Forum suggestions, comments, questions?

[Drew Loker]

I'll make this a sticky...so, if you have any questions or suggestions, post them here in this tread. Or, make a new thread if you want.

Cheers!

Drew

[Drew Loker]

A member asked in another thread, "OK, why don't people use this forum more?"

The board usage will increase as we promote it to the club. I need to post it on the bcc website. I don't think everybody gets emails sent to their junk mail folder. And, people are generally so overwhelmed with email they don't really have time to read non-critical email nor play around. For me, easily half of what I know about photography has been with on-line forums, so I know how valuable they are. I think for this BCC forum to be even partially successful, people will need to subscribe to a few of the basic areas like the Market Place and Announcements.

Personally, I like the forum because I like to help and answer questions...but I like to do so such that others can benefit from the answer. And I can also reference it later, etc. Like a member asked me a question yesterday via direct email about monitor calibration. I answered it directly, but it would have been nice if had been here on the forum so everybody could participate. I only have experience with what I use...and there are lots of other products to consider that others may be using.

And finally, I think people who do actually use forums are probably involved in other forums. I routinely check and post three other forums. DPRreview.com, Nikoncafe.com, Texasphotoforum.com. DPR has the largest audience in the world...and any question will usually get LOTS of answers. Although the forum itself has lots of challenges, I have racked up over 3000 posts in the last 7 years since one of my very first questions about keeping a Coolpix 5000 and getting my first DSLR.

Occasionally I will visit Nikoncafe which is a much more focused group. Lots of people (although not near as many as DPR), and those that visit the forums are the same people day in and day out that you can get to know...much more community like. They tend to take a more vested interest in helping you.

TPF is a GREAT place for some things. One thing is it is a MUCH closer community. It is mostly Texas photographers...and one tends to feel more at home. It is very active and has lots of very experienced people that will take the time to answer your questions. However, I do tend to post my technical, especially Nikon specific equipment questions to either of the international forums to get more experience from around the world. I recently developed a contact with a guy in Switzerland who is willing to do a virtual meeting for my students at 8am in the morning on virtual reality PANO work. The guy posted a piece of work that blew my mind and that I really want to be able to share with my students but that I don't really know anything about. TPF has a GREAT Market Place.

And I think the BCC forum has it's place also. Not only as way to get info out to the club members, but also as a way to talk with people that live in the same area as you. I think that has an advantage. Hopefully others will see the value as well and this forum will become an asset to joining the group. It certainly has the potential to grow with our growing membership as we explore ideas to incorporate it into our contests, etc. My goal is get as many of the lessons I have learned and the ones I teach in the classroom on to the net in places like this forum.

Cheers!

[jimsalles]

Forums sure get wordy sometime!!

BJ

[Drew Loker]

Well then! I'll fix that!!

I just edited it down a hundred words or so. Still long and wordy though, huh? Oh well.