Minimum post amount?

[brokendalek]

I think that is very much the nature of forums though - I have been thinking about this and I do not believe that it would be constructive to the development of the forum - that's just my opinion.

[pa007]

The things is, most new members are probably drawn to most web/graphic design forums because of critique services (for want of a better term) putting limitations on who can post and how many posts are required will simply drive them to another forum where they don't mind one time posters. Some members will never post again, some will posts occasionally others will become regular postser and an asset to the forum. That's the chance you take; it's the nature of the beast.

Time and effort would be better spent nominating a select group of people (or people just doing it) to critique each request professionally and extensively thereby convincing potential one time posters that they should stick around as the forum is so amazingly helpful and obviously a great place to be.

I like the forum and think that the people here do seem to be very knowledgeable and helpful but I've seen a few of "Yeah, it looks nice" comments in the critique forums which aren't of much use to anyone really.

Positive campaigns are always more successful than negative ones.

Pete. :)

[ianm]

on that note, we're not exact;y providing as service - we're supposed to be a community, if they just come for a critique then dont post afterwards, we don't want them

[PR Design]

Originally Posted by ianm

on that note, we're not exact;y providing as service - we're supposed to be a community, if they just come for a critique then dont post afterwards, we don't want them

Amen.

[pa007]

I agree but this forum game is all about selling yourself more than the next place otherwise they'll move on. The forum was obviously set up to get people posting. Prove that you offer better and more complete advice than the next place and they'll stay. Simple.

Pete. :)

[Toon]

The forum was set up to give people in the design community a voice somewhere, as not everyone's as welcome as you'd think they should be, beginners, young designers and even women in this day and age are still regarded as quite inferior in these types of communities which is exactly why this place was built and it works, trust me. I'm not in the game of 'keeping people' I'm in the game of giving people a chance to have an opinion and feel welcome where else where they might not.

[pa007]

But you do want it to be successful, that's why it is. And that is because people come back. It's the same for all sites, the quality of content keeps them returning. I'm not questioning motives here so don't take it the wrong way, just pointing something out; expressing my opinion and all that malarkey.

Pete. :)

[ianm]

i don't understand where you are coming from pete, you seem to be talking about the opposite of what we mean

[pa007]

This is a website. The point of a website is for people to find it then use it. So you do SEO trickery to make sure people can find it then you make sure the content is good enough so that people return, yeah?

The thing that is different is that this is a forum so the content depends on the quality of questions and responses. There are many graphic/web design forums out there so somewhere along the way someone (whoever runs this place - who is that by the way?) is making sure that this site looks more attractive to potential members. The place looks pretty, works well, has helpful and knowledgeable members, makes sure there isn't anything inappropriate (spam, offensive posts, etc.). That's my point.

Even if this isn't done actively or consciously, these are the sorts things that you do make sure everyone's stay is welcome. As far as I'm aware anyway. I could be shooting well wide of the mark here, but I thought the above is what you do to make a 'good' site or a 'good' forum.

At any rate, I don't think the forum needs to change really, my initial response was regarding the minimum post count thing. At that point I said positive action is always better than negative, I worded my first response wrongly and for that I apologise, I didn't mean to say that the critique sections should become a service and my crtiticisms were exaggerated to highlight a point, I was just trying to explain that I feel it's better to encourage the one time posters to post more rather than stopping them posting altogether.

If I'm still hitting wide of the mark then I'll concede defeat, I'm new 'round here an maybe you work differently to other forums I've been on. I like to make an impact, but perhaps not quite like this. :)

Pete. :)

[ianm]

no need to apologise for anything mate, just read as though you were talking about something different to what we had been saying, what you say there is a given and is correct. the forum is set up to attract people and be a friendly welcoming place, but for the purpose of building a community - which it has so far - not for people to abuse that purpose like we've been saying.

oh, and toon runs the forum mate, since you asked :)