I am not a forum addict but the contributers to this site do not appear to have much interest the forums judging by the number of posts and replies and their frequency,which does seem a bit of a shame considering the enthusiasm with which the submissions section is used,
Is there any way of pushing the position of the forum section a bit more? So as to promote the exchange of ideas and information.
The site has contributers from many nations with a common interest but very diverse takes on art and the use of the Moleskine as a vehicle for the expression of that talent.
Lets try and bounce ideas off each other we might all gain even more from our visits to this fantastic site!Be it in knowledge, technique or just by having a laugh with one another.
Keep on skine'ing.
'skine.art.forums. » Site Support and site related
lack of interest in forums!
(73 posts)-
Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago # -
Couldn't agree more, Nick but I'm just as guilty as others having just looked at the forums section for the first time in over a week. I believe many must not be aware this area, in the website, exists. I would love to converse more with others.
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If people pop in and see that there's nothing happening they're not going to register... and the fact that you need to register for the forums separately from the actual site? That's a terrible terrible terrible decision. Oh and, the fact that you ask a question of the PERSON WHO RUNS THE SITE and get no reply? That's not encouraging either.
All in all there's no incentive to join the forums. It seems the person who runs the site has only the time or interest in posting people's pictures and little else.
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i think if there was some sort of.. like mail box right in the skine art page that would help me alot, so i could tell my forum and comment responses without using email, just a thouyght.
and ya i agreee. -
I remember talk of weekly challenges or themes and that sort of user participation oriented stuff. So, if that sort of thing was done and advertised on the front page?
Also, though, it takes time to build a community and this site isn't really that old. Still...
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Thanks everyone for taking an interest in this thread.I have been checking the forum each day to see if there were any replies, none for five or six days and then like buses 4 at once.
Matts idea of some sort of brief summary Threads on the home page may get people to look at the forum section and that would be a start.
I can understand the extra work involved may put the site owner off a bit becuase there would need to be moderation to prevent the posting of abusive,bad taste etc. threads.
What do you think.Gotta go to work now back later.Nick
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Sounds like a good idea Nick. I wonder about moderating - some sort of censorship. I hear what you are saying and, looking at other sites, have often been dismayed at some comments folk put on them. Would this be a real problem on Skineart where folks always seem to comment in a very positive way? Could the site become "self-moderating" with the ocassional input from those in charge or responsible? It would be great if this could happen then this might offer a possible solution to your concerns. If "abusive threads" were posted then, and I'm no expert here, could regular readers remove them, electronically, say "3 objections from different site users removes a post". Would this stop a single user michieviously getting rid of stuff while, at the same time, allowing a more "rounded" or "rational" objection. If this worked then the need to employ a "moderator" could be reduced. Hope work was OK today.
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The site owner could appoint forum moderators like they do on every other forum. I'd be willing to volunteer...
And again, I'll say that weekly "theme" challenges might be a good way to get interest going. Post them to the site as you would your other drawings and put the "theme" along with a link to the thread in the description... that way people will see it each week and perhaps want to join in.
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I would love the theme thing that would be so cool.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Some great Ideas coming up already!
I too like the Idea of a weekly theme it would give those of us that have little time to find inspiration due to work commitments [and thus time poverty]
Robert, I like the sound of the three strikes and your out for Bad posts the only problem I can see would be peoples perception of what is abusive etc.One person may find something out of order where as another may well just shrug it off and move on.
Other sites I have been on don't as far as I know have a real problem with this. The main problem seems to be from spammers trying to advertise their dodgy pharmaceutical products, films, porno etc.
By the way had a great day at work got through 2.5 litres of satinwood paint and about 10 of emulsion,but smooth plain walls and woodwork is not as satisfying a result as one sketch in a moleskine!! Covered in paint but not through artistic endevour ho ho ho!
How do we get in touch with the site owner? -
Wish I knew; my latest effort hasn't shown up in the last several batches or posts... and I'm curious why.
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Maybe the fact that a few of us are writing this might be a start.
r-sail is this mornings post from you the one you think went missing? I normally have something published within a day of sending it in but, in the distant past, have had some problems. I have contacted Leo on a couple of ocassions at this address "info@skineart.com"
Nick - glad you "enjoyed" painting yesterday. Guess what I'm doing today although I only have 2.5 litres of emulsion to get on the guest room walls. The rest, thankfully, is now done. Your comments are interesting. Maybe wait until those in charge endorse some of these ideas.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Cheers Rob
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Yeah, trebor61, that's the one... just took longer than I'd expected.
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in my opinion, because this is a relatively small site, and i think your all rational people the deleting of spam would be no problem.
one other thing is that WE could make a theme.
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Right... I was suggesting WE do the theme idea, not the site owner/operator. If WE want a community, WE have to build one. I'm working on a list of themes that will, in theory, fill an entire 80 (I think?) page sketchbook. If people are interested, we can do it... but, I'd like to see more than three people into it before we start.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Hi r-sail
How do we get other people to go beyond the posting of pictures? How about submitting a picture asking people to look at what we have been talking about here?It may get past the moderator he may not even have a problem with this idea anyway!
I agree for it to work it needs a load of people engaged. I could not always promise to submit an entry every week myself for example, so for it to work we need people.
How about trying to contact some of the high flyers through the comments on their picture sections, or just a generic comment on every posting for a few days directing them to a posting proposing the monthly/weekly theme.
What do ya think?
Nick
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #I have left the following as comments lets see if we get a response!
Great drawings take a look at this thread in the forum.https://www.skineart.com/forums/topic.php?id=46&replies=17#post-209
What do you think?Nick
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Hi People. I am guilty of forgetting to check the forums, but when I do remember, it is inspiring and educational. As a contributor, I inherently view this site for the visual appeal...it is sort of like the silence of an art museum. Though I do enjoy the comments with the submissions, I must remember to check the forum more often. Although there are occasionally hickups, Leo does a great job with the upkeep.
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Re: Moderating comments... I don't think "abuse" would rear it's ugly head here on 'Skineart. I frequent several forums (fora?) and the only abusive ones are where equipment geeks are comparing the length of their telephoto lenses or sharpness of their latest wide-angles - always "Mine's better than yours and you don't know what you're talking about if you disagree with me." Needless to say, they are all males of the species! The point I'm getting at is here we don't compare the length of our pencils or the smoothness of our gouaches... it's the art, the result, the inspiration that counts. Everything we do in our basically identical off-the-shelf Moleskines is by hand, so there will never be equipment comparisons and distractions... the talk will be about quality and technique and learning and advice and encouragement.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Thanks to Susan and Ed for their comments!
I agree with Susan about the main thing being the art work, the forums are only a secondary part of the site.The point is that they could be much more useful as a method of exchange of ideas etc.Their increased use would lead to inspiration for some and a way of improving techniques for others and it may encourage others to experiment.
The bottom line is that if no one looks at the forums once in a while they are pretty redundant and a missed opportunity for all.As I said am not a forum junkie but I can see they can be useful informative and even fun.
I think Ed is probably right in his post on the chance of abusive comments being few and far between, we moleskiners would not sink to such depths!!!
What about the themes Idea? Not right for some ,but for others it could be the catalyst that inspires them to do something.
I also thank Leo for all his hard work in keeping this site up and running,This discussion is in no way a criticism of that, use of the forum is up to the contributers.
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Joseph R Tomlinson
Member
Posted 2 years ago #wow, good to see a stir in the forums area! love the thoughts you all are having. i really like the idea of a weekly theme, sometimes i get in a rut, and this could get the creative juices flowing for me... would it be okay for someone to just mention here in the forum a theme, and the rest roll with it. a first come first topic for those who choose to partake? sometimes it seems as if there is a theme that shows up with no one mentioning it. anyway i've rambled on enough, i have some clay to shape. i'll draw some new stuff soon, but will visit again even sooner.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Thanks for your input Joseph.
How about someone stars it off [R_sail says he has a mass of ideas].We all post with the same title then the one with most fovourite hearts by the end of the week or month chooses the next theme from a list or comes up with his or her own.
I agree about being stuck in a rut,most of the time I am to tired after a days work to think straight let alone come up with an interesting or original idea for a piece of art!!!
I often feel if only someone would say here you go try doing something on this.
By the way love your style its really sharp and so distinctive puts me to shame. -
It occurs to me that whilst a weekly/monthly theme is a good, probably stimulating idea, to mix these results in with regular uploads from those not wishing to participate in this idea - those who are more comfortable doing their own thing (maybe the majority), or whose style simply doesn't lend itself to a certain theme no matter how they try to interpret it - is probably not such a good idea. Perhaps it would be fairly easy to add a button with the others atop the page entitled "Challenge" which would link to a landing page just for this regular hot-shot challenge. Any similar thoughts?
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we can use the tags... decide on a specific tag such as "them" or "challenge" or some such, as well as tagging each entry with the specific theme word...? That's all we can do on our end. Anything Leo wants to do is fine, but none of us can change the site.
I'll work on the list when I get home from work tonight.
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Sure, I realized that. It only takes a few clicks or minutes of typing code to make a new landing page. I have few computing skills - years ago I learned basic HTML code just to have an understanding of the system, although I never had to use it.
The problem for Leo may be bandwidth... an increase in traffic or pages may tip this site over his bandwidth limit for the tariff he's being charged. However, I'm still inclined to think that a new page for the Challenge would be a more elegant solution... but, whatever the outcome, I'll be in there sparring with my paintbrush and pencil!
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I think separating it is probably a worse idea, really. It'll end up like the forums... just tag it, add whatever description you like and leave it at that. That's my thoughts on it anyway. No reason to ask anything of Leo.
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Nick Powell
Member
Posted 2 years ago #Personally I don't mind either solution.The separation as Ed says would be less confusing for visitors and contributers and may add an additional feature to the site rather than it all being a bit jumbled up.
Can we get in touch with Leo and sound him out on the technical feasibility from his point of view IE. band width etc. Even does he want to be doing all this?
Maybe someone else could become a moderator of that section if he does not want the work?
I am not very savvy on all the technical side so lets try and speak to "the man"!
I think Susan Rudat may have contacted him in the past. -
I contacted Leo, "The Man" to have a look at this forum. Personally, I agree with r_sail. Just tagging a themed submission should be sufficient. But that's just my opinion.
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sorry guys, it's been a long week, and a couple of crazy nights, but I'm working on the list today...
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