Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

[Tinka]

For some time now the forums have been very quiet and there has been a noticable drop off of input from those who were posting and are members.
I did a bit of googling (other search engines are available) and searched for names well known to us, a very interesting and educational exercise.
can those who were once regulars let us know why the lack of input and interest? Is this normal for forums? other forums seem more lively at the moment.

[Ian]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

For some time now the forums have been very quiet and there has been a noticable drop off of input from those who were posting and are members.
I did a bit of googling (other search engines are available) and searched for names well known to us, a very interesting and educational exercise.
can those who were once regulars let us know why the lack of input and interest? Is this normal for forums? other forums seem more lively at the moment.

That's a good question.

For a couple of years now we have made registration a requirement and that does filter out interesting participants who won't register. You can post in existing threads without being registered, but it's a bit tedious as we need to protect ourselves from spammers.

But if you compare the forum today with what we had just over a year ago it's a huge transformation; back then there was no gallery, the forum was slow and lacking in features and relatively difficult to use.

It's getting people to take part that is the trick - DPNow has grown in activity overall over 40% per year over the last three years. So there are plenty of people coming to the site.

The stats do show an ebb and flow of activity and we are in a valley at the moment. The technical problems with the gallery upgrade haven't helped and it will be a week or two before we can sort out the remaining issues as my technical guru is on holiday until next week. We do need a larger core of regular, participating visitors.

I will continue to plug away - the Golden Gallery is now in place, more features are coming etc. Thanks for the concern and interest of course!

Ian

[Bearface]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

For some time now the forums have been very quiet and there has been a noticable drop off of input from those who were posting and are members.
I did a bit of googling (other search engines are available) and searched for names well known to us, a very interesting and educational exercise.
can those who were once regulars let us know why the lack of input and interest? Is this normal for forums? other forums seem more lively at the moment.

Personally I stopped enjoying DPNow, so I moved on. The catalyst for this was a series of exchanges I had with Ian in a forum thread in which we'd been debating DSLR technology and I just reached the conclusion that I preferred the more open, less conservative nature of other websites. However I should stress that it wasn't anything personal, it was just a personal decision.

Most of the regulars here are interesting, likeable people who I respect greatly, but the site doesn't really cater for pro or expert photographers and so beyond chatting about off-topic stuff, I don't participate any more. That said, I look in from time to time to view the photos and to check that people are behaving themselves...

Well, you did ask!

[Autumn]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

It has noticeably lost some of its main contributors since the advent of the Four Thirds forum imo. Of course, this could just be co-incidence.

The Four Thirds forum is buzzing but I don't feel I qualify.

This forum seems to be full of Formula 1 and other races or sports or links to news from Camera Manufacturers.

[Ian]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

The FTU forum is going well, there is no doubt about that, but the total traffic that visits DPNow is several times larger.

As a non-specialist site, DPNow is at a natural disadvantage to site like FTU which caters for a specialist and naturally more focussed and enthusiastic audience. In the last two weeks there has been some particular fervour because FTU has had some unique and valuable info for its specialist audience - near exclusive access to an important new camera in the eyes of FTU visitors.

I don't see that many DPNow people on the FTU forun and most that I do see continue to post on DPNow as well.

My colleague, Mark Goldstein, who runs Photographyblog, has more overall traffic to his site, but we have a fair bit more activity on our forum than his.

That's not an excuse. more an observation. There is no simple explanation.

Ian

[jojo]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

Despite getting 97% in my open university digital photography course I still lack confidence in offering my opinion (photography wise!) I often feel I would like to contribute but probably fear ridicule if I'm way off the mark or not seeing the obvious. I critique images to myself, hopefully objectively, but don't publish my views - not much good to man nor beast eh Many times I have wanted to express something, haven't done, then found that other members have said the same things that I was thinking My problem, I know; because having met several of the "core" members I know what a nice bunch of folks you are Will try harder when I get back from my jollidays!

jo

[Ian]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

Despite getting 97% in my open university digital photography course I still lack confidence in offering my opinion (photography wise!) I often feel I would like to contribute but probably fear ridicule if I'm way off the mark or not seeing the obvious. I critique images to myself, hopefully objectively, but don't publish my views - not much good to man nor beast eh Many times I have wanted to express something, haven't done, then found that other members have said the same things that I was thinking : My problem, I know; because having met several of the "core" members I know what a nice bunch of folks you are Will try harder when I get back from my jollidays!

jo

Julia's parents have just got back from a two week safari in Zambia and on Monday they're off on a fortnight in Egypt - I want to get old NOW!

Ian

PS Care to share with us where you're jollydaying, JoJo?

[peter]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

This forum seems to be full of Formula 1 and other races or sports or links to news from Camera Manufacturers.:

I will hold my hand up to the first bit of that quote. I do not take enough photos that I know as well. When I do go out most, if not all my stuff is motorsport, again I do not post a lot of it as it will just seem to be the same old stuff all the time,

I have been coming to this site for a good few years now and do so every day and all I can say is it just gets better as time has goes on. I have had so much help from people on this site over that time and one even helped me sort out my camera upgrade with tips on how to use it and such.

[jojo]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

Shock, horror - are you inferring I am old........ Good job there's some miles between us !!

There'll be no slathering of suntan lotion on this one. Off on a week's Med cruise - nothing fancy but visiting some nice (yuk, hate that word) locations around Italy and the French Riviera including Elba, Florence, Cannes, Nice, (there we go again!) and finishing up in Barcelona. Unfortunately "Donkey" has to carry the tripod yet again

jo

[Josh Bear]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

Hello,

I have about 4 forums in total that I visit, but i post on this one more than any of the others.

I have to say that I have learn't more about photography here than anywhere else. I find the place really welcoming and for those of you who are reading this and have never posted Come in it's great.

As regards posting pics there is no doubt I have posted less this year. High workload coupled with a lull in creativity conspired (along with a non photographic holiday at Disney), together to reduce my camera usage. That said i have tried to contribute more to the critique forum this year

Best regards

Josh

[DTD]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

I not a very prolific poster on any forum, but I've been posting more on FTU than dpNow mainly because of the launch of the new Olympus dSLR as Ian mentioned.

Also I've not been taking any new photos for a while.
I tend not to be that keen on commenting on peoples photos.
Personally I think there are too many sections in this forum, which i think spreads the regular visitors too thinly, but I know others would disagree with this. But I do think this is one of the friendliest photo forums I've come across.

[coupekid]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

It has noticeably lost some of its main contributors since the advent of the Four Thirds forum imo. Of course, this could just be co-incidence.

The Four Thirds forum is buzzing but I don't feel I qualify.

This forum seems to be full of Formula 1 and other races or sports or links to news from Camera Manufacturers.:

I certainly agree with some of what you say Audrey, especially the camera news. Something I have requested to Ian is a daily news update, rather than lots of individual stories.

I always use the 'new posts' button at the top, and as I dip in to DPNow at work, it can sometimes be a bit of a pain to see lots of news stories which, a lot of the time, dont really interest me. I would certainly like to read a summary of the news at the end of the day though.

However, that said, in my experience, this is one of the best and most freindly forums out there. I have dipped in to other forums, and got bored after a couple of months. I would also like to say that the Golden Gallery is an excellent idea and should certainly generate some interest, hopefully from the more experienced, as well as the aspiring!

Oh and what do you mean about the Formula 1 bit...... ahem....I am sure your getting confused with another forum.....

[Pops]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

It's not the busiest forum but I make a point of visiting at least once a day because I like the folks in here. I like the honesty and have learnt from it.

When all is said and dusted no forum can function without frequent parcipitation from it's members! Most forums have a hardcore of regular members and it's usually those that keep it alive.

[Autumn]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

Well if it's not Formula 1 (is the spelling wrong?) it's something to do with racing cars and bad and boring people who run them and someone called Bernie? or was that horses. My eyes glaze over. I am sure you can tell I am not a sports fanatic.

So whilst I could not care less whoever posts about sport, I originally came here for the photography and computer help. I have always received prompt and courteous replies to my many and varied questions and I also like to see other people's queries. However, now, like Coupekid I click on New posts and it's mostly sport or links to other camera and such manufacturers, which go into reams of text.

I agree that all forums have their peaks and troughs and as they trough, people like me after a while just don't bother looking everyday; and so I think it becomes (or may become) a downward spiral. However, when it is down, there is only one way to go and I don't have to tell you what that is.

Now you wont be seeing me around for the next three weeks, because like JoJo I am going on a cruise around the Hawaiian islands; so when I return, I hope to have been inspired to successfully take some pictures of craters (not sure how pretty they will be) but I am sure there will be some grass skirted maidens for the boys.

[paul.r.w]

Re: Quiet Forums and lack of interest.

If you're that bored, I'll get the holiday snaps out!