14 replies to this topic

[renamerusk]

We presumably all have a great enthusiasm for the Forum; and that being said - its getting more difficult to follow the many comments scattered/broadcasted like "weeding and feeding" a lawn.

 

The amount of extra workload facing John to sort through the network of threads once he has recovered will be mountainous. Lets make his work a lot easier and also make navigating the Forum easier too by making the effort to catalog a posting when ever possible.

[renamerusk]

"Discussion has been lacking this summer, so I would like to encourage everyone to start new threads, or to make comments on the existing ones.  A little bit ago, we had a couple of days that had some lively dialogue.  I would like to see that resume".    John T. Roberts

 

I set my "New Content" Filter at 24 hours.  No new subjects introduced, no older subjects revisited..very little engagement.   The past two days have been quiet. 

 

Is Fort Worth asleep?

[roverone]

Maybe everyone was just avoiding the possibility of April Fools content and stayed offline for a short while.

[renamerusk]

Didn't consider April Fool's Day.

[John T Roberts]

We do have periods from time to time where the board is quiet.  I'm surprised that there has not been more comment on the AC Hotel.

[JBB]

Totally anecdotal observation, but Mondays seem to be quiet days on the forum in general.  That's a day off work for me and I'm less likely to post when I'm not sitting at a desk in front of a computer.

 

I'm excited about the AC Marriott.  Maybe the comments will pick up when there's more than just dirt and a crane. 

[renamerusk]

We do have periods from time to time where the board is quiet.  I'm surprised that there has not been more comment on the AC Hotel.

 

 If you like, I can whip up some hysteria.

[johnfwd]

I myself have always tried to adhere to the adage, "if you don't have something good to say, don't say it."

[renamerusk]

I suppose the Forum can do okay simply being reliant upon members who choose to engage only when they have something "good" to say and no one is force to do anything more; however, The Forum, by definition, is a space where engagement is encouraged and welcomed, it is also a place where contributions of new ideas and topics are required to maintain a degree of relevancy and newness.

 

The danger is that ideas die or those who may consider to make a contribution are left without the courtesy of a simply reply or acknowledgement of their effort or even the perception that their contribution may not have even been read..so why bother!

 

Clearly, the Forum is not guaranteed to survive especially if enough members decide to become idle. Take a look at the Members List section; you'll find 121pp filled with members who have posted 1-2 times and have not bothered to return. Left to upon most of these members, whether the Forum is still active would be news to them.

 

As for having the need to say something good, that is kind; there is also a need when constructive to point out the not so good.

[roverone]

I'll say that I read for years and years and years.  I found it incredibly interesting, but I didn't feel like there was much I could contribute.  Then I finally wanted to sign up and there were some challenges, I didn't get the email, etc.  And eventually with John's help, I'm here.  It is possible that a lot of people felt like I did, very interested in reading, and not certain about how they could contribute.  The site is full of insiders, whether by profession or excellent research skills, and so is a great resource.  If people don't feel like they can provide that kind of information, they might end up as readers instead of posters.  Perhaps there are topics that can encourage people to feel like their contributions add to the story.

[renamerusk]

Roverone, I am pretty sure I remember your first contribution; it might have been something in response to the construction going on near you at the Sinclair, I believe.  I was excited to read and to have your contribution. Now, I read each of your contributions.

 

I believe that a great number of influential people are aware of and read this site without ever contributing; and that is okay because I  believe whether they contribute or not, the Forum is uniquely positioned to message the influential people in Fort Worth so that they have a wide range of viewpoints, both good and bad.  To be clear, I not only post in reply to a fellow member, but to hopefully get the attention of the powerful in Fort Worth.  Once in a while, I actually believed that I have reached someone of power.

 

I will repeat myself and say that it is not mandatory to post and comment, but it is more impactful when more people do so.

[Austin55]

I'll say that I read for years and years and years.  I found it incredibly interesting, but I didn't feel like there was much I could contribute.  Then I finally wanted to sign up and there were some challenges, I didn't get the email, etc.  And eventually with John's help, I'm here.  It is possible that a lot of people felt like I did, very interested in reading, and not certain about how they could contribute.  The site is full of insiders, whether by profession or excellent research skills, and so is a great resource.  If people don't feel like they can provide that kind of information, they might end up as readers instead of posters.  Perhaps there are topics that can encourage people to feel like their contributions add to the story.

 

I also feel like there's also a lot of folks that can't post because of their profession, might not be able to talk publicly about their job. 

[renamerusk]

 

...If people don't feel like they can provide that kind of information, they might end up as readers instead of posters.  Perhaps there are topics that can encourage people to feel like their contributions add to the story.

 

I also feel like there's also a lot of folks that can't post because of their profession, might not be able to talk publicly about their job. 

 

 

 Those are valid points. 

 

However, I would say that social media does allow one a great degree of anonymity which can be both constructive and destructive.  As long as you do not provide details that actually identify yourself, you can post with some degree of confidentiality.   I would love to have a "leaks" from within the environment of the decision makers; it might help us from being blindsided from time to time.

[renamerusk]

Roverone, I am pretty sure I remember your first contribution; it might have been something in response to the construction going on near you at the Sinclair, I believe.  I was excited to read and to have your contribution. Now, I read each of your contributions.

 

I believe that a great number of influential people are aware of and read this site without ever contributing; and that is okay because I  believe whether they contribute or not, the Forum is uniquely positioned to message the influential people in Fort Worth so that they have a wide range of viewpoints, both good and bad.  To be clear, I not only post in reply to a fellow member, but to hopefully get the attention of the powerful in Fort Worth.  Once in a while, I actually believed that I have reached someone of power.

 

I will repeat myself and say that it is not mandatory to post and comment, but it is more impactful when more people do so.

 

 Here lies further evidence that we on the Forum should not just be reactive and speak only when we have something to say but none other than The Fort Worth Business Press cites Architecture in For Worth in its report about the Fort Worth Public Market (FWPM) and is likely reading comments of support and constructive criticism that we post in the Forum.

 

We can have an impact if we engage in greater depth than simply a tweet now and then and believe that your words can make a difference.. 

 

I hope that some of the constructive criticism posted in the Forum about the FWPM has led its owners, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the Fort Worth Business Press and the City to take care when any redevelopment is undertaken.

[John T Roberts]

I think it is pretty clear that the news media monitors the forum, but in this case the quote about the Public Market comes from the information provided in the building listing within the website.  Many people use the information provided in the site as a reference.