The Rise and Fall of Escape Pod (Forums) and the Spiders from Mars

[Swamp]

Interesting.  So is the definition of power someone who posts a lot and has many replies?  I have definitely noticed a decline in participation.

[Heradel]

Interesting.  So is the definition of power someone who posts a lot and has many replies?  I have definitely noticed a decline in participation.

Social networks are weird. Traditional definitions of power, like my ability to post new threads in the episode comment subfora or (and this happens rarely) censor offensive comments, while meaningful, don't necessarily make me an integral part of the social network.

Part of this might just be topic exhaustion — We can't have another 20 page zombie thread (Oh, the 20 page zombie thread. I think I forged my reputation in that one). But there does seem to be a decline in participation for whatever reason, and it's across the forums enough that there probably isn't a single cause. I'm guessing some of it's probably that EP and PC lost some listeners during the series of unfortunate events that cause their breaks. In the fullness of time that should turn around.

[Bdoomed]

Usually when I notice someone has not posted for a while, I'll hunt them down and hold them against their will, make em watch 24 hours of grotesque porn, then threaten their lives if they don't start posting again.  Leave em dazed, scared, confused.

and we totally COULD have another 20 page zombie thread!

[Zathras]

If I realize that a good poster hasn't been around for a while. I normally send them a PM asking how things are and if there is anything I can do.  The response is normally RL has gotten in the way or that they were trying to cut down on their online addiction. 

I have, however, heard that some folks will not come back, because they thought they were mistreated by people in power here.  Not one of these complaints has been about a moderator.

Why is it R_L's fault?  I'd've thought I was more to blame.   

[Alasdair5000]

Interesting.  So is the definition of power someone who posts a lot and has many replies?  I have definitely noticed a decline in participation.

Social networks are weird. Traditional definitions of power, like my ability to post new threads in the episode comment subfora or (and this happens rarely) censor offensive comments, while meaningful, don't necessarily make me an integral part of the social network.

Part of this might just be topic exhaustion — We can't have another 20 page zombie thread (Oh, the 20 page zombie thread. I think I forged my reputation in that one). But there does seem to be a decline in participation for whatever reason, and it's across the forums enough that there probably isn't a single cause. I'm guessing some of it's probably that EP and PC lost some listeners during the series of unfortunate events that cause their breaks. In the fullness of time that should turn around.

   I agree.  There's a natural ebb and flow to forums and, from my perspective at least, it's definitely picking up at the moment.  The Hugo story threads are topping a couple of pages and are looking quite long lived (Article of Faith's still an active thread getting on for two weeks out for example) and Pseudopod episode threads, which when I joined up were pretty much just the episode notification are consistently decent sized now.

[Bdoomed]

If I realize that a good poster hasn't been around for a while. I normally send them a PM asking how things are and if there is anything I can do.  The response is normally RL has gotten in the way or that they were trying to cut down on their online addiction. 

I have, however, heard that some folks will not come back, because they thought they were mistreated by people in power here.  Not one of these complaints has been about a moderator.

Why is it R_L's fault?  I'd've thought I was more to blame.  

i thought the same thing at first

[stePH]

If I realize that a good poster hasn't been around for a while. I normally send them a PM asking how things are and if there is anything I can do.  The response is normally RL has gotten in the way or that they were trying to cut down on their online addiction. 

I have, however, heard that some folks will not come back, because they thought they were mistreated by people in power here.  Not one of these complaints has been about a moderator.

I know of one example to the contrary.

[Zathras]

If I realize that a good poster hasn't been around for a while. I normally send them a PM asking how things are and if there is anything I can do.  The response is normally RL has gotten in the way or that they were trying to cut down on their online addiction. 

I have, however, heard that some folks will not come back, because they thought they were mistreated by people in power here.  Not one of these complaints has been about a moderator.

I know of one example to the contrary.

As do I

[Talia]

OK, fine guys, I'll shower more.. you dont all have to leave

[Russell Nash]

If I realize that a good poster hasn't been around for a while. I normally send them a PM asking how things are and if there is anything I can do.  The response is normally RL has gotten in the way or that they were trying to cut down on their online addiction. 

I have, however, heard that some folks will not come back, because they thought they were mistreated by people in power here.  Not one of these complaints has been about a moderator.

I know of one example to the contrary.

As do I

Zathras,  First of all you were new at the time and don't count.  Second, getting bitch-slapped for breaking form doesn't count.  You came back anyway, so it's a moot point anyway.

[Zathras]

Wasn't talking about myself.

[Raving_Lunatic]

Hmm. I think the board is safe in my hands.

[Zathras]

I think Russel Nash should have said that not one of the complaints has been about him, bdoomed or heradel. 

[Bdoomed]

cept the complaint about my old tendency to post episodes late.

[Heradel]

If you want to make accusations make them direct, stating them like this is silly.

I'm not that surprised that no one has left because of me, Bdoomed, or Russell. We don't really do anything except tell people to calm down. The Editors actually have to make and curate content, which tends to cause a greater reaction.

[Zathras]

I pmed Russel and he has the names of the people I was talking about.  My latest post in this thread was to clarify previous posts, and all it did was muddy the waters.  There's nobody on this board, in or out of power, that makes me want to leave. 

[Anarkey]

I think it's past time for this confession (though perhaps it falls under the rubric of keeping my lycanthropy to myself):

Dear Heradel -

I love you.

Smoochies,
Anarkey

[Heradel]

Er, I didn't know that love caused you to become a member of the animate dead.

Things make so much more sense now.

Like all the hair.

(Er, er, um, er.)

I pmed Russel and he has the names of the people I was talking about.  My latest post in this thread was to clarify previous posts, and all it did was muddy the waters.  There's nobody on this board, in or out of power, that makes me want to leave. 

Ok, I'm just not big on the veiled references in situations like this.

[Bdoomed]

Er, I didn't know that love caused you to become a member of the animate dead.

really? have you not seen a married couple?

[Alasdair5000]

'You know what they say about love and war.'
'Yeah one's filled with pain and terror and the other one's war.'

[stePH]

Q: What's the difference between a wedding and a funeral?

A: At your wedding, you get to see your own flowers.

[izzardfan]

As someone who will be happily married for 25 years in July, I beg to dif...

Well...  um...

Nevermind.  Carry on.

 

[MacArthurBug]

personally- when I post less frequently it's usually due to the fact that  a: I was sure I put my foot in my mouth somewhere  b: I flirted shamelessly with someone- (I'm a natural flirt, and sometimes get carried away)  or c: I suddenly got really really busy in my outside world and just couldn't get to the computer.

But I'm not really an infrequent poster.  As to the marrage thing: Egads! Am I one of the few truly contentedly married folks on here? Maybe I just trained mine better?

[Heradel]

But I'm not really an infrequent poster.  As to the marrage thing: Egads! Am I one of the few truly contentedly married folks on here? Maybe I just trained mine better?

No, I think we just tend to have a younger audience skew because it's podcasting and SF/F/H. So fewer marriages total, and a lot more gallows humor.

[MacArthurBug]

aaaahhh - see foot in mouth.  I managed to use the word deathwish around someone who was gravely seriously ill just this weekend- not about them of course just near them about something banal but still.. I should be put a stop to.