Quiet

Discussion in 'The Village Square' started by gardenelf, Sep 27, 2015.

  1. gardenelf

    gardenelf In Flower

    Joined:
    May 9, 2011
    Messages:
    318
    Likes Received:
    125
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Hi everyone,
    Maybe strange coming from me, as I'm a very "quiet" visitor of this forum, but am I correct in thinking that since the Garden Stew had it's make-over, it's got a lot quieter here on the forums? Especially where photo's are concerned?
    Or am I seeing things (I tend to do this occasionally)?
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  2. Loading...


  3. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2010
    Messages:
    11,383
    Likes Received:
    13,393
    Location:
    Central Texas, zone 8
    Elf, I have noticed fewer posts, and perhaps fewer photos. I hope it is just that, for many of us, our gardens are winding down for the year and there is less to discuss and photograph.
    I'd so hate to lose the friends I've made here on the Stew, and am looking forward to making new ones with new members.
     
  4. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,059
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Spring and Summer are the busy months for most members, family activities, gardening and vacations take up most everyones time. I haven't posted nearly the number of photos this year as in years past but that's because in the Spring it was too rainy to take the camera outside and many of the plants were beaten down by the rain. And during the summer with only 3 inches of rain in the last almost 4 months, the plants are really suffering and not a pretty sight. I have taken photos but just haven't been posting them like I should.
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  5. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,084
    Likes Received:
    2,170
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    You're correct GardenElf, it has been quieter. My own theory is that along with some unaccommodating weather as Toni mentioned, the change of forum software is a factor along with the peoples browsing habits moving away from forums to social media sites. Normally members will tell me if there are technical problems with the site but I haven't heard anything so I don't think it's that either.
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.



    Advertisement
  6. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2010
    Messages:
    11,383
    Likes Received:
    13,393
    Location:
    Central Texas, zone 8
    Frank, this is one of the easiest sites to use and peruse--so technical problems, as you said, aren't the difficulty. It took me a while to learn the new protocols. I'm not very computer knowledgeable, but if I can adjust, I think everyone else could, too! Perhaps we just need to be patient; keep posting interesting topics; and try to build the membership by inviting friends aboard.
     
    Tooty2shoes and Kay like this.
  7. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,084
    Likes Received:
    2,170
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    Yep, nail on the head MG! There are lulls every year. While granted this year's lull is more noticeable than most, posting community-minded thread such as questions to the community (like you do yourself) always works.
    What would life be if it were all ups and no downs :nerdy:
     
    Kay likes this.
  8. dooley

    dooley Super Garden Turtle

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,163
    Likes Received:
    1,286
    Location:
    Wisconain
    I don't have a garden now so don't have much to say. I think that I am going to start doing more blogging like I used to do. I have a story that I wrote for our writer's group. I will try to get it on a blog soon.
    dooley
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  9. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2008
    Messages:
    4,254
    Likes Received:
    3,194
    Location:
    Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW,Zone7b
    I find it more cumbersome to maintain "My Garden" photos since the upgrade. Doing forum posts without the "garden" is easier. With no reason to keep the garden diary I haven't been as motivated to do so. It was often my reason for visiting and spending time on the site and browsing. Have also noticed a definite "aging" and and/or disappearance of many forum participants. Social media is definitely the play ground of most now. With fewer participants here at the Stew there just aren't as many posts to read and that lessens my reasons to visit. I love looking at others garden photos. Some exceptional gardening blogs have gone quiet too. The writing generation is becoming quieter.
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  10. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,084
    Likes Received:
    2,170
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    All good points Jewell. One of the unfortunate side effects of getting the older forum software to communicate with the newer software was that the older features had to take a back seat somewhat. It was a choice between that or dropping some features altogether but I didn't want that to happen.

    I could have left the old forum software in place but it was getting outdated and didn't display correctly on mobile devices which are growing in popularity.

    I never realised truly before now how much the Garden feature, while not missing, is basically hidden in a lot of people eyes now. I'd love to rectify this somehow, maybe this idea deserves a new modern site of its own, separate from the forums?
     
  11. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2013
    Messages:
    3,120
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Nashville Tennessee
    Well, I just posted about why I've been awol.....which, because I'm such a motormouth, I'm sure has had a significant impact on the forum! :setf_046:

    Just kidding. ;) I know it's not always all about meeeeee! :D
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  12. Pianolady

    Pianolady In Flower

    Joined:
    May 2, 2006
    Messages:
    984
    Likes Received:
    356
    Location:
    Iowa
    I go AWOL a lot, you probably all have figured that out by now. Vacations, jobs, pull me away often.
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  13. fatbaldguy

    fatbaldguy In Flower

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2011
    Messages:
    675
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    SW Ohio
    Guilty as charged. Life happens. Incredible hours of work and the garden this summer have kept me away. Just now starting to wind down.
     
    Tooty2shoes likes this.
  14. Shawchert

    Shawchert In Flower

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2014
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    302
    Location:
    United States
    life happened here, and i'm not big on huge changes so it is taking me a lot longer than normal to get used to this new format... i really did like the old format a lot more, but i'll survive and eventually start posting again. I think i will be around more often and start sharing my pictures, but i haven't been on my pc for so long, i have soooo many photos to go through >.<
     
  15. Chrisle

    Chrisle In Flower

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    Messages:
    443
    Likes Received:
    188
    Location:
    New Brunswick, Canada
    I haven't posted this summer either but I have been here everyday reading all what everyone else has to say. We had such a bad winter and a very late spring that flowers and gardens were a real downer. There really wasn't much to post about this year. I am not on social networks either. I find them a real waste of time. I'll be around, not going anywhere as Gardenstew is a great place to be!
     
  16. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    9,332
    Likes Received:
    4,855
    My life is busier than ever nor do I do social media, but with the new format I really haven't taken much time to learn it other than to post a few replies now and then.

    So as to not make offense either I have made sure to not post any opinions, either.
     
    fatbaldguy likes this.

Share This Page