Awakenetwork Improvement Project

I see that DhO is not suffering from a lack of discussion, practice- or scandal-oriented. A bit more coarse, but rather grown-up nonetheless.

So then, why are we here again?

DhO draws thousands of visitors every day. Awakenetwork doesn't. DhO has many active posters. Awakenetwork doesn't. The question to me is "why doesn't Awakenetwork have a larger visitor pool and more active posters?" I went through a period a while back of trying to generate more activity here. It lasted for a bit, mainly I think because people felt guilty for not being more active. Their participation tailed off after a few weeks, and here we are.

I see you are a mod there, and contribute regularly. So out of interest:

1. What % of posts are practice journals, vs. other dharma discussions?
2. Are the practice journals like blogs, or do others regularly comment/question/advise?

We touted AN as a "safe and more mature" place to talk about practice. Is that still relevant in your eyes?

I mean, part of me wants to say fuck it and let's just move over there. But then there is Liferay. What a horrible environment to have discussions in. And what's with the logo taking up more than a third of the page, which I notice is now a different logo this morning? What's up with that?

Tom, there isn’t enough going on here. I’m sorry but that’s just the truth. It’s dead most days, and I do mean most days. Me being a moderator at DhO has no bearing on this. It’s all about about what’s not going on here. Why aren’t you posting more here? For me here it’s like talking into an echo chamber.

Don’t ask, post!

Ona, Tom pays real money to keep this place running.

Chris Marti wrote: Tom, there isn’t enough going on here. I’m sorry but that’s just the truth. It’s dead most days, and I do mean most days. Me being a moderator at DhO has no bearing on this. It’s all about about what’s not going on here. Why aren’t you posting more here? For me here it’s like talking into an echo chamber.

I don't post because I don't have anything to say. And I realize that is somewhat hypocritical. I find practice threads of very limited usefulness for me right now, so there is little to update on that. It seems like the days of needing help in the KFD-kind of way has passed, or matured, or something. That is why I asked you about the DhO post mix since, as a mod, you see what is going on there with a finer eye than just a passer by.

As to letting it simmer, per Ona's comment, yes, it does cost money. But it is far less than it used to cost, and through the generous contributions of viewers like you, there is enough in the pot to keep it simmering for some time without any additional cash infusion. And I am ok with that, but feel sad when I know that some people use this site in some way as part of their practice, with mostly crickets to show for it. I am happy to run this place, but can see why it doesn't get much action if more people feel like me.

I'd be interested in the stats of visitors vs. posters at DhO, and whether the conversation is similarly constrained to a few active users.

Junglist wrote: It seems people here are more or less content with their practice, so there’s not a lot of need for idle chatter.

Hey if you are going to shut this down, can do just one last thread?
It’d be about music and practice, but it’d hopefully be simple enough for non or not very musicians to understand. I’ve got a fair few ideas I’d appreciate some thoughts and perhaps a discussion about.

Don't worry about it shutting down. There will be lots of warning if that happens.

Regarding idle chatter, yes, I hear you. But then there was a lively discussion about Culadasa's transgressions over there that I had no idea about until I visited DhO last night. Not sure why "we" had to talk about it "over there". But it does point to the fact that the dharma circles are pretty small, and maybe fracturing the discussion in different locations is counterproductive. Kind of like being at a party and having the same conversation in the kitchen and living room, without either including the other.

Tom, the DhO question is a moot point in my estimation. That forum has activity and for whatever reason is able to maintain a level of posts that continue to draw an audience. The Awakenetwork audience was never all that large, and when long term posters quit this place it started a decline that wasn’t recoverable. As much as Ona wants to keep this place running, she left for an extended period, too. Jackson and others who once drove activity by posting are gone. It’s inertia.

Tom:

Not sure why "we" had to talk about it "over there"

I’m curious - what does this mean?

Chris Marti wrote: Tom:

Not sure why "we" had to talk about it "over there"

I’m curious - what does this mean?

I was merely making the observation that AN members were discussing it on DhO, while there was no topic started here to include people that do not participate in DhO. I am not suggesting an aggressive cross-posting campaign, so please don't read into it more than what it is: an observation. Call it confirmation of your inertia theory.

Okay. I was just not sure of what it meant.

BTW - you can start a topic anytime you feel it's appropriate or useful or a potential to generate conversation, right? I'm kind of confused by your passive approach to this place.

I suppose the same goes for replying?

Yup.

I'm truly sorry about your situation, Laurel.