Hey, look, it's a discussion forum! Look, there's a topic, what's this? The topic is changes to the web site!
I know, let's discuss that topic in the discussion forum!
Or not, because when you say things that some people disagree with, they just tell you to shut up. Did I misread this? Is this a not-discussion forum? Is this a discussion forum, but only for people who say things John Hollenberg thinks are worthwhile? Can someone point out the the part I missed where John Hollenberg was appointed king?
Please.
You weren't discussing anything.....where is the content below? I don't see it.
I have to say my jaw dropped when I saw the announcement that the site was going to substantially alter its new business model based on a handful of comments made in their forum.
This is a web site with somewhere between 10,000 and 100,000 regular readers.
The regular posters in the forums represent a self-selected and very very small subset of the people you actually need to persuade. Further, a very small subset of that population has thus far weighed in at all, and only a fraction of those suggested making the forums free. As many suggested, or implied, they didn't want the forums free (mainly so their enemies would presumably be excluded, which isn't the best of reasons).
It's really none of my business, but this isn't coming across like a particularly well thought out plan. I hope there are wheels within wheels here, things I'm not aware of.
This post is less thought out. Its not that no one wants a discussion, these types of comments are sideline noise. they add nothing to the discussion. And the claims you make about the regular posters and the percent that represents things are simply wrong. So the only thing that is of SELF value you could have been thinking to yourself is your last bit about wheels within and things your not aware of.
The people who posted with suggestions are not aimlessly posting feedback like yours above.
Genuine and thought out ideas to keep the site for a long term plan is the key. If the printing side makes some revenue, fantastic. I think it would be great that Lula adds a printing platform. Maybe with 2 targets, Archival fine art, and the competing stuff that they can offer here for a easy transition. Something like Whitewall and Costco combined. (not all members understand or value prints like someone who's gonna order it one done on Hahnemuhle textured fine art or something.
But the best plans FOR the users are always in consideration of the users views... in any company that is not looking to suck everything out of its users and shortly make a run for it.
Its actually the best thing any site can do, and that's listen to its users. It makes sense. If they had a full proof plan it would be more of a shopping site. Not a community driven site.
There are long term members here with years of a relation with the site. We are looking out for its best interest, not our one days worth of coffee money.
If you have a suggestion, MAKE IT. otherwise noise just wastes and takes up digital space. ...much like this post I felt I had to make, but in hopes for a more sustainable digital space:-)
Anyway...lets move on.
Flip the switch already...I'm interested in seeing the site....Maybe we can get a new non green/yellow color scheme with it? :-) OK, yes, maybe not a good marketing idea to change that....but it could be used as a subset within a new scheme.