[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Arethusa [/i]
[B]My idea for reviving the site was more along the lines of repurposing it to something more current and vital (whether that's turning it into a website for BSG or general scifi or something else is a matter for a different discussion) than something new and B5 related. [/B][/QUOTE]
That's a risky endeavour, as it could result in the loss of our identity. Keep in mind that simply adding numbers does not improve a forum. I suspect that as one of the last major surviving fansites, we could attract quite a few curious newbies with the proper content...
It's just figuring out what that content should be that makes it important. I think the wiki is a good start, as it aims to consolidate most of the information out there into one source, but...there's still some stuff missing. I'd like to incorporate those rogue b5 fanfiction elements into this place, as well. There are very, very few places to find it anymore.
I think that part of the problem is that the wiki feels seperate from the forum. There must be some way to intigrate the two. The only thing I can think of is link discussions to the forum in some manner.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Arethusa [/i]
[B]That's my point, really. The site can't really attract new people, people will drift off for a variety of reasons, and some people don't want that to change and would leave if the site became something different.
Still, I think it's worth discussing the possibility of redesignating the site towards something else, whatever that may be. [/B][/QUOTE] Mmhhh, well the site did attract me, and maybe I'm not that new (I just realized I've been a member for more than a year) but given the history of y'all, and that I don't (usually it's can't actually) post often, I still feel like a newbie sometimes.
What keeps me coming is this Zocalo, the hilarious quirkiness of threads like the "Found!!" one and the diversity of news and links posted. And of course the B5 news, some stuff posted here I don't see elsewhere.
I once belonged to a Farscape forum, after the show ended they decided to give the place a makeover, repurposing it as you suggest. Didn't work out so well, there wasn't a "critical mass" for the other shows among the Farscape fans in that community, and after a while the moderators had other things to deal with, the whole forum was closed.
I also was quite active in a forum for a favorite band, what keeps it going between albums and tours is the off-topic forum, but also that some people there are now a core community of friends, even that core changes a little but there's always a group staying around.
The other B5 forum I visit is the JMSnews one, that has the advantage of greater visibility, because of the archive, in getting new members.
Maybe it wouldn't hurt if Sanfam went there more often to let people know about recent updates to the Wiki and to ask for more people to help?
I would suggest adding the First Ones homepage banner at the top of the Wiki, with a big button linking to the forums next to it, so that Great Machine visitors are immediately aware that the Wiki comes from an established B5 fan community.
Who knows, maybe some Wiki visitors will become FirstOnes forum members.
But even if new members don't come so much, this is a community, maybe it's a small one, maybe it's not so active, but as long as it remains a community that's an achievement by itself that should be appreciated.
Biggles<font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
It's worth pointing out that we get at least one new member every week, often more. It's hard to say how many of those actually become active, but they're taking the time to sign up, at least.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Arethusa [/i]
[B]Honestly, the situation here is extremely different. Star Trek was building critical mass as a subculture. Babylon 5 is rapidly being forgotten, and where it is not forgotten, it quite honestly eclipsed by shows like Firefly and BSG. [/B][/QUOTE]
What? Do you REALLY mean that Firefly and BSG is better than B5? Nothing has yet managed to come close to the "mood" of B5.
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Biggles [/i]
[B]It's worth pointing out that we get at least one new member every week, often more. It's hard to say how many of those actually become active, but they're taking the time to sign up, at least. [/B][/QUOTE]
I should also point out that various firefly forums get an average of 40 a day :p
Biggles<font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
Firefly is a relatively new series with a lot of momentum still behind it, though. Plus it has broader appeal. And is every bit as good as B5, just in different ways.
Comments
And according to a reliable source, jms will have a new TV show in a couple of years. We can always shift to that.
[B]My idea for reviving the site was more along the lines of repurposing it to something more current and vital (whether that's turning it into a website for BSG or general scifi or something else is a matter for a different discussion) than something new and B5 related. [/B][/QUOTE]
That's a risky endeavour, as it could result in the loss of our identity. Keep in mind that simply adding numbers does not improve a forum. I suspect that as one of the last major surviving fansites, we could attract quite a few curious newbies with the proper content...
It's just figuring out what that content should be that makes it important. I think the wiki is a good start, as it aims to consolidate most of the information out there into one source, but...there's still some stuff missing. I'd like to incorporate those rogue b5 fanfiction elements into this place, as well. There are very, very few places to find it anymore.
[B]That's my point, really. The site can't really attract new people, people will drift off for a variety of reasons, and some people don't want that to change and would leave if the site became something different.
Still, I think it's worth discussing the possibility of redesignating the site towards something else, whatever that may be. [/B][/QUOTE] Mmhhh, well the site did attract me, and maybe I'm not that new (I just realized I've been a member for more than a year) but given the history of y'all, and that I don't (usually it's can't actually) post often, I still feel like a newbie sometimes.
What keeps me coming is this Zocalo, the hilarious quirkiness of threads like the "Found!!" one and the diversity of news and links posted. And of course the B5 news, some stuff posted here I don't see elsewhere.
I once belonged to a Farscape forum, after the show ended they decided to give the place a makeover, repurposing it as you suggest. Didn't work out so well, there wasn't a "critical mass" for the other shows among the Farscape fans in that community, and after a while the moderators had other things to deal with, the whole forum was closed.
I also was quite active in a forum for a favorite band, what keeps it going between albums and tours is the off-topic forum, but also that some people there are now a core community of friends, even that core changes a little but there's always a group staying around.
The other B5 forum I visit is the JMSnews one, that has the advantage of greater visibility, because of the archive, in getting new members.
Maybe it wouldn't hurt if Sanfam went there more often to let people know about recent updates to the Wiki and to ask for more people to help?
I would suggest adding the First Ones homepage banner at the top of the Wiki, with a big button linking to the forums next to it, so that Great Machine visitors are immediately aware that the Wiki comes from an established B5 fan community.
Who knows, maybe some Wiki visitors will become FirstOnes forum members.
But even if new members don't come so much, this is a community, maybe it's a small one, maybe it's not so active, but as long as it remains a community that's an achievement by itself that should be appreciated.
[B]Honestly, the situation here is extremely different. Star Trek was building critical mass as a subculture. Babylon 5 is rapidly being forgotten, and where it is not forgotten, it quite honestly eclipsed by shows like Firefly and BSG. [/B][/QUOTE]
What? Do you REALLY mean that Firefly and BSG is better than B5? Nothing has yet managed to come close to the "mood" of B5.
[B]It's worth pointing out that we get at least one new member every week, often more. It's hard to say how many of those actually become active, but they're taking the time to sign up, at least. [/B][/QUOTE]
I should also point out that various firefly forums get an average of 40 a day :p
just for a post