Took me forever to find; snoop suggested it just over a year ago:
The Guileless Comp Troller Send a noteboard - 16/09/2010 03:17:02 PM
Well, the thing is, many people probably don't stay here long even if they stumble upon the place just because it isn't nearly as big as other sites. And honestly, who stays at a place just for the pretty design? No one, but having said that, a nicer layout could make them more interested to take a closer look in the first place.
See, it is like cafés. All my favourite cafés go under. I was wondering if I am cursed at one point, but it is only down to me preferring cafés with very few people in them. It is not a good business model, but it is definitely my taste. Same here. In theory I know it would be better for the site to have influx of people, but I like the cosy club feel.
Agreed. People in general are disappointing. Don't ask me to stand by these words at a time when I am more happy with mankind. But yes.
Wow, the misanthropy here is astounding. If you really hate people that much, what's the point?
It comes and goes.
This is true. In a great many avenues of life.
Change must be embraced. Those who don't become obsolete.
I dislike change. I am one of nature's natural conservatives. It is therefore very odd that I live on the left side of politics.
I thought much the same when I was reading the little blurbs on what Virgoes are "supposed to be" like. I've long styled myself as personally conservative but politically liberal, so perhaps it's something similar; "conservative" in the sense of old fashioned is something I understand and respect, it's "conservative" in the sense of wanting to legislate against everything to which one doesn't subscribe that sets off alarms.
FWIW, for good or ill, I don't think the leaner meaner take on wotmania that's become RAFOs hallmark is going anywhere soon unless the site does. wotmaniacs, even when that site was flourishing, are odd ducks; part of the apocalyptic feel of wotmanias closing was the realization by many that they couldn't just pick up and move to one of their other online homes because they didn't really have any: They may have come to wotmania at random, but they STAYED because they found something that resonated deep within them, and absent from all the other sites. It might be a bit much to say RAFO is "thriving" but it does seem to be surviving with some core community intact, most of which stayed at wotmania and here because they LIKE the unique qualities of the site. As someone who's frequently been critical of various aspects of that over the years, I have to say there's some merit to the view that people who want a more aesthetic or convenient site have lots of other outlets, but the people who want RAFO have only it. Minor changes that make things easier are understandable, but anything that promises to fundamentally alter the feel of the site should be approached with gravity and deliberation.
I disagree with Cannoli: I think the popular analogy of websites to sovereign states is good in this case, because it illustrates how websites, just as nations, must accept morbid as well as merry statistics. Over time there will be membership attrition as surely as nations must acknowledge their citizens mortality rates. If site or nation does nothing to ensure they gain more people than they lose, it will slowly wither away until there's no one left who cares what happens to it. Like it or not, wotmania was headed there, precisely because, IMHO, so little was done to draw or hold new members. I've not had time for quite a while to check whether RAFO is doing as much or more, but the equation hasn't changed: People move on periodically, either because they lose interest or because RL throws them enough curves they don't have to go looking for more. No one is more surprised than I that I've become one of the worst offenders there, but even before I couldn't fault people for prioritizing their kids food and housing above debating the latest political gaffe or science news. It'll be a few years before I have kids old enough to online, and if there's still going to be a RAFO for them when they reach that age, new regular visitors and members must be found now. Although if we set our internet so it blocks sites that aren't "family friendly" they won't see RAFO till they're 18 regardless. ![;)](/site_media/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![;)](/site_media/images/smilies/wink.gif)
BTW, do you get email notification when you have a NB? 'Cos I don't, and I believe it was one of the first modifications approved and accepted. It may seem minor, and for people who stop in at least once every day or two, it is, but for people who may be gone weeks or even months between visits and/or have multiple SNs it would be darned handy.
I don't get e-mail notifications, no. I didn't know that was an option.
I noticed at the time, but when I saw it was "Accepted" I figured it was just taking time to implement. Past six months or so I've taken my standard ineffective tack: Instead of saying something to Ben directly I just make the occasional jibe in the direction of what I thought a very good suggestion. Maybe he's done something with an RSS feed like glo was talking about; once it gets into tech-talk my eyes start to glaze and I begin wondering if OotS has updated again....
![:P](/site_media/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
EDIT: Remind me the next time I decide to create a pseudonym just how BADLY I suck at it.
![:P](/site_media/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
This message last edited by The Guileless Comp Troller on 16/09/2010 at 03:18:12 PM
Dear RAFO:
14/09/2010 03:35:10 PM
- 1324 Views
...forest...elf design...No. Just, no. *NM*
14/09/2010 04:00:31 PM
- 410 Views
Agreed
14/09/2010 04:03:06 PM
- 936 Views
Lol I was just throwing that out there *NM*
14/09/2010 04:45:52 PM
- 388 Views
I like the semi-retroness of it
14/09/2010 04:34:35 PM
- 859 Views
It's easier to mess around at work when the site doesn't look like an elfin playground.
14/09/2010 04:40:17 PM
- 927 Views
Art in the background was something used by teenagers on angelfire.
14/09/2010 04:44:29 PM
- 885 Views
uhm, there's a VERY GOOD REASON to keep a white background
14/09/2010 08:30:40 PM
- 927 Views
Re: uhm, there's a VERY GOOD REASON to keep a white background
14/09/2010 09:19:51 PM
- 916 Views
I am totally with you. Part of the reason I love this site is that it is so easy to use and read. *NM*
15/09/2010 12:44:07 AM
- 389 Views
Dear RAFOnaught: F*** off and die. Love, Cannoli
14/09/2010 11:24:21 PM
- 938 Views
See, I get paranoid when I almost agree with you. Of course, I'm more diplomatic...
14/09/2010 11:34:57 PM
- 849 Views
Macs are UNIX distributions that you pay for.
14/09/2010 11:45:08 PM
- 845 Views
Re: Macs are UNIX distributions that you pay for.
14/09/2010 11:46:35 PM
- 897 Views
Personally I do not think that the learning curve is worth $1000, but that is okay.
*NM*
15/09/2010 12:00:08 AM
- 412 Views
![](/site_media/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Well, I don't
15/09/2010 05:27:12 AM
- 4136 Views
Re: Well, I don't
15/09/2010 08:40:32 AM
- 933 Views
I'd put a language filter and Local Events list higher on my list of changes.
16/09/2010 03:04:16 PM
- 1210 Views