Let's face facts: we simply are not as busy as we used to be. I've been looking at other Forums, both Apostolic and non Apostolic. It seems that those who are full of fighting, name calling and arguments are ''happening'' and very ''busy".
In fact, things have been so slow here, that I've been recruited to help moderate another forum. It is a non Christian based forum, although there are ''Christians'' over there. I do some ministry to the comic book and Sci Fi industry - so I was asked to help out with this forum.
Anyways: They've noticed a drop off in posting too - it was after they stopped having open bickering and fighting over social issues and started booting trolls that they became less busy.
If you have ideas on how to increase traffic without feeding the trolls... talk to me.
Forums in general have been supplanted by (acck! pfft!) Facebook and the like. The only reason some have high traffic is because everyone likes to watch a train wreck. If we had to import drama to get more traffic, I would have to go elsewhere. I'm allergic to drama.
But surely there are like minded apostolics that want a drama free place. I know I did. I'd given up on such a place until I found it by accident. Is there a way to boost GP's place on google and other search engines, to where we would be in the first couple of returns when someone searches "apostolic forums" or the like?
Am I not enough of a train wreck with drama to attract more members? :cool:
The only thing that keeps me comin back. And I mean only. Is that this is more personal forum. If it picks up a lot or a ton more people join, I won't be able to keep up.
What is the push to shut down or stir up more traffic?
Is there a way to start over with a more private board with those who have actually been active in the last year? Is that a crazy idea?
Let it ride... All forums have dry spells.
If it became like other "Apostolic" forums I would say goodbye and never be back. Those here now I would find other ways to keep in contact with.
Quote from: MellowYellow on December 11, 2013, 04:11:51 AM
The only thing that keeps me comin back. And I mean only. Is that this is more personal forum. If it picks up a lot or a ton more people join, I won't be able to keep up.
What is the push to shut down or stir up more traffic?
Is there a way to start over with a more private board with those who have actually been active in the last year? Is that a crazy idea?
Mel, no push!
Just looking for ideas. Once upon a time this was a happening board. I literally could not keep up by my self. I had to have a lot of moderators and now due to low traffic, even some of them have taken off.
I don't want it to be high drama, those days were nightmares. My PM's, email and yes even telephone would blow up. I had to remove messenger from my computer because every time I logged in, someone would send me nasty grams and freak out on me.
I've seen death threats, suicide attempts, church split ups, name calling, gossip and worse on this board. We once had a female perv who was sending me porn via PM and email, while at the same time sexually harrassing a teenager (girl)
We've had self appointed prophets and even two ministers from different Apostolic Organization try to use the forum as way to get back at each other. Oh those arguments were not too fun. They actually had web sites attacking each other and calling out each other's personal life and bringing family in to it.
Divorced couples attacking each other, boy friends and girl friends threatening each other after and or during breakups.
Oy...
Trust me... quiet is better.
Ok. Phew!
What if we threw an online reunion party? "Stop by and share your favorite memories with old friends."
Is there a GP anniversary coming up?
No idea. It has been so long, that I forgot. This board has taken on so many different changes, people have come and gone.
Right now we have on the average of one to three active threads at any time. That is WAAAAAY Down from even 4 years ago.
I can attest to that. I remember when I first poked my nose in here... *shudders eloquently* That's why I didn't stick around back then. So much frivolous stuff, so many threads that were (apparently) made just for the sake of making a new thread, or maybe just another place to make fluff posts to raise one's post count. I got more than enough of empty teen-style chat in the apostolic chatroom. :roll:
I like this forum much better these days.
I've enjoyed it in both areas. I was here back then when I was a teenager (or around 17-18)...and it was fun then too. Met someone I'll never ever forget back then. Lots of people really. That I'm still friends with (well sporadically lol).
And I enjoy it now. Even with old people like Mini, and Roscoe *cough*. :hypocrite:
I should add that I can also see it from the point of view of the owner. You're paying bills to provide a forum for other apostolics, but you're not getting much traffic these days. It begs the question, if we only have a small group of regulars and no visitors these days, why not either shut it down or take it to a Facebook group where it's free?
But personally I like it much better like this... :D
Quote from: MsJennJenn on December 11, 2013, 06:11:08 PM
I've enjoyed it in both areas. I was here back then when I was a teenager (or around 17-18)...and it was fun then too. Met someone I'll never ever forget back then. Lots of people really. That I'm still friends with (well sporadically lol).
And I enjoy it now. Even with old people like Mini, and Roscoe *cough*. :hypocrite:
:pound: :pound: That should've read, " .......old people like Scott, and Purple Fuzzy"... :hypocrite:
Officer Mc Hobbit: Leave me out of this.
Besides, Miss Jenn Jenn has never met me. If she had, she would be bragging about it, NOT Complaining!!!!! :laughhard: :laughhard: :laughhard:
Quote from: taco_harvell on December 11, 2013, 04:27:46 AM
Let it ride... All forums have dry spells.
Quote from: taco_harvell on December 11, 2013, 04:30:52 AM
If it became like other "Apostolic" forums I would say goodbye and never be back. Those here now I would find other ways to keep in contact with.
I'm with Taco. On both counts. :)
:beret:
You have to understand... I remember when this board had 25 to 50 topics running hot at any time. Multiple forums and boat loads of people on line at any given time.
I look around now and hear echo - -
Echo --
echo - -
Echo --
echo - -
Echo --
echo - -
Echo --
echo - -
Echo!
Maybe we could share it at FB with our Apostolic friends? Invite them to come to a quiet, godly place to discuss any topic that interests them. Maybe there are some who would welcome a place to talk away from FB.
One question... Other than the admins are bored do we really need to create a ton more traffic?
I renumber Upci.com and the craziness. Maybe I'm getting old, cause I don't miss it.
I enjoy what we have become here. If it's a issues of paying to keep it going as is let me know and I'll figure something out.
I like our group of friends here. People we can somewhat trust.
To be honest I don't want some of my FB Apostolic friends over here. There is no ignore or hide post button here and I would eventually get in trouble.
There is an ignore option. I have used it.
I'd contribute if it's a cost issue. PayPal makes things like that easy.
The thing is, we rarely have actual discussions on here. I'm under the impression that's how most here like it? It's mostly surface daily life.
when i first joined 6? 7? years ago i honestly couldn't keep up. i originally joined because us AYN-ers would come here when our forum was down. otherwise i could not [even with getting on daily] keep up. i'm good with whatever everyone decides. i would like to stay involved but if it were to get too crazy i'd mostly just lurk.
Quote from: MellowYellow on December 12, 2013, 01:41:15 PM
The thing is, we rarely have actual discussions on here. I'm under the impression that's how most here like it? It's mostly surface daily life.
Exactly! That's why I mentioned FB, because currently the forum seems more like a Facebook "friends" group page. Er... wall?
In fact I was debating suggesting we just cut the forum and convene as a friends group on FB. Though I of course would be loathe to join the dark side, I could make a profile for the sake of continuing what we have here on this forum. And frankly it would make more sense, given what we use this forum for at present.
I still think the whole lack of traffic and new people goes back to the fact that we don't even show up on a google search. I did a google search for "apostolic pentecostal forum" and "pentecostal forum"....didn't even find GP. I have no idea how I found it three years ago, other than a God thing...or maybe we were in the search listings then. Bottom line- if people are searching for forums, we don't even have bait in the water.... :sadbounce:
I would hate GP as a FB only forum!
If you want more traffic I would be glad to try and get some.
What are our current key word settings? Who is doing all the metaword stuff and search engine ranking for us right now?
I have free time and an IT degree but I would need some access.
Something else to consider is I'd like to see the men only forum back. Somethings are easier to discuss among brothers.
Also, how about sending a mass email to the members list asking them to stop in and give ua an update on where life has taken them?
Quote from: MellowYellow on December 11, 2013, 07:23:36 AM
Ok. Phew!
What if we threw an online reunion party? "Stop by and share your favorite memories with old friends."
Is there a GP anniversary coming up?
MY: This version of GP began in November 2001, I think.
I think an online reunion party sounds fun!
I noticed that even Ebenezer Scrooge doesn't bother bugging the board anymore. Must really be dead around here :sadbounce:
Quote from: Backseat Radio on December 15, 2013, 05:38:50 PM
I noticed that even Ebenezer Scrooge doesn't bother bugging the board anymore. Must really be dead around here :sadbounce:
The board is still here? :flamingmad:
Liberal do gooders!
Too predictable. You should have waited a bit more. :P
Seth! Really? This again?
Piffle.
:hi:
I'm back, well I think I am! Lol
:hyper: :hyper:
Howdy back. I'm front. :D
Quote from: txlnghrn on February 18, 2014, 04:00:07 AM
:hi:
I'm back, well I think I am! Lol
:hyper: :hyper:
Howdy. :hi: What part of TX are you from?
Quote from: txlnghrn on February 18, 2014, 04:00:07 AM
:hi:
I'm back, well I think I am! Lol
:hyper: :hyper:
You ARE alive? WOW! Thought the earth opened up and swallowed you.
You've been gone so long idk who you are. Lol
Quote from: Scott on February 18, 2014, 02:31:41 PM
Quote from: txlnghrn on February 18, 2014, 04:00:07 AM
:hi:
I'm back, well I think I am! Lol
:hyper: :hyper:
You ARE alive? WOW! Thought the earth opened up and swallowed you.
Almost scott, almost....lol
Quote from: The Purple Fuzzy on February 18, 2014, 02:27:00 PM
Quote from: txlnghrn on February 18, 2014, 04:00:07 AM
:hi:
I'm back, well I think I am! Lol
:hyper: :hyper:
Howdy. :hi: What part of TX are you from?
I live in the DFW metro area, more specifically Lewisville
Good Lord Scott, you werent kidding when you said it was slow around here.....
where is the :fire: :tank: :uzi: :uzi2: :2pistol: :2gun:
....
LOL
Quote from: txlnghrn on February 18, 2014, 04:05:02 PM
Good Lord Scott, you werent kidding when you said it was slow around here.....
where is the :fire: :tank: :uzi: :uzi2: :2pistol: :2gun:
....
LOL
"Some" of us still use them...on Seth. And Rats' Nest, aka Fuzzy. :P
:pound: Roscoe
:girltongue:
*yawn* I feel old when I visit. LOL
I remember the fights....some threats of harm to me and others.... I remember disappointment...and encouragement. As a matter of fact, I have an OLD email in a PST file that I have kept because of the amount of encouragement that was perfectly timed. Thankfully that individual still posts here, even though I don't nearly as much as I once did.
I'm glad the forum is still here for another generation of folk to be encouraged.
:great:
If you need threatened, let us know.