If the Answers 'forum' is a non-starter, where to next?

If people do not like the new Answers 'forum', and it doesn't seem to be going down too well, and if they eventually close this one, where will the folks here go to?

SL Universe?

Xstreet forum?

Somewhere else?

Start a new one?

Rock

To be honest I was just wondering about the same thing, and am seriously considering opening a forum. I already do rent the server space, and can implement a new forum in virtually no time. Question for me would be, are people going to joing there or will my efforts be in vain

Now there already are (at least) 2 external fora as you mention: XStreet and SLU.
Well, the XStreet forum I already post, but let's face is, it is also in the hands of our Linden Gods, so as insecure as this one.
The SLU forum could be a nice one but somehow the format does not appeal to me. Apart from some missing functionality, I actually like the format of this one.

So again the question remains: how much sense does it make to open up a new forum? Benefit would be that this one still is open, so all users actively posting here would be informed in time. On the other hand, maybe no one is waiting for a new place.

Maybe unneccesary information: I dislike the new answers thing. Definately.

I don't think you need your own server, there are lots of free boards out there. Here is the Life on Mars board I created a few weeks ago for Blue Mars pioneers, using Proboards.

http://life-on-mars.proboards.com/

If you do not like the look and feel and functionality of any of the free boards, and really want vbulletin (but working!!, not like the crippled one here), then maybe some server space would be needed. A few of us would have to get together to purchase the vbulletin license though, currently US$180 for a lifetime license.

Rock

If they close these forums i will more than likely head over to SLU and blow off the blog .

www.SLapt.me has a forum but as the main part of the site is still in final testing mode (although the wiki is open) it is not open yet but will be soon and we are on our own servers we don't rent the space and have had less than 30 mins downtime since the servers were commissioned for us nearly 18 months ago.

So hopefully we will be another viable forum coupled with the website

There's another one, too: http://2lf.informe.com/

i can think of a few boards, but slx and slu are the only real viable existing choices.
but in either case you end up arriving as a noob at someone elses community. they have a way they like to see things happen, have an established pecking order, have a shared history, etc. this is true for both slu and slx. i remember when second citizen closed down most of us turned to slu. the big influx of traffic wasnt appreciated by many of the existing members, some felt they were becoming 'infested' and others thought the noobs were bringing unwanted drama with them. the atmosphere after such an influx can take a long time to settle, if even at all.

there are a few on free hosts (proboards, etc), but i dont think they are a safe option. the owner has very limited control of the bbs, cannot update/modify it outside tight restraints, they are less 'permanent' as the database is usually held out of reach of the owner, the bbs may even disappear or be held hostage by the parent website...

i think what would be best is for a new forum to be born. one that can be molded by the current RA community. not an old board controlled by the old-timers. RA members need to step into a fresh bbs and shape it themselves rather then trying to adjust to rules, policies, and social expectations that were framed by people in years past.

it takes a special skill to effectively manage a community though. a technical skill, a social skill, and a great foresight. you would need to be really dialled in and switched on. i hope this task is taken on, and i hope that we as RA arent so lazy we fragment to stale boards, and arent so short-sighted we follow popularity rather than substance.

The neat thing there is that since it is new everyone that comes over now can be part of the growing community from the start- refering to Nina's post below Mo and above me here- I for one am going to make an effort to post some over there in a play for getting the thing moving-

I rellay hate this hppening- this is where people come- new people in particular- who have no other place to turn. The reult will be the sterile environment of Answers wil stifle the forum community as a whole. Chances are new folks will end up at SLU - what ever, as long as the new people find a place to belong.

I did have a look at SLU forums at one time and maybe it's just me but I really didn't enjoy the general 'atmosphere' there - anarchic is the word that springs to mind! It seems quite different and less friendly than here. So I do hope the RA crowd can transfer as en masse as possible somewhere else.

It'd be a real shame to lose the community aspect of these forums because the new Answers Blog-thing doesn't seem at all conducive to community building. RA has its good points and not so good points but in most cases people DO get their questions answered here, and the general discussion and chit-chat means we get an opportunity to hear from folk we'd perhaps never meet inworld due to timezones and unliklihood of crossing paths.

All it needed here was the software bringing up to date - trust LL to end up breaking something else they think they can 'fix'.

--
Aes

You should rush over there if you really want to be moderated by the (how shall I put it?) "erratic" 3Ring Binder, be forced to post sickly LOLCATs as part of your initiation and swear to adhere to the principle of "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything!"

Pep (As you might have guessed, it is intended as the refuge of the "non-clique" currently inhabiting the Undying Thread.)

I'll probably still visit SLU, but that will probably be it. It's summertime, this will be a good opportunity to 'Deforum" my life and spend less time looking at this blasted screen.

I just want to hit 20K before they shut this one down

just like anyone else, you are also welcome at http://2LF.informe.com, Pep. and just think, you can have as many alts as you want - and none of them even have to be SL members. a dream come true for you!


to the rest of you - i will not be a moderator. a team has been set up for that, and none of that team includes me. they are free to expose their identities should they so choose, expand their team, whatever. i am simply the person who created the place and will be in contact with support when things get glitchy (as they often do with forums).

I dont want this forum to close..
I like it a lot, much better than that new forum of them.
Pherhaps we could move our chats to SLX?

This might not be your best choice.

(I believe you mistyped.)

Just out of curiosity, how come no one but me every mentions or posts at slhomepage.com?

I saw it and fixed it. Thanks.

No thanks! There is more of a chance of you developing an adult sense of humour than my visiting that soon to be saccharin backwater.
What, as many as you have?
And none of these people will be your alts of course, and you can prove that?

Pep (I'll just go and annoy people inworld instead. )

Another problem here, is exposure. The blog is not widely read. The forums are not widely read. That's how LL managed to sneak this whole adult content thing in under the radar and people are still heading for a rude awakening. People don't educate themselves now and if we try turning to a non-Linden solution to the closure of this group of forums, that's just going to compound the issue.

For something to succeed as an alternative we need to educate the masses in SL that it's out there. Too few of them even know about the official channels they're in theory supposed to be using already but aren't.

Maybe because it has threads asking "I need an advice" . . .

Pep ( . . . and more research surveys than you can shake a stick at?)

PS To say nothing of the viagra spam

Never heard of it before i dont think...

ETA... seems a bit devoid of life - a thing all forums will be/are until people add to the population- unfortunately, when one searches, this and SLU are more likely to turn up.

Sadly, much similar here - except for the 20K lol. With me starting my new job I foresee a huge drop off in my postings.

I go over to SLU occassionally, as I do enjoy the banter there, As for 2LF, we'll see how it goes but I don't think I'll have the time for it either. Even my inworld time has dropped off dramatically in recent months, as I much prefer spending my free time with Ghosty in the RW.

Guess I'll have to just push myself to be more social when I'm inworld, like start going to the hangout more frequently in order to see friends and catch up on events, daily doings (if there IS one to go to - that's a whole other story to concern ourselves with ).

Well I registered at 2LF, and hope many will do. What we do not need is forum after forum rising up, and dividing the people more and more. We do have quite a community here and I would not mind keeping that. That is why I quickly forgot about my idea about a new forum: it has been done already.

@Pep: No matter how I think of 3Ring and how I think of you, at least 3Ring DID something. What are your contributions to either this forum or any new attempts? Apart from pathetic spelling and grammar corrections? There used to be a time your postings at least could cause a smile, but that time is gone.

Do me a favor and read back your first post in this thread, and 3Rings response. Guess which ones shows more maturity?

My spelling is not pathetic!

Pep (How dare an ESLer criticise my English!!! )

PS I am sorry that my posts have become too difficult for you to understand.

/me is not interested in registering in a bunch of misc random forums run by people I don't know.. I guess it's xstreet for me or nothing, if they kill off these forums.

I think as always new ones will spring up, for instance we have built one into the website as it suits the site in development, just a shame its not ready for launch yet as I rushed the wiki out lol

The good ones will survive and the others will fall to the wayside. I feel that the community was fragmented when the old forums here were first closed down, well sections anyways and people went to other places and you see the name calling on all these other forums by their own forum regulars there. Just a shame LL doesn't want to keep these ones running but they have been running a lot longer than I thought that they would after 2006.

I just hope a good replacement comes along which I am sure it will with the right attitudes towards its members, somewhere they will be happy to help grow and feel a part of. Time will tell

This is where I'll be going. I thought I was already registered, but wasn't, but did it this morning.