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Decline of the forum
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Message
Posted
I think that the forum is in the worst state that i have known since i joined two years ago. I dont know what the trouble is but there are a few contributers missing from the times past. We all know that, like art magazines, the same things come up time and time again but there are always people taking up painting , drawing etc. for the first time and they are thirsting for the knowledge we can freely give them in ways they understand. Some need the basics, others who are more advanced need advice on problems in technique or paint application etc. etc.. I try to do my bit to keep things going along with a few others (you know who they are) but we need some threads that attract comment and not yawns (like now?). If five percent or less of the artsts who post on the gallery posted here on the forum the decline would be reversed but the forum certainly needs help...amen ...Syd
Posted
It's not just here, Syd; Forum use on other sites has declined with Facebook's ascent to world domination, and it's possible to get the answers to a lot of questions on Youtube within minutes rather than waiting for someone who knows to log on to a Forum page.
The witty banter of a Forum page isn't enough on its own any more - we need to offer something unique.
Posted
I don't know what the answer is Syd, but I wish we could give it a lift, as I for one do enjoy participating from time to time, subject permitting of course and not reams of technical stuff which we had recently. There must be someone out there that has some ideas...if so, let's have them and we can perhaps give it a try.
Fairly recently Dawn set up a WIP page which we asked for, I believe that it was Robert who put the wheels in motion, that aside, I did start to participate but gave up after getting half way through the project, we all know why I gave up, or do I need to spell it out, OKAY I will, total lack of interest, disheartening to say the least, but a fact...
Posted
It hasn't declined, it's always fluctuated.
Give it space and time and it'll come round again; nothing is more likely to drive people away than bemoaning the state of it - or assuming it must fit into a mould it was never intended to fit. Most contributors on the Gallery don't post on the forum: it's not because it's hard to find, or because it's too aggressive (even though some have found it so in the past), or for any other specific reason - it's just that people's needs vary over time, there are other sources of answers to their problems, and maybe some of them just haven't got any problems they want to share.
It's a resource - doesn't mean that it'll be used at the same intensity every week of the year. I really wouldn't worry about it, to be honest.
Quite apart from anything else, there's enough complete cobblers available on YouTube that people are likely to come here from there in due course to get some of the twaddle straightened out: I think of YouTube (for all its strengths) as an erratic barber - people go there, have a ghastly experience and notice there are chunks missing from their barnet, then in desperation come here in search of help (and all we can recommend is painting over their bald spot, but you get the idea).
We just have to stand patiently by, willing to serve but not pressing our attentions on people - another comparison would be to tailors: you see people coming out of certain clothes outlets in garments that scream Taste-Free Zone; sooner or later, they will come to us, with our subtle swatches of tweed with the discreet stripe, eg if they wish to be considered for a job, not a part in a freak show. We do not judge, as we take their old threads between finger and thumb and drop them into the incinerator: we are discretion and courtesy itself. But we know we perform a much-needed service yet cannot always expect to be loved for it.
And unlike Savile Row, we don't charge for the service - now there's an idea; do people value what they don't pay for? It's a thought - how about a fiver for us every time we answer a technical question? I'm not sure it would ensure the long term viability of the forum, but it would buy a few tubes of paint while it lasted......
Posted
A bit of light heated banter from time to time does no harm and helps to balance some of the more serious 'thou shalt' comments. I have to admit the laxative discussion (and I was one who contributed) did go on a bit too far and passed beyond the fine line of acceptability - the trouble is everyone's fine line occupies a different position.
Posted
Having a quick scan through older postings, I notice that several posters ask for info or make comments then sort of vanish into the ether .Not sure why they pose a question in the first place. Its sad when other people take the time and trouble to give an answer and the original poster never reappears.
I also hadnt realised how many people just have a read and don't join in. Perhaps as I said earlier we are a bit of a clique or seem to be,like our own little club. The blog page seems to suffer in a similar fashion I haven't posted there for a while , I always seem to be talking to myself ( I hear the sniggers)
Maybe people really are just shy , or put off as davide19 says by apparent attitude .
Posted
I think most of us do post here including David G4. Im not sure which paintings yours are Carol or yours davide19...oh all these numbers grrrrr I hate them.
In fact as a new comer to the whole art scene David G4 is joining in on my new Collaborator and Rogue sketch book group. I think that is brilliant.
Just for anyone who hasn't seen my postings I had asked for people who wanted to join in t contact me and from P O L there are three of us . Amanda Bates who's idea it was originally is also a contributor. We each have a book and a theme , we have a month and then pass the book along and the next artist continues the theme and onward it goes. We are 14 this year so its going to take over a year, so morepower to Davids elbow and paint brush.
I tend to think that given a week or so, we will all be reading informed and erudite postings.
Hopefully more of the droppper inners, will decide to post a line or two.
Posted
Post and be damned David - but only if you feel comfortable with doing so. I don't often quote Bob Ross, but as he said "no pressure!".
(If you haven't heard of Bob R, you're probably a stranger to YouTube.)
For those still worrying about the forum, go to the home page, and look at the Activity panel down near the bottom of your screen. Just now there were 76 members and non-members looking in; sometimes there are fewer, often there are twice as many. Only a minority contributes, but is that a problem?
I'm still removing intrusive quantities of spam two or three times a week, by the way - as is Dawn and probably at least one other: some is randomly generated, but much is presented to us by individuals who become members of the site in order to post their advertising: they only bother with doing that on sites that people actually visit - I'd never thought about the compensating factor there before, but let us take what consolation we can get.
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