The Forums: Freaks and Youths; The Blog: Deteriorating

[fubek]

Hi there,

I've been reading this website and Steve's work for quite some years now. Thanks for all the content so far!

It seems to mee that since Steve opened the forums:

• his posting frequency has decreased considerately
• the quality of his posts has also
• the forums started out promising
• but have developed into a substandard forum for teenagers and freaks
• the overall quality of content of his site has diminished
• I am less interested in the site everyday

My wishlist for this site and for Steve:

• for Steve to close the forums,
• to increase the quality of his posts and
• to make them interesting again without the new-agey nonesense.

Steve, you are your own boss. Do what you want. This is just a feedback.

Best,
fubek

[Erki]

Please define "freak" or give concrete examples of forum members who you call freaks. I hope I'm one of them, because I'm heading out of teenage and would still like to enjoy fubek's attention.

Thank you

[Steve Pavlina]

I consider it an honor to count myself amoung my fellow freaks. Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys.

I shall endeavor to increase the quality of my posts... at least in a motorcycle maintenance sort of way. In return I only ask that you make an effort to increase the quality of your contribution as well.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I shall endeavor to increase the quality of my posts... at least in a motorcycle maintenance sort of way. In return I only ask that you make an effort to increase the quality of your contribution as well.

In a motorcycle maintenance sort of way... I know exactly what you're talking about. What an excellent book.

I agree I'm happy to be counted among the weird. I love to challenge the growth of myself and others and if that means i have to be seen as weird to be a catalyst then so be it!

[thinktank]

Ya..that's something I observed too...actually the degradation started long back, when steve stopped allowing people to comment on his blog. It seemed a good solution to reduce the time required to read but it did reduce the quality of blogs. My suggestion would be to enable commenting again, and leave the forum as it is.

by removing comments what you have done is to remove any criticism or appraisal of your own blogs, as a result of which you no longer know whether what you say is relevant or not.

[Dave Kaminski]

Instead of using the normal comment system on his blog, Steve uses an entire section of his forums so we can debate his posts etc.

[Steve Pavlina]

The routine daily feedback I get is enormous enough... dozens of daily emails, 10-20 daily posts on other blogs, these forums, cards and letters in the mail, phone calls, faxes, etc. The last thing I'd need would be to crank up the volume on the feedback.

No matter what topic I write about, I get feedback saying, "You've lost it. Go back to writing about X," while ten others will say, "That's the best article I've ever read. Keep writing more on that -- it's having a huge impact on me." That just comes with the territory.

In 2005 I made a humorous blog post about the feedback cycle here:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rite-feedback/

I'm sure everyone would love for me to write about the topics that interest them personally, but with nearly 2M visitors per month, that's not going to happen.

However, if there are specific topics you'd like to see addressed, feel free to submit a suggestion. It's more helpful to me, since general whining isn't actionable.

Then again... if I'm not writing about the topics that interest you, why not do it yourself?

[Shaden]

But have developed into a substandard forum for teenagers and freaks

Then leave. I won't hold it against you. Set up your own blog and forum and keep the membership selective. Become a Nazi. It would be quite entertaining.

[Erki]

Originally Posted by Shaden

Then leave. I won't hold it against you. Set up your own blog and forum and keep the membership selective. Become a Nazi. It would be quite entertaining.

He would be more like an Azi then.

[Bruce Achterberg]

<insert quotes of the humourous posts in this thread here>

Hehe, I find it amusing that no matter what the topic of our thread, our forum members always find humour in it. Good form people, good form indeed.

Now, be sure to keep it up!

[Akashic_Librarian]

Perhaps you should just be more understanding of other people. Being a teenager doesn't make us all wrong does it? I am 16 but I don't see why that should effect my beliefs or consciousness?

[Damian]

All,

As a new member of the forum I must say that I have found many items of interest that have given me new insight into subjects I thought I knew well.

To label anyone a 'freak' or a 'weirdo' is simply an acceptance and an extension of the constraints that many on here are trying to see beyond.

Each of us are on our own personal journey and should take those words and concepts that feel right for integration into our own belief system. If there are elements that don't fit then leave them be and move along.

The quest for 'self' is a difficult process and quite rightly so, anything worth achieving is done so through hard work.

If the terminology doesn't fit don't be so shallow to dismay the idealogy behind it - see beyond the word and embrace the wisdom.

Take care.

Damian

[Narz]

Look on the bright side fubek. I'm here now.

[munish]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Then again... if I'm not writing about the topics that interest you, why not do it yourself?

Ha Ha Ha !

[Alvin]

I'm going to take a plunge here and say:

I also feel that the quality of the forum has gone down.

I think the forum got off to a whizz-bang start, there was lots of dialog going on and interesting stuff learned.

But now, I notice more pointless quarreling and negativity on board...and it seems it's because - dare I say it - most of the forumers are pretty young.

Take that in the right light: I'm not blasting the forum because otherwise I wouldn't still be here, albeit less often. I chose the threads I read more carefully and pick my replies because those take time.

But I see it for what it is, and I get what I want from other forums online. There's an abundance of choice; and if this forum doesn't rock your boat, you can probably find one that does.

And if my opinion is in the minority, I guess that makes me the freak here, so there nyah nyah

Either that, or I've changed since the launch of the forum - which makes it even more interesting.

[JHL]

I'm of the view that it is what you make of it. I think blaming Steve or anyone else for a perceived deterioration of the forums is a deferment of responsibility.

If a person would like to see certain articles, topics or discussions, then a person can initiate them. Do a bit of research and write their own short discourse on the topic, or start a thread, etc. If discussion turns into bickering debates, then perhaps the moderators can be persuaded to wave the peace flag more often.

But if people sit back and wait for the specific material they want to arrive... well then I guess this is a bad forum, just like every other forum will be.

Take the initiative! Seize the day! Be the article you want to read! Hoo-ha!

Er, thats all.

Freak 35526.34

[Damian]

Originally Posted by JHL

Take the initiative! Seize the day! Be the article you want to read! Hoo-ha!

Well said, and excellently paraphrased.

I've included a piece on my Blog (which is still in early development) about the two types of person - the 'questioners and the 'accepters'. If you want to check it out the links in my signature.

If you feel that the forum needs direction and clarification then do so by leading and guiding. Sow the seed of an idea and see where it leads - but remember that seeds need some manure to grow

If you want to see what other peoples opinions are on a subject that interests you - 'ask and you shall receive'.

Take care

[Angela]

JHL, every time I read one of your posts, I like you more and more.

[John Wesley]

The complaints may be somewhat justified, but that's all a matter of opinion. Some people probably like the new age stuff more than the practical articles.

I think the creation of the forum and the elimination of comments has lead the forums becoming the default place for people to voice their opinions. This is a much smaller stage than commenting on the blog right after the original post and it inhibits reader participation.

It's like saying, "No, what you think isn't important enough to go on the real page, go on with the rest of kids to the play pen and knock yourself out though."

[Shaden]

Hehe, looks like someone had a bit of a gripe about my little comment

[thinktank]

sorry guys...i never meant to blast the teenagers or the freaks....i was just trying to point out the fact that the quality was going down...