Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 (edited) I've noticed in the 14 months that I've been on Neowin Forums that it has made a shift from a Tech-orientated forum to a General-orientated forum. I know that I'm partially to blame for the shift in oriantation, but I would want it to go back to a more tech-oriantation. I remember that instead of General Descussion being the most active forum, it was the Windows NT4/2000/XP Client & Server forum before it was split into two seperate forums (which still IMO was a silly idea to get seperated because they both dropped activity almost immediately, those forums just didn't feel the same afterwards) What Neowin needs is some sort of incentive for members to help each other out in the Assistance Forums. Maybe a rating system that instead of the more you post, the bigger your penis is (referring to post-counts here), it becomes the more you help, the bigger your penis is. Or maybe some completely different solution, Neowin isn't the same as it used to be, before it was full of Interlectual Discussion about Technology, now it's just a general forum full of posts that don't teach us anything (except maybe RWI where you can debate politics, too bad not debate technology though.) and half the active members of Neowin don't even know anything about computers/technology... aka n00bs. I don't know if it's just me or not, but more than anything I just want to know if people are thinking the same as what I am? Edit: Just in case you didn't know, I have been registered since 4-November-02 and have been active every day since then, and I didn't start out with the name 'Quick Reply' Edited January 13, 2004 by Quick Reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malechai Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 I've noticed in the 14 months that I've been on Neowin Forums that it has made a shift from a Tech-orientated forum to a General-orientated forum. I know that I'm partially to blame for the shift in oriantation, Between you and me, I don't think you're to blame at all. Your influence would be so small that it wouldn't affect anything. Neowin has simply evolved to what it is now for many reasons, and none of those reasons are because of one person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keldyn Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Between you and me, I don't think theres any blame on you whatsoever. Your influence would be so small that it wouldn't affect anything. Neowin has simply evolved to what it is now for many many reasons. Indeed. A constantly expanding user-base has seen us catering to an ever growing variety of interests. Part of being a successful community is that you can grow and adapt with your members. Just look how much the forum structure has changed this past year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Author Share Posted January 13, 2004 I think that I have because I have contributed a lot to General Discussions, And I'm one those that make it up as a whole. Sure there are other factors, but I am in the equation. And believe it or not, I have set an example for a lot of people (Not much of an example from more Senior members such as yourself, although not limited to). I have set quite a few trends in my time, and all of them moved Neowin towards a General-oriantation (eg: IPB emoticon as an avatar, Extra field in Profile- under Location, Dictionary Definition of a name in sig- even though that didn't take off until Neobond copied me, I'm sure there are others) Not to mention the trends I have participated in (eg: Lahrd, Neopwi, Replying with a funny picture instead of something to say - like the bunny with the pancake on it's head) I guess that I'm feeling a lot of regret because I don't find Neowin as exciting as I used to Another thing is that I've been on the front-line of many events in Neowin's history - eg: "OMFG Radish? is a Super-Mod!" and makes me feel a part of everything that happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keldyn Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 *Shrugs* We have over 40000 members. You are just one of them. If you think you are directly responsible for neowin taking a shift in direction, you are giving yourself far too much credit. lol! Members come and go for many reasons. I have been here for more than 2 years. Granted it is not "fresh and exciting" how it was when I first started out but forums change. If we didn't then neowin never would have become the success it is today. You have to change with your members. Perhaps you are suffering forum burn-out? lol Maybe a break is all you need. edited: Silly typo :blush: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Author Share Posted January 13, 2004 I've indirectly contributed to it, True there is over 40,000 members, but only about 1 in 1000 is actually active, There are only a few new personalities that pop up every month: eg (sorry to single you guys out): Betalguese and **marisa** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malechai Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 :| ok.. you're popular and sway what the whole neowin membership does. is that what you want to hear? I still don't think so. I'm not trying to put you down or insult you. If you believe you have that much influence on people, so be it, but I don't believe you do. Everything you listed as something you've done are fads. All of them either don't exist anymore, dying, or so few people do it that I don't even notice it. I still maintain that Neowin's forums are where they are today because of the membership as a whole, not because of any one person. Sorry? /edit .. and btw, theres many new people a month. I'm not surprised that the 2 you list are the most obvious because of the rate at which they posted after they joined, they're hard to miss. But we're always having people introducing themselves. I see lots of new people posting and notice them whether they post 50 times a day or 1 time a day. They're out there. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keldyn Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 I think the forums are what you make of them. Get stuck in and have some fun. If you are worried about how much you post in the General Forums then here is some perspective. I have roughly 15000 posts. Around 25% of those are in general discussion. Do I care? Not at all. I may moderate these forums but I am here to have fun too. I enjoy being able to mingle with the member-base and for me, general discussion is a good place for me to unwind. I deal with computers all day. It's nice to be able to come home at night and chat about anything and everything. That, QR is the beauty of having a generalized side to neowin too. Neowin would not be anywhere near as fun, were it strictly a technical orientated site. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatnipOligarchy Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 the tech part of the forum is still as active as ever. The forums within the "General Stuff" heading are the first thing visitors see when they come to the forums, so they are more likely to visit in there. Then they may join the site with no intention of posting in the technology part of the site at all. Personally I dont spend all that much time in the tech forums, im much more active in general discussion and sports talk, but its the combination of both that makes me like neowin. i'm on computers all day at school and often a question will come up in my IT class that no one can answer (our teacher is an idiot) and this is the best place to come to get some help. everythings fine (Y). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Author Share Posted January 13, 2004 no need to be sorry spyder, I agree with both you and keldyn completely, Maybe you think that I'm trying to say that I have a lot more influence than what I do? I know that the world doesn't revolve around me, and *I* am sorry if I'm trying to sound that do I have a lot more influence that what I really do. I know how perfectly much of an influence I really am (about 1 in the 400 or so active members by my calculations) and I know it isn't a lot, but it pushes the float along. edit: I don't want the General Discussions to go away, they are a great place to unwind as CatnipOligarthy said. Always have. I just don't think that there is much of a focus on technology anymore except for the news that fronts Neowin and the BPN- Which is an extension of the tech news anyway dispite a lot of General News creeping in since the preferred method of news submittal is to use the form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malechai Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 no need to be sorry spyder, I agree with both you and keldyn completely, Maybe you think that I'm trying to say that I have a lot more influence than what I do? I know that the world doesn't revolve around me, and *I* am sorry if I'm trying to sound that do I have a lot more influence that what I really do. I know how perfectly much of an influence I really am (about 1 in the 400 or so active members by my calculations) and I know it isn't a lot, but it pushes the float along. hey mate how about a brewskie on me ;) :pint: :pint: :beer: :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Author Share Posted January 13, 2004 Agree 100%- Alchohol makes it all better ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted January 13, 2004 Author Share Posted January 13, 2004 Just a special thankyou to gameguy, BudMan, and xStainDx for being the most active members that are keeping the Technology forums going, I really appriciate what you guys do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aem4162 Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 i :heart: neowin the way it is. i can chat in general discussion and read about cameras and hardware, ask software questions, tell everyone who'll listen about how much i :wub: my s400...neowin would be dead boring if it hadn't evolved into what it is now i :heart: neowin :wub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 NEOWIN SUX!!! jk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanctified Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 if you fail to see the activity in other forums then maybe you are not as a "star" as you claim to say, now there seems to be "more" activity in other forums is because we have more active members that have a more wide range of ideas, this forum has become a place when you can share not only your technical experience, but your politics, artistic, religious and social ideas, and that, if you ask me, is priceless. Sorry to dissapoint you, but this forum has turned to be not only a great one, but one of the best in the entire net and thats because of that fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadishTM Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 ^ Well said [sD] (Y) Radish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 The forums within the "General Stuff" heading are the first thing visitors see when they come to the forums, so they are more likely to visit in there. this gave me an idea... could we move the support forums up closer to the top of the page? :dontgetit: after all, neowin is a great support site, and i'm sure a lot of the newer, less technically experienced members (did that sound right? :blink:) would enjoy having a few of their problems solved here :yes: or expandable DIVs for each section (general stuff, OS support, deisgning/programming, etc)... something. either way, i definitely think neowin has grown so big that it needs a new page design for the forums :yes: and a hardware news section :happy: btw, very well said SD (Y) blaise can keep his precious general discussion first :p but i think the support forum should get more attention (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 I agree with your saint, there are so many other bigger forum which clain to be tech, sport, etc related but NW is far the best of them in my opinion! :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boffa Jones Veteran Posted January 13, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 13, 2004 Neowin is an awesome forum, and i have maybe 25 posts in the forums under the general stuff. Although i finally have my own computer so i may migrate south.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 and a hardware news section :happy: uh huh. Need Hardware and Security News. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshalus Veteran Posted January 15, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 15, 2004 1 in 1000, that would make something like 40 active members. "342 user(s) active in the past 15 minutes" Humm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatnipOligarchy Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 this gave me an idea... could we move the support forums up closer to the top of the page? :dontgetit: really wouldnt make a difference to existing members, the only effect it might have is bringing new users attention to the tech side of the forum first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomwarren Veteran Posted January 15, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 15, 2004 I'm sure the technology side of the forums will be even more active once Longhorn B1 arrives just before summer :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 http://www.timdorr.com/spyder/html/emoticons/lolabove.gif Agree 100%- Alchohol makes it all better http://www.timdorr.com/spyder/html/emoticons/drunk.gif ;) I am drunk right now and I for one would like to let you know QR you are wrong. When I signed up for this tour of duty I said to myself, I will turn these tech forums in to a general/tech/media/political/Teaching people how to kiss forum. I have accomplished all of these goals. Anyways I an happy to see Neowin today, I remember when I signed up, its grown so much and is even more enjoyable today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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