| Author |
Message |
Feeble
Moderator
|
# Posted: 22 May 2007 06:26
Reply
Sorry, wasn't being entirely clear with who i meant with what term.
Favouritism was meant towards certain newbies - I have seen it. Some are instantly taken under wing, where others are left to fend for themselves for no particular rhyme or reason. It's no wonder people try to catch attention by stirring the pot, they're just trying to get people to pay attention in the only way they can see how - by acting up. After all, what's the difference between four or five senior officers slapping eachother about with fish, or dropping anvils on eachother, and a newbie trying to do it? These are two separate thoughts, sorry for pushing them together... its late.
Of course people are more liked, I have no problem with that - in fact that is what i /like/ about OTF - it has a true community feel, there are little groups of friends who opperate well - this makes OTF an interesting place... I'm not trying to say we have to love everyone equally, but there are some severe double standards in some instances and how does that make this a welcoming place?
My real argument is - what is OTF meant to be? These days it feels too scattered. Are we chatting, are we a sci-fi community, are we arts enthusiasts, are we simmers, are we a trivia group, are we an online community... what is it that we are trying to do?
As to the original topic of Forums - I'd say the set out needs to be addressed. Certain things that work really well on forums, such as guilds info, information on the real space world etc seems to be shunted... I barely even knew there were other general headings besides General Chatter - but perhaps I'm naive. And as for speed... the forums are slow. People may be being picky because they need to get a cup of tea, but damn... there's no mincing words here, the forums are slow.
All this being said, I still find OTF a good place to kill some time and value the people that I have met here... nothing will change that.
|
david1
Member
|
# Posted: 22 May 2007 08:31
Reply
A Question: Take all the active people. How many of them are departmental people, and how many arnt?, id hazard a guess at 3/4 departmenatalized.
heres a random thought, I always see the odd new chatter make an appearence in Minas Tirith, no one is ever there to greet them, even when theres like 4/5 people in another room... they start saying things like "hello anyone here" ... then time out... they do this like 4/5 times, then stop comming back.
Is that how we treat newcommers... if we spot new people in another room, do we just ""leave them to get on with it"" ... because believe it or not, its constantly the case, and the n00b just doesnt come back.
|
david1
Member
|
# Posted: 22 May 2007 08:54
Reply
... in fact remembers somthing Andrew Maxwell once said ...
OTF Needs a Marketing team, some people to get people here, and also people to greet new people, and welcome them to the site and help them settle in.
|
ayanna
Member
|
# Posted: 22 May 2007 10:54
Reply
Wow Candice had a lot to say.
I have something to say to..
It got me thinking when Candice was talking about those first and second generations... I think a lot of the reason that OTF was so popular and well off then was partly cause of the departmental events. People would come in on a regular basis to see who had won what contest and then stay for a while and we would have random food fights and klingon pillow battles. Those were fun *L* Then there was Jen and her shooting peas.
Back then everyone got along with everyone for the most part. There wasn't any real clicks unless you count the Cyber families *L* But then everyone in the sun was apart of those at one time or another. and if not it was a rarity to find someone who wasn't c-related to someone some how *L*. Now all these things are like Taboo it seems. The food fights have stopped. the pillow fights and dancing congo lines *Giggles* I'll never forget seeing the admiral dancing the congo  *L*
I also remember when simming wasn't a bad thing. people loved to join in a sim. I remember the Bunny takeover of CCC. That was great fun. my Point to all this is that the fun that we used to have is seen as not cool anymore. So it's hard to find things that can make it a fun friendly atmosphere.
Anymore when you go in, it's about who's flirting with who, or how popular someone is. and then you got your little clicks. Some groups will only associate with those that are in their little click.
We also don't have the competitions like we used to. I remember when their wasn't a day go by that someone wouldn't ask whats this month's theme or when will the winners be announced. People get into departments but then don't do their work properly so the departments are slowly dying off. We need to focus hard on bringing those back and making them popular like they once was. We also need to lighten up a little and not jump at the first sign of someone might be getting out hand. Thats one other thing i notice lately that used to it was you would try and work out the problem before getting trigger happy. now people get trigger happy and ask questions later. So basically what i'm saying is we need to focus on bringing back some of the fun stuff and be less hostile in our actions and how we treat or welcome people.
|
rpmobsession
Member
|
# Posted: 22 May 2007 16:16
Reply
Ok. So, Shadow and I were discussing this a lot last night. (A couple of hours to be precised. ) And, he brought up a VERY good point that Ayanna brought up.
When OTF started it was more focused on RPing. We're not a big RPing community anymore. Like Tanya said, it's viewed as uncool. Now, to some point I have to agree, it IS viewed as uncool. Heck, I would even branch out to say most of the time it's the lamest of all lames. *lol* But ask anyone their favorite OTF memory, and I bet most peoples' memory is around some kind of RPing.
I remember when I was n00b, the other n00bs and I would pretend we were animals and climb into cubbards and shoot things at people, mostly food. Heck, even when I was in Trivia, I bet Hobbie remembers the entire paragraph length welcome emails to new minions where I shot off marshmellow cannons and tied new minions to spinning wheels with licorice. *lol* And, looking back on it, it was fun...but maybe not something I would be willing to do again.
See, when we started it was still not too weird to do things like that in the chat and in departments. The people that were in the chats that weren't into that (and for the most part weren't n00bs) just left us alone and let us be. Looking back, yea we were pretty silly, but we were never made fun of or made to feel unwelcome. But, nowadays, n00bs are made fun of for that. And, yes, even -I- am guilty for making fun of n00bs, especially if I get in a funk. But, as a whole, OTF is much more quick to make a dry jab at a n00b than they were when I first joined. Maybe that's the answer? Maybe it's not welcome more and be more friendly...maybe it's just be yourself with less cynicism? If you don't want to talk to that lame pea shooting newbie *coughs*  then don't. But, also, don't make fun of them. If you think peas are the greatest and want to use them as ammunition against the toasters and sporks trying to take over the CCC, then so be it. Jump in. I guess what I'm trying to say is the n00bs WILL grow out of their newbieness. I mean, we all did...mostly.
RPMO
P.S. Does anyone remember Hydra's toaster wars? Those were HILARIOUS. 
|
lzrman
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 11:04
Reply
David, speaking of statistics about all those who are active and are in a department.
I was talking to Iain the other day and we have approximately 15,707 registered clearance level 2 patrons, of which 347 are active, what does this tell you about the big picture here at OTF?
17510 is the total amount registered, so if we take all those inactive cl2's we actually have approximately 2100 members who are active and chatting in this community.
Candice does bring up some goods points and I tend to agree with if you see a member thats new in the chat by themselves go offer a hey im so so, and offer them a welcome.
Its just not the welcoming committee's job to welcome new people its each and everyones responsibility.
Speaking of Marketing, there is still the Marketing Director Position that has not been filled or even highlighted open for application, is the EC not worried about this position being filled, because I think that every day that the position is not filled is a day that damages OTF's continued existance.
*end rant*
|
david1
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 12:00
Reply
Quote (lzrman @ May 23 2007,11:04): I was talking to Iain the other day and we have approximately 15,707 registered clearance level 2 patrons, of which  347 are active, what does this tell you about the big picture here at OTF?
Define active... because i think 347 active people is good... but if thats 347 people whove just registered entered the chat once, and left... then its not as good a picture.
|
demonvamp
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 12:07
Reply
<!--QuoteBegin--david1+May 23 2007,12:00--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (david1 @ May 23 2007,12:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--lzrman+May 23 2007,11:04--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (lzrman @ May 23 2007,11:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->I was talking to Iain the other day and we have approximately 15,707 registered clearance level 2 patrons, of which 347 are active, what does this tell you about the big picture here at OTF?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Define active... because i think 347 active people is good... but if thats 347 people whove just registered entered the chat once, and left... then its not as good a picture.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br>It'd be interesting to take a snapshot of an average week at OTF and see how many unique chatters logged in. I bet there's a way to do it, too.<br><br>Oh, and Lzr's right, it's not just the WC's job to welcome folk and I'd hope people wouldn't expect that as we aren't that many and can't be there 24/7. Although, we have positions open (shameless plug) apply today folks!<br><br>QD <!--emo&:k--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':k'><!--endemo-->
|
lzrman
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 12:45
Reply
Active - As having a status green.
QD: i don't know how many people there are on the Welcoming Committee, but that isn't enough to welcome people from all time zones on a global scale.
There are so many positions in OTF, lets fill them, get a team to do marketing and plan a vision. Lets expand on all projects, on a global scale, lets combine them into one stop shop for information revolving around "Entertainment" "Communications/Communicating" Maybe even combine marketing into comm as its purpose is to communicate and market OTF.
Marketing is almost like public relations going out there and bringing in the membership, why not combine such teams.
|
kayana
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 14:41
Reply
Phoebe, ah I get you now *nod nod*
*throws gummybears at everyone*
Kayana
|
lzrman
Member
|
# Posted: 23 May 2007 23:40
Reply
Kayana, I want the red gummy bears  specially those translucent ones
|
jadzia_jones1
Member
|
# Posted: 24 May 2007 03:24
Reply
rpmobsession.. Spot on.. Times change.. We change.. New peeps come, and yeah they are so daft, just like we were when we joined. We had so much fun, and I look back with so much fondness.... gentel simming is great fun.. Chopping off heads and jabbing some ones eye out with a lolly pop stick isn't funny..
To be honest, birthdays is my baby, but I can't be asked. Although I still work my butt off, nothing is seen. ( just finishing a new Celebration Corner web page, everythig is new ) It seems like no one gives a pooh anymore. When you work ur bits of and send in your work to who ever, do you see it published? Nope.. So why bother? There is no umph or spirit left. I'm lucky I do my own.. but what of someone who keeps sending stuff in and NEVER seeing it.. think they will stick around? Nope.. there off to another chat room where things are buzing and get seen.
This place needs a massive jolt, something to make peeps get up and go, get the sparks back.. Anth and I have said oddels of times, get one of our chat rooms as just a sci fi room.. Can be anything from star gate to teenage mutant turtles to Hero's to Star Ship Troopers ( loved that film ) spider man, batman, harry potter, shrek anything and everything, some thing for everyone that walks through that door.
Jadzia
RPM.. I'm a spolt brat ! love it *lol*.. but I do remember what it was like with a dial up.. and yep I sat and waited for the page to load.. hated it *l* but nothing I could do about it. Can now.. and hope one day you can join our spoilt brat club. Just ask for me at the club door ! *l*
|
stav219
Member
|
# Posted: 24 May 2007 05:56
Reply
OTF hasn't been the same since Keith, Michiel and myself left.
It's a sad, sad fact. 
Cookie?
Tin
|
lzrman
Member
|
# Posted: 24 May 2007 22:42
Reply
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->OTF hasn't been the same since Keith, Michiel and myself left. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--><br><br>Who couldn't agree more.<br><br>Tin, chocolate macadamia please <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.outpost10f.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/win.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--><br><br>Lzrman
|
outpost10fman
Member
|
# Posted: 29 May 2007 08:08
Reply
Hey everyone, it's Quite Gone Jinn here.
I haven't been active for very long, despite joining in 2002. Back then, I didn't even know that OTF had a discussion forum, and only discovered it at about the time I went into hiatus.
I guess I missed out on the golden days haha.
But I never thought of OTF as a discussion forum. It's popular predominately because of the chat rooms, and all the other activities that members can get involved in that are outside the realm of posting. This is what makes it unique.
Also, after a while, forums do get quite monotonous. I have been a long time member of a more domestic forum here in Melbourne, and after five years, it's about dead.
If any of what I have said is incorrect, or inaccurate concerning OTF forums, it's probably because I haven't been here for so long...
|
amandasp
Member
|
# Posted: 30 May 2007 15:41
Reply
Hong, Hal, and a lot of the SMs are working on clearing out old stuff in order to make room for new growth. This takes time however. You have to decide if something that someone worked their butt off on is dead enough to shut down.
Myself... I hated the forums when they were popular. I'm just not a forums girl, but I do come on here every now and then to see what people are up to. But I will tell this forum is no less slow then the huge NASCAR one called InfieldParking. That's why I like the chatrooms... but Dale Jr. hasn't put a chatroom on InfieldParking yet.
Someone was mentioning that it's our job as members to go into an empty chatroom and welcome new people. I disagree. Unless you're part of the EC, you do not have to do a darn thing and I don't expect people to. Because I'm the SW DSC, I'll check on the CCC chatroom every now and then for new people and will stick my head in if someone new is in there alone... but I do not expect or think a normal chatter should have to do things like that. This is a place for people to relax. They shouldn't have to do anything.
OTF is going through a revamp that many of you may not see. We are trying to make room for future growth and trying to take care of the members we do have. I feel that is the best plan... if we can't take care of the members we have, then I certainly don't want new people coming in and getting lost. And that's the case right now. So until we get that all straightenend around... Marketing isn't at the top of the list in my mind.
Someone else mentioned that contests are going on... well, they are, but no one participates anymore. Along with the generational gaps... we also have the Talent Generations. First Generation were awesome at websites... then we had my generation that was artistic (back when the Poetry Guild was huge)... what is this generation? This is where people can help... Guilds has gone through a lot of changes, but the signs of life have been killed several times because people haven't participated. Now I can't draw or make a graphic like Aeon, but I can certainly write and try to enter those as much as possible. That's where anyone can help out OTF.
Before I started the Tribune I got a feeling that OTF members just don't care anymore about projects. But that's not true. I had a huge response from the general public. Problem was, was that I was overworking the staff I did have and doing way too much myself and got burned out. That's typical of the Tribune though... It's not that people don't enjoy things like that... but sometimes people are hard to find to invest.
I don't know if there is anything we can do, but I've talked with Hal a few times and Kayana and others... I'm darn well trying to think of ways. We'll see what this new wave of EC does. Give us time and some faith... until then... send these suggestions in... if not through the Suggestion Box then to the EC's email boxes.
My email has always been and will probably always be alanis32@hotmail.com and feel free to use it!
|
outpost10fman
Member
|
# Posted: 2 Jun 2007 08:13
Reply
Well, I'll stick around, see what happens.
|
