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Creating a better, closer knit, community

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Creating a better, closer knit, community

Suggestions?

from WinCustomize Forums

One thing that I think would be good for our community would be to encourage people to interact more together.

Right now, roughly 3,000 people visit this site more than 20 times a day.  I would say that's the hub of our "hard-core" community.

I'm not looking to increase that #.  What I want to do is find ways to encourage more of those 3,000 to interact on the site.  To make comments on skins, forum posts, articles, and news items and interact on things like the map community we set up. 

What do you think can be done to encourage that?

24,502 views 99 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you really believe that is insignificant ?

fairyy ....it's insignificant when considered within a site of this magnitude...and the numbers of works/screenies submitted daily.....it is, however 'significant' when considered on an individual basis...the fact an admin and a site contributor spent so much of each other's time on just one thing...but the result was/is that another member's wall image was not compromised.

A site moderator's role is primarily to nurture general goodwill and quell the odd flame of insurrection, and whilst doing, also protect the skinners'/artists' property rights....and treat everyone equally/fairly. Usually that results in the odd nose or two being put out of joint...but ultimately things work themselves out.


Im not sure you understood my meaning...I meant that it is significant

I dont think a lot of people quite understood what you were trying to show them. But...I did understand. Not everyone has had the priviledge of a more indept explanation about this issue as I had from you.
There was also an incident that you were needed to help clear up an issue. So you see...its all significant.
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Canmandeco:
I am glad someone else found that disturbing. Unfortunately that was my first impression. Since then I have seen some really good things being said and done. I will start commenting going forward. And I will make sure I have been using the skin and that it is a comment worth reading and not just one word.



One word comments are still ok " Thankyou " still works without much fanfare. As for that bad first impression...people cant always agree all the time..what fun would that be? But I can understand a new person being hesitant to say much. Its not really like that most the time..I always say whats on my mind.

Now..getting back to the Subject matter.

I think the way the Forum is set up might be a bit confusing for some..I tend to click on " recent forum activity " but if you forget to mark the thread to " watch " it can be difficult to find your way back. That could discourage people from interacting. I think maybe a section for just chit chat type topics might be a way.

In other words..a section that is meant strickly for fun as opposed to mixing or " hijacking " threads..

Madam Goodmorphing suggested a person have their own thread. Thats a good idea if some threads dont become burried. Maybe a main thread for Community members and then each member has a sub-thread off the main thread. Then its easier to find them..I'm thinking about the Guest books we all have..hardly anyone uses them. I think that if the Personal site links were more visible it might help. New people probably dont even know to click on a user ID to get that info.
Plus at this time...a lot of the " my skins " pages are coming up empty on many Ive tried to view. Some have been that way for months now. Just this AM I tried to view someones " Skins " to look for a blind I saw in a Screen Shot and it says " no skins listed at this time " and there should be...
Star Control: Origins
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm thinking about the Guest books we all have..hardly anyone uses them. I think that if the Personal site links were more visible it might help.


Ditto,i once suggested in a long boring thread that the Guest Books should be a part of the Personal Site front page.
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Right now, only 3 live threads are visible in the General section-- all others are sticky. Threads are likely to pass through unnoticed under current arrangement...
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just MHO, but I have a concern about adding more points-oriented features to the site. Points & ratings are major sources of grousing & negativity in the Comments & the Forums-- very off-putting for those who are checking us out...
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just MHO, but I have a concern about adding more points-oriented features to the site. Points & ratings are major sources of grousing & negativity in the Comments & the Forums-- very off-putting for those who are checking us out


My thoughts exactly.
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In general, I think it would help to review & address issues that repeatedly lead to complaints, negativity & thread hijacks-- Screen Shots, for example. What can be done differently to address the issues that appear most often?

Discussion, argument, contention & even negativity are important in building a community. But when certain issues come up over & over and when those issues consistently reflect badly on WC, it's time to look at new approaches.
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have to agree that the Instant Messaging system would be a great addition to this site. 

I would also like the ability to choose which e-mail to make "public", instead of just the one that I registered with.

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just MHO, but I have a concern about adding more points-oriented features to the site. Points & ratings are major sources of grousing & negativity in the Comments & the Forums-- very off-putting for those who are checking us out..


I feel the similarly and have often thought that doing away with ratings and points systems could/would prevent many unpleasant issues ever arising, with nothing to compete for, or get disappointed about. By all means, we should retain the skin comments to interact with the skinners and show our appreciation, etc, but the ratings system seems to have been a regular bone of contention, for one reason or another.

As for the people checking us out, and not scaring them off, how about a 'bitch tank' for subscribers only, where gripe threads can be allocated and not open to casual visitor. Heck, it'd be great....a bit of excitement for when my blood pressure drops a bit too low.

It's less than a perfect world, so there'll always be problems cropping up, the extroverts who speak their mind only too freely, and the introverts who are intimidated by the relatve anonimity of the internet (Wincustomize), and therefore too timid to speak up, for fear of possible criticism, ridicule and even rejection. Whilst many do feel comfortable here, many do not, and these are the people the community needs to encourage and embrace....as in not being like the clicky small towns folk who won't greet anyone they don't recognise as being local.....as in how many of us are guilty of not responding to someone because we don't recognise their nick/name?

It's all well and good to implement new and better features, but in the end, it comes down to how well we use them, because community is still about people and how we interact with them.
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Plus at this time...a lot of the " my skins " pages are coming up empty on many Ive tried to view. Some have been that way for months now. Just this AM I tried to view someones " Skins " to look for a blind I saw in a Screen Shot and it says " no skins listed at this time " and there should be...


Yep, needs fixed.

PM and 'Who's online' .. or at least last 20 or so (pick a convenient #) are good ideas. No need to reinvent the wheel ... just look at what most sites do. If a large majority have a particular feature and have had it for quite a while, it probably works or is desired by the users.

As far as community; community is not one site (straight from the chameleon's mouth). Get out more, visit, make friends, expand your horizons. You'll be surprised at how many people from WC you run across at other sites.
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Make the Forum Tab button on the upper part of the page red and flashing abit



I think making it a different color would definitely be a good thing to draw attention to it, but personally I find flashing objects too often like ads on a site -- they get my attention all right, but after a little while they tend to get annoying, at least to me.
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am an Object Desktop and Wincustomise subscriber. Have been for quite awhile. I am not one of those who visit 20 plus times a day as I do not have the time. I do visit several times a day to peruse the forums, read the news, check to see what new skins there are, and on occasion, when I have a problem, post to one of the forums. I never make comments concerning skins, either pro or con, as I feel that in either case it is my own personal tastes and bias that would be reflected. I download those I like, and skip the ones I do not. I feel that this is a comment in and of itself. I would like to see some changes made and agree with some of the comments previously proferred, such as, sending an email to newbies with information on the site, and a better search engine. I would also suggest a new forum category in which people can post suggestions or requests to, such as a specific theme or skin. I see so many request/suggestions through out the forums that are posted and go
unanswered. Maybe, with a specific spot to post to, there would be a better chance of someone posting an answer. Finally, and this applies only to myself, but maybe others, I do feel somewhat intimidated in replying to someone elses posts as it does seem, true or not, that it is a bit "clicky" here as Citizen starkers stated. I hope no one takes offense to that. One thing that keeps me coming back to the forums is the good advice on solving problems and I love the fact that Stardock has one of its own, Milksama, who constantly reads and replies to what is posted. I can not think of another forum site for programs that I have bought that does that!

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would also suggest a new forum category in which people can post suggestions or requests to, such as a specific theme or skin. I see so many request/suggestions through out the forums that are posted and go
unanswered.


I think General Forum is just fine on this. Over the years i've seen many requests and suggestions being answered...
Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do feel somewhat intimidated in replying to someone elses posts as it does seem, true or not, that it is a bit "clicky"


I didn't take offense.......

I had the same feeling for a long time. Back when the site had no subscription, I lurked through the boards for quite a while trying to see if or where I was comfortable posting. The hard part was seeing that so many seemed to have so much history together that I felt like a real outsider. What I found out after only a few tries was that with a few exceptions everyone here was helpful and open to my opinions.

What will happen (over time) is you'll see names of people who your comfortable posting after or replying to and the more you interact at that level the more people will be added to your "list" unitl the comfort level is so that you don't mind responding to people you don't "know". I've noticed some people prefer posting skin comments while others (like myself) feel comfortable on the forums, and still others do the IRC thing. To put it in nautical terms whatever floats your boat.

Having said all that...what does sometimes happen is attacks on the community/skinning/products can result in torches being lit amongst those that frequent here.
Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The hard part was seeing that so many seemed to have so much history together that I felt like a real outsider.

I can still remember that....back on skinz.org, before Wincusto was started....and the 'so much history' was probably little more than a few months, whereas now there's 'history' that can go back 6 or 7 years...so the feeling of being an 'outsider' may now be even more profound.

That's something that each and every one of the 'old-timers' needs to be consciously aware of...and to make a point of welcoming the new 'names'...

Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It was about a year before I started using the forums. There was definately a group feeling and I didn't want to be an intruder. After awhile I started to feel like I knew what was going on and could add to a conversation. I am sure there are many newbies that feel the same way.

What happens is...they want to get involved so they start threads to be involved. Then people sort of flame them for rehashing an old topic. Flaming is a strong word but it sort of fits. Someone always comments about how the topic was discussed previously. Well sorry to say that, that person wasn't around for that thread. If they revive an old thread then they get flamed for reviving it.
It is kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Only Administrators and Moderators should be policing the forums. Otherwise it is anarchy and that is the 100% opposite of community.
Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We used to have a closer knit community years ago. From looking at this thread, and not counting some of the Wizops, I only see one old timer commenting on this thread. Its mostly the newer members that comment and of those, they usually are bitching most of the time. I for one am tired of commenting on those threads that do nothing but bitch, and I generally don't even open threads that are started by those that do most of the pointless bitching. Why bother, nothing is going to help them see the light.


I've said this a couple years ago......Post like you was talking to your parents..........and if thats not good enough.......Post like you were talking face to face with someone that was 100 pds heavier than you.......

If you can't understand that, Oh well.

Be nice, have fun.
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Technology developes, and so does the bitches.

I will just be nice, I hope.
Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I for one am tired of commenting on those threads that do nothing but bitch, and I generally don't even open threads that are started by those that do most of the pointless bitching. Why bother, nothing is going to help them see the light.


very well said!!!!!
Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why bother, nothing is going to help them see the light


Some of them may just need a comment or two in order to understand the way things are done. Most dissension comes from misunderstandings
Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#70
It's true in alot of cases. People tend to get defensive if they feel criticized (whether true or not)-- especially if several peeps pile on.

Often a kind word and some understanding can turn things around. Some can't be reached, but many can...
Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's true in alot of cases. People tend to get defensive if they feel criticized


Sad,but true. Automatic defence flame-thrower is the usual favourite weapon against all in attach!
Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Post like you were talking face to face with someone that was 100 pds heavier than you.......


...and a Master at Jeet Kun Do...



...they want to get involved so they start threads to be involved. Then people sort of flame them for rehashing an old thread



Isn't there a way to move these threads to where the old thread was? I have posted in REALLY old threads, just to see if anyone is reading...

On WOM's comments: I see where you come from. I was going through DX themes earlier today and ran across comments posted that were rather derogatory. "This is sh!t" was one of them. How is it that this comment remains after 2 or three years? Shouldn't it be removed, and an edit note placed in its stead by an admin? If people know that they can and will be censored for inappropriate commenting, might that not make peeps think twice of what they say?

I have posted comments to WB skins in which the skin was well build, I thought, but some other aspect was not to my liking (such as a bright orange theme color which hurts my eyes.)

I like the idea of mods checking out comments, but still seems like a lot of work.
Reply #74 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can't say for a lot of others but for myself, I only post when I think I have something worthwhile to contribute. That means not too often. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy the community nor do I feel I'm not part of it.

As others have stated, points for comments can easily lead to posting drivel just to get the count up. I'd rather not see that.
Reply #75 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I post a comment because I think that if I download a skin, I try it, the author deserves my input whether or not it is positive or negative.