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Post by Aryeec {E.F. Forester} on Jul 4, 2010 23:04:56 GMT -5
I know I'm not really one to talk because of how inactive I've been over the last year, however, I really look forward to the times I am able to log in and see what's been going on and how people are doing, but each time there are less people active and less new posts, so I figure we should shoot around some ideas on how to go about livening up the place to where it used to be, like in the "glory days" before Gods and Weave-Whales.
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Post by Flight on Jul 5, 2010 9:58:12 GMT -5
It's generally hard kicking life into an old forum .___. not that I don't think it's a very good idea.
I think either we'll have to think up something new to talk about or do, or invite more people somehow? I'm not sure how much time people have but I'd be willing to take part in a collaboration of something. I don't really know many Chris Wooding fans
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Post by Maliris on Jul 5, 2010 16:58:19 GMT -5
Well, I had thought that posts would pick up again when new books'd come out but not many have had time to buy and read Havoc yet. At the end of the month, the second Ketty Jay will be released and I dearly hope that some will pick it up and try to get a discussion going.
After all... this is a forum about the books and all that jazz... >_>
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Post by Aryeec {E.F. Forester} on Jul 6, 2010 10:09:27 GMT -5
Yeah, I see both your points. More newbies who've read some of his books would pick up discussion posts for a little while, but I don't think it would last long and I agree with you Mal. I'm one of those people who's busy with work, school most of the year, and the pile of books being gnawed at when possible (I think I've got a line of 4; it's dwindled from a list of 9 in the past 2 months. :S Retribution Falls is next! FINALLY!!!!!!). I think what you were saying flight is what was happening when a lot of us first joined up. We hadn't ever had a place to really talk about Chris' books and went all out for a few months, then halted b/c of the lack of new books to talk about. Now we've just gotta hope more people read Chris' new works sooner rather than later.
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Post by Flight on Jul 8, 2010 15:36:23 GMT -5
I think, maybe, if the topics had to be kept to Chris' books, then to actually keep a discussion going for any length of time it would have to be (gasp) a debate.
Of course there's the risk of it turning into an internet petty squabble. But we're pretty civilised here and as long as we stick to basic rules I think we could make it a good debate, or argument at least.
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Post by smaug on Jul 8, 2010 16:29:32 GMT -5
I think, maybe, if the topics had to be kept to Chris' books, then to actually keep a discussion going for any length of time it would have to be (gasp) a debate. Of course there's the risk of it turning into an internet petty squabble. But we're pretty civilised here and as long as we stick to basic rules I think we could make it a good debate, or argument at least. Thread/ No, I kid. Funnily enough though I was in the middle of composing a PM to our lord and master (aka Maliris) about this. But since Flight brought it up, I'll post it here. I did debate (heh) with the idea of pointing this out myself. But I thought better of it, simply because... well... I'm not what you'd call a good ambassador given my history. But I think that’s one of the major problems. You can’t really have a debate in the truest sense of word, especially when compared to rest of the internet. That’s why I walked away from the “debates” (for lack of a better word) because I could tell they were going to get out of hand. The last thing I wanted to do was turn the forums into a war zone. When people start kicking up dust, rather than discussing a topic and when feeling start getting brought into it, then you’re in the wrong place for a debate. I agree with Flight, it could happen but I think both sides would have to be open to others opinion and actually listen. Sorry, I actually had a much better answer craft in my head, but I can’t seem to apply it to this post. So I’ll wrap things up with is another idea I was entertaining. Does Chris have direct link from his website to here? You know an icon that says Forums? If not, perhaps consider that. I doubt it would change anything, but at least it’s worth a try...
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Post by Aryeec {E.F. Forester} on Jul 8, 2010 20:10:21 GMT -5
I also believe that would be the case, but I don't think people should be limited to book discussion. I do however believe book discussion should the big advertisement; one could say The Crooked Lanes' selling point, since this is indeed supposed to be a book discussion forum as Mal also said. Do not fret Smaug! You're point in your post was indeed clear... to me at least. I don't know if this post will make sense to anyone though. lol I'm kinda tired.
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Post by kaiku on Jul 9, 2010 13:40:13 GMT -5
I like what smaug said about Chris having a link to the forums on his website. I only found it in the first place because Chris mentioned it in one of his blog posts but he hasn't said anything about it for a while. We may have potential members out there who are reading his blogs at the minute but have no idea this place exists. Perhaps if we ask nicely and bat our eyelashes then Chris might put a link up.
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Post by Aryeec {E.F. Forester} on Jul 9, 2010 17:45:13 GMT -5
*looks directly at Chris and bats eyelashes*
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Post by kaiku on Jul 10, 2010 12:55:22 GMT -5
Now, how could he refuse that?
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Post by lisajane on Jul 11, 2010 8:15:56 GMT -5
I think having a link from his website to here would be the best way to go.
But admittedly I'm not here much anymore, between the wedding and work I don't get a lot of time on my hands!
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Post by Flight on Jul 17, 2010 17:04:21 GMT -5
...so, has anyone actually or are planning to ask Chris personally? I was gonna but thought it better to ask in case anyone else has already and I'd end up spamming him
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Post by Aryeec {E.F. Forester} on Jul 17, 2010 21:47:19 GMT -5
I actually just shot him a message. I hope I didn't sound too fanboyishly spammy. lol
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Post by Flight on Jul 18, 2010 3:29:32 GMT -5
;D good for you. I'm sure it didn't... or that he's probably used to it by now
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Post by Maliris on Jul 18, 2010 11:25:22 GMT -5
But I hope that it's clear that this - if it works - is only the first step towards an increase of forum activity. This is a book-forum. If no one reads the books where are we supposed to get our discussions from? I don't mean that the forum should be book-discussions only - that would not be very wise. But there used to be a certain balance between trivia and book-threads. And I still believe that if people would buy and read the new books that there would be more discussions and even debates. High numbers of members isn't everything. Sometimes all it takes is a handful of people to keep a forum going. There are over 200 members here but if no one reads Chris's books not much will change, I'm afraid. Yes, reading is time consuming and so is university and work. Sometimes one doesn't have enough time for hobbies like reading - I know that. But that isn't new - it used to work and I fail to see why that should be the reason now for the forum to go down. I know I am repeating myself. But this is the reason behind this forum after all: talking about books written by Chris Wooding. That was the reason why I launched it four years ago. To get people to contribute to discussions and debates. To find people who liked his books and wanted to share their opinions and thoughts with kindred spirits. That hasn't changed, or has it?
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