Network Suggestions and Wish List

[Lynda Coker]

Do you have a good idea for improving our community? This is the place to discuss them.

[Rowena Cherry]

You can... but should you?

Today I received a notification that, if I wish to, I can click on some option and send the same message to all my friends, or only to some.

Hmmm. I would like to suggest that it would be a really good idea if there was a little pop up before one could click, maybe saying "Are you SURE you want to send this message to ALL your friends?"

I've seen this feature on other sites, and I like it.

For instance, I know there are friends with whom I'd never in 1,000 years share a funny story about a clogged toilet, but I might forget. A reminder would be a professional life saver.

[Rowena Cherry]

Another suggestion.

Is there any way that Writers and Readers could be categorized into two columns for mass mailing purposes?
I often wonder whether there is info I might want to share which would be of interest to one set of friends, but not to the other.

[Lynda Coker]

Really good suggestions, Rowena. Unfortunately, these options do not exist for site owners at this time. But I am going to send these suggestions to Ning for their consideration. Maybe they will incorporate them in their next network update. Thanks for these great ideas. Lynda

[BobbyRobert]

Yesterday I placed the wrdf badges on my Yuwie site and MySpace site to see if they were worth the effort. Imagine my surprise when they didn't! Seems that someone wouldn't let the link work. Today I tried again. It worked! I believe in persistance, or the squeeky wheel gets the grease, or anything that denotes never giving up! I'll be the 1st to admit I got carried away for I placed 8 wrdf badhes on Yuwie and 7 wrdf badges on MySpace pages. I may not have much in content on those pages but I have made it known that I'm a writer and belong to The Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction BobbyRobert

[BobbyRobert]

Too big! I've noticed in the last week we have grown fast, but is it too fast? I think we cannot see the trees for the forest. If we're not careful,we can stray away from the comradere of a small group of writers and readers to a large group of indifferent readers and writers. I'm not advocating stopping, but slowing down a tad. I'm afraid we're going to be so big that all individuality will be lost! How? You got me! That is not my 2 cents worth, it's a whole quarter! BobbyRobert

[Lynda Coker]

Good Morning Bobby,

Thank you for your comment. There certainly are problems with growing a membership too fast, as you pointed out. However, in researching the longevity and effectiveness of topic-specific, social sites, numbers seem to play a very big part in their success. Our Network Volunteer structure is one of the avenues we are using to keep this site close, warm, friendly, helpful, and beneficial to all our members. What you do, as one of our Hosts, is essential in achieving this, and at the same time, your efforts brand your own name and collection of work.

Only 4-12% of the members of any social, online group are active. I think we are fortunate enough to be sitting at the higher end here in WRDF. Another thing that helps keep larger numbers intimate is the use of groups, which we are fortunate to have in the Ning platform. This allows, those members who have common interests to form closer relationships.

I believe our individuality is contingent on our active participation. While some of us love the interaction, the majority of our members will stay in the background. Lurking is an acceptable, comfortable way to enjoy a site like WRDF.

So keep-on-keeping-on, Bobby. You are one of the reasons why this site will be successful. It is your individuality, coupled with your active support, which will help prevent this site from becoming too big, in the sense that, we don't have time for each other, or to make a new friend, or to help someone.

Thank you for expressing your concern,
Lynda

[BobbyRobert]

Doll, thank you for the reply and the info. I just wanted to point out the inherit dangers of becoming too big, too quickly. All that means to me is ole Bobby is going to try to stay on top of things. After all, to quote my wife, "Bobby, you are rude, crude and socially unacceptable!" Maybe so, but Ole Bobby is having fun as being rude, crude and unacceptable. I will say I am blunt and quick to the point. Bobby makes mistakes but hopefully I learn from them and apologise. Mainly I have an EYE out for everyone! Bobby the Redneck

[Carla Arpin]

You don't scare me, Ole Redneck Bobby. LOL! I'm married to rude, (not crude...hm...well, maybe sometimes *grin*), and socially INEPT. I LIKE blunt and quick to the point. I just wish I could be the same - it takes me 10 paragraphs to say what others do in 2!!

I'll take a risk at becoming too big, too fast. LET'S SELL SOME GOOD BOOKS! ; )

Smiling,
Carla : )
CSA AUTHOR PUBLICITY
http://www.myspace.com/carlapublicity

[BobbyRobert]

BOO, BOO doll, I bet that scared you plenty! I've also changerd my name from Bobby the Redneck to Bobby the Pirate, more apt don't you think? My suggestion is to have some sort of a SPELLCHECK on the comments. I don't know about others but I try to spell phonectically, but there are many times Ole Bobby the Pirate writes a comment, then has to copy it and delete it for such minor things as making my I's capitilized or using the words I want not typed. Also I find that many times I put the right letters down but there are many that are reversed. Case in point is the following know word. I left it in so you would know what I mean. I knwo we should check our spelling before we post it but patinece is not my forte'. I guess it all boils down to my hands are going slower than my brain thinks. Need to clutch brain before engaging hands! Sure do miss my spell check and grammar check when making a comment! Bobby the Pirate