Some background. I've been using online communities since the early 80's. Back in the old BBS days, Usenet, LISTSERV, IRC, all that archaic stuff. Then came the rise of the internet as we know it.
A friend and I were talking the other day about the future of an online community that we both belong to. It's just a basic forum set up, just like this one, fewer members of course as it's just a local group.
My belief is people use online communities differently than they did 5 years ago. Five years ago, it was much more of a sit-at-your-computer type of thing where now it's much more of a mobile (smart phone) thing. Seems like damn near everyone has some flavor of smart phone and, in general, spends every non-busy moment staring at it.
As a consequence, I believe the traditional online forum-based communities will evolve in some fashion, more towards ubiquity (by that I mean access to it anywhere) and more of a means to interact quickly than long thought out responses. As evidence I point to the rise of Facebook and the 'like' method of interaction, or something like reddit where posts are thumbed up or down. Additionally I point to how many times a thread may be viewed yet there are few responses. Either people don't have an opinion, don't want to share it, are afraid to share it, or they don't want to bother replying based on the technology solution they're using to read.
My friend contends I'm wrong, and as evidence points out the rise of traffic on the site we're using, and its lack of traffic on its associated facebook page.
I'm not an expert in these things by any means, but when I do some simple number crunching on our site stats I see a decrease in the number of threads/posts average per month, a flat new user rate per month, and a page view rate that's pretty flat month to month. My only concern with the numbers is how SMF handles tapatalk usage, I don't know if that counts as a page view or not.
I'm curious what others think?
[thumbsup]
Since I'm anti Facebook but still want to play this game. . .
(http://www.viralblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/horror-like.jpg)
I think a community like this needs to be different than the ADHD style of modern SM.
The technical aspect and indepth discussions cannot be replicated on FB or its ilk.
but in that respect, I do see some seepage of SM, maybe a +1 button instead of an actual post with a +1 taking screen space, especially when viewing on mobile devices with smaller screens.
I think the flatness or slowdown on this site is due to the Monster being so "last year". Most of the people on here have been here for years. I bet Monster sales are flat or diminishing too.
But of course this board is about much more than Monsters.
The DMF is slow food for my moto brain.
FB ++ is noise, disturbing the sub conscious brain work (I'm old and can't/won't handle both)
Maybe it's because the Monster could and should be played with vs. the more evolved out of the box 696-1100?
The new bikes don't seem to inspire mod fever as much...
I think the differences between the online forums and the SM sites should be maintained.
If I wanted to click a like button I would join fb.
Not all change is good.
I hate FB.... :P
I only like FB because it is more reliable in reminding me when peeps birthdays are than my memory.
great post!
FB and the rest are like reading bumper stickers on a busy roadway...all sound bites and snippets
I do think that more traditional sites such as this one are "too involved" for the SM crowd
self-expression appears to have taken a backseat to "self-disclosure" which seems to be the fad these days
with falling literacy I don't see things changing, seems people are communicating more than ever, unfortunately where "quality content" once mattered, quantity has taken its place
SM is a way for people with limited literacy and people who are self-conscious of their literacy limits can duck the whole issue and communicate without fear of derision
so as for this site quieting down........ it probably has something to do with the Monster being a mature product to an extent and the preferred methods of staying in touch in the current era
as someone who enjoys writing and reading I find it all rather disheartening and sad
Quote from: RAT900 on November 14, 2012, 05:24:59 AM
as someone who enjoys writing and reading I find it all rather disheartening and sad
This.
Ok, I'll bite. Even though I have made many long lasting friendships on this forum and the DML, this format is more geared to be informative. As many have already said, the Monster is a mature product and just about every topic has been discussed and in many cases rehashed. The bonds I've been able to build on the DMF continue past the fact that I no longer own a Monster, or even any other Ducati model. I stay precisely because of the friendships and general camaraderie, which is very different to that of FB.
FB for me is more of a way to stay in contact with my "real world" friends and family. Twitter is a completely selfish form of SM where "normal" people can shout out what they are currently doing or thinking and feel important for it.
Quote from: duccarlos on November 14, 2012, 09:33:28 AM
Ok, I'll bite. Even though I have made many long lasting friendships on this forum and the DML, this format is more geared to be informative. As many have already said, the Monster is a mature product and just about every topic has been discussed and in many cases rehashed. The bonds I've been able to build on the DMF continue past the fact that I no longer own a Monster, or even any other Ducati model. I stay precisely because of the friendships and general camaraderie, which is very different to that of FB.
FB for me is more of a way to stay in contact with my "real world" friends and family. Twitter is a completely selfish form of SM where "normal" people can shout out what they are currently doing or thinking and feel important for it.
And how is this different from TOSAT ;D
That's a rhetorical. No need to answer.
TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.
Quote from: duccarlos on November 14, 2012, 09:48:02 AM
TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.
Thank you for that accurate assessment.
I never wanted to be normal. ;)
How do you even know whats going on with No head and all?
Quote from: duccarlos on November 14, 2012, 09:48:02 AM
TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.
TOSAT is twitter for the insane ;D
Quote from: ducpainter on November 14, 2012, 09:58:18 AM
Thank you for that accurate assessment.
I never wanted to be normal. ;)
You're safe Nate [thumbsup]
Quote from: Privateer on November 11, 2012, 03:26:31 PM... As a consequence, I believe the traditional online forum-based communities will evolve in some fashion, more towards ubiquity (by that I mean access to it anywhere) and more of a means to interact quickly than long thought out responses. As evidence I point to the rise of Facebook and the 'like' method of interaction, or something like reddit where posts are thumbed up or down. ...
I hope not. Forums in general are too short of long thought out responses. Especially the "thought out" part. Several forums I belong to have added "like" or "thanks" buttons, though, and I do like that. It is a lot less cluttery than posting "+1", and encourages people to at least have some input.
PhilB
How does a like button equate to some/better input than +1 or +11tybillion?
I'm not being argumentative, I just don't see it.
Not being a mobile user I guess I don't get the clutter part.
I see a like button more useful for those of us that use on a regular basis the "Show new replies to your posts" link. If you're on a slow connection and it takes a while to load some of the pic heavier threads, it's almost a waste when you only see a +1.
Quote from: ducpainter on November 14, 2012, 10:21:13 AM
~~~SNIP~~~
Not being a mobile user I guess I don't get the clutter part.
Imagine your computer screen being a tiny bit larger than a playing card.
Then cover half of that with a 'keyboard' when you want to post.
Quote from: ducpainter on November 14, 2012, 10:21:13 AM
How does a like button equate to some/better input than +1 or +11tybillion?
I'm not being argumentative, I just don't see it.
Not being a mobile user I guess I don't get the clutter part.
actually it has to do with real estate. every +1 post is tons of scrolling on the mobile device.
would prefer a simple way to wrap up all the +1's into a simple mark on that post.
Quote from: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 10:27:40 AM
Imagine your computer screen being a tiny bit larger than a playing card.
Then cover half of that with a 'keyboard' when you want to post.
I have imagined that and that's why I don't bother with Mobil computing. The I pad is about as small as I want to get.
I don't know why you guys put yourself though all that.
Plus the added expense of it.
Quote from: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 10:27:40 AM
Imagine your computer screen being a tiny bit larger than a playing card.
Then cover half of that with a 'keyboard' when you want to post.
So...
something you (read that I) can't see anyway.
It's why computers are the way to go.
Quote from: duccarlos on November 14, 2012, 09:33:28 AM
Even though I have made many long lasting friendships on this forum and the DML, this format is more geared to be informative. As many have already said, the Monster is a mature product and just about every topic has been discussed and in many cases rehashed. The bonds I've been able to build on the DMF continue past the fact that I no longer own a Monster, or even any other Ducati model. I stay precisely because of the friendships and general camaraderie, which is very different to that of FB.
FB for me is more of a way to stay in contact with my "real world" friends and family.
Same
Quote from: Raux on November 13, 2012, 01:39:05 PM
I think a community like this needs to be different than the ADHD style of modern SM.
The technical aspect and indepth discussions cannot be replicated on FB or its ilk.
This.
Quote from: stopintime on November 13, 2012, 02:52:26 PM
The DMF is slow food for my moto brain.
And this.
Quote from: duccarlos on November 14, 2012, 09:48:02 AM
TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.
Quote from: lethe on November 14, 2012, 10:04:53 AM
TOSAT is twitter for the insane ;D
I resemble those remarks [thumbsup]
Quote from: Speeddog on November 14, 2012, 10:27:40 AM
Imagine your computer screen being a tiny bit larger than a playing card.
Then cover half of that with a 'keyboard' when you want to post.
Quote from: Mendo Dave on November 14, 2012, 10:34:49 AM
I have imagined that and that's why I don't bother with Mobil computing.
I'm with MD. I rarely use PITA phone-screen format and then only when theres no grown-up sized option available.
Quote from: Speedbag on November 14, 2012, 04:04:31 AM
I hate FB.... :P
+11ty billion.
And Twatter.
Yes, I'm an old fart but its not just that the "benefits" of these forms of communication elude me. For me the intrusiveness of FB is a very poor trade in return for the superficial banality offered.
Quote from: ungeheuer on November 14, 2012, 07:56:02 PM
Yes, I'm an old fart but its not just that the "benefits" of these forms of communication elude me. For me the intrusiveness of FB is a very poor trade in return for the superficial banality offered in return.
FB is like the Seinfeld show, It's a site about nothing.
But unlike FB, at least Seinfeld is funny.
Quote from: Mendo Dave on November 14, 2012, 09:37:01 AM
And how is this different from TOSAT ;D
That's a rhetorical. No need to answer.
[clap] [clap] [drink]
I don't get twitter...to me it is 140 charachters of verbal diarrhea for the ADD to a vast degree...get in and get out like a 3 pump chump on a $5 hooker...it isn't conversational...it is internet tourettes for lack of a better description to me.
The new species that fascinates me is the handheld device hybrid human.....
partially in their "real-actual" surroundings
and as much as possible in their "virtual reality"
they cannot commit fully to one world or the other and try to blend the two together
usually with poor (real-world) results
they are most commonly seen drivings cars with mashed-in front ends
I'm not gonna be of that species.
Quote from: ducpainter on November 14, 2012, 10:21:13 AM
How does a like button equate to some/better input than +1 or +11tybillion?
I'm not being argumentative, I just don't see it.
Not being a mobile user I guess I don't get the clutter part.
It's not that a like button is better input than a "+1" post, it's that it's easier and encourages people to have at least that much input, without having a thread full of "+1" posts. I'm not a mobile user either, but especially when you have long threads, you have to scroll down through all the posts, and that's easier if there are fewer posts that have little content.
This is all small stuff, and doesn't matter much. I just see some small advantage to the feature, and I like it on the forums that have added it.
PhilB
If they did that with this forum it would have to have a 11ty billion button.
Quote from: Mendo Dave on November 15, 2012, 09:17:57 AM
If they did that with this forum it would have to have a 11ty billion button.
it should also be hard code to automatically be placed into any reply immediately following mine [laugh]
Quote from: lethe on November 15, 2012, 09:21:02 AM
it should also be hard code to automatically be placed into any reply immediately following mine [laugh]
+1
Yea I was gonna say that.
;)
For those who check in here on mobile (I'm probably half & half here via mobile & computer), are you using the Tapatalk ap? I find it makes keeping up with this & the couple of Moutain Bike forums I follow relatively painless.
Quote from: triangleforge on November 15, 2012, 10:34:46 AM
For those who check in here on mobile (I'm probably half & half here via mobile & computer), are you using the Tapatalk ap? I find it makes keeping up with this & the couple of Moutain Bike forums I follow relatively painless.
perspective....
Quote from: triangleforge on November 15, 2012, 10:34:46 AM
For those who check in here on mobile (I'm probably half & half here via mobile & computer), are you using the Tapatalk ap? I find it makes keeping up with this & the couple of Moutain Bike forums I follow relatively painless.
I would like to know just what Tapatalk does that the regular browser doesn't. Is it worth running on ipad?
Quote from: Mendo Dave on November 15, 2012, 10:43:11 AM
I would like to know just what Tapatalk does that the regular browser doesn't. Is it worth running on ipad?
Try it and find out.
BTW...let us know. ;D
I found out this info about Tapatalk.
They are partners with several companies including....
(http://www.tapatalk.com/images/partner_verticalscope_img.png)
Mostly it strips out a lot of the graphic content & re-presents navigation in a mobile-friendly format - hitting the right spot on that left-hand nav bar in the regular web browser was pretty hit-or-miss on my phone browser, even when I'd zoom the screen to make it a bigger target. Whenever I wanted to go to Racing & Trackdays, for example, I had a 50-50 chance of ending up in Gear or Stolen Motorcycles.
A couple of pix (apparently, I can't do screenshots on my old Android phone without rooting it - and I can no longer root it...) to show what I mean:
Nav Screen:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-toKpPZwEmHA/UKVVuvDGzoI/AAAAAAAABTY/17mHRxx2C4E/s512/003.JPG)
In Topic screen:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZM_BiN0mWMg/UKVVuiUpqII/AAAAAAAABTQ/GdqRgpaxX1Q/s512/002.JPG)
You don't have to set up the ap for different forums (other than entering in your login info, which it stores) - when I open the ap, it lists the DMF & MTBR and sends me to either in one touch.
It also strips out the ads on the other forum I use it for, MTBR.com.
I am painfully cheap, so didn't want to pay for an ap, but I can say I've more than gotten my money's worth on this one.
I've actually never had my hands on an iPad, so can't say for certain if it would have any benefit - just a rough guess, if you find yourself zooming in and out a lot just to navigate the page on this or another forum, it'd be worth it. If not, probably not.
Quoteif you find yourself zooming in and out a lot just to navigate the page on this or another forum, it'd be worth it. If not, probably not.
That would make me a candidate...
the term 'fat fingered' really hits home, but...
I use an Ipad so rarely...and it's not mine...
I doubt I'd buy it. That may change at some point.
I can see how it would make browsing easier and why we installed support for it.
My phone is my computer.. I hardly go on our laptop.. all things are done on my phone from controlling the TV to viewing the numerous forums I'm on... I use fb for friends and family to let them know what's going on and despise twitter. Good thing about using the phone for it all is I can get my internet fix while out n about and then spend time with family while home...
I don't do that much zooming so I don't think I would need it on the full size iPad. But I'm glad you shared that. I zoom a little bit for some buttons and the stuff on the left of this forum, but I don't need to zoom very much.
I have noticed that when peeps use 3pt font I zoom in on that to read it. On the
Laptop I have to hit reply just to see it.
i was out of town for a couple days. Thanks for the responses, it gives me more to think about and discuss with my buddy.
For the record, I wasn't talking about DMF. I agree about the depth and breadth of a boards knowledge driving it's relevance and longevity, but I think the audience my friend and I were talking about is different than the DMF audience (ie, DMF is more wise/knowledgeable/older).
And don't forget.. FB is king right now, but it wasn't always the case. There will come a time for it to wane and something else to take its place. One thing I've been hearing more about are private/semi-public niche SM sites. Don't know a lot about it right now, but hoping to learn more.
I use an iPad for 90% of my Internet usage now. Tapatalk isn't necessary. I don't need to zoom at all and use it in landscape orientation primarily.
Facebook was king. I think people are tiring of it and realizing its really a waste of time. I was a daily user and deleted my account a month ago. I haven't missed it.
Quote from: hbliam on November 20, 2012, 12:41:53 PM
I use an iPad for 90% of my Internet usage now. Tapatalk isn't necessary. I don't need to zoom at all and use it in landscape orientation primarily.
Facebook was king. I think people are tiring of it and realizing its really a waste of time. I was a daily user and deleted my account a month ago. I haven't missed it.
Its better to hang here anyway. ;)