Escape Artists

PseudoPod => About Pseudopod => Topic started by: lowky on March 23, 2007, 03:18:41 PM

Title: Less active
Post by: lowky on March 23, 2007, 03:18:41 PM
I have noticed that the forums for pseudopod seem alot less active than escape pod.  I am not sure if that's because there are more listeners for escape pod, or because there is not a link to the forums from pseudopod, so not all the listeners know there are forums.  I personally enjoy both horror and sci-fi, and would like to see more discussions similar to things brought up in the escape pod/Sci-Fi threads.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: DKT on March 23, 2007, 09:54:12 PM
Ditto everything you just said.

Hmmm.  I'm not very good for discussion, am I? ;)
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Mur Lafferty on March 27, 2007, 04:29:55 PM
Only Steve has the power to put a link to these forums on PPod site...  :-\
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Russell Nash on March 27, 2007, 05:46:26 PM
Only Steve has the power to put a link to these forums on PPod site...  :-\

Maybe the power that be Steve will do it if we make a sacrifice to him.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: lowky on March 27, 2007, 06:59:44 PM
Only Steve has the power to put a link to these forums on PPod site...  :-\

I was just mentioning it here. as I don't know if it's the lack of a link, or just more sci-fi fans than horror.
Also wasn't sure if it was Steve, or someone else, since it's edited by Mur and Ben Phillips, wasn't sure who their webmaster was.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: SFEley on March 27, 2007, 11:16:39 PM
Also wasn't sure if it was Steve, or someone else, since it's edited by Mur and Ben Phillips, wasn't sure who their webmaster was.

Nope, it's me, I'm the slacker.

The link is there now.  Thanks, everyone, for the feedback.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: lowky on March 28, 2007, 08:58:47 AM
Thanks Steve
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: lowky on March 28, 2007, 09:40:09 AM
Also wasn't sure if it was Steve, or someone else, since it's edited by Mur and Ben Phillips, wasn't sure who their webmaster was.

Nope, it's me, I'm the slacker.

The link is there now.  Thanks, everyone, for the feedback.

The link is not working and I noticed the format is different.  For Escape pod it's http://forum.escapeartists.info/ for pseudopod it's http://www.escapeartists.info/forum Here is the error message:
Not Found

The requested URL /forum was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Jim on March 28, 2007, 12:26:52 PM
People aren't posting on the Pseudopod forum because they're all hiding under their blankets.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: SFEley on March 28, 2007, 01:32:11 PM
The link is not working and I noticed the format is different.  For Escape pod it's http://forum.escapeartists.info/ for pseudopod it's http://www.escapeartists.info/forum Here is the error message:

Argh, thanks.  That's what I get for assuming I know my own stuff without testing it.  >8->
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Thaurismunths on March 28, 2007, 02:04:33 PM
People aren't posting on the Pseudopod forum because they're all hiding under their blankets.
Little Boy Legbone Vs. Regis St. George. : )
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Alasdair5000 on March 28, 2007, 02:12:56 PM
My money's on Regis.  He's scrappy ;)
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: DKT on September 27, 2007, 09:25:24 PM
I don't know if this is really considered a problem anymore, because I feel like there's been a good amount of traffic lately in this forum, but I wonder if part of the lack of activity has to do with feedback in the podcast.  On Escape Pod,  I think the feedback on previous episodes Steve puts in the outros helps build the community (I also think the EP Flash Fiction contest helped build community, too).  I always enjoy listening to what Steve says about the comments on past episodes.

I don't think it's personality.  I've really dug Alasdair's intros and outros and Ben's a funny yet mysteriou, sick bastard.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: goatkeeper on October 04, 2007, 06:14:02 AM
I listen to PP before EP on my ipod, I comment on these forums more frequently- I'm generally more engaged in PP all together than EP.

I'm not sure why.  I know part of it has to do with the fact that I'm a sicko, part of it has to do with the fact that I do the flash fiction podcast Drabblecast so am more inclined to shorter stories.

I'm with DKT - I don't think it's personality either- Mur/Ben/Alasdair are all great-so is Steve.

The "hardcore" horror market with a warning for distubring content will just always be less active than the general scifi/fantasy podcast.  PP has a wonderfully diverse range of stories though- it's too bad it has to get shutout as the "Be warned- this story might make you vomit or cry" type. 

If it were me, I'd scrap the general warning and do a rating system for individual episodes.  I know tons of people that would have loved That Old Black Magic but hated Liberation.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Thaurismunths on February 14, 2008, 02:41:41 AM
I hate to say it, but I disagree with both of you.

I think Steve covering the story comments is nice, but doesn't really add to the community. Healthy and active discussions happened before he started the weekly reviews. It was always cool when something from the forums made it in to the pod, but it wasn't needed. Actually, now it feels more like Steve has to include the weekly comments, rather than he wants to.

As for the episode warning I think it adds more than it takes away. Yes, I'm sure it does scare off some potential listeners: It's supposed to. The warning is there to let potential listeners know that some of the content might be upsetting even though not all of Pseudopod's stories are as terrifying as Counting From Ten (few could be). Horror means different things to everyone, and as such even if there were gradated warnings they couldn't possibly be accurate for more than a handful of people. If the warnings were subjective (like Steve does) they would probably give away the scary part of the story, or at least spoil the tension.
I feel that the general warning and grab-bag nature of the stories is what I like best about Pseudopod.
If you know a zombie is in the basement, you wouldn't go unarmed (if at all), and you'd be a little less scared. Likewise if you knew what was coming up on Pseudopod you could brace yourself for it, and to do so, even to the littlest degree, would be cheating yourself out of a scare. And you came here to be scared, right?

As for the forums, I think there just isn't as much depth for discussion here as in the SF grounds.
Horror is such a subjective thing that unless we all want to get in to our own mottled psyches and childhood traumas I don't know how much there is we can talk about other than "yep, scary," "nope, lame," or "Would have been better if..."
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: eytanz on February 14, 2008, 09:13:51 AM
I hate to say it, but I disagree with both of you.

I think Steve covering the story comments is nice, but doesn't really add to the community. Healthy and active discussions happened before he started the weekly reviews.

I think that's sort of besides the point people are making. The claim isn't that Steve's weekly feedback review is necessary for active discussion, the claim is that it encourages more people to post than otherwise. Which I'm pretty sure is a fact, since I'm one of those people. These days, I post discussion for its own sake, but I doubt I would have joined the forum if it weren't for Steve's feedback reviews. And I know I'm not the only one based on other people mentioning the same background.

So, unless you can show that there is an equal or greater population that is turned off by Steve's feedback reviews, I think it's a plain fact that the reviews, while not creating discussion, do have a serious contribution to how many people participate.

Quote
. Actually, now it feels more like Steve has to include the weekly comments, rather than he wants to.

That's true, but the fact that it has become an institution and Steve seems to have a sense of obligation to include it does not mean that it does not bring in more people. In fact, I'd say that Steve probably keeps on doing it on a regular basis specifically because he believes it contributes to the discussion, whether or not he feels like doing it in any particular week.

I agree with you about the warning, though. I think the blanket warning is best for Pseudopod for precisely the reasons you give.

Maybe in the future there could be a "PseudoPod Lite" feed, similar to EP Classic, where only the pg-13 rated PP stories are rerun.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: gelee on February 14, 2008, 01:30:23 PM
I think the biggest factor associated with forum traffic for PP is that the market for horror simply isn't as large as that for fantasy or SF.  I'm a proper literary omnivore, and will read anything short of a Harlequin romance.  (Anyone here familiar with Mack Bolan?)  I don't, however, think most people are as un-picky about their genres as I am.
Fewer listeners = less forum activity.
That said, Ben and Alisdair are both great hosts and narrators.  Talking about feedback on the show certainly wouldn't hinder forum activity, and might just give it a boost.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: DKT on February 14, 2008, 06:22:34 PM
I hate to say it, but I disagree with both of you.

DAMN YOU THAURISMUNTHS!!!  You'll PAY for that!!!

But yeah, eytanz pretty much said what I was trying to say. 

And gelee, I have (for better or for worse) read exactly one Mack Bolan novel. 
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Russell Nash on February 15, 2008, 08:49:11 AM
I can think of two different posts in the EP comments recently that said something along the lines of, "I want to get quoted on the episode so here I am."  I also think that in general it reminds people that there is a forum and that the forum is worth reading. 


As far as the warning goes, I think if a PP is family safe there should be a warning.  "WARNING: Kids might like this one"  That's a warning I could use.  I'd push that episode right down to the bottom of the playlist.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: goatkeeper on February 15, 2008, 02:44:14 PM
The warning idea was just a response/suggestion as to why PP might have smaller listenership/less active forums.  It comes from my experience trying to get people to give PP a try- requesting that I filter out stories like Liberation for them.  It's the fact that PP has such diverse stories and that horror means so many different things to different people that a generalization that warns "Any of our stories might have graphic violence, sexual violence, hate crimes....etc" might gives the wrong impression. 
Brief warnings like Steve does that are not subjective- "this episode contains instances of sexual violence" will hardly ruin the scare (in fact, for some sicko's like myself it build anticipation!)  It just gives the audience (especially new audiences) more options, and I don't see how that's ever a bad idea.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: DDog on February 15, 2008, 05:56:58 PM
I listen to PP before EP on my ipod, I comment on these forums more frequently- I'm generally more engaged in PP all together than EP.
I listen to PP before EP generally because EP will usually calm me down from whatever PP's latest horror is. I started doing this after "Tenant's Right" left me shaking and nauseated for hours and I had already listened to the EP for that week.

I confess I joined the forums because I liked the episode comments segment on EP (and it seemed like Mr. Tweedy was always the one getting featured). The segment alerted me to the existence of a forum, and once I was on the forum, I realized that there was also a Pseudopod to consume and started listening to PP as well.

Maybe Alisdair could at least mention the forums during his donations spiel?
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Thaurismunths on February 17, 2008, 09:23:06 PM
I hate to say it, but I disagree with both of you.

I think Steve covering the story comments is nice, but doesn't really add to the community. Healthy and active discussions happened before he started the weekly reviews.

I think that's sort of besides the point people are making.
You are right. My points were tangent to the actual topic and that was not my intent.

Quote
The claim isn't that Steve's weekly feedback review is necessary for active discussion, the claim is that it encourages more people to post than otherwise. Which I'm pretty sure is a fact, since I'm one of those people. These days, I post discussion for its own sake, but I doubt I would have joined the forum if it weren't for Steve's feedback reviews. And I know I'm not the only one based on other people mentioning the same background.
So, unless you can show that there is an equal or greater population that is turned off by Steve's feedback reviews, I think it's a plain fact that the reviews, while not creating discussion, do have a serious contribution to how many people participate.

Quote
That's true, but the fact that it has become an institution and Steve seems to have a sense of obligation to include it does not mean that it does not bring in more people. In fact, I'd say that Steve probably keeps on doing it on a regular basis specifically because he believes it contributes to the discussion, whether or not he feels like doing it in any particular week.
I think that mentioning interesting or poignant goings ons from the EP Forums gives people a feeling of community. Having to dig for something interesting from the episode comments every week can get a little dry and mundane because not every story is going to stir up interesting commentary. It also stops being special. It also can cause thread bloat.
Thread bloat is what Russell was talking about: Commenting for the sake of being quoted. Steve's been including (more or less) the best and worst comments of the week and I think since he's started that we've been getting more, and more strongly worded, criticism of the presented works. There have been stories in the past that rankled me, and I have said as much, so I'm very hesitant to say that others haven't been affected to the same degree, but I think we're seeing more posters who are being unkind in hopes of getting air time. It's much easier to write a scathing review than glowing praise.
Also, this being a horror podcast, it seems a little weird to promote feelings of fear and dread while cultivating a warm and fuzzy forum community.


Quote
Maybe in the future there could be a "PseudoPod Lite" feed, similar to EP Classic, where only the pg-13 rated PP stories are rerun.
That is a brilliant idea.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Russell Nash on February 17, 2008, 09:45:17 PM
Steve's been including (more or less) the best and worst comments of the week and I think since he's started that we've been getting more, and more strongly worded, criticism of the presented works. There have been stories in the past that rankled me, and I have said as much, so I'm very hesitant to say that others haven't been affected to the same degree, but I think we're seeing more posters who are being unkind in hopes of getting air time. It's much easier to write a scathing review than glowing praise.

I think he nails the point here.  There are a couple of people who write long reviews specifically worded to be quotable. 
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: eytanz on February 17, 2008, 10:12:27 PM
Steve's been including (more or less) the best and worst comments of the week and I think since he's started that we've been getting more, and more strongly worded, criticism of the presented works. There have been stories in the past that rankled me, and I have said as much, so I'm very hesitant to say that others haven't been affected to the same degree, but I think we're seeing more posters who are being unkind in hopes of getting air time. It's much easier to write a scathing review than glowing praise.

I think he nails the point here.  There are a couple of people who write long reviews specifically worded to be quotable. 

Yeah, I've seen that happen myself, but I do believe that the benefits of Steve's feedback reviews far outweigh the annoying side-effects. Though if Steve were to stop quoting individual posts except in special cases and only summarize the overall sentiments that would perhaps achieve the same benefit without having a negative effect on the discussion.

And - in the context of Psuedopod, I think we have an opposite extreme - I don't even remember the last time either Ben or Alasdair mentioned the forum (Mur used to bring it up occasionally, I think), let alone address anything anyone said. Which isn't a complaint - I really enjoy both Alasdair and Ben's commentary - but if they want to increase traffic here, then it's a non-optimal strategy.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Russell Nash on February 18, 2008, 07:55:42 AM
Eytanz is right.  Any chance to mention the forums should be taken.  Mur mentioned the tag line discussion and we got a couple new people out of that alone.

I think we're all pretty much coming to the same conclusion from different angles.  Mentioning the feedback as good negative or eh, Quoting any particularly good or insightful comments, Mentioning any deeper discussions started by the episode; but always using it judiciously and with restraint.
Title: Re: Less active
Post by: Tango Alpha Delta on March 23, 2008, 02:53:26 AM
Heck, I hardly noticed that I had wandered into the PP section of the forums, at first. 

I was just commenting to what I thought was a "normal" EP thread, and the next thing I knew, there was this strange, cold sensation on my neck, and then I started sweating.  My heart pounded in 5/4 time, and I began chanting long, hyphenated names without vowels.  The hairs on my arms turned green, and started sprouting leaves, my eyes began emitting orange lightning, and burning backwards letters into flat surfaces... and then...

Oh, wait... that was just the time I tried wasabi.