Forum communities lately…

[ehdee6]

Another great thing about forums is everyone has a different way of explaining things, has a different option, different outlook, and other way of doing whatever. That's what builds a quality community, sharing different aspects. It makes you look at what you're doing, and maybe questioning if what you're doing is really right. What works for one, may not work for the other; but eventually the puzzle gets completed. We're all in the same struggle together: "How can I give my cham the best life?!?."

It can take a heavy toll when you give so much of yourself, just to be ignored and dismissed. I truly appreciate all the advice and different prospectives that's been given on my own husbandry. Although, I myself may have been a bit hardheaded on things. Looking back all the advice was spot on.

I appreciate all of you for keeping the forum alive.

 

[Beman]

Secretly you got into this hobby just so you could keep pet cockroaches, don’t deny it.

I will never forget when you sent me the huge roaches and I about died opening the container. They were the largest dubia I had seen and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. You were like oh those are small... NOT.

 

[jamest0o0]

I will never forget when you sent me the huge roaches and I about died opening the container. They were the largest dubia I had seen and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. You were like oh those are small... NOT.

Hahahaha, I can’t believe my wife tolerated that. Well, they weren’t directly in the house or she wouldn’t have… think my days of having tons of bugs are over though lol.

 

[Brad]

Forums in general have been in decline for many years. It's unfortunate but true. Before social media it was forums that ruled the internet. It was a different time. I think the decline of forums began with the wide adoption of Facebook in ~2007 and of course additional social media platforms over the following years. Here at Chameleon Forums the trend became noticeable around ~2010. I would not be surprised if trends one day turn favorable again for forums but at the moment I don't see evidence of that. The good news is that there are a lot more people on the internet today. Chameleon Forums can still grow and thrive regardless of the general trend of forum websites.

It's also true that forum activity at Chameleon Forums has declined over the past couple years. Some of that is due to the general trend of forums but I suspect a large part of the issue is self inflicted. In recent years I've been too slow to make important website improvements and the consequence of that is beginning to show. I think we have a good plan or strategy to get back on track and I will begin making progress on that very soon. If anyone ever has a suggestion on how to improve Chameleon Forums we would love to hear from you. Suggestions can be posted in this thread, in the Feedback Forum or by private message.

 

[jamest0o0]

Forums in general have been in decline for many years. It's unfortunate but true. Before social media it was forums that ruled the internet. It was a different time. I think the decline of forums began with the wide adoption of Facebook in ~2007 and of course additional social media platforms over the following years. Here at Chameleon Forums the trend became noticeable around ~2010. I would not be surprised if trends one day turn favorable again for forums but at the moment I don't see evidence of that. The good news is that there are a lot more people on the internet today. Chameleon Forums can still grow and thrive regardless of the general trend of forum websites.

It's also true that forum activity at Chameleon Forums has declined over the past couple years. Some of that is due to the general trend of forums but I suspect a large part of the issue is self inflicted. In recent years I've been too slow to make important website improvements and the consequence of that is beginning to show. I think we have a good plan or strategy to get back on track and I will begin making progress on that very soon. If anyone ever has a suggestion on how to improve Chameleon Forums we would love to hear from you. Suggestions can be posted in this thread, in the Feedback Forum or by private message.

Something that forums can benefit from is the widespread acceptance that social media is uh not good for us… so as more people move from social media/limit their use, while still being on the internet, hopefully forums will make a come back.

I honestly do not think you are to blame at all for the decline. I feel like you do an excellent job with this site, far better than other forums I’ve come across. I’m sure it’s a giant task to manage all of this too, we should be here to support you as much as you do for us.

If there was some way to draw in the rare species keepers/breeders, advanced topics, etc. like @Motherlode Chameleon said that would be cool. Not sure in what way though.

 

[DeremensisBlue]

I think the main damage social media has done is change habits. It put a wide variety of interactions in one place so it became so much easier to interact with your family, discuss politics, and have all of your hobbies in one place. So it was much easier to pull up Facebook for everything instead of having a handful of sites you had to visit.

But there is an enormous disruption happening right now in the form of AI. And we are starting to see the effects of AI on all the social media platforms where Facebook, Instagram, etc...are being overrun by bots and AI generated posts and images. While some of this is amusing (stormtrooper vlogs) I think we are all feeling the burnout of never knowing if the person we are talking to or is making us angry is actually a person. So, I think what @Brad said about things turning towards forums is very possible. I am predicting, with my very dirty and faulty crystal ball that is right 16% of the time, that we (the online world) will get so jaded by the onslaught of online garbage that we will crave personal interaction by people we know are people. So, the Chameleon Forums, with the living and breathing people may gain unexpected recognition in the coming years. Sure, AI is coming for everyone, but chameleons are a very low priority. Just look at the garbage it produces for chameleons. I know it has absorbed my entire website because some of the AI generated chameleon videos that are absolute garbage incorporate some terminology that I use. But it is sooooo bad. Thus, it won't take long for people to get tired and look for a real person community.

So, my magic 8-ball opinion is that the Chameleon Forums should lean into its greatest power - the community. The annual calendar which incorporates the community, the Heart awards which lets people know they can be seen...these are all examples of things that just aren't on Facebook or Reddit. They could be, but it is so hard investing in a platform that could shut you down without notice or recourse. So, things aren't rosey in social media world either. Celebrating the people here, making people feel welcome, giving them things to be part of, recognizing the people who have given back to the community...I know it is hard having faith that things will turn around and not knowing when, but I think the things that make the Chameleon Forums special are things that will soon be valued at a premium because of AI turning the social media world into trudging through slop.

And here is a picture of my magic-8 opinion ball sitting next to my dirty crystal ball that is right 16% of the time. And this was definitely not generated by AI.

 

[absolutbill]

I've been a member here for nearly 2 decades, but I've always been more of a luker than a poster. I give huge props to everyone who answers the same questions over and over and over again. I used to come on everyday, just to look around, but now I'm probably down to every week or 2. It's through no fault of the Forums at all, life just gets in the way. Between work and running a hobby farm, plus starting a small business, I just rarely have a couple of moments free to myself. I will always stick around as long as I have chameleons, and don't see that changing, but I do think that the time sucks of social media as well as the daily grind are what are pulling people's attention.

 

[kinyonga]

I think part of the reason the forum seems to have slowed down at times might be that there is so much good information here in threads and different areas of the forum that newbies and others who have issues don’t need to ask about a solution…the solutions are already talked about in the various areas of the forum so there’s little need to ask for every issue. There is also more good information on husbandry, medical issues, etc than ever before so people don’t have to ask…they can find the answers by looking here.

Once again, I’m eternally grateful to those of you who have taken over giving the husbandry reviews. It’s taken a big load off my back. So a big thanks to those of you who have been doing that!!!

 

[kinyonga]

@Brad said…”In recent years I've been too slow to make important website improvements and the consequence of that is beginning to show”…I don’t think this is the reason at all. Just my opinion.

 

[MissSkittles]

I much prefer the more positive reasons for slow downs…that more people are learning on their own and providing great care to their chameleons. I don’t have a problem repeating the same info over and over, as long as it’s to different people. When every now and then someone comes along who just isn’t getting it, that is frustrating and if I don’t walk away, I might not be able to stay kind. Depending on the situation, I will send people to Chameleon Academy or Neptune videos, mainly to get a broader perspective of why things are done certain ways or reinforcement of how important something is.

 

[jamest0o0]

I think part of the reason the forum seems to have slowed down at times might be that there is so much good information here in threads and different areas of the forum that newbies and others who have issues don’t need to ask about a solution…the solutions are already talked about in the various areas of the forum so there’s little need to ask for every issue. There is also more good information on husbandry, medical issues, etc than ever before so people don’t have to ask…they can find the answers by looking here.

Once again, I’m eternally grateful to those of you who have taken over giving the husbandry reviews. It’s taken a big load off my back. So a big thanks to those of you who have been doing that!!!

Hahaha, like just now people decided to start using search functions in any scenario. Very optimistic outlook, but idk my friend.

edit: I’m messing with you so you know, absolutely no disrespect, much love!

 

[kinyonga]

@jamest0o0 said…” I’m messing with you so you know, absolutely no disrespect, much love”…I know you are!