Lost our way?

[adamanteus]

Very good points, Wayne.
I quite like the idea of the pub where everyone talks about Garter Snakes... where is this place?

[reptileparadise]

A pub where everybody talks about gartersnakes...

Sounds good! I wonder where the conversations would go after a couple of beers! Hummus anyone?

[Lumpy]

Well, I was attracted to this site based on the fact it was garter specific. Because of the sites focus, it presents a niche that obviously attracts people with like interests, which is all good.

However, in the course of us becoming internet friends (so to speak), I think it's not unusual for us to share other interests that we have. Just seems like a natural progression to me.

I'll give you an example of another board I frequent, and how they handle it.

I've been a bass player for almost 30 years. I have a band and so on. Generally, my instrument of choice is made by Fender. Some of you may be familiar with the company, some not. Doesn't matter, just giving some background.

Ok, so I frequent a site that's devoted to fans of Fender Instruments. Every thread topic on the site, except one, is there for Fender based conversation. HOWEVER, there is one thread (Moe's Tavern) designed as a meet and greet area that has a simple rule. Talk about anything, but Fenders. So people discuss all kinds of interests and topics. Yes, there are lots of posts on it, but it keeps things fresh as well. We are all still there because of our interest in Fenders, but if all we talked about was guitars and basses, we'd get bored and run out of topics. Or we'd go in circles talking/answering the same issues.

So, it's food for thought.

Lump

[adamanteus]

HOWEVER, there is one thread (Moe's Tavern) designed as a meet and greet area that has a simple rule. Talk about anything, but Fenders.

That sounds pretty much like our 'Oh So Quiet' thread.

[adamanteus]

Slightly off topic, but we have one forum which remains toatally unused....
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/last...-best-threads/
Maybe we should utilize this place, so that our less frequent visiting members don't miss anything interesting? Of course it would just be a list of links.

[infernalis]

Just an observation, I have seen this one more than once.

Some people have even bonded so tightly with "forum friends" that they will allow their own personal lives to collapse around them and hardly even notice.

It's so common that there are statistics logged for it.

Wayne

[Stefan-A]

looks very controversial....

Think of it like this, You found a pub and wander in, it's got some great folks hanging around, great conversations and a welcome to join right in.

then someone says, we only talk about Garter snakes here, you think wow, what a great place! so you walk out front, feed some more money in the parking meter and settle in for the night.

eventually someone says want to see my ball python? (assuming that since you like garter snakes, that you may find that BP more interesting that say aunt Millie would)

Do you tell them, oh no that's 3 pubs up the street from here, they talk about ball pythons there?

Well, the Internet being what it is, I'd say that there's really only one pub, with people discussing different topics at each table. A more appropriate forum is always just two clicks away. That's the equivalent of having to turn your chair or just having to turn your head and maybe lean over a bit to join that discussion.

[Stefan-A]

Slightly off topic, but we have one forum which remains toatally unused....
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/last...-best-threads/
Maybe we should utilize this place, so that our less frequent visiting members don't miss anything interesting? Of course it would just be a list of links.

"Stefan-A, you do not have permission to access this page."

[adamanteus]

"Stefan-A, you do not have permission to access this page."

Is that a joke, Stefan? Or can you not access this forum?

[Stefan-A]

Is that a joke, Stefan? Or can you not access this forum?

No, that's not a joke.