Were are they?

Its nice that we have over 2500 members,but i have noticed that only a handful keep the topics going,were are the rest? even if they dont have a question or an answer they certainly dont log in to learn anything,anyone any ideas on the matter?or have they gone to another part of GC i know nothing about :confused: :confused:

 

We do have a lot of registered members who don't post. There are about 800 who have signed up but no posts!
I hope they are all out there reading our amazingly brainy, amusing comments and looking at the talented photography. :D

 

Hi Macleaf and Liz.Do you think that for some of the members who do not post,it could be because at the moment school holidays are here,so parents are having to look after them or take them on holiday,or out to activities to stop them becoming bored.

Also when the sun does shine a lot of people would rather be out of doors working on their gardens or allotment plots,so they don't get a chance to come on here to post.Sometimes fresh air is better than sitting at a computer screen all day.

If people work from home,then they are more likely to surf the internet,than people who work outside of the home.
When you have done a full days work like my husband does on computers then you aren't likely to find them sitting at a computer screen all night.
For some there is more things in life than Gardeners Corner...I am happy either way

Kandy

 

May I make some suggestions which are intended to be helpful and not critical?

First - I am really glad that non gardening posts are in their own sections. I'm not knocking games, cars and muppetry, but they are not what people come here for in the first place, though they may well enjoy them later.

Second - since its formation, GC has received much information and many superb photos of plants and gardens. How accessible are they now? Yes - I know that there is a "Search" facility and it is now working properly, but how well is it used?

Third - have you ever thought about making GC more than a forum? How about adding a permanent indexed gallery of photographs that we can all refer to? They can be arranged (for example) by plant species with attached cultural notes. Also - how about a series of articles written by people who know what they are talking about? That would bring together pieces of information that are scattered throughout and were posted in response to questions eg "How do I make a pond?" Such a move would bring in Googlers and traffic would soar.

May be all of that is done elsewhere and it may be beyond GC's capability. May be that members don't want to write such articles, but then do we want to keep answering the same questions?

I'm just throwing these ideas in for discussion. What is important is that someone just asks the question "Where does GC go from here?"

 

Hi, Hornbeam - wouldn't you get more response to these questions in the Members Requests section? I suspect this might get lost here, and such things ought to be noticed and discussed..........

 

Well, yes but I didn't start this thread and I have no requests to make.

 

Hornbeam.It is a good idea of yours,but as Dendrobium has pointed out could possibly get lost on here.

Sometimes I forget to look at posts that were submitted earlier on in the day.I tend to look at the post that is most recent,then go onto the next post.
I really must spend some time going through them all.Also I cannot always remember where the post was that I was looking at,say in the morning.

I don't take it as criticsm,and I am sure no one else would.

Why don't you try it in the Members Request section
and see what happens

Kandy

 

I think, Kandy, that you have just illustrated how very difficult it is to find anything on GC and how difficult it is to read everything. Maybe that is just one reason why more members don't stay to contribute.

As GC gets bigger and more diverse, someone is going to have to make some decisions. What is it trying to be and where does it want to go? Otherwise it will just grow like Topsy and become even more difficult to use other than for chat. Maybe chatting is its only role.

Up to the moderators to move this where ever they want it and for everybody with a view or two to comment.. If it ain't broke don't fix it. If everybody is happy with things as they are - fine. If not - start thinking and talking.

 

Yes Hornbeam,I agree with you,but Rosa got something moved by putting it in Members Request,then when Nathan or the Moderators see it,if they think it is worthwhile they will do it.

You perhaps need to say these things to the people in charge, so that if they feel the need to move forward with the forum,then by talking to everyone,they could get some feedback on how to go about doing things to keep the site alive.

Kandy

 

I agree with Kandyfloss - no criticism of anyone intended, of course - just a wish to avoid this topic slipping, and as you clearly have some valid points to discuss, even if it isn't a request, I think that's the most appropriate area for it to be discussed, and more likely to be noticed by Nathan and co.

BTW - I've got fed up with that lion - and here's the new avatar!

 

Dendy.I do like the new Avatar.Who are the couple in the background.Is it you?
Wait till Shiney sees it...Where are you Sugar Daddy? we need your Eagle eye on this one


Kandy

 

I agree with a ot of what Hornbeam has said although I think the forum has a long way to go in it's present form.
It all depends on how much time and energy Nathan has to put into the site. All the things Hornbeam suggests would be great and all would need a great deal of time, input and rearrangement.

 

Technophobe of the site hasn't got a clue to offer any constructive criticism .. but if it means things move on in a positive manner, you've got my support!

 

Nathan, anything you need just shout :D