Site activity diminished?

[AndyT]

Here's a little suggestion from me. I've pretty much given up looking at the mega-threads now but agree that they did seem to fit a need, where people only wanted to post a brief picture or two. So how about a simple bit of renaming? At present, we have a sub-forum called

Projects workshop tours and past mistakes

described in these words

Share with us photos of your projects, give us a virtual tour around your workshop or even share your past mistakes.

I suggest we rename it

Projects

and describe it like this:

Show us what you have made or are making now. Anything goes - just a picture or two to inspire others, or a complete blow by blow account of how you did it, or anything in between.

If anyone still wants to discuss their workshop or mistakes, (and I've not seen much of either lately) that can go in General Woodworking. I'm assuming metalwork projects will probably go under General Metalworking, but could easily fit in here as well. I expect the turners and scrollers will carry on as they do now.

 

[John15]

Here's a little suggestion from me. I've pretty much given up looking at the mega-threads now but agree that they did seem to fit a need, where people only wanted to post a brief picture or two. So how about a simple bit of renaming? At present, we have a sub-forum called

Projects workshop tours and past mistakes

described in these words

Share with us photos of your projects, give us a virtual tour around your workshop or even share your past mistakes.

I suggest we rename it

Projects

and describe it like this:

Show us what you have made or are making now. Anything goes - just a picture or two to inspire others, or a complete blow by blow account of how you did it, or anything in between.

If anyone still wants to discuss their workshop or mistakes, (and I've not seen much of either lately) that can go in General Woodworking. I'm assuming metalwork projects will probably go under General Metalworking, but could easily fit in here as well. I expect the turners and scrollers will carry on as they do now.

Good suggestion Andy.

John

 

[Robbo3]

It would also help the search function if threads were titled accurately.

 

[DTR]

A few comments, if I may? I hope this doesn't come over as confrontational because that's not my intent.

I am the original poster of one of the "mega-threads". I agree with some of the criticisms expressed in this thread and others before it. Nonetheless, the very reason I started the thread was because of a lack of activity in the Projects section. Some of the posts here are suggesting that the mega-threads are directly responsible for a lack of WIP threads. I find that hard to swallow; the two are not mutually exclusive.

To date, 14 forum members have posted in this thread, including myself. It's fair to say that many (the majority?) of those posters are critical of the mega-threads. However, of those 14 posters, only three have made a thread in the Projects section this year. No doubt we all have our reasons for not posting WIPs, but I don't think it's fair to blame the mega-threads for that.

Edit: just to add, I also like Andy T's suggestion above.

 

[AndyT]

I don't deny that the mega threads have been successful - but they have perhaps grown too big now. If all those quick shot postings were in separate threads under Projects, with a proper thread title to help future searching, the effort of recording them would be bring more benefits to members in future.

Another thought - I suspect there is a bit of a seasonal pattern to the activity on here - those of us who are lucky enough to have indoor workshops don't need to clear the snow away before starting a session in the shed!

 

[Roland]

I help run a guitar forum. What we’ve seen are several type of threads:
1. For Sale threads.
2. Discussions about guitars, and playing.
3. “Mum’s net” type discussions (we’re mainly middle aged men).
4. Unrelated banter.
Our activity varies through the year. For example, there have been a lot of Sales threads in the aftermath of Christmas spending.

To some extent moderators can be directive about the content. Last year we expelled a couple of the outright banter merchants for unreasonable behaviour. The level of banter dropped, and the level of other discussions increased. Several people said they had been put off by the bantering clique, and we’re now returning.

What we’ve recently started are quarterly challenges. Not “who’s best”, but a challenge to do something that you’ve not done before. Experienced members will contribute advice when needed, and sometime learn things themselves.

Facebook can be easy to use. It has a massive membership, but it doesn’t have much depth of discussion. There’s a lot of “look at me”, but not so much about how to tackle a problem.

There are several things which can be done to increase activity. Encouraging “build” threads in addition to “what I did in the workshop”, which only shows the final image. Adopting an encouraging attitude to new members - I certainly didn’t feel encouraged by the “put down” responses to my early posts. Handing out fliers at exhibitions and events. There are also some technical things which improve Google search ratings, and bring more people to the site.

 

[DTR]

If all those quick shot postings were in separate threads under Projects, with a proper thread title to help future searching, the effort of recording them would be bring more benefits to members in future.

I am in total agreement with that, but a precedent needs to be set and encouraged. To that end I've just posted something which previously I didn't deem to be WIP-worthy. If more members (the mods, especially) could post some simple, even single-photo threads, it might get the ball rolling.

 

[David C]

I find the new look unpleasant and difficult to follow.

Come back the old design.

David Charlesworth

 

[CHJ]

If all those quick shot postings were in separate threads under Projects, with a proper thread title to help future searching, the effort of recording them would be bring more benefits to members in future.

I am in total agreement with that, but a precedent needs to be set and encouraged. To that end I've just posted something which previously I didn't deem to be WIP-worthy. If more members (the mods, especially) could post some simple, even single-photo threads, it might get the ball rolling.

Hopefully changes to section headings can be sorted that will allow more targeted content, personally I'm trying to see how we could easily transition without orphaning existing entries under old titles.

It's difficult to know what encourages folks to participate by posting either their own output, their comments on others output, their queries, interesting links and samples from elsewhere for discussion etc.
As of 09.15 this morning there had been 109 active log-ins and views of the forums today, including members who have not posted for many months and even years for a few but obviously still finding interest for whatever reason.

Think the post count for today at the time was 7.
The posts per day often get well into 3 figures but the viewing to input ratio is about the same throughout most days.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I agree with projects being in their own threads and would also urge people not to be reticent about showing what they think too simple or showing their cockups. We all make them - I have read that being professional is knowing the best way to recover from your mistakes. What is simple to one isn't necessarily so to another, and sometimes we learn more from learning what not to do that what best to. The point made above about accuracy in the title is a sound one, as well - no one will find your jewellery box in a search if you post it under "Mother in Law's Birthday Present".
(I always considered myself fortunate to have had two good teachers - one a teacher and one a chippie I worked with for many years, one taught me what best to do and one taught me what best not to - and they weren't the way around you'd presume, either.)

 

[ScaredyCat]

That's fine for all you seasoned woodworkers. Us n00bs like to slip our 'creations' under cover of bigger threads to avoid too much scrutiny :wink:

 

[MusicMan]

That's fine for all you seasoned woodworkers. Us n00bs like to slip our 'creations' under cover of bigger threads to avoid too much scrutiny :wink:

Maybe we should have a "noob only" project section? Anyone with too many posts barred!

 

[AndyT]

That sounds ok, but in practice, we have experienced woodworkers who are new members alongside new woodworkers who are also new members.
I expect we even have some people who post on here more than they do any woodwork - but all have something worthwhile to contribute.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

And also some of us are very experienced in some areas and total beginners in others.

 

[martin.a.ball]

first post, having only recently found this forum.

I always start browsing the projects section. Then I visit either the hand tools or buying advice section because I'm interested in building up a small number of essential tools. If time permits I have a look in general woodworking but by then I'll only pick out a few threads based on the title.

Compared with other online forums I visit this one appears quite vibrant. Certainly enough activity to make me want to visit every few days.

 

[pip1954]

I guess it must be me but I find it hard to use i never go in projects so I must miss a lot but I used read the new post most days but I find it hard to use the new layout struggle to find new posts only come on once in a while now find it hard to use

 

[dickm]

I find the new look unpleasant and difficult to follow.

Come back the old design.

David Charlesworth

Haven't been posting, or even reading much here since the new design. I like to read things as in a book, so find the loss of the old next/previous topic buttons worse than infuriating. In effect, it's like having a book where to turn the page (or at least to go to the next chapter) you are forced to go back to the index and find where the next chapter is. Why the h**l it's possible to keep the 'next page' button but not ' next topic' escapes me entirely. Have tried to take this up with the mods and in effect been told to lump it. So you'll be relieved to know my lack of posts (or interest) lookslikely to continue.