Quote:

I was going to start a topic about this but figured that might not be the best idea.

I would hate to see this forum close. It seems like everywhere forums are disappearing and I guess that's partially due to myspace and blogs. I hate both of those formats(no offense). Myspace is just a bunch of spam and blogs limit your input/interactivity.

I understand that it is your domain and you put alot of time into maintaining it and a forum is a lot of extra work. So ultimately it is your decision and I respect that.

If you choose to stick with the blog I hope it works out and it doesn't end up like John's short lived DE blog.

I originally sent this in PM and mikull said it would be okay to post it.  I notice the vote is tied at 7-7. What are everyone elses thoughts?

I would rather see the forums stay open.  This is the only place I still post with any regularity.  I just don't have enough time and patience to search out a forum where I would feel I'd have anything in common with most of the members.  This was a board I joined because the moderator, whom I share a lot of the same opinions and always had great discussions with, ran the old DE boards and a few people have come from there as well.  I guess I would be a bit sad to see these boards close because I feel I probably would not really talk to any of those I have interacted with through both these boards for 5+ years now.

If you got the time Mike, I'd say try and keep it going.

Also if this is due to a decrease in activity I can always tell other people who I feel would bring something to the discussion about hthis forum.  I always thought this was sort of a secret.  But if you say promote, I shall.

I would like to see this forum stay open as well, I will admit for my own selfish reasons...

Sometimes good news hits here first. I'm lazy and don't look for it often, which is why I'm here.

There are few people who know WTF I'm talking about when I mention a D&D term or a Transformer. I'm amongst my own kind.

Did I mention that I'm lazy and don't like to look for stuff?

Anyway, I'd hate to see it go. But I wish you much luck and support in what ever you decide to do.

N.

I can't really say i post a lot on here but i read a lot of what is on here and absolutely love the caption contests and funny bone that is posted.  I would be sad to see it go because there are some funny and very good points brought up and i think they are very enjoyable to read.

Indeed, the matter is on the table - as mentioned in the blog entry: http://www.mikull.com/the-end-of-the-message-board

I've been carving out my own piece of the web since 1995, and since 2003 mikull.com has been my personal domain to play around with. I enjoy bringing people together to talk about whatever is new and interesting. Sharing the human experience is important; besides, no one should ever be bored on the internet. That's always been the mantra around here.

So I invited my friends and family to come play around on our message board... then a few strangers signed up... and a few board I used host closed - with members drifting into the crowd (particularly from the Deep Elm boards). All in all, we developed a nice community.

In the meantime I went all blog on the main page and starting bringing other places I interact with on the web, including facebook, flickr, twitter, lastfm, youtube and listal...

(By the way Derrick - and anyone else for that matter-- the site is by no means a secret. I admit I don't really promote; hell, I don't even have ads or sell anything. But anyone who likes the sound of that blue mission statement up there is welcome to join. PM for the invitation code.)

***

I'm glad see people talking / voting about this topic. According to my Google stats, we're getting a lot of hits across the entire site; however, participation has been rather low. I suppose it's partly my fault, as even I post irregularly when it comes to news and all that- but there have been a couple times now where we've easily gone a week or more with little more than a post - sometimes not even from me.

Another problem is finding a balance between the blog and the message board - they run on two separate codes, so when I want to update the look and feel I have to do it twice - plus, I'm essentially maintaining two separate homes for content - when we really only need one. I'm sure you've all seen popular blogs out there that see traffic like our board - I was starting to think we could make a transition to something more along those lines. After all, we're all busy - life takes us in many directions. Some old regulars rarely post or even visit now - and I can understand.

***

Overall, I like keeping a polished project. I would be more motivated to try out new code and design if I can kill the boards, and focus on one type of code- but I'm not entirely sure. I would post the same, if not more on the blog as I do now on the board. Also, Wordpress will garner greater Google hit results than PHPBB (more people reading = more people posting. The more people we can get, the better the site will be.) For you geeks, I did also look into converting my phpbb into a bbpress instance - not entirely sure I like it though; but I was looking for a counter to some of the cons...

On the other hand, Derrick is right - 100% blog reading is less interactivity - a different dynamic anyways- basically I blog stuff, people comment. Pretty much like every other blog you know, from engadget to you-name-it. I see the biggest problem here, aside from guest blogging, is the inability of general members to start new posts. Of course, the 'forum style' avatars, sigs, and post counts might be a little more tame as well.

Your comments are not being ignored. If you've been with me at another board, I don't want to abandon this site or drive people away - quite the opposite - I'm looking to get more people reading & posting, and make the site better.

I guess my mind isn't completely made up just yet -- so let's call it business as usual for the time being, but speak up if you have something more to add!

Ha, you've always enjoyed ending things......

I keep coming back for the boards, the blog stuff is cool, but just like with my wordpress, I don't get the same feel of a phpbb, although my phpbb never panned out.

mikull wrote:

Indeed, the matter is on the table - as mentioned in the blog entry: http://www.mikull.com/the-end-of-the-message-board

I've been carving out my own piece of the web since 1995, and since 2003 mikull.com has been my personal domain to play around with. I enjoy bringing people together to talk about whatever is new and interesting. Sharing the human experience is important; besides, no one should ever be bored on the internet. That's always been the mantra around here.

So I invited my friends and family to come play around on our message board... then a few strangers signed up... and a few board I used host closed - with members drifting into the crowd (particularly from the Deep Elm boards). All in all, we developed a nice community.

In the meantime I went all blog on the main page and starting bringing other places I interact with on the web, including facebook, flickr, twitter, lastfm, youtube and listal...

(By the way Derrick - and anyone else for that matter-- the site is by no means a secret. I admit I don't really promote; hell, I don't even have ads or sell anything. But anyone who likes the sound of that blue mission statement up there is welcome to join. PM for the invitation code.)

***

I'm glad see people talking / voting about this topic. According to my Google stats, we're getting a lot of hits across the entire site; however, participation has been rather low. I suppose it's partly my fault, as even I post irregularly when it comes to news and all that- but there have been a couple times now where we've easily gone a week or more with little more than a post - sometimes not even from me.

Another problem is finding a balance between the blog and the message board - they run on two separate codes, so when I want to update the look and feel I have to do it twice - plus, I'm essentially maintaining two separate homes for content - when we really only need one. I'm sure you've all seen popular blogs out there that see traffic like our board - I was starting to think we could make a transition to something more along those lines. After all, we're all busy - life takes us in many directions. Some old regulars rarely post or even visit now - and I can understand.

***

Overall, I like keeping a polished project. I would be more motivated to try out new code and design if I can kill the boards, and focus on one type of code- but I'm not entirely sure. I would post the same, if not more on the blog as I do now on the board. Also, Wordpress will garner greater Google hit results than PHPBB (more people reading = more people posting. The more people we can get, the better the site will be.) For you geeks, I did also look into converting my phpbb into a bbpress instance - not entirely sure I like it though; but I was looking for a counter to some of the cons...

On the other hand, Derrick is right - 100% blog reading is less interactivity - a different dynamic anyways- basically I blog stuff, people comment. Pretty much like every other blog you know, from engadget to you-name-it. I see the biggest problem here, aside from guest blogging, is the inability of general members to start new posts. Of course, the 'forum style' avatars, sigs, and post counts might be a little more tame as well.

Your comments are not being ignored. If you've been with me at another board, I don't want to abandon this site or drive people away - quite the opposite - I'm looking to get more people reading & posting, and make the site better.

I guess my mind isn't completely made up just yet -- so let's call it business as usual for the time being, but speak up if you have something more to add!

 I have a few people who might bring something to the table if they are interested.  It seems like you are very conflisted.  At the beginning it sounds like you are definitely closing it and towards the end i see a sparkle of hope.

I understand you wanting to close the boards due to inactivity.  What's the point in maintaining so much if people are using it so little?  But just because people are busy and don't post/read as much as they'd like to doesn't mean they don't appreciate what you are doing or enjoy a forum they can go to to discuss.  

I agree with Derrick that if we all suggest some friends to sign up here we would probably have some more discussions/posts/readers and some more livelier discussions.

If you decide to go blog only however, I will still be an active participant.

We need Shannon, Summers and Wally.

As Derrick Rusts wrote:

We need Shannon, Summers and Wally.

Indeed.  I still talk to Shannon occasionally but I haven't talked to the other two in over a year.

I voted "Whatever man" twice kind of busting mike's balls.  We've talked about this online and I've always liked the forums, always a good distraction.  The blog might work as well but where would I post all of my japanese game shows?  Mikull is free to do as he likes.

Not that I respond to a lot of things here, but after discussions at work, I think this one is worth it.

I voted to axe the board for the simple reason of time and integration with the blog.  If content and comments are the main concern from the "community", then a possible solution could be to take the most active posters and make them authors on the blog.  Comments could still be open to  registered members and Mikull.com would still flourish.  It might even be better since development would now be limited to one(1) platform (WP) instead of two(2) (WP & PHPBB).

I don't think that getting rid of the board is like Mike kicking anyone out of their online home, he's just moving us to a bigger apartment (hopefully with a 72" plasma tv) . I don't know about you guys, but I like having a lot of space to move around.  All in all, it is ultimately his decision and I am sure that we are all waiting to see the next iteration of "Mikull" regardless of what it is.

Good Luck.

I still don't have really much to say about this, but i guess it's mike's decision, which sucks......he could have at least waited after Indy 4 to close the boards, there would have been some nice discussions there.

In light of the comments here, all the new members who have recently joined, and the recent swing in the vote tally, I am going to delay any decisions about this topic for ... well,  awhile. As mentioned, add any comments you may have, because I'm still thinking about how to make overall site experience better -- but we will carry on with the awesome that is this board for now.

I could live with or without it. Sliced bread ain't got shit on mikull. Please keep the caption contests tho.

where the hell is the new caption contest????

hey, MIKULL i told you i would do it for you....all in favor of it becoming an actual regular contest without the wait...let mikull know so that i can get administrative rights so that we can get the ball rolling with that again...we can call it 'michelle's caption contest"

please baby...you have too many other things to do...let me do it  

Awwww shit.... Wifey throwing down the gauntlet.

yeah, but notice how he didn't respond to my post...it's like he doesn't want us to have fun....lol