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Discussion Forums » Bloop Site Development
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Helping Bloop Be Better
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17 Feb 2011, 21:23
Estella
Post Count: 1779
Yeah, that's what I meant about the layout - the blue is like a child's kind of blue. I am very curious about the difference between a site visually geared towards those under 35 and how that differs from a site visually geared for those over 35. Maybe the text is larger in the second category! ;D But seriously, Steve's latest entry says that he's got an idea for how to revamp the way the site looks, so I will be curious to see what that looks like.
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16 Feb 2011, 17:59
Chris
Post Count: 1938
I think it would make a lot of sense for the site's staff to be active in community interaction, so that there's a close knot rapport between the owners/staff and the rest of the community. It's kind of something you pick up in customer service -- if you run or work in a small store, you end up gaining a rapport with your group of regular customers, and you end up getting a reputation as being someone who cares for your customers rather than just some guy who works at a store.

And, needless to say, not everybody gets along here. A good number of staff, 4-5 or so, would be good for, you know, not alienating any number of people on here, so that there's no reason for people to, for some reason, dislike EVERY member of staff. It would be good, because it leaves people with, at the worst case scenario, at least one member of staff to turn to if they need help with something.
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16 Feb 2011, 18:55
Estella
Post Count: 1779
This will attract the people who like to be welcomed and get individual attention when they go into a shop. It will not attract those who run a mile when a sales assistant greets them and asks 'Can I help you?' - those who just want to browse quietly and not have to interact with staff.

Possibly this is a cultural difference. North American shops are very big on staff welcoming customers, asking how they are and if they can help them. Brits don't tend to like this, and our sales assistants leave us alone unless we approach them to ask a question.

Having said that, a shop is a bit different from a diary site. You go to buy something specific and take it away with you. A shop is not a community, where you stay and hang out and share your lives.

I see the difference more as being that of a small high school, where teachers enforce rules and are responsible for helping pupils develop themselves, and a large university, where staff just do their jobs and students are independent and form their own groups of friends and do their own thing.
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16 Feb 2011, 22:49
.Blue Bella.
Post Count: 743
Hmmmmm very interesting.

Whilst I think there is always room for improvement I think it can easily be taken over the top to a point where it's just... annoying.

I like the idea of mods in the forums, but only if they are reasonable. But that is a natural want I think, and I guess Steve will have the common sense to appoint people accordingly. Same with site mods. I don't think there need to be a lot of site mods, as it is only a small site and doesn't need a lot of moderation.

I would like to see more bugs ironed out, features improved or added, community involvement, Bloop Diary basics & Project Service being updated, etc. But I think that until the site starts growing this could be difficult. A lot of these things seem to have been over looked since the 'big crash'.

I do like the idea of a monthly challenge. I will say, after running the NoJoMo diary - it takes more than one person. After running NoJoMo for a month (and I managed it when having an interstate holiday and internet issues in there too!) I needed a break the next month from running it and that is why I chose NOT to carry on with a DePhoMo Diary. But if there was a few people on to it, then that would be great. Bia also used to run a FABULOUS photo challenge diary. Things like that are fun and interactive. It gives a community vibe, people getting involved was fun. I thorougly enjoyed seeing how many people really got on board with NoJoMo and I guess I was a little opportunistic in it clashing with the OD problems, I saw it as a way to some what try and keep ODers here. Whether that worked or not, I have no idea lol.

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17 Feb 2011, 06:20
Rhapsody
Post Count: 53
So you're the one to credit for NoJoMo! Thank you! In my original entry I held everything done to high esteem! It was the foundation to nearly my entire point.

Of course, I'm not an extremist with any of the ideas I presented. All I did was brainstorm up ideas because we can't all whine about something and expect Steve and Doc to perform miracles. It's up to us sometimes to come up with stuff. I do agree that there is such a problem as too much of a good thing. But I figured that such a notion was assumed because I honestly don't expect everything to change overnight and be on the other end of the spectrum.
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17 Feb 2011, 06:41
.Blue Bella.
Post Count: 743
And Mindi as well. She was a part of it too, however she had other stuff come up part way through the month. Which is why I pointed out that there really needs to be more than one person and they have to be really committed. We were both committed, don't get me wrong... but we can't help things like internet connectivity issues!
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16 Feb 2011, 22:52
Ashalicious
Post Count: 90
The great thing about the activities/events here on Bloop that have been done previously and are being suggested now is that they are not mandatory. So whatever age groups of people are here can decide for themselves what they want to be involved with. NoJoMo was an event that many people were involved with. I think it's important to offer such things, and those who want to participate can. Those who do not don't have to, they can just go do their own thing. But Bloop is not just for the people who come to vent anonymously and that's it. Bloop appeals to a lot of different people with a lot of different interests, so doing events or activities should still be offered for those who want to do them.

Bloop Secrets gets diarist interaction and opinion all the time. It is something that works and that keeps people interacting. So taking away a feature here that is used is not a good idea no matter what other's opinions of it are. If it works, and people use it and connect with each other through it, then it's doing it's job and should stay. Again, it's something that those who think it's too childish can avoid. If we want Bloop to appeal to a wide age range of people then there needs to be features provided for them all.

A mod saying, "Hello and welcome to Bloop if you need anything here's where you go.." etc. is not too overbearing or parent like in my opinion. I wouldn't per say have them try to mentor other diarists like a support group, but that basic greeting is a nice thing for newbies. Most sites send out a welcome message or comment from the person running the site. I've repeatedly given that info to newbies and been asked by then for tips getting the hang of things. This way they are welcomed here and they know where to go if they need help in the future.

Featuring a diary of the month is a nice idea too, it gives everyone a bit of time in the spotlight and hopefully will bring new people together. :)
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17 Feb 2011, 16:49
kein mitleid
Post Count: 592
A real simple suggestion: Have forums broken down into ratings, i.e. G, PG-13, and R, for language/content. If people post inappropriate things for the rating level, then the forum mods step in. But a little drama and arguing never hurt anyone. I don't think this site needs "forum police," but it wouldn't hurt to separate the locations into content specific forums.

Also, there probably only needs to be like, two forum mods, if that, and I nominate Teresa and Meesa, because their names rhyme.
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18 Feb 2011, 07:56
Rhapsody
Post Count: 53
Ha ha! Meesa mod the forums? After a few servings of her hearty stew, I'm sure just about 80% of all forum discussions would be moved to the graveyard based on the titles alone.

Love ya Meesa!
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19 Feb 2011, 12:06
Winged Centaur
Post Count: 301
I'm been doing some thinking as well about Bloop and it's future. No matter the features, or facelift, or whatnot, Bloop is ultimately a diary site. But we all know that we don't come to Bloop to just write. We come for the communication. The entry AND the response to that. The opportunity to read others. To be entertained, etc.

We can ask Steve to fix everything, but I think we are as responsible. How many of us come online to Bloop, write an entry, check our favorites, and then move on to the next website on our list? I'm guilty. We've found our little group of friends, and we're satisfied. But I want Bloop to grow, and the only way it will do that is by responding to other diarists, by getting some new favorites.

I remember browsing Bloop for new and interesting reads. I wonder why I don't do that anymore, and I don't really have a reason. I think I'll do that again.
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20 Feb 2011, 04:45
K♥Blah
Post Count: 65
Thats what I started doing last week, I mean I've made some suggestions about how to improve bloop from a design perspective, but then I also decided that if I want to make it better for me personally, I'd find a different way. I've started writing as often as I can (i'm aiming for once a day, like I did with NoJoWriMo), I'm trying to read other diarist and make a conscious effort to comment on the diaries I read (it's tricky to write on everyone, but I do try to at least say hi) and yeh, I'm trying to get a bit more out of bloop, expand my friends, read more, write more, communicate more etc.

So yea, why I was suggesting a facelift and so forth, I also felt like I should make more effort. Haha, so YAY. :D
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20 Feb 2011, 08:54
Winged Centaur
Post Count: 301
Yeah, I'm trying to make that effort as well. If Bloop has become complacent, then that is simply a reflection of the members as a whole becoming complacent as well.

If changes are made to the site or features added, I would like to see things that encouraged interactions between diaries. I mean, I love RC'd entries. They are usually entertaining to read. I wish a new one was up more often. Does it not change often because people aren't voting for entries?
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20 Feb 2011, 14:30
lithium layouts.
Post Count: 836
I generally do the RC entries once a week. I actually posted a poll on it a while back and 'once a week' was the most popular choice, so I stuck with that. =)

The list of nominated RCs entries is getting a bit thin, and so more do need to be nominated. =)
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21 Feb 2011, 06:19
Rhapsody
Post Count: 53
I agree with you. I've been slim on the site for the last few months because my circle of friends has been as well. I've tried doing some branching out which is how I noticed a lot of crap "welcomes" for the points. The people that are on here frequently also tend to be people who already have 50+ favorites they are commenting and are commenting them. It's a bit intimidating! It makes me wonder if my little ole comment will be noticed or if they will have as much of an interest in me as I do with them. I've had instances in the past where I've tried hanging around and they just don't reciprocate. I suppose that's another part of the reason I just kind of moved on to the other sites.
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