KWSN Orbiting Fortress

Michelle · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:46 am Post subject: Crisis? What crisis?

As posted in JerWA's thread -

Mildew · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:49 am Post subject: Re: Crisis? What crisis?

This isn't the first time we've had this discussion, and it probably won't be the last Wink

My memory is a bit hazy here, but I think it was like five or six years ago we cleaned out some old admins and mods and assigned the current positions. Or was it more?

Personally I wouldn't mind doing some changes again, but we also need to be somewhat careful about who we give admin rights to. Skill alone is not sufficient I think. More discussion about this would be nice, but discussion requires presence, so it's hard to come to any conclusions when most people involved are never around... Rolling Eyes

Michelle · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:58 am Post subject:

Mildew, I had a name brain fart! Your name was supposed to be in the 'nice to see more of' list too but my mind went blank. Rolling Eyes

I joined after the admin and mod change so I have no idea about the previous ones, but I really don't see any need to even suggest changing now. It would just be nice if some of the less visible ones took a more active role in discussions, particularly team strategy. I'm not talking about setting up a camp bed in the corner and spending 24 hours a day at the forum. That would be too silly, even for here.
I'm talking about being a bit more involved as time and real life allow.
Real life has to take precedence, we all understand that and we've all had long breaks from the forum.
I'm just so glad that the forum isn't over-moderated and that on the whole we're mature enough to not get into fisticuffs with everyone who disagrees with our pov.
I lurk in the southeast Queensland thread at the weatherzone forum particularly when there are storms around because a lot of storm chasers post there and it's quite interesting. The sad part is that people have been admonished for anything that resembles a 'chatty' post. Today when someone posted about the storm warning being cancelled, someone posted about not being able to use storms as an excuse to get out of going to the shopping centre, and someone else replied that at least there might still be some rain around, they were told to keep posts relevant to the topic.
We're pretty lucky here in that regard and I'm sure that most of us do appreciate it.

Sir Papa Smurph · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:58 am Post subject:

Well, I am here often, (more than I post) but I have to say that sometimes there is a long time before anyone else is.

I am really not concerned with the appearance of the board that much. This is what it looks like.......

I still think a News letter is a good idea, I mean, the team founders have the email address of all the members active or not. At least we could keep in touch with the knights who never visit here. This just may be the best thing, some new blood.....

Regarding the activity of the mods and members... I don't remember anyone ever getting into an argument here, The closest thing would be JerWA's anger over the lack of change and involvement and that was just a firm ultimatum. Bummer that he felt that the only course of action was to take his ball and go home....

Additionally our Stats site that is linked to almost all projects home pages really Sucks.... I don't mean to be insulting but it is really outdated and doesn't include half of my projects... That was one of the things that brought me to the Team in the first place... I must say that it wouldn't have the same result now.

Like I stated in another post I won't be leaving this team no matter what...
If the last one out shuts off the lights I will be sitting in the dark, but it must be understood that this is not the opinion of most of the members of the team, in fact it is my belief that most of the Team members don't even know that this site exists, and that is where the real problem lies, I think.

We really can't have a relevant discussion of this situation unless we somehow get more members involved in it....
I think that we somehow must get more of our members involved at least to the extent that they know this forum exists.......

Just my 2 cents #ni-1

_________________
a.k.a. Licentious of Borg.........Resistance Really is Futile.......
and a Really Hoopy Frood who always knows where his Towel is...

Killerrabbit · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

I think why the taunts have not quited work as well as they used too, are a combination of two things. First, I think the other teams are getting used to are style. Second, that we as Knights need to go over with are own individual style. When we do it now we all try to do the same thing. I can do the confusing posts, but we need someone like Sir Fart, who posted slightly more mean and sarcastic posts on the other teams forum. Also reverse taunting, when a team is about to pass us we taunt them that we will be taking their spot and there is nothing they can do about it.

Ni
_________________

stooper101 · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

Well, let's brainstorm. I think this is a good opportunity to throw up some ideas for recruitment and such. Papa Smurf talked about the newsletter idea, and I think that's a good one. But I think we can do a few better. From lurking around other teams sites, I'm of the belief that a 'portal' is a great way to put a face on the site and welcome potential shrubbers to the team. We can learn a little from SUSA or the Lunatics for example (but there are plenty of others out there). The front page could contain everything from an 'About Us' to recent forum posts to POTM blurb and stats to team/DC news to a shoutbox.

Right now, if a person were to find our team link (which is mostly listed as www.kwsnforum.com), they'd come to the forums. And as great as the forums are, it's just forums. There is the kwsn.net site that has some info, but is not utilized well in relation to here.

Maybe, like Mildew said, the forum software is not so bad, I don't know. But I just think we could do better for recruitment if we gave ourselves a facelift.

I came to this team because I was new to DC and I like the sillyness. I don't want to get too serious with all these projects. Half of them seem sillier than us! So one question to answer is what brought you to the Knights? What is the draw for someone else to come to the Knights? How can we keep people shrubbing for the Knights?
_________________

>stats<

JerWA · Prince Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 1497 Location: WA, USA

The 'portal' idea was part of what I was trying to get changed back in 2007. It can even be done as a mod to phpBB, so that you aren't dealing with an entirely different software with its own accounts and all that nonsense. But again, if we can't even manage to update to the newest version of the software we're already using, how can anyone really expect us to change something?

As for how the forum looks, I think it matters more than anyone else seems to. The forums are where most people are linked, as mentioned. I know that I personally didn't actually find the other site until I had been on this forum for years. As such, they are the "face" of the KWSN. phpBB has been around a long time, probably 10 years. As such, most people that have used forums have used phpBB, and of those most have seen the default theme and grown tired of it. What it says about us, as a team, is that we're either a) too incompetent to make our own theme, or b) not interested in making our own theme, both of which are reasons for potential new members to look elsewhere in my opinion. Given that it's a process built into the software, it's not even a lot of work. And, you don't have to change the default (though I'd like to), so it wouldn't even impact anyone that didn't want it to.

If someone were to come to the forums right now, as a new user, the only reason they'd join is NOT BOINC related, which seems like a bit of a failure to me. I joined because this team was in the top 10 and the only one not an organization or company. Would I join today if I were new? Hell no. We're steadily loosing ground, we can't put more than 20 users on a project, there are zero posts about how to optimize for a project, etc.

I can understand not wanting to be "too serious," but the net effect is no seriousness at all. Every attempt at a serious thread is met with mockery and random useless crap, which means that users will think twice about even bothering before posting again. Which, subsequently, means anyone who IS serious about BOINC even a little has nothing to gain by being on this team. As I've mentioned over and over (and over and over), you can't even HAVE a serious conversation on these forums. Not a single one. Which means if you've got a technical question, or you want to know how to optimize a project to run better, would YOU ask it here?

The end result is a forum unrelated to BOINC that actively discourages any post that IS on topic, while showing dedicated BOINC users that we don't care, aren't involved, aren't organized, etc. It doesn't even MATTER what the truth of the situation is, because no new user is going to stick around to find out.
_________________

Stats: [BOINC Synergy] - [Free-DC] - [MundayWeb] - [Netsoft] - [All Project Stats]

Killerrabbit · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

Someone with more web writing experience than me will have to do it. If you go on IRC on a EFNet serve and go to the channel #setiathome you will Jonnyv, and you can talk to him about setting up a portal, and I will be there to provide moral support.

Ni
_________________

A Shrubbery · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject:

JerWa, it's clear that you have issues with this team and I can accept that. But I think you need to take a very hard look at why things aren't happening the way you would like to see them go.

For reference, I joined this team before BOINC had even been thought of. It meets my needs fully. Some people, and I would include myself with them, don't care what a forum looks like. If everything is organized well and the links work, that's enough for me.

This is my opinion so take it as you may, it's clear your opinion is different, but I see this team as a place to come to socialize, banter slightly, and relax, not a place to get overly worked up about anything. The competition is welcome and a fun bit of a diversion, but not everyone is a power admin super computer freak. Personally, I gave up on any attempt at competition because I don't have access to hundreds of computers to do my bidding. Any time I started to post reasonable numbers or get any kind of position, I would see my status gone in two weeks because someone decided to best me on a whim. And I'm referring to a project that I might have spent years working to get to the place I'd reached wiped out in under two weeks. This is not a source of fun so I distanced myself from it.

My point is to find what is fun for you and enjoy that aspect of it. If you're not having fun, find it wherever it may be. Apparently you have found that aspect at your new team and I'm quite happy for you.
_________________
A Shrubbery for Prez. Let's put more bushes in the whitehouse.

KWSN - A Shrubbery
Shrubbing since 2000 for the KaNI!ghts.

Michelle · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:40 am Post subject:

I'd also like to bring up a point about members of other teams. We've had quite a few come in to visit over the years, but there has been a noticeable absence over the last year or so.
If we want to attract new members, and some of those could be from other teams, we have to go about it in the right way. I'm not talking about rolling out the red carpet or desperately welcoming them with open arms.
I'm talking about keeping the rival team visitor taunts light and friendly.
We don't want them to think they're coming here for some friendly banter, only to be chased away by some members of our team who take the taunting a little bit too seriously.
There's been a few times where it has started out as a bit of fun and then one of our team has overreacted and the other person hasn't come back again.
IMO we can't do that if we want to attract new members. Taunt away, but just remember that it isn't meant to be serious.
#ni-1

_________________
My brain hurts.
Jammy's Brain Donor.

[img]http://www.katrinashome.com/KWSN_Michelle_counter.php[/img]

KWSN - Sir Brian C....... · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

I quite like the informality here..... I also like that fact that people in the team understand that "Real Life" exists and people come and go as they can with no come back... (welcome Back A Shrubbery BTW)

when I started this thing nearly 4 years ago, I visted the BoincSynergy website and was confronted with the fact that they had appointed individual project specific team captains and subcaptains.... I mean come one...this is supposed to be fun!, I have enough of "Reporting to people" at work.

If you want an organised team structure, I wouldn't recommend KWSN, that's what I thinks frustrated Jeremy, as this informality is also applied by the forum moderators...

Keith

#ni-1

_________________
Oh, it's blessed are the meek!, Well I'm glad they'll get something as they have a hell of a time!

Fart in your gen direxion · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject:

Al Dente · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject:

Ooh, Fwied Wabbit. My favwourite; am I invited to the party.

I must admit that that's what I like about this forum - no-one takes anything too seriously.

No, I'll re-phrase that. No-one takes anything seriously.

And I think that's why I'll stay. Real life is too serious, we all need an outlet for our inate loonacy.

#ni-1

_________________
Creationists believe they never evolved; I agree with them.

. . My Milestones . . My Full BOINC list

Yankton · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

Fried wabbit? I have to call the ag teacher at the school, she was gonna have one of her kids raise me some wabbits so I could make wabbit stew!

#ni-1

_________________
Some days are worse than others.

Sir Papa Smurph · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

What were we talking about again????

Oh well,..............It doesn't matter #ni-1

_________________
a.k.a. Licentious of Borg.........Resistance Really is Futile.......
and a Really Hoopy Frood who always knows where his Towel is...

mohrorless · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject:

I understand the need for seriousness at times. On occassion one might want to ask something without the frivolity. Maybe a section of the forum could be set up and nor frivolity would be allowed.
_________________
Fetch me the Holy Hand Grenade!

#Usa

Keeper of the Unending keg of PGGBs
Taunter in Training
Campaign Manager for Sir Shrubbery

Plus

KWSN - Sir Brian C....... · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

mohrorless · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

Now, now.
_________________
Fetch me the Holy Hand Grenade!

#Usa

Keeper of the Unending keg of PGGBs
Taunter in Training
Campaign Manager for Sir Shrubbery

Plus

A Shrubbery · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

Sir Papa Smurph · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject: