Is it my imagination...

[Tyrannus Libris]

I am new to the boards here but I have been been a lurker for quite some time. After sitting by and watching I finally decided to post some and try to get more active in the hobby. However is it my imagination or has the number of posts kinda slowed up? I have noticed the number of votes per submission has dropped quite abit. So whats the story?

 

[PegaZus]

It is a mystery. And I have noticed a slowdown on the forums as well, but that's been something for over a year now. I imagine that some of it could just be the economy. Not enough people doing the whole hobby thing, and they're instead trying to keep their nose to the grindstones and stay employed. Some of the regulars switched over to the WAMP website, so that was a traffic loss as well.

 

[Einion]

It's not just CMON, I've noticed a slackening off of posting (from regulars) in about five or six of the forums I visit frequently. I've been thinking it's part of a natural cycle where people get a bit jaded and they lose interest and their posting falls off or stops, which has always happened, but without a new crop of members taking their place which used to refresh the ranks.

Einion

 

[kittykat23uk]

Yes it's much quieter on here than it was when I first joined. It's a shame, but I also drifted away for a few years before returning to painting SO I can't really complain.

 

[RuneBrush]

It's not just CMON, I've noticed a slackening off of posting (from regulars) in about five or six of the forums I visit frequently. I've been thinking it's part of a natural cycle where people get a bit jaded and they lose interest and their posting falls off or stops, which has always happened, but without a new crop of members taking their place which used to refresh the ranks.

Einion

I've noticed the same. It's likely a combination of things - economy probably being the biggest overall contributor to this hobby. I know that recently I've been insanely busy, both at work and at home and sadly have been lacking the enthusiasm to do much when I get home in the evening. Slowly building some more keen though.

 

[hajmoid]

I think it's got a bit to do with negativity on the forums, it's not always like this but nothing gets you jaded like a negative thread on the forums. Nothing get's you gee'd up than actually sitting down and doing some hobby. Unfortunately posting in forums, reading everyones responses, getting worked up/mad is a 100% hobby killer. Then one floats from thread to thread venting on the same topic always whining about the same stuff, doing no hobby at all, eventually moves on to other things in life...maybe comes back one day...maybe doesnt. I wish there were more positive threads

 

[Bloodhowl]

There are a lot of members attending university and I think it may be due to school schedules. There was a huge push on the forums over Christmas and New Years, then the traffic dropped off, it picked up again over Spring Break, and now as Final Projects and exams approach, the traffic has dropped off again.

Also, several of the non-university members have become parents over the same holiday season, and with wee ones in the house, don't have the time for the hobby like they used too.

Then add in the gamers and the release of skyrim and SWTOR. Hell, Diablo III is due out soon, we may never see these members again...

 

[Tommie Soule]

Promote the hobby in all it's forms and sources!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praise publicly,loudly,extensively and criticize privately(stop moaning).
But promote!!!!!!

 

[me_in_japan]

Promote the hobby in all it's forms and sources!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praise publicly,loudly,extensively and criticize privately(stop moaning).
But promote!!!!!!

y'know, I should really take these words on board. I moan too much. Mr. Soule, you're absolutely correct, and I henceforth resolve to be more upbeat about stuff. (just in case my intonation is lost over t'internet, I'm not being sarcastic here. I really mean it.)

We all enjoy painting, and strive to get better.
We all spend money on our hobby and hope to get the best out of it.
We all have different aspects of the hobby that we like and dislike, and that's good.

Hooray for little plastic/metal/resin men (and ladies, and creatures of indeterminate gender)

 

[cassar]

just the natural ebb n flow although some of the pranksters are noticable from their absence, TBS the forums need you quick to the bat signal! then thers trys, chrome, empchild, jesterz, chadders too.....god i feel so abandoned !

 

[Chrome]

I'm wholeheartedly blaming Facebook! That's the only place I've seen where the participation level is increasing exponentially. It's way too easy to participate without any kind of effort there, you just click a button and you've done something, you don't even have to type! And yes, I'm heavily addicted... And that's where I see both Jesterz and TBS nowadays as well, they're -almost- as active there as I am. XD

 

[Tommie Soule]

I'm wholeheartedly blaming Facebook! That's the only place I've seen where the participation level is increasing exponentially. It's way too easy to participate without any kind of effort there, you just click a button and you've done something, you don't even have to type! And yes, I'm heavily addicted... And that's where I see both Jesterz and TBS nowadays as well, they're -almost- as active there as I am. XD

But hardly ever in a hobby capacity

 

[Avelorn]

I think it's got a bit to do with negativity on the forums, it's not always like this but nothing gets you jaded like a negative thread on the forums. Nothing get's you gee'd up than actually sitting down and doing some hobby. Unfortunately posting in forums, reading everyones responses, getting worked up/mad is a 100% hobby killer. Then one floats from thread to thread venting on the same topic always whining about the same stuff, doing no hobby at all, eventually moves on to other things in life...maybe comes back one day...maybe doesnt. I wish there were more positive threads

I don't agree. The most vivid times of these forums had some of the most venomous threads. We discussed and argued over everything from politics, brushlicking to religion.

 

[Bloodhowl]

I don't agree. The most vivid times of these forums had some of the most venomous threads. We discussed and argued over everything from politics, brushlicking to religion.

Aren't those topics in a sticky somewhere of what NOT to discuss? :sinister:

 

[ischa]

i hope not:O that would be ridiculous on a general discussion-forum!

 

[Bloodhowl]

i hope not:O that would be ridiculous on a general discussion-forum!

Oh! Right! Silly me, I thought I was in Painting and Conversions! :rotfl:

 

[freakinacage]

I don't agree. The most vivid times of these forums had some of the most venomous threads. We discussed and argued over everything from politics, brushlicking to religion.

Those were the days. That's why Frothers never slows down, always arguments over there

 

[Einion]

I think it's got a bit to do with negativity on the forums, it's not always like this but nothing gets you jaded like a negative thread on the forums.

That might be true for some people. But overall I think it does matter how much negativity there is, what it's aimed at and how it's expressed.

Often contentious subjects will see people come out of the woodwork who haven't posted in years (literally in some cases!) to say their two bits. And if you check the view count it can get ridiculously high in no time at all; you could only wish for that kind of level of interest in practical threads that add value to the site.

It's way too easy to participate without any kind of effort [on Facebook], you just click a button and you've done something, you don't even have to type!

Erm, isn't that true of CMON?

I'm wholeheartedly blaming Facebook! That's the only place I've seen where the participation level is increasing exponentially.

Actually I was going to include that in a way, in terms of the younger potential members compared to their versions only about a decade back they're used to a more dynamic instant-update kind of web life, versus this kind of thing.

I'm actually beginning to think that the whole forum thing might be past its heyday.

Einion

 

[AndyG]

I'm actually beginning to think that the whole forum thing might be past its heyday.

Einion

I most sincerely hope not! I have benefited immensely from this forum i have improved my painting level and have gone from an occasional painter to being utterly hooked, at it every spare minute! That I can lay firmly at CMON's feet I am very grateful for the sheer geeky über nerd joy it gives me. Like minded people sharing tips and suggestions long may CMON live! Determined to post more and vote more and if need be pay more.

 

[10 ball]

I most sincerely hope not! I have benefited immensely from this forum i have improved my painting level and have gone from an occasional painter to being utterly hooked, at it every spare minute! That I can lay firmly at CMON's feet I am very grateful for the sheer geeky über nerd joy it gives me. Like minded people sharing tips and suggestions long may CMON live! Determined to post more and vote more and if need be pay more.

Hear hear!