Why has CivFanatics overtaken Apolyton in members?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by DanQ
We used to actively recruit (i.e. "position openings"), but little to no responses were received -- and of those few received at times, and accepted (which was most), these individuals often bowed out quickly. This almost always occurred with very just reasons, but due to this continued pattern this approach became frustrating and has been almost entirely discarded.

I acknowledge that we could and can do a better job of approaching people directly: we have always done this in measures, but not on as large a scale as we could it seems.

I'm not sure what you mean by "real sense of ownership" that, if I am interpreting correctly, you believe staff members here do not have.

I'm not saying that at all. Obviously people like Ming, rah, Solver (and others) bought in, or were bought in long, long ago and way before any recent changes. They took responsibility for this site as their own no matter if they owned a piece or not.

However, I think they have carried too much weight and do not have the energy or the time to commit to leading a particular forum for a new game. There are too few people around here who are trusted, and the time to get new people to a place where they feel trusted and feel personal 'ownership' takes too long.

Take a fellow like Arrian. He is calm, intelligent, expresses himself well, is respected, spends a lot of time on Apolyton, and is very interested in Civ4. Was he ever sounded out on taking a leadership role for Civ4 on Apolyton? Was anyone like him approached?

I doubt it. Instead, several of the old guard felt a rush of excitement, thought they could do it, some new forums were opened up and the rest was supposed to look after itself. It has looked after itself and the result is before us.

[SlowwHand]

Arrian calm? He's wild! His eyes bulge and drool drips from his chin.

[Aeson]

Drooling could be a sign of being a bit too calm though...

[Dis]

question: would you guys consider me a traitor if I posted over there?

[notyoueither]

Hell no. We'd hope they keep you.

Hugs and kisses.

[Dis]

I think I found the reason.

They have the most awesome smilies in all the interenet. Imagine what Lordshiva could do with all those smilies?

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by DanQ

The reason I didn't respond is that I didn't -- and still don't -- have a record of it in my PM archives (which go back some years). Do you still have a copy per chance?

Sorry, I've been through several PM purges since then.

It was about 3 years ago so would be hard to find, unless Ming or MarkG have well organised inboxes. It was all specific comments on the issues of the day though, so not a great deal would be transferable in any case.

The reason I brought it up is that I (and I see some others) don't think this site has a history of making best use of its potential resources, and that has in my view impacted on the decline we have observed. Perhaps that's changing now - I hope it is. There are certainly signs of that but some of the posts from mods/admins in this thread still look a tad on the complacent side to me.

[Solver]

Well, at least I hope you can't blame me for being complacent here.

[Ming]

I don't think anybody has been "complacent". There has been much discussion internally on what can be done, and how to make the changes. Some of the "easy" changes have been done. Others, especially when it comes to pretty much a total redesign as many have suggested, are far more difficult to implement and will take some time and man power.

It's real easy to come up with a list of what needs to be changed or improved. Even with all the different opinions shown in this thread, and other threads that have been on this topic, there are many key elements that I think everbody would agree with. But having a list and getting them done are two different stories.

[Solly]

I think the decline is because Ming spams too much.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Solver
Well, at least I hope you can't blame me for being complacent here.

On the whole no (and to Ming too).

But some of the later posts are a little. I and several others think that poor choices in the past for those leading the forums has been part of the problem - uninterested mods, no attempt (visible at least) to draw in sound people who are active etc. It seems that is not the view of you or Ming if I interpret correctly.

No doubt there will come a time again when a mod's activity and drive wanes, and if so they should be asked to step aside at that point, or reduce the number of forums they are responsible for.

Making progress going forward will be much easier if previous mistakes are learnt from. Don't misinterpret me, I know there are no easy solutions for improving what we can't forget is a free service delivered by volunteers. This open discussion is a pretty good first step, and one I frankly did not expect to see.

[Ming]

Originally posted by DrSpike
This open discussion is a pretty good first step, and one I frankly did not expect to see.

New management

[Colonâ„¢]

Maybe I'm not well positioned to make this statement, and I'm also a little drunk, which is the reason I'm posting this stuff anyway, but I think it wouldn't hurt if you all would take it a little less serious. Civilization is still just a game that's meant to be fun. And Apolyton is not an end, but a means.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Colonâ„¢
Maybe I'm not well positioned to make this statement, and I'm also a little drunk, which is the reason I'm posting this stuff anyway, but I think it wouldn't hurt if you all would take it a little less serious. Civilization is still just a game that's meant to be fun. And Apolyton is not an end, but a means.

Q F T

I love Poly

I love Civilization

I love playing and posting and getting to know people online and developing friendships online
I am a more cultured person because of Poly's People

We have an awesome place to congregtae

Lets have at it boyz

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by Colon�
Maybe I'm not well positioned to make this statement, and I'm also a little drunk, which is the reason I'm posting this stuff anyway, but I think it wouldn't hurt if you all would take it a little less serious. Civilization is still just a game that's meant to be fun. And Apolyton is not an end, but a means.

LIES!

Death to Civilization!

Poly for President!

/me runs...