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Patrick
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
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harishankar
Joined: 10 Sep 2005
Posts: 218
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 Posted: 1/29/2010, 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Thing is forums have huge competition in the form of online social networks and blogs and stuff like Twitter/Facebook these days and people are less and less worried about participating in forums since they can easily start their own blogs or Facebook communities.
So as admins, we have a tough task to enforce our community rules and at the same time ensure that we don't lose existing members.
I've learned the hard way that not many people are bothered any more about participating in online forums since the other alternatives have really caught on.
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Bob Hubbard
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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Location: WNY
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Patrick
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
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harishankar
Joined: 10 Sep 2005
Posts: 218
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| Posted: 1/31/2010, 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Patrick wrote: |
That's an interesting point, harishankar. Some people do prefer forums. The trick is to find those people. 
Patrick |
I understand that. I think the trick is not to be seen as heavy handed or too possessive. A lot of people get turned off by that.
I've participated in a lot of forums since 2002/3 and I've really seen a general decline in participation across the board. It's visible even in the bigger communities (those with >100,000 registered members).
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Patrick
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
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| Posted: 2/2/2010, 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hey harishankar,
I don't necessarily agree with that. There are people who would tell you I'm heavy handed. Those people would generally be people who have had some sort of moderator action taken regarding something they've done. There's nothing wrong with having a vision and pursuing it with vigor.
Personally, I don't get caught up in numbers. I'm a marathon runner, not a sprinter (I got that from Sean "Diddy" Combs ). I have the luxury of not having a boss or someone I need to prove community to with numbers. Growth is nice, of course.
Thanks,
Patrick
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harishankar
Joined: 10 Sep 2005
Posts: 218
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| Posted: 3/6/2010, 6:13 am Post subject: |
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I agree with your sentiments. I think the key is to avoid extremes. I am generally laid-back and prefer to let the community run itself. I am not a fan of too much control, but when the situations demand it, we admins should be ready to step it up.
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Patrick
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Fergal Crawley
Joined: 17 Jul 2009
Posts: 34
Location: Co Louth, Ireland
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| Posted: 3/9/2010, 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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| harishankar wrote: |
| ...I've learned the hard way that not many people are bothered any more about participating in online forums since the other alternatives have really caught on. |
That's a topic that has caused me some concern for quite some time. Are you by any chance aware of any good research or reports completed on this?
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Fergal Crawley
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Ryan
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Joined: 10 Sep 2005
Posts: 1172
Location: New York, United States
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| Posted: 3/9/2010, 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm glad you addressed this in your blog Patrick. As it was stated, freedom of speech is a highly misunderstood concept in it's full extent. Not to say I have all the answers, but even people who have a good idea of the Amendment don't know everything about it!
In the sense that of which most people think of the idea of "Freedom of Speech", I personally think it's better off Administrators don't even use the term unless they're explaining exactly what we're discussing.
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