Posted by jujube on February 1, 2005, at 19:46:49
In reply to Re: I think I understand why people don't like this... » gardenergirl, posted by Dinah on February 1, 2005, at 18:22:54
I guess what I am having trouble with is seeing how this is going to help new board members integrate and become more active more quickly as well as seeing how it will enhance the activities of the board for all members.
First, people come to the board for very a variety of individual reasons. For some it is about joining a community where they will find support, friendship and knowledge on a longer-term basis. For others, it is only about getting answers to some questions, after which they no longer have a need for the board. There will always be a transient nature to these types of forums, and no matter how much effort is put into making the forum more appealing to newbies, some will not stay. It is not aways about feeling left out, ignored or insecure. If that were the case, then some of you participating in this thread would probably not be here to have this debate (I say that based on personal admissions in this particular thread of, at times, feeling like "thread killers", not to be disparaging in any way).
I have seen some newbies jump right in and participate in threads on a number of boards. Others take their time and may remain in their comfort zone on a particular board until, perhaps, they feel less inhibited and more confident about joining threads and broadening their horizons to other boards. What it boils down to is human nature. Some people are gregarious and will have no inhibitions about joining a conversation and voicing an opinion. Others are shy and need time to begin to know others and to become comfortable with a new environment through observation rather than participation. And, some are in between the two.
The point I am trying to make, is that it may be likely that no amount of special accommodation will make transient posters stay or facilitate more active participation by the some posters.
One thing I would like to add is that Dr. Bob may have better luck determining where improvements can be made to the forum, if needed, by surveying posters and then presenting the results of the survey for discussion. It would be one way to find out what works and what doesn't work and what keeps people here and what drives them away.
I personally think there is a wonderful dynamic here at Babble, and nothing should be done to inadvertently disrupt that dynamic.
Tamara
poster:jujube
thread:441543
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050128/msgs/451295.html