that stay end up serving drinks under Ma'at's table. I hear they also make good bar stools.
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Post by AndyF on Oct 24, 2008 8:11:30 GMT
There's a hell of a lot to read on this website, and the quality is top notch. I sometimes get the impression that on almost any given occasion, everything has already been said (sometimes a couple of times over), and couldn't be put much better than it already has. I feel like I don't really have much to contribute.
Then there's the stuff that completely flies over my head. I feel as though I've accidentally stumbled into the wrong thread.
These things may make me feel like posting less, but they're hardly signs of a dud forum.
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Post by maat on Oct 27, 2008 0:47:25 GMT
There's a hell of a lot to read on this website, and the quality is top notch. I sometimes get the impression that on almost any given occasion, everything has already been said (sometimes a couple of times over), and couldn't be put much better than it already has. I feel like I don't really have much to contribute. Then there's the stuff that completely flies over my head. I feel as though I've accidentally stumbled into the wrong thread. These things may make me feel like posting less, but they're hardly signs of a dud forum. I think you 'hit the nail on the head' AndyF. I can't remember a time when I wrote a letter to an author (whose wonderful book taught me much) to make a comment. I remember that when at school I was sometimes frightened to ask a question of the teacher in case everyone else thought I was stupid. All of us are pushing boundaries here, our own and others, maybe that same insecurity thing applies. I'm so old now - I don't care how silly others may think I am. See there are advantages this end of life ;D Maat |
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Post by leonardo on Oct 27, 2008 7:22:55 GMT
I'm so old now - I don't care how silly others may think I am. See there are advantages this end of life ;D Maat Ah! But there are no silly questions - - only silly answers  |
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kaniball2
Member
He's the architect of his own fate, a man in his prime
Posts: 28
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Post by kaniball2 on Dec 9, 2008 17:07:07 GMT
sorry ladies and gentlemen im not going anywhere ;D
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Mr_Chaos
Member
We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget.
Posts: 29
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Post by Mr_Chaos on Mar 30, 2009 4:06:18 GMT
Maybe the Mods should be watching out for the flaming of new members. For a thin skinned noob this can be quite a turn off. |
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