Goodbye Everyone

I am also a rare poster, but I read the forum emails everyday in quest of useful or interesting info. Elliott has often posted such info and I will miss his presence, too. In my opinion, the design of the forum inhibits interaction needlessly. A simple toolbar enabling a standard “like” or “funny” reply (as on Facebook for instance) would allow anyone to voice appreciation for the poster without having to compose a response. Also, the censoring that goes on when trying to offer assistance to others is off-putting. A number of times I have offered my personal contact or a vendor contact to someone needing help, only to have it “rejected” by the moderator(s). 

Well, so far no one has said ’Good Riddance!)

I appreciate these many encouraging thoughts, and also see many names I don’t recognize, part of my suspected OTHERS I suppose.

Alright, based on the love, I’ll stick around!

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I will tell another story.

DPReview, Olympus Site. As I said, the Sony forum was a big happy family, so active that if you post something on the top of page 1, it’s on page 2 in a week or less.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1009

Oly Forum, bought my first and only Oly, Stylus 1. Post something, it may stay on page one for 4 months (17 to 1 ratio of involvement).

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1008

I decided I would make an effort to ’lively up’ the place.

Sony has weekly ’mini-challenges’. A host picks a theme, members post both exhibitions and up to 3 entries. Any cameras, any time, not just Sony cameras. Tell stories, a big part of it. End of week, host picks honorable mentions, and 3 ’winners’: his choice, no criteria, the purpose is to get a host for the next ’mini challenge. New host picks a theme, off we go for another week.

Thus a family spirit is created/maintained (week #703: 13-1/2 years continuous at this time.).

So, I propose something similar for the Oly site. OMG was I attacked, they couldn’t get past the idea of ’winners’.

So, I try again, Weekly ’Share Photos’. Now many people write me private messages of support for the idea. (note private messages, they would not put it in writing for others to see).

So, I start the 1st one: ’BIRDS’. Eh, decent response, selected new host didn’t start a new weekly theme. They don’t get it? I may have started #2, new theme. Eh,

I realized, there was not a single post entered by any of the people who had encouraged/asked me to get it going. WTF?

Birth Control to that Idea.

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Next: I learned my camera inside out, I need written notes for myself and my lousy memory, so I post my notes as ’set-up suggestions’. Very well received, most bookmarked post, requests for copies .... I become ’the guy’ for that model, for years. Family no, Tech Site yes. Based on that, friendships in writing develop, but nothing like Sony. I’m also ’the guy’ for a few Sony models, set-up/features/methods, among many far more experienced than I.

Point is: encouragement was given (privately), and no support of the idea followed. I’m still disappointed I couldn’t Lively Up the place.

I think it's a unique and not always harmless skill to know how to work people. I can see how it's frustrating to not able to  Lively Up the place. You can't blame yourself.

(I have 0 of these skills. It reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, e.g. the bus scene, where Neal couldn't sing anything to be followed and Del hit it off instantly with anyone)

My take- don't worry about the "likes" or positive feedback from your posts. (It's a dopamine hit, I know). Instead, just contribute where you can here, there and elsewhere. 

I got frustrated back in 2014 that none of the sites were addressing my particular interests so I started my own. (It's not a high traffic, forum type place, more for my own musings, and a fair amount about records, not gear).

I take breaks from this place and others. There are still some good contributors here. Sometimes the s/n ratio isn't good but I just ignore it or don't visit for a while. 

If your health is still decent and you enjoy the hobby/music/whatever your angle is, that's really all that counts. 

Bill

@elliottbnewcombjr I also have enjoyed and learned from your postings.

Still somewhat of a newbie, I have often referred to your postings for quite a few topics.

Hopefully you will check in from time to time.

All the best to you!