site member activity

[Glenn MacGrady]

Maybe that feature when you start a new thread that asks if the topic has already been discussed is discouraging more new threads. It gives the impression that we don't want multiple threads about the same topic. Maybe we don't, but some of the threads are years old and could be discussed again, as things change and the people discussing them change too. New members may just research an old topic instead of bringing up a discussion with a new thread.

That's an interesting viewpoint, Al. I don't even notice that notice anymore. But you may be right. So, I've turned of that notice feature. Similar Threads will no longer appear when someone is writing a new topic, but they will continue to appear when reading topics.

 

[Neophyte]

As a relatively new member of this forum I can say that I have felt very welcomed by this community from the first post. This has encouraged me to participate and even take a crack at starting my own conversation. I've tried to return that by being sure to react and/or respond to other conversations, I feel like it helps to let everyone know we are reading content.

I'm not sure if there's something in my experience that could be generalized to overall site activity, but I felt it might be beneficial to share.

 

[Erica]

Hey folks! I just started a new topic!

Where have you paddled?

 

[Robin]

I've tried to return that by being sure to react and/or respond to other conversations, I feel like it helps to let everyone know we are reading content.

I was the admin who added the “like” button, a friend and fellow member suggested it. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but I felt it might help for the exact reason Neophyte mentioned above.
It did catch some criticism, but the biggest critic is long gone and the like button paddles on.

 

[Neophyte]

Robin one of the places I use the like button the most is on the build posts. I enjoy reading them but I have limited experience with the whole process so I have nothing to really add to the conversation. But a lot of work goes into those posts, so I feel like I should let them know that they're not just screaming into the void.

I've read some fantastic trip reports that were posted several years ago, and I wish I would have thought to like those as well. I certainly will moving forward.

 

[stripperguy]

There have been many occasions when questions here are better and more directly addressed on "another" forum.
I'm always reluctant to post a link, for exactly the reason that Glenn mentions, to not dilute the traffic here.
Often, I'll send a direct message guiding the inquisitive member to a thread or posts on some "other" forum.