Will try to add some postings soon.
phil, Oct 26, 2007 @ 10:30

I don't know the others, but
1) I'm on facebook but I would never open or follow a thread there. Facebook is more a toy than a networking utility, in my opinion. The only cute thing there is finding sometimes new pictures uploaded by friends (I even found a picture of me at my wedding seven years ago, posted by a friend in Belgium!)
2) I'm on some other networks and I had the impression that posting slows down everywhere. why? Personally I think that this is the beginning of the business year (a little like at school times) and I'm too busy with starting up new projects and activities to be very active on forums. I guess I'm not alone. Cheerio, Minda. See you at Halloween!
Stef__Granny, Oct 26, 2007 @ 12:08

Very interesting thread/question Minda.

So - any answers out there?

Why are there less posts in the forums these days, despite the fact that the number of people online is constantly getting higher, and the Member Activities and MarketPlace sections are more active than ever?

Thanks

Oded


SiteAdmin Oded, Oct 26, 2007 @ 23:13

it's not like what it used to be where the community was small.. now there are my work colleagues and my 'clients' signed up. thus am slightly weary of what i say and the time i post ^_^; why do you think i've turned temporarily back into a chicken? at one point i used to freely post things, but i'm definitely am more picky of where and what i post things.
as for FB, i agree with tinkie. of all the various accounts i've got, it's usually the last thing i check because all my local friends are glocal members (if not, i make them into one) and it's more relevant to what goes on here locally.
and... on the few occasions where i recently posted a reply, i've had someone who i've never met before attack me for no other reason other than they didn't like what i suggested or posted. sometimes written words tend to hurt more than spoken words because you can't tell the context of how they meant to say it. anyway ever since then i've not put down much of my opinions / suggestions in the general forum.
YouMeCo, Oct 27, 2007 @ 05:16

My guess is that this site is used more as a resource than a regular social networking venue and, if so, the participation on it would be expected to drop off the more familiar a member becomes with the country. Those members who use Glocals for socializing probably already see each other regularly (or email directly) and therefore struggle with something new to say when on it.

I’m not on Facebook but I am curious about it’s actual value. After members relocate their high school chums and reconnect with old acquaintances, then what? It sounds like a huge party where after few hours of catching up everyone struggles for something new to say. And despite the invention of the phone book, the cell phone, the Internet, there’s still that reason for loosing touch in the first place.

Riley, Oct 27, 2007 @ 16:48

I think it's a natural cycle, and we see it often on the site. For reasons beyond me, there are peaks when members post more, and there are lows when members post less. It's just some sort of natural cycle, I guess.

However, saying that, we're now working on several forum improvements, which will make a difference (we think):
- newest forum posts will be shown on the HomePage
- better notifications for members when interesting new posts are up
- better 'forum search' capabilites.

All this planned for the next 4-5 weeks.


Nir Ofek, Oct 27, 2007 @ 19:27

sherri, do you have shares of that company? :-) (nt)
summermind, Oct 28, 2007 @ 15:19

Is this type of thread.

I have been a member now for the past month and have met some great people. What I have also noticed is that there is a lot of good will amongst many people here toward newcomers. In addition, I feel that Nir, Oded and the other site administrators really make an effort to listen and respond to suggestions and comments. I am not particularly interested in Facebook for the moment because I am more interested meeting people in my local as opposed to the world community.

As for hurtful words from strangers, I suppose that will always be the case, especially on the internet. That said, I think most people of good will are willing to move on and let bygones be bygones. And I am sure there are cycles as Nir has observed.
Translator, Oct 28, 2007 @ 17:12

if you had shares in facebook you'd be a rich woman today, cos the current estimates are that facebook may be worth USD 15 Billion !

I have to admit (althogh I am ofcourse biased), that I don't get the facebook hype. After I connected with people I have not seen for years via it (which is real nice) and emailed them, I had nothing left to do on it. Seeing who hugged who and who I match with is less interesting for me.

But hey, 40 million people can't be wrong...(-:

Nir Ofek, Oct 28, 2007 @ 21:36

this site to facebook. Saw the group on FB a few days back but felt more involved in here, than out there ;) As for lesser threads, I agree with it following some sort of cycle, perhaps... or maybe, everyone concurred that the answer is 42 ;)
season, Oct 28, 2007 @ 22:44

This thread is getting some replies...

Personaly, I think that FB started well, but all these crazy applications messed it up, and its becoming too noisy. Too many pokes, too may bites... Its a nice time waster, but I quickly grow tired of all the mails and notifications.

Back to our forums, I think its a seasonal thing too, and I also think that we need to make it easier to see whats new in the forums, and easier to post, reply and search.

As Nir mentioned, we are working on it now, and I hope you will like the changes.

Oded
SiteAdmin Oded, Oct 29, 2007 @ 00:21

that I can finally share pictures with my friends in an easy way. Taggin, untagging, uplloading and commenting is easy!!! It's just a click. That people can change their status as often as they want , and usually is a good way to check what ur friends/ mates/ people from the past are up to. and that is a bit like my own website but it doesn't take time to customize it. I can add my personal photos for my friends to see. I can write a note to update them, and I can do just random stupid stuff like poking them!
There are too many applications but I just ignore most of them ... unless i am really bored. This commuity is great to meet people, to comment on topic of general (more or less interest .. .) but is not SO great for 1:1 exchange non real time (emails but then?) ... and FB is just more immediate. Thou i would not use FB to connect with lots of people at the same time, Or to meet new people!!

Vale - FB addict and oh did I forget to mention .. the mobile application for FB is just SO addictive, check ur mails and change ur status from the mobile.
Love it!
Hoiling, Oct 29, 2007 @ 14:36

The spammer is back. I've finally accpeted the intrusion of ADSL at home. I'm already tired on contentless Facbook. And I think I just foud a new post apocalyptic banter partner on this forum.... yeeeepeee ! :-)
Hobbes, Oct 29, 2007 @ 21:45

now that the Hobbster's back. got your second wind? a new life after all the organ donations you rec'd? or do you have amnesia having thwacking your head into the wall in pitch darkness? (and it wasn't even JT's event!) (^n^)
YouMeCo, Oct 30, 2007 @ 00:56

From the responses here, it seems that Facebook has more appeal to the female gender.
Riley, Oct 30, 2007 @ 11:14

http://site.despair.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/tradition1.jpg


http://www.interet-general.info/IMG/Allemagne-Nuremberg-Meeting-Nazi-1935.gif
Hobbes, Oct 30, 2007 @ 13:03

"It's an emerging rule of thumb that suggests that if you get a group of 100 people online then one will create content, 10 will "interact" with it (commenting or offering improvements) and the other 89 will just view it."
(Read full article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2006/jul/20/guardianweeklytechnologysection2)

I noticed long ago that a mere 1% of active members posted regularily on the forum. Many of them took some sort of "break" recently, for various reasons. No wonder to me the forum fell asleap as a result.
Hobbes, Oct 30, 2007 @ 13:19

If this rule seems quite right, one should not forget, as the Wizards of the Discworld say, that the odd of 1 to 1'000'000 has 9 chances on 10 to happen... That's why I keep writing posts, just in case people would read them...

;-)

Syd.

PS: For those who do not know the Discworld, I really recommend you to read the burlesk-medieval fantasy serie of Terry Pratchett...

PS2: for those who know about it: CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE I CAN POST A THREAD ABOUT A SCYTHE SHARPENER EXCHANGE AGAINST AN HOURGLASS?
Syd_Brown, Oct 30, 2007 @ 15:32

I honestly do.

I also read most of the Discworld books, and loved them. Since you 'claim' you know the books, let me ask you a simple trivia: who is 'Binky'?
Nir Ofek, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:12

The Death's noble mount, for whom time and scape are just a path it can gallop either ways!

My favourite character is the Death Himself. I really hope that when I'll pass away, my imagination will make me believe that a 7 feet tall skeleton will come and say to me:
"YOU ARE WATCHING YOUR CLOCK, GREG. I AM ALWAYS ON TIME. IT IS YOUR CLOCK THAT IS LATE. OH, BY THE WAY, YOU WILL NOT NEED TO BE ANXIOUS ANYMORE, UNLESS YOU'RE AFRAID OF "NOTHING".
AND, UH, YES, YOU WILL BE A FOSSIL."
Syd_Brown, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:19

when you die (and I hope this will not be for a very long time), I bet Death will come to you and say:

'Hello Greg. You are going to heaven, because you already showed us what hell looks like with your post-armagedon mutant porn-star costume at the Hallween Party'...(-:

Nir Ofek, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:34

I'm posting . This thread now contains most of the 10% who either POst or comment.

I've been using Facebook as a handy way of getting interest amongst people I know who want to attend an activity. Easy to see who will or might or won't turn up. It's not a way to meet new people , which GOL is great for or discuss things in General or even to ask a question. Post a random activity on GOL and you'll get interest from friends and strangers (who become friends).

I'm sure facebook will be replaced by the next best thing at some point in the future so I'm not investing my loyalty in the site as I have done with GOL (Sorry Glocals).

Trevor
britabroad, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:35

Thanks a lot Bro! ;-)

But if to be in Hell is to be with all my friends, drunk, dancing like crazy, half-naked and going home with a gorgeous lady, Heaven can wait!

;-)

Sydael, keeper of Hell's back-door
Syd_Brown, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:40

Thanks guys, and welcome back Hobbes

I knew about the 80/20 rule - which claimed that 20% of the members are active posters and organizers, while 80% are less visible, but this 1% rule is probably more correct.

Organizing an activity, posting a review in City Guide and even posting on the forums all require some degree of effort and motivation, and not everyone is willing, or interested, in being involved.

I like to think that people do 'pass it on' though, and that someone who got an answer on the forums, or joined a fun activity, or read a useful review about a venue, will be more likely to answer others, organize an activity and/or post his/her own reviews.

Many thanks to the people who do spend their time and energy making this a better and more active community.

Without the 1% - the 99% would be staring at a blank screen :-)

Oded





SiteAdmin Oded, Oct 30, 2007 @ 16:48

where ever we end up, I just hope we're both there together!

Nir Ofek, Oct 30, 2007 @ 17:01

was the nazi picture really necessary?
do you always have to provoke people?
i feel offended, usually i just keep my mouth shut if you post one of your "things", and think my part but i had enough. what´s wrong with you?

i am aware that i am attacking you, so therefore my post is up for deletion, i don´t care.

i will get back to my beloved facebook now, where stupid posts simply don´t reach me since i am not connected to certain people.

i used to be a huge fan, early member and genevaonline.ch enthusiast, but i guess i got bored by always seeing the same people, making a fuzz on the forums.




Mister_Sark, Oct 31, 2007 @ 03:58

Dear friends,

THANK YOU so much for your reply!!! I feel exactly the same you do!!!

I have been a member for a long time - before, the 2000 members party, and I used to be proud of Gol - but SORRY, to say not any longer - to many strangers, to many so called people which seem to know everthing...

As for me, my last "over 40's" is being held end of Nov - then I will take my usual 2months brake-....

And a so called post - which killed a lot off!!! ( the black sheep - specially coming from someone...no further comment - pls feel free to take my comment off!)

Looking forward to seeing you on facebook...;-) ...it's time I join too ;-)))



SWISS, Nov 1, 2007 @ 01:21

the same person can be in of the 1% on a community, in the 10% in another and in the 89% in a third. For example, on Glocals, I organize activities on a regular basis (1%) and participate to forums although I rarely initiate threads (10%), yet, I am a totaly passive consumer on youtube or cooking websites (89%). We are all multidimensionals...
Bustan_A, Nov 1, 2007 @ 07:23

curious and excited to see the changes. I think both sites are great, and different, although they needs they seek to meet are not so different - to connect people. FB does seem to overwhelm with applications and friends seem to go crazy with the invitations to install them and then within days uninstall them. Although some people also can't get enough applications in their collection, it seems. And some of them are certainly pretty neat - like being able to listen to your entire iTunes collection from wherever you are logged in. And like Hoiling says, the one-liner updates ae a good way of keeping in touch with a glimpse of where people are at.
I guess Glocals could benefit from some of the event-planning functionality on FB.
SimSim, Nov 1, 2007 @ 09:55

FB is just another tool do network with
I remember hearing some stats years ago about how women have highest propensity for Internet addiction too
SimSim, Nov 1, 2007 @ 09:59

I am new in geneva - and GOL was recommended to me by well meaning friends back home (who had never been to geneva but googled networks etc for my sake - since I was "going away" and was going "to be alone"). I joined up quite some time back but became an active member only recently after I had settled in to life here.
I do understand the concerns of some of the members here who feel that with too many people joining and remaining invisible only to lash out on views and opinions, life on gol is changing. What with maintaining political correctness in whatever you express to wondering where the threads are, it certainly can not be as easy or friendly as before.
At this point i have to ask, is there any online networking site that pleases all? If you don't like something, comment on it or kick the person's backside (virtually, of course!) or howl on a full moon night ;) but to feel disillusioned with gol and leave the network for that reason is not done! In doing so, most of you (the early glocalers) clearly give up on the idea behind glocals, do you not? By reacting so strongly, the message sent out to the amiable newcomers is quite confusing. To show that they are unwelcome and then wonder why they are not posting... is confusing to me too :)
And speaking for myself, I must say that I find gol a good initiative – a friendly portal to friendly people. Here’s to hoping for happier times on glocals :)

season, Nov 1, 2007 @ 14:53

bugger i just wrote a nice piece and i was out of thingy time and lost it. I hope i can write what i'd written before.
So, I thought this was what GLOCALs was about, to help strangers get to meet people and make friends and or acquantances, do activities and stop being so lonely in such a, at times, difficult city.
In an "exclusive" club people are generally more closed to new ideas, new people and new things as they see themselves above everybody else or just too special.
I thought the idea was that everybody is special and just needs the right platform to find their niche and yes, there are lots of "obnoxious rude" people out there but communication is the key and if not getting flagged and getting a talk from Admin would be the next step and after that they could get kicked off.
After all everybody once was a stranger, everybody once needed help and everybody once was lonely, and if this platform can help strangers (that would include you and me) out there to get to know people and find friends and stop being lonely then i think GLOCALS is working albeit the odd spammers and such.
S.
P.S. Ah well, i dont think it came out the way i wrote it the first time but it will have to do since i already forgot what it is i wrote the first time.. :)Hello to everybody.
Susie, Nov 1, 2007 @ 16:44

witches and corporal carrot and the new books with Penny, Jenny eh..what was her name the girl from the chalk mountain ...noooo. my favourite characters are the Wee Fee Mac Nagles which i think i've spelt wrong... drink, fight and steal cos we are already in heaven... :)
Susie, Nov 1, 2007 @ 16:51

You're probably palking about the Wee Nag Mac Feegles, aren't you?

Their philosophy is quite right, I must say, but I just can't stand to notice meat and ale being stolen from my fridge anymore! ;-)

Oh, and I would really be unfair if I did not mention Nanny Ogg as one of my favorite character. I would have loved to meet her in her 20ies to... ...sing songs about hedgehogs (and perhaps dance a few morris steps)!

Cheers to all the multiverses!

Syd.
Syd_Brown, Nov 1, 2007 @ 17:06

she has in her underdrawers or whatever they be called. :) oh, and have a taste of her scumble. yeah.. wouldnt mind trying that out.
I've read all the books and some 10 times like small gods, the watch ones with Vimes who is quite right always "root"-(i think i've splet that wrong) for the "undertrodden" because they have the most unfair life until they get to the top and then they do not become "the undertrodden" anymore :)
So i root for all my fellow humans and non humans out there who have to work. :)
Susie, Nov 1, 2007 @ 17:20

Small Gods is excellent! (nt)
Syd_Brown, Nov 1, 2007 @ 17:22

Just LOVE that sentence man ! :-)
Hobbes, Nov 2, 2007 @ 00:35