Forum

What would improve this site? What would draw more users? What's needed?

We need to get rid of Cotton. That's a first.

I think HsC! suffers from a lack of focus. In other words, the fact that we cover so much (Hardware, Software, Games, Art, etc), makes it all the less surprising that people end not feeling comfortable in joining, in a way. Just like when I register in Art forums; I expect them to be associated with art only ----and that is what truly makes me join. In which case, the community and its level of maturity/interest is --most of the times-- compromised. It's a safe bet. I'm going for something I know I'll fit into, somehow.

In here, I believe we lack this; this "key attraction". Discussions about Hardware are often dismantled with performance comparison; Software depends mostly on opinions and personal preferences; Art is always a good subject to discuss, but needs more people to interact with it; Life Awareness, such as Pollution, is mostly source-dependable and inaccurate as well. Everything is very much like opinion-dependent. In a way, that makes any and all discussion seemingly pointless.

I still think HsC! should turn to be about game industry and production. Modders, game coders, 3D modelers, etc ----This is what I would like to see HsC! achieving in a long-term compromise.

First step is; Banning Cotton.

Banning cotton won't solve anything. Wait, what am I saying?; there's nothing to solve. We have no problems here, but there's always room to improve. And Killaman is right. I come here not because there's a certain attraction, but because it's HeadShot and frankly because I'll support any of Nate's projects. But if everything he's done with HeadShot over-what? the last 4 or so years already?- is just thrown away to become another modding site, or anything really, I would have no reason to return because that's not HeadShot.

So, umm, I think we should do the opposite of what Dann said.

*Dann runs to a corner and swears not to ever post again as tears follow through his sad expression*














The End of Dann's Never Heard Stories.

None of my ideas (or better said, words of opinion) implied restriction. It was nowhere in my intention to pass that feeling onto others. The way I see it, HsC! is just floating on the vacuum --I don't mean it badly!--; which, as a consequence, may inflict the sense of doubt to newly and/or yet to register users.

"Hm, interesting. What should I post? Oh, I don't know. They all know so much about so many things. I am not sure I know as much, and I don't want to look like a clown. There's this interesting discussion about religion, but no one ever seems to be talking about it anymore? Should I, as a new member, bump it? Oh. I don't think that'd make them think good of me either. I'm really unsure as to what I should post about. Ehm. I'll look into it some other time, I guess."

This is a familiar scenario for new users; even the more when they lack of trust or confidence on themselves/their opinions/their thoughts. It takes a lot of guts to come out of the blank and put your words out there, you know? Especially when you, not after too long from doing so, find yourself defending them with bone and flesh.

My point is; if things have an higher sense of direction, it often helps to smooth out this illusion of being inadequate/incapable. Direction is, in no way, a synonym of restriction and exclusivity. At least that's what I believe. Things are connected in chains. You go from point A to point B. You do something to achieve something else; you provoke something to get something else in return.

In a forum, you post to be replied to, or for others to read. In a friendly community, you often find yourself posting about your own life adventures, which I am sure many of us enjoy reading about (Personally, I always do!). But; ---but we all have a background. We all know each other from way back. New users don't. We need to account for that.

A last words in regards to direction or focus; ---The same way you see no point in being active in a restricted forum, would you see a point in visiting a forum with no point at all? Obviously, HsC! does have a point in its existence. For all I know, presently, it stands for and about the community. However, that aside, what is it that HsC (the forum itself, not its members) has to offer? There needs to be a key somewhere, to open up those pad-lockers that guard people's interest, aye? At least that's how I think forums should do. Be there to more than just chatting. Chatting was a pump in the 90s and everyone wanted to log onto IRC. That's not that case anymore, I'm afraid. Chatting is as much part of our lives nowadays, as pissing is.

Sorry for the long post.

Make one huge post that tells users they are in the house of their mothers. Then they shouldn't feel bad bumping posts. They might as well build a hole in the wall and live on the forums.


I am serious.

Well AssBlaster for whatever reason has decided to become absent on the forums as well as AIM (at least when I check the ol' buddy list).

Anyway, Dann suggested I improve the site by updating, getting a decent theme and whatnot. While I want to do this, the current version of SMF is old and the newest version is only a Release Candidate. I don't want to upgrade to SMF 2.0 RC2 and mod it and theme it just to have to make changes for RC3 or the final release. So, I think I'm going to wait until either RC3 or the final release comes out then I'll put some effort into the site. Until then, it'd be nice if new users joined

Unless we had a project going...to justify artists, modelers and coders to join, somehow.

Well, you have Jonny's project, but that's still like two years away.