Communities' Landscape - Present to Future
At present, there are two more active forums, the large one over at SSCentral and the growing on here. There are also a few smaller forums that have varying levels of activity. Whenever "II" launches, I foresee a decrease in activity of the two more active forums since some members will be undoubtedly enticed to join the new board. That, in itself, is fine, but I wonder whether some may just be curious to see "II" simply because it may (things might change, though) be based in name on a past community.
What I hope not to see is sub-member allegiances to specific communities. I already have seen how some members in some places prefer posting on one board or another: some just because they feel more comfortable in one board; some because they don't like the other board. 'tis a subtle but significant difference in reasoning. I, myself, don't post at SSCentral, but it is from my own uncomfortability on that board. From the posts I've read, I just don't feel my presence as "iSoaker.com" would be taken well, thus have avoided it. However, I am a member and I read the forums since there is a lot of good information there. Others, though, who haven't gone to SSCentral should at least take a look at what other forums offer. When "II" launches, check it out as well. Different places have their own strengths and weaknesses. As these places are only forums, members should feel free and interested to explore the info pools available.
I suppose time will tell what the future holds for online Soakerdom.
What I hope not to see is sub-member allegiances to specific communities. I already have seen how some members in some places prefer posting on one board or another: some just because they feel more comfortable in one board; some because they don't like the other board. 'tis a subtle but significant difference in reasoning. I, myself, don't post at SSCentral, but it is from my own uncomfortability on that board. From the posts I've read, I just don't feel my presence as "iSoaker.com" would be taken well, thus have avoided it. However, I am a member and I read the forums since there is a lot of good information there. Others, though, who haven't gone to SSCentral should at least take a look at what other forums offer. When "II" launches, check it out as well. Different places have their own strengths and weaknesses. As these places are only forums, members should feel free and interested to explore the info pools available.
I suppose time will tell what the future holds for online Soakerdom.
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
I'm not entirely sure why you feel that way, iSoaker...speaking for myself as a global moderator I would be very pleased to see your posts there, and I'm sure you would have a lot to contribute to the forums.isoaker_com wrote:I, myself, don't post at SSCentral, but it is from my own uncomfortability on that board. From the posts I've read, I just don't feel my presence as "iSoaker.com" would be taken well, thus have avoided it.
SSCentral Forums - K modded forums.
ISS: Soaker Sagas - histories of soaking personnel and water blasters. Post your own today!
ISS: Soaker Sagas - histories of soaking personnel and water blasters. Post your own today!
I know and as I said in the other thread, I have nothing against new communities. My main complaint with "II" is that it may be a "II" as opposed to something new.Veteran wrote:As you said Isoaker, you prefer the comfortability of one board vs another. We're just trying to add another option.
As for my feelings with posting on SSCentral, well, simply put, if you saw what I see from my view, you'd likely feel the same, too. At the same time, I'm glad SSCentral exists as it does offer another viewpoint on things. I just don't wish to be 'known' there though I am there. It is quite different when I post there 'anonymously' as opposed to posting there as an "isoaker_com" identity.
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
- Field Marshal Yang
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I started off in December 2002 posting at Club Aquatica near the end of its run. I also discovered WWN, which I joined in January of 2003. I posted more at Aquatica until it ended, so then I posted only a WNN. Once SSC was created, I never remembered to regiester and as the year went by I decided to stay at WWN. That's probably the same thing that's going to happen with me and isoaker forums. I simply feel more familiar in a place run by isoaker. If I had more time I'd probably join SSC and/or Aquatica II.
Edited By Field Marshal Yang on 1092016358
Edited By Field Marshal Yang on 1092016358
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
if you saw what I see from my view, you'd likely feel the same, too
I post here without any trouble. In fact, I like posting here because there are a lot of people who have good things I'd want to talk about. Where there is discussion I typically will post.
It doesn't take much time at all to join a forum and bookmark it. I browse 5 or 6 forums daily and post at 3 or 4. Doesn't take too long at all, at least for me.
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- Field Marshal Yang
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I would like to post at SSS but like Excelite I'm a bit too lazy to change an internet routine I'm accustomed to. Also, if I used my original amount of internet, I'd have to remove some several parts of routinue. However, it is a great site with an extensive amount of info and some original things that can't be found here.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
My hope for present and future communities is simple: separate communities, but shared information pools.
One big community suffers the danger just in case a server goes down or the admin give up or some other issue occurs. Thus, having a few separate communities ensures that at least one board should be running even if another is having temporary problems. However, as things are evolving towards, I hope for happy and free information exchange between communities. We are all into soaking, though our specific soaking preferences may vary slightly. Different communities have their own specific feels, thus appealing to different members. Some members feel at home in all places while others may find a particular community more fitting to their personality than another. However, what I like seeing is members of communities being pointed towards where the good information lies: either in another community or in another site. Sometimes, there are a couple of sites with similar information. Different view points are good to read.
One big community suffers the danger just in case a server goes down or the admin give up or some other issue occurs. Thus, having a few separate communities ensures that at least one board should be running even if another is having temporary problems. However, as things are evolving towards, I hope for happy and free information exchange between communities. We are all into soaking, though our specific soaking preferences may vary slightly. Different communities have their own specific feels, thus appealing to different members. Some members feel at home in all places while others may find a particular community more fitting to their personality than another. However, what I like seeing is members of communities being pointed towards where the good information lies: either in another community or in another site. Sometimes, there are a couple of sites with similar information. Different view points are good to read.
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
what about a central hub that all forums could have links to? it would be like the community or general discussions forums, only it linked to a separate page that all sites would link to. that way, all forums could link seamlessly (at least relatively so) and share information. you could call it the 'forum link'. thoughts? comments?
and maybe you could get it to match the layout of the forum you linked from with clever programming. who knows.
Edited By leprekan on 1092280360
and maybe you could get it to match the layout of the forum you linked from with clever programming. who knows.
Edited By leprekan on 1092280360
Uh... a "central hub" would be no more than another community. It has been attempted in the past by both Aquatica and WaterWar.net. To build it, one would need support from the various communities. At present, not sure attempting a 'central' hub is a good idea simply due to the current small size of Soakerdom.leprekan wrote:what about a central hub that all forums could have links to? it would be like the community or general discussions forums, only it linked to a separate page that all sites would link to. that way, all forums could link seamlessly (at least relatively so) and share information. you could call it the 'forum link'. thoughts? comments?
and maybe you could get it to match the layout of the forum you linked from with clever programming. who knows.
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
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Right now, we run on a sort of Dual-Hub system. Between SSC and iSc, we either link directly to or provide links that will then link to every SS site on the web. Basically, all of the pages linked to iSc or SSC will have links to other pages, which have links to other pages... hence a "web." All of the Super Soaker websites (probably) are somewhere linked in the web of iSc, SSC, and their linked pages.
Follow?
Follow?
true, but what i am saying is that we should have a way for everybody to communicate without having to sign up at another forum or even leave the website they are posting the most on. I'd like to post at ssc, but i don't have the time and I only have a one or two-track mind. if i start regularly posting at three different sites i will have trouble remembering what is going on and who is who. In a nutshell, it would be a way for people like me to experience the input of other sites without leaving home turf.
- Field Marshal Yang
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In that case, it would sort of be like how you can sign up for Yahoo mail and still be able to send e-mails to someone with a Hotmail account. Out of curiousity, does the same thing apply to Instant Messangers? ex: can AIM users chat with ICQ or MSN Messanger? Anyway, such a system has yet to beinvented and it would require the consent of all the communities' administrators.leprekan wrote:true, but what i am saying is that we should have a way for everybody to communicate without having to sign up at another forum or even leave the website they are posting the most on. I'd like to post at ssc, but i don't have the time and I only have a one or two-track mind. if i start regularly posting at three different sites i will have trouble remembering what is going on and who is who. In a nutshell, it would be a way for people like me to experience the input of other sites without leaving home turf.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond
Uh... no, not a good idea.leprekan wrote:true, but what i am saying is that we should have a way for everybody to communicate without having to sign up at another forum or even leave the website they are posting the most on. I'd like to post at ssc, but i don't have the time and I only have a one or two-track mind. if i start regularly posting at three different sites i will have trouble remembering what is going on and who is who. In a nutshell, it would be a way for people like me to experience the input of other sites without leaving home turf.
Allowing someone to be able to post in every site without having to leave one site is just asking for problems from spammers, etc. As well, part of the thing that makes the different communities work is that they do have different feels to them. If there was a cross-posting section, why even have separate places at all?
The Net is open. Members should explore to find the info and/or the place they like interacting with. Sometimes you just need to take the time to look around. If you never check out other sites, some good sites will be missed if they are not linked.
I prefer communities being seperate, but having open communication lines between them (i.e. reference posts on one place to another if good information is located elsewhere).
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
ex: can AIM users chat with ICQ or MSN Messanger?
Actually you can in some programs, but I believe you need to have an account in all 3 protocols.
It would be completely possible to have an international Super Soaker forum like many other subjects have. The problems arising from this include who to run it, what forum software to use, who pays the bills and if it would actually make a difference with the small community as a whole. There is unspoken rivalry between the top sites, and that may be shown in such a forum. I also wouldn't like to go on another one of these pilgrimages. Simply put, I don't think that the idea would work very well immediately, there probably would be some transition period like after the Aquatica Ikonboard. It also would need support from the community as a whole to even start up.
Edited By Doom on 1092404191
It would be completely possible to have an international Super Soaker forum like many other subjects have.
There already are; SSCentral and these forums have members from different parts of the globe.
What is different between the current sets of forums and what Aquatica or WaterWar.net was is that the current forums are more focussed on the site that is hosting it whereas Aquatica and WaterWar.net really had no major site content; the only value in those communities were the forums, themselves.
I miss the old set-up, but as Doom mentioned, the problems on who would run it, pay for it, set it up, etc. not to mention how long the set of forums would last...
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:
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