Q: Could This (new discussion format) Be Any Worse?

I'm seeing about the same amount of posts in the forums I frequent and most of the same people are still providing answers to questions. No longer care to debate the aesthetics of the design, bad search (which has been bad in every iteration I've seen). There will be people ready able and willing to answer the arcane questions, I see new ones coming along every day. It is not like all of us will be able to come here forever.

I think there will be changes to the system based on feedback. It has been up what, a whole month? I think most of the people who provide answers here will stick around. I think new people will come along and get hooked here. I think some people will die and leave (the Lounge tends to skew pretty old). I only see a sea change if Apple decides to abandon ASC and go with a subscription service.

If people want to announce they are quitting then let them go. If they can't abide the system and need a break more power to them. Most don't announce it, they just do it. The thread referred to here reminds me of one ds store did a couple of years back.

deggie wrote:

 

One person is not "proof" of anything,

 

 

ONE?   ROFL       Youve seen the newest thread in the WC

You and I both know that isnt true , not even close

deggie wrote:

But the sky is not falling, his not being here will not collapse the system,

After Chernobyl,..... the "sky wasnt falling" then EITHER

but lots got   "the heck out of Dodge"

You printed that quote from ONE person and called it proof.

Most people reading this cannot read the WC.

I've seen now more than 20 people saying anything about quitting, I've seen 1 that says he is, another that said he quit posting 3 weeks ago, and one taking a wait and see. Most of the level 6 people that I see posting are continuing to do so and they don't participate in the Lounge anyway. The vase majority of the L6 and up do not frequent the WC.

There is no "proof" to be had. Maybe Apple will change it back for you. Maybe they will listen to the feedback and change things. Maybe they won't. But they aren't going to do it over the rantings of 20 people. So for all who want to quit, do so. You have my support and blessing. I think you should lead the charge.

Hey, Chicken Little PV, this isn't Chernobyl. This isn't a disaster. We have plenty of real ones surrounding us.

PLEASE, by all means give up your role as spokesperson, join VP and exit the door that way.

deggie wrote:

I'm seeing about the same amount of posts in the forums I frequent and most of the same people are still providing answers to questions.

I am not even sure how to estimate that with any accuracy, given the amount of effort it now takes to see who has recently replied to discussions in the various forums. However, what I have seen from an admittedly unscientific sampling of the forums I frequent most often is a decline in the total number of replies from anybody, a more pronounced decline in the number of discussions most of the 'top rated' users in those communities participate in, & most troubling (at least to me) an increase in the ratio of unhelpful & sometimes flat out incorrect contributions vs. helpful ones.

Also, the total number of views seems to be down considerably, but that is based on my memory of what it was like a few weeks ago so it could be at least somewhat illusory.

The only thing I know for certain is I can no longer read, much less contribute to or learn from, anywhere near the same number of discussions as I could before the change. I suspect I am far from unusual in this respect.

And I see it differently. I go to the iPod Touch forum and see about the same number of queries and IIIaass ably handling all of them as usual. I have seen some of his comments and requests and agree with quite a few. I wish I could see my list of iPod Touch threads all handles by him so I don't have to bother. But I still plug along.

As you said there is no way for us to estimate with any accuracy. Maybe next time I'm at the Apple Store I'll audition new people on posting a question on ASC and see if they are able to do it. For new people coming here that didn't know the old system their really shouldn't be an impact that would slow activity.

Yes, I know that they changed your way of working here, moved your cheese, whatever. They moved mine with the one before this. If it severely curtails the numbers here then the Apple execs can see that, decide it is not worth the expenditure of funds and shut it down. Maybe ASC has run its course.

That is self evident.

I know how many people I assisted before and how many questions were asked.

Since the changes to the forum, the number of views, questions and answers has plummeted.

No need to count the differences, a quick look round shows how dead the place is. Normally I would not be in the ASC forums, because I wouldn't have the time.

Peter

Sort of like moving from Snow Leopard to Mavericks for some. But how quickly have most adapted to Mavericks after a short time? Sounds like one of those long, drawn out threads on a GUI change that a few can't handle. No doubt in a couple of months most will have forgotten the old forums setup and moved on. Those who didn't will not be missed, as new posters will never have known them.

Cheers

Pete

deggie wrote:

 

. This isn't a disaster

Ill take Kappys side on this matter, over yours

and BDAqua

and V.P.

and C.S.

and RCR

....................

R C-R wrote:

 

 

Also, the total number of views seems to be down considerably, but that is based on my memory of what it was like a few weeks ago so it could be at least somewhat illusory.

its no illusion, you're seeing it correctly.

As for other parties here, Denial is not a river in Egypt.

deggie wrote:

For new people coming here that didn't know the old system their really shouldn't be an impact that would slow activity.

??? The logic of that statement eludes me. You seem to be implying that ease of use & the number of people willing to participate in an online forum that doesn't maximize that as much as possible has no bearing on how much activity it sees.

R C-R wrote:

??? The logic of that statement eludes me. You seem to be implying that ease of use & the number of people willing to participate in an online forum that doesn't maximize that as much as possible has no bearing on how much activity it sees.

One scientist called that "logic in another universe"

Agreed, its like saying  ..........."well, now the bridge is falling apart and a bit unsafe, but look, people are still driving across it" 

I work across several Systems and Platforms. You get used to anything after a while but that doesn't mean that you aren't sacrificing productivity or functionality.

I am extremely conscious of this because of my flexible work environments (I work in house on and off) and running studios I concentrate on what works and what works particularly well. Not something I actually see amongst fellow users.

There is the Stockholm Syndrome at work as well. Given no choice people persuade themselves that the forced changes are really by their choice.

You get bizarre cases where we have people claiming huge improvements where in fact there are none or what they are talking about existed before, or it has actually gone backwards.

It is the old marketing ploy, when you have nothing to offer put "New" and "Improved" on a product and let the consumer fill in the blanks with their own imagination.

Peter

deggie wrote:

 

…It has been up what, a whole month?…

…and down, and up, and down, and totally and utterly nuked for an entire day…