@hawkeye10,
I barely know where to begin.
So let's go in order, shall we?
1.
http://able2know.org/topic/292410-1#post-6025358
hawkeye10 wrote:
We lost a bunch soon after the new A2K went live, mostly they felt that the new platform was too complicated or they just did not like the feel. We lost a lot more because of the meanness, mostly from the liberals, as they worked tirelessly over years and often in mob action to drive away those who dont agree with them. Those who stay tend to be male, american and those who like to fight or argue. I am an american white guy who likes to argue.
Another thing which seems to be true is that those who dont spend a lot of time here tend to find the new A2K too much work, because when they log on they are flooded with many pages of threads and have to find what they want, were as before they would just check the forums that they were interested in. The self tabbing system never worked, both because of abuse tags and because many members like myself dont tag threads at all. The hamsters currently seem to be making a big effort to get good tags on threads, but it is a constant huge chore and that is only one of the problems here.
...
Actually, the site is far larger than it was, but the look and feel of the membership has changed, which is pretty typical for forum life cycles.
The tagging (not tabbing) system works just fine; it's better than forums because it allows for subtlety. Before, there was no good place to put a topic on, say, training a dog for show biz. Did it go under Pets? TV? Movies? Now, you just make your topic and tag it with all of those.
You can, of course, assist by tagging topics properly. Or you can keep bitching. Hey, your choice.
As for why people don't stay, the truth is, the vast, vast majority of A2K does not stick around. Yes, really, and that's the way that all open forums operate. See, the regulars are not the majority, not even close. It's the people who come for a quick Latin translation or are looking for their father or are worried about some weird skin rash or the like who make up the majority of A2K. They get their answers and they go.
That, by the way, is
exactly how the site is supposed to work.
Also, the site is not overrun by males; you just believe it is because of where you hang out. Head into some of the other parts and you will see plenty of people from all over the world - the ESL students are a rather large part of this site. You're just not seeing their topics, or are clearing them or are ignoring the more prolific among them. That does not mean that they do not exist.
2.
http://able2know.org/topic/292410-1#post-6025375
hawkeye10 wrote:
Quote:Though I must say... It was a lot more fun when people actually talked. Lol
the diversity of smart interesting people was always the strength. The regime here never understood that, even though I tried to tell them. Robert straight up saying that he did not give a damn about the community, and his being mean to people, was a driver of the exodus.
....
Let's not try to get into Robert's mind and decide what he understands, okay? And when did he say he didn't give a damn about the community? I'd really like to see that one and not some vague half-recollection.
3.
hawkeye10 wrote:
Quote:Robert... Who was that?
Owner, the one who kept saying " I dont give a damn what you want or think, I own this place and I will do what ever I damn well please with it". He has been mostly not posting for a couple of years, I think he took my advise to stop being so hostile and stop making so many changes around here. Some people are concerned that this means that he lost interest and might close A2K, especially since he claimed that he was mostly interested in making money with A2K, and all of those plans failed miserably.
...
Again, I would like to see where he said this.
BTW, A2K was never meant to be a moneymaker. Where the hell did you get that idea? Robert doesn't make money off A2K; he makes it off other properties he owns.
When you don't intend to make money off something and then you don't make money off it, it's not a failure.
As for him not coming around, the truth is, he's a busy guy, with a life! He's not staying away because of anything you ever said or did; kindly do not flatter yourself. He is out working and he is also - and I know you didn't ask this, but I'll tell you anyway - in a relationship with a lovely gal. He is frying other fish that have nothing to do with you. And what he does, BTW, is paying work which helps to keep A2K up and running. Because servers aren't free.
4.
hawkeye10 wrote:
onevoice wrote:
I am thinking I left shortly before you came... But it seems like I remember you... Or there is something familiar about you... Hum...
..... Robert was told to throw me out or else, and he went with the or else.
If he was 'told' this, it was not by anyone with a stake in the running of this forum.
People complain on forums all the time. That is one of the natures of forums, that there will always be someone complaining, no matter what happens.
5.
hawkeye10 wrote:
ossobuco wrote:
Hawkeye posted something anti Robert and then I called him an ass, considering explicating on the reasons but leaving it as is. We both deleted, which explains onevoice's post.
Please, speaking truth is not anti Robert. I am confident that he would own the truth if he were to post. He did not get to where he is by turning a blind eye to his mistakes and truth does matter to him I think. We tend to not agree, but I dont have a problem with that..... I have a problem with stupid people, and liars, and those who hurt people for no good reason. ...
Except it's not 'truth', it's half-recalled wishful thinking/opinion.
Don't call it what it isn't.
6.
http://able2know.org/topic/292410-2#post-6025531
hawkeye10 wrote:
Um, Excuse me, exactly what are you implying here?
That is mostly crap, it assumes no mini revolutions, which is what usually happens if the owners are wise enough to let it happen. That life cycle is the usually program under bad management.
There is plenty of research on online communities. It's a field of study; I am getting my MA in it. And forums go through fairly well-known life cycles. Accept it or reject it but that doesn't change the actual, you know, research that has gone into this.
A2K is far from the only forum online. Hell, it's not even a terribly large one in the grand scheme of things.
As for 'mini revolutions', I wish I knew WTF you were talking about.
People leave, change, grow, return, join, die, etc. all the time. Those aren't revolutions, mini or otherwise; they are the natural rhythms of existence.
Do people disagree with management? Sure they do. Does management listen? Yes, we do. That's not a revolution. That's us doing our jobs.
*sigh*
I do think about other stuff believe it or not! Lol
