Building a community, not a gathering of people

[succor]

@KenW3 - Your argument doesn't hold water. Any picture that could be used for an avatar could be used for a profile picture which IS allowed here. This means that if either is allowed then either can be abused. I agree that Bryan's fly on the wall was cool, and yes the Foghorn Leghorn was probably a copyright infringement, but I don't recall seeing anything that was... I was about to say completely inappropriate, but when I went back to read your original statement I realized what you actually said was "completely inappropriate for a business forum" and that for a business forum may have been true in some cases. I don't how wide spread it was, I'm sure I didn't look at as many as you did. The required 50 post should be long enough, especially if there are other good examples, for people to get a feel for what is appropriate and what is not; then again, maybe not.
Anyhow, that isn't what I was... I guess requesting is the best word... in the OP. I like seeing pictures next to posts, be it avatars or profile pictures, was all I was saying.

@grynge - You sound like you would be, um, interesting let's say, to be around... annoying as heck, but interesting.

Grynge, sounds like you have a lot of fun with the pranks. I think I'm glad there is an ocean between us. LOL

I'll second that sentiment. On second thought, hmm, maybe not, so on third thought, I'll stick to my first thought.

You have a point there, Jim. I'm starting to regret I invited this prankster to our home. But he'd better behave himself because I'll be reporting back here.

Good luck. I think you're going to need it.

I've enjoyed the last few posts and the way the thread has meandered, but ...

succor, would you agree that the conversation is this thread suggests community more than gathering of people?

Yes, I agree with you and the statement. This is a community. It felt like a community before I started the thread; it just doesn't "look" like one. From the outside it looks like a stone house in the winter at dark, grey, featureless, foreboding, and ominous; but the inside is like a stone house too, warm, bright, cheerful, and full of friends. The analogy is not great, but you get the idea.

@Slowdive - Interesting moniker by the way. Thank you for taking your "me time" to add to the discussion. I look forward to seeing your updated profile. If you have used up your nice quota by the time you get here I haven't noticed.
You already have friends here, newbies don't. If you don't want to be friends with them then that is your possible loss... and theirs. (That didn't come out right. I mean no offense; I'm just kinda blunt sometimes and I can't think of another way to say it.)
I too am proud / pleased to be a member of this community. I read a lot of stuff here, there is a lot of good information. I don't comment a whole lot though because I don't have any value to add to what has already been said usually. I hope the education that I'm getting here will help my business grow as well. As I learn things hopefully I will be able to contribute more useful posts.
There are people here that I feel like I am beginning to get to know a little and I, like you, would miss them if they left.

[succor]

This thread is partially about the look and feel, so to speak, of E-P. Most all newbies are intimidated to some degree or another. Having the things I talked about in the OP allows them to nose around a bit and gain a little information about the members before they actually commit to something; and joining a community like E-P is a commitment. I HATE walking into a meeting blind, I always prefer to have some knowledge about the person / customer / company that I am going to be interacting with.

[bwelford]

It felt like a community before I started the thread; it just doesn't "look" like one. From the outside it looks like a stone house in the winter at dark, grey, featureless, foreboding, and ominous; but the inside is like a stone house too, warm, bright, cheerful, and full of friends. The analogy is not great, but you get the idea.

... but the inside too looks "dark, grey, featureless," and therefore possibly "foreboding, and ominous".

I emphasize the word looks because a picture can often give you more information than a thousand words as the saying goes. Of course by reading a great deal you will eventually develop a view by osmosis of the way things happen around here. Anyone who has gone through that process may then forget what it felt like to be a newbie. Perhaps we need to do some market research to find out what newbies think about the look and feel of this forum. That should include also anyone who is quickly turned off by the appearance, but of course they have no motivation to tell us and do not stay around long enough for us to ask them.

[Kay]

But the clue is in the name of the forum - it's called Experienced People. Whilst newbies are made very welcome if they join in, they're not the target audience. Why should we change the appearance of the forum to suit the newbs?

We all have to start somewhere, but I don't see why we should change the whole feel of the forum to suit people who aren't our target audience anyway. You might as well go on a forum about cricket and suggest that they should change the look and feel of the place for people who don't know anything about cricket.

There are plenty of new members who take to this place like a duck to water (the OP for starters) - and there are some who don't. I'd not like the idea of changing the ethos of the place to suit those who can't manage to fit in. There's plenty of guidance and help already - I even wrote a newbie starter guide. I don't see that there's anything wrong with how this forum looks.

I'd not go to a serious business meeting and expect to be presented with a load of pictures to look at either, just in case some people didn't understand some of the business concepts which were being discussed. That's not to say that pictures, photos, etc aren't welcome - but let's keep them in the right place and not spoil the forum with a load of stuff that just makes the pages slower to load.

[Clinton]

succor/bwelford, feel free to start a poll if you want. The problem is, I guess, that the "oldies" won't jump in to vote for encouraging avatars and pictures in posts or signatures. And surely as the admin I should be doing what the regular contributors want, not what the one off poster or newbie would like to see. Tweaking the forum to suit the regular, posting members would seem to be a good route to making this place more welcoming to people like them (as they became regular, posting members because of how this forum is). But if a poll reveals otherwise I'm happy to have a chat with Ken and make some changes.

[grynge]

It's a tough market the site is actually aimed at, the "experienced people" are normally the guys busy out there actually doing stuff. I am lucky I suppose being semi retired I can spend some time on here. If it was a few years ago I doubt I would have had any time.

[succor]

succor/bwelford, feel free to start a poll if you want. The problem is, I guess, that the "oldies" won't jump in to vote for encouraging avatars and pictures in posts or signatures. And surely as the admin I should be doing what the regular contributors want, not what the one off poster or newbie would like to see. Tweaking the forum to suit the regular, posting members would seem to be a good route to making this place more welcoming to people like them (as they became regular, posting members because of how this forum is). But if a poll reveals otherwise I'm happy to have a chat with Ken and make some changes.

I'll create the poll in a little bit. I want to think about how to word it first.

@bwelford - If you have any suggestions, please feel free to PM me. For that matter if you want to create the poll then PM me. I don't care who does it, there is just no reason for both of us since that would be a duplication of effort.

Whatever the community decides is fine with me, and that is the way it should be. There is nothing to be gained by cramming something down peoples throats that they don't want.

[TheodoreK]

I was a bit shy to post here at first, even though I believe EP is a community and not a gathering of people.

I am one of those people who voted "Partially filled out, but I plan to finish it up." and today I kinda filled it out after all. (also added succor in my friends list to promote the community spirit)

I think it can be intimidating for newbies and self-styled newbs to open up and relax in EP, but I have learned that doing so can be most rewarding. (as long as you don't sell MMO trash :P )

[Slowdive]

I have also updated my profile some, more will likely come as inspiration finds me. I am not sure if it helps people feel more welcome.However if being able to put a name and a face to my handle, helps new comers feel more comfortable getting in touch, thats great. A few members will attest I am actually pretty helpful and none too scary
Heck if you have questions feel free to ask too.

[succor]

I finally created the poll about the question of having avatars at EP. You can participate by going to this Avatars: To have or not to have... a poll. thread.

Please take the time to contribute. Thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in my ramblings here.

Sincerely,
succor

@KenW3 & tke71709, please consider adding this to the Bulletin Archive - a week by week collection of some of our best threads thread. I know it may not be one of the "best" threads, but it would bring it some attention.