posted
I have to chime in as in 100% agreement with Dan Antonelli's thoughts. As the wearer of several hats: sign maker, seller of products for sign makers, and operator of a different BB, I rarely post here because I don't want to be suspected of trolling.
At my board we see exactly the same kinds of losses and for many of the same reasons. I tend to think, however, that the main reason for loss of participation is the addictiveness of an active BB. In other words, it's easy to spend too much time at a BB and then, when you notice you're neglecting your family or your business, swing in exactly the opposite direction and stop participating altogether.
-------------------- Fred Weiss Allied Computer Graphics, Inc. 4620 Lake Worth Road Lake Worth, FL 33463 561 649-6300 allcompu@allcompu.com Posts: 427 | From: Lake Worth, Florida | Registered: Feb 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Fred Weiss: ...... I tend to think, however, that the main reason for loss of participation is the addictiveness of an active BB. In other words, it's easy to spend too much time at a BB and then, when you notice you're neglecting your family or your business, swing in exactly the opposite direction and stop participating altogether.
I tend to agree. Good post.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Fred, that's an interesting point. Many of the people I was referring to jumped in here with both feet and posted to everything. Like a brand new Amway convert, a little too gung-ho. That's why I had to swear off the chat room - I wasn't getting any work done on my night shift. Maybe we should impose a posting limit on new members - or a required 12-Step BB program........
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
It's hard to strike a balance. This summer I've read some fascinating discussions here and had no time to participate. Letterville lost out to 3 vacations, some county fairs, family get-togethers, city-wide art gallery open-house evenings, peace & quiet in my kayak, time for my own artwork, reading, family hikes, and of course making tons of signs to pay for the new van and a new family car that runs on compressed natural gas.
No matter how good life is, I'll always have one complaint: life is too short.
-------------------- Frank Smith Frank Smith Signs Albany, NY www.franksmithsigns.com Posts: 807 | From: Albany, NY USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Well it's sad to hear that some of the good "Old Timers" are gone,I hope they come back.
In the meantime: I'm Back! extremely small consolation though that may be.
I've been hanging out on conceptart.org. If you think discussions can go south around here imagine a website much like this one, but all of us being video game artists, comic book artists, illustrators or wannabees ages 12 to 25. That's conceptart. I've learned to avoid the "lounge" area altogether. Still it's an amazing website to check out if you have the time. Some of the talent is nothing short of mindblowing.
posted
It was correctly pointed out to me that "run off" might be the wrong phrase in light of some incidents. In many cases, people left because they created their own storms of controversy. In others, illness, business, family or life just precluded time spent on this forum.
It was also correctly pointed out that things are not always what they seem........
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
I've had my share of mixed feelings about this board, and my participation level is directly a result of what those feelings are at any given moment.
Both Dans have a point about being resented for their success - its an unfortunate aspect of society that in any group, there's an element that is envious and resentful and looks for ways to drag people down. There's no more certain way to run off the very people who have the most to share.
Another issue I have is the nature of this virtual medium itself. The tagline of the site is "the letterhead meet that never ends." I wonder - is that a good thing? At a live meet we plan and schedule and make sacrifices to be able to attend; at the meet we re-acquaint with friends, swap stories, paint, share techniques, get fired up again... and then its OVER, and we go back to our lives, hopefully carrying some inspiration with us, looking forward to going again. So, what if it didn't end, we didn't have to go home... it would become part and parcel with our lives. We'd see a lot more of each other, and for some of us, discover things that we don't agree on. Instead of being a relatively brief, overwhelmingly positive encounter with other sign folks, it becomes more like a family - and NOBODY gets along with ALL of their relatives, not to mention some of the houseguests that show up uninvited.
What I'm trying to say is it could be good for us, individually, to leave from time to time. I know it is good for me to do that; to give myself some space and regain a perspective, so that when I do choose to read or contribute, it is in a way that's fresh and positive.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I agree with Si that you have to have thick skin. If you post on here, you need to be aware of the *potential* for things getting nasty, no matter how good your intentions. Things typed are without inflection or expression and can be taken ambiguously. We all need to temper our posts and replys with humility, wisdom, and restraint. I say that from experience too. I don't know many people who have taken more of a beating than I took over my attempted move to Canada (aka: Canadian gun smuggling trip). I even got another hate mail about three months ago. I read it a few times, thought about how to reply, wrote two different letters, then deleted them and decided not to respond. Like Dusty said "If you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough". Was I stupid for taking a handgun into Canada without knowing the laws? You bet your bippy! Was I actually smuggling guns? Not on your life and it was only one gun. It was an extremely hurtful event not to get to move to Alaska and volunteering that I had a handgun cost me about $5,000. I still love Canada and my *dear* Canadian friends and I sincerely mean that.
There are always small minded people who justify their own failures by saying "You can't get those kinda prices in my town" or "You can't sell that kinda work in my town". Going out once or twice and trying to sell that gold leaf job or quoting $90 sq. ft. for a sandblasted job and getting shot down is not failure; the only failure is giving up. Yeah I'm mildly envious (with a smile) of Dan S. getting to make these incredible projects all the time but he had the drive and paid the price to build that kind of business. People didn't just bust his door down with that sort of work; he had to develop it. If someone wants you to do a job you don't like doing - just say no; if you do it you'll probably get more of it. Sorry for the rabbit chasing.
Dan A., I hate to hear that you hold back because of your reasons but I totally understand. That still doesn't lessen the fact that you are greatly admired on here (yep, I bought your books) for not only your knowledge, creativity, talents and skills but your business savvy too. If anybody gives you any grief on here we'll have OP "take care of em". BTW, Jake thinks you're really cute.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
So Ricky, what exactly would it take then to "run" you off??? (damn smuggler)
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
It's easy to get pulled in a different direction. I haven't read or posted anything here for a month or so. Mostly I've been pondering how to move from a one man shop into one with employees with the least amount of growing pains.
I don't know if I missed something hitting the fan, but I've noticed in the couple years I've been here that summer seems to bring higher levels of tension.
When I was reading every post, I'd just tune out the negative posts. Lalalala I can't hear you.
I'm not one of the ones refusing to come back, I just have alot going on at the moment.
I'm still glad to know y'all and look forward to meeting more.
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