What is going on here?

Thanks for the clarification and your input, mlededee! It's always nice to have admins weigh in on stuff like this.

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Originally Posted by mlededee

I don't necessarily think that changing the name/URL of a well established, 17 year old forum is a great idea. Our slogan is "The friendliest online community for ALL your herping needs." I understand that it is clear that the focus appears to be ball pythons, and that is because it is. But we do also pride ourselves in providing information on all species, which is also pretty clear if you come and take a look around.

If were aren't BP.Net, then what would we be? We could do something like a second domain name that redirects to the same forum and tweak the graphics. But I am not sure we want to do a full rebrand.

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This is actually a really good point. It sounds like we really need to put our status as "the friendliest online community for ALL your herping needs!" out there better and show that we're not just a group of BP people over here, the same way Kingsnake isn't just for kingsnake people. So, what Hugsplox and Zincubus were talking about earlier. The only real idea I have on this front is public outreach/advertisement -- ie. getting one or some of the popular podcasts to mention us and what it's really like here.

As far as generating more content/posts/activity: perhaps we could start some sort of special weekly discussion thread series? Maybe they could focus on aspects of things such as hobby ethics, hobby history, applying things they've learned caring for one species to another, etc. Alternatively, we could start holding some sort of weekly or weekly-ish "book club" or "podcast club" where people could discuss new herp literature or podcast episodes. I feel like Reddit groups have weekly "mega-threads" like this that are fairly active; maybe something similar could work here?

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Originally Posted by WrongPython

Consider updating and consolidating the sticky threads into a basic "how to" locked sub-forum a la the "BP.net Guide to Ball Python Morphs." Perhaps we could throw in a some new FAQ threads -- like "So your BP won't eat... now what?" -- to obviously answer the questions people don't feel like skimming a full care sheet for. Worried new keepers will still continue to make the same old panicked posts, but maybe this would cut down on the volume a bit.

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Yes, absolutely agree with this item. I cleaned up the stickies in a couple of the off topic type forums recently, but this needs some serious work.

If anyone wants to create NEW sticky type posts, let's get that going. Anyone can create an informational type post at any time. A, "So your BP won't eat... now what?" post. New threads don't have to be questions or photo threads. Share your knowledge with a new post. It might get stickied or replace an old sticky.

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Originally Posted by WrongPython

As far as generating more content/posts/activity: perhaps we could start some sort of special weekly discussion thread series? Maybe they could focus on aspects of things such as hobby ethics, hobby history, applying things they've learned caring for one species to another, etc. Alternatively, we could start holding some sort of weekly or weekly-ish "book club" or "podcast club" where people could discuss new herp literature or podcast episodes. I feel like Reddit groups have weekly "mega-threads" like this that are fairly active; maybe something similar could work here?

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Do it! I can supply tons of media type sources. Podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. If you want to talk about this stuff, start the discussion!

I can make a new forum/section for this type of discussion if it is warranted.

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Originally Posted by WrongPython

Thanks for the clarification and your input, mlededee! It's always nice to have admins weigh in on stuff like this.



This is actually a really good point. It sounds like we really need to put our status as "the friendliest online community for ALL your herping needs!" out there better and show that we're not just a group of BP people over here, the same way Kingsnake isn't just for kingsnake people. So, what Hugsplox and Zincubus were talking about earlier. The only real idea I have on this front is public outreach/advertisement -- ie. getting one or some of the popular podcasts to mention us and what it's really like here.

As far as generating more content/posts/activity: perhaps we could start some sort of special weekly discussion thread series? Maybe they could focus on aspects of things such as hobby ethics, hobby history, applying things they've learned caring for one species to another, etc. Alternatively, we could start holding some sort of weekly or weekly-ish "book club" or "podcast club" where people could discuss new herp literature or podcast episodes. I feel like Reddit groups have weekly "mega-threads" like this that are fairly active; maybe something similar could work here?

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Sorry to keep harping back to RFUK but it has got a bit of life back into it by being a bit more community based .. with threads titled ‘how are you feeling today?’ ‘Coronavirus daily update / thoughts thread’ , ‘ What are you listening to these days’ ‘the what made you smile thread’ where you can upload a funny news story/ funny image from the internet/ funny thing that happened to you / cute photo of your dawg asleep or whatever ..

Anything but get people talking/ reading / replying but it doesn’t HAVE to be snake based .. just encourages more forum traffic

Edit
One I may try here is the Random photo thread ... where you can just show your silly or creative side .... or the ‘What the hell is this’ thread where you post a photo of something interesting but unusual ..

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Sorry to keep harping back to RFUK but it has got a bit of life back into it by being a bit more community based .. with threads titled ‘how are you feeling today?’ ‘Coronavirus daily update / thoughts thread’ , ‘ What are you listening to these days’ ‘the what made you smile thread’ where you can upload a funny news story/ funny image from the internet/ funny thing that happened to you / cute photo of your dawg asleep or whatever ..

Anything but get people talking/ reading / replying but it doesn’t HAVE to be snake based .. just encourages more forum traffic

Edit
One I may try here is the Random photo thread ... where you can just show your silly or creative side .... or the ‘What the hell is this’ thread where you post a photo of something interesting but unusual ..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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I agree- some forums I've previously experienced also had a thread for shared humor...& who needs that, right?

Presumably any new ‘off topic’ threads go in Members Forum / Hisses and Hugs section ??

Or is there an off topic area !?!?


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Off Topic Cafe: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/foru...Off-topic-Cafe

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Originally Posted by mlededee

Off Topic Cafe: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/foru...Off-topic-Cafe

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Thanks that’s very useful... but what is the Members Forum / Hisses and Hugs then ?
Kinda confusing..


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I pretty much never post here, but I check out the forums at least once a day & have been noticing the slow traffic too. It's worrying. This place is the only online forum I'd trust with quality snake advice, and I've gotten plenty of it! It's like magic-I use the advice, and bam, problem gone(and brain a bit less stupid!)

I wonder how many users are like me, where they only post if they have a snake related problem but never post in the other threads for whatever reason despite being frequent visitors. It doesn't seem like the number of guests has been dropping that much either-could be that the forums have a "for advice only" problem, and are getting overshadowed by social media platforms?:confusd:

I also almost never post here anymore either, although I do pop in most days just to check and see what's going on, and what new, interesting topics there might be. I've also noticed an influx in threads of newbies asking the same questions repeatedly, but very few posts outside of that category.

I may be speaking only for myself, but Covid has impacted the amount of time I've been able to spend on the forum, simply because work seems to have taken over my life. Changes in schedule (nights to days), facility changes, and an absurd amount of MOT have zapped a lot of my energy, and I wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't the only one, especially if any of our regulars are in the medical field. Financial difficulties due to hour/paycuts and layoffs may have forced some people to either get second jobs or cut out luxuries like internet, both of which would decrease forum traffic as well.

I like a lot of the suggestions that have been put forth thus far, and I do think updated stickies would be immensely helpful. This is still my go-to forum for anything reptile related, because as some have pointed out, social media reptile (or pet) sections in general tend to be absolute cesspits. At least here we can post pictures without having people scrutinize everything in the room/enclosure to look for anything that they can criticize. :rolleye2: