[Mystican]

This isn't exactly a request for a new "feature," per se (I didn't know where else to post this), but instead a question for the community and a suggestion for a website change that could potentially make more users aware of these forums.

When you - as an owner, moderator, or other member of the community - see new users, are you making sure that they know about the different ways they can connect with others, beyond just spending time on your Manor? Do they know, for example, about these forums?

Especially when so many Manors seem to be empty (at least when I've checked), it would help for the "newbies" to be aware of the forums as a place to connect with the community as a whole; to find out about special events; and, of course, to ask questions even when they can't find someone online to talk to "avatar to avatar."

Also - and this is directed more to Scotsman - "Community News" seems like it could be a confusing and misleading title. If users are looking at the website, trying to find the forums, but don't see a link anywhere with "forum" in the name, they might give up and - yes, I did it myself once - not even think that what they're looking for is hiding behind "Community News." With that in mind, maybe "Community Forums" or even just "Forums" would be a better choice? (Or perhaps "Community Message Board" could work as well.)

-Mystican

[Cheiron]

Very well put, Mystican.

I agree 100% with you.
In my over 3 years as a Manor owner I have time and time again run into new OR seasoned users that have no clue about this community forum, and it has baffled me each time. It is our forum to help eachother technically or get to know people better even, without the "av to av" situation, as you say. It is a forum of help, advice and also fun and interesting angles or totally new things you never thought about yourself. That is what makes manor live.

Just the other day, I had a new user come in, and he asked: "Well what do you do here?". I told him, well we chat, it is a chatsoftware, it is not a game. People coming here want to chat and exchange ideas etc and create new friends around the world.... and that is what it is about. And the forum adds to the community.

I agree with the suggestion, Community News is misleading, and I know that from personal experience too... lots of users are going: "HUH, what forum?"

And welcome to Manor forum , Mystican, you know Palace in and out I know for sure, so you are a very welcome asset in our small community here on Manor, I think I can say for everybody
_________________
Cheiron
______________________________
"Any scientist with respect for himself should start
the day by rejecting his own pet hypotheses".
(Konrad Lorenz)

"Wir müssen wissen
Wir werden wissen"
(David Hilbert)

[Mystican]

Thanks for the welcome, Cheiron, and congratulations on the recent 3 year anniversary.

New users, I'd expect, but seasoned users, too? That's definitely something that needs fixing. Speaking of which, is there a mailing list that I'm not aware of for Manor, or is it just the forums?

I think the forums themselves are enough, as long as people know about them, and use them. Since we all have lives outside of Manor - and can't be online all the time - seems like the best way to support the relationships made, in real time, between people-as-avatars in a Manor is to use tools like these forums to allow people-as-screen-names to connect and communicate regardless of whether or not they're online at different times.

[Scotsman]

Re "Community News" I'm open to suggestions as to a better title. Especially considering users can create there own Affiliation groups that show up in there as well.

"Affiliation Groups" i.e. schools, places of employment, military unit, etc.

[Cheiron]

Mystican...
This forum is all that exists (or these fora), and yes, I also think it is adequate as community forum, great job that Scotsman has done here, and together with users as Studio 12, Bri, Lisa, Longfang (and a string of other people that sadly have left manor) they have always been willing to give a helping hand here with their technical knowledge (much appreciated), but some people on specific manors make their own internal forum, I think FDF has one.

For other media types I can also mention the increasing use of amateur internet radio that has become possible and seems popular at some of the few more visited manors. But radio, as far as I've seen, is used as a "social event" thingy to play music with a DJ that can chip in between songs and play requests etc, not much else.

Earlier we also had an intercom system, made on initiative of a user (Uriah, that left manor), which I believe Scotsman said he would make an implementation of in some form, so that users can contact eachother online between manors. Maybe it will be part of Manor 2.0, I dunno.

I dunno about "Affiliations" feature, I dunno if it is used at all, maybe Scotsman can answer that. Anyway, a neat idea, but I haven't used it myself.

PS: I personally think "Community Forum" or "Manor Forum" is good... whatever...
_________________
Cheiron
______________________________
"Any scientist with respect for himself should start
the day by rejecting his own pet hypotheses".
(Konrad Lorenz)

"Wir müssen wissen
Wir werden wissen"
(David Hilbert)