w00t!

1000 members in only two months of non-marketed time is great, really. And it's given me and my team TONS of really fantastic usage data from which we're tuning the site and finishing the new features.

I think the new calendaring system, when personal calendars roll out in the next couple days will blow everyone away. Once we're all cleaned-up and start the marketing push, I think things will really start to hum.

So this is great stuff and I hope to use it as a springboard this year. I'd love to see 2009 close with 10,000 active members (not total members, but 10,000 people who regularly visit and use the site).

Glad to be a part of it.

I have been posting here. Not lurking so much.

-taking bets on how long it will be before Mi hits 10k?

TucsonTied wrote:

There's none of that here, but how do we let people know that?

Time and experience.

It is my opinion that forum activity comes in two waves. The first are the knowledgeable early-adopters. That's "you guys."

The second are the people who sign up for the value and features, find the forum, and get involved. My guess is that is June, perhaps July at the earliest.

I think the calendaring and notification system, going live in pieces this month, will be the start of getting those people over here. But it's NEVER overnight. The success we've had so far is actually more than I'd anticipated!

It always takers time for something new to go from "early adopter" to "mainstream" in any market. I suspect that a year from now, things will be really rolling.

Doug Lester wrote:

SLE Photography wrote:

Doug Lester wrote:

Great news, but with 1000 members, when can we expect more posts? How can we get the 'lurkers' to actually post something?

It'll take a little time.  Keep in mind that on similar sites 10% or less of the ACTUAL users (that means not counting dead profiles that're still on the site) are regular forum posters at any given time.  So we're not doing bad.

I guess I just eager because I'm already looking forward to burning my bridges on that 'other' site.

Seconded.  It's good to have a new home.  Now, we just have to get as popular as the old one...

Iona Lynn wrote:

TucsonTied wrote:

Seconded.  It's good to have a new home.  Now, we just have to get as popular as the old one...

I have a question for you...
If this site gets as popular as others then your bondage work will again be in the minority, so what will you do about those who disagree with you?

Since my the very nature of your work you are in the minority

Well...that's a very good question.  There seems to be a difference here than at the other site...acceptance.  The membership is less prone to harsher than necessary criticism, and I seem to have found a place to fit in.

Time will tell.  If this site becomes more like MM, I'll fade to the background and make my presence here the same as there.  If you're asking me to change the nature of my work to fit in with others of this site (which I don't think the focus of this question was...just covering all bases), I can't and won't do that.  I am what I am and I shoot what I shoot.

"...what will you do about those who disagree with you?"  Not sure how to take that line.  I can't "do" anything about other people's tastes, any more than I can change my own aversion to blood work/gore.  I'll simply take my usual route about it...if anybody gets snarky with me, depending on the level of snarkiness, I'll either report it or ignore it...and I'll continue to behave above board and not say anything to anyone else that I wouldn't want said to me.  I recognize that my amateur "snapshot" way of photography isn't what the majority of people here like, but I'd expect folks to be able to not go overboard in the criticism of it.  That's the way I behave to others...I'd like to think I could get that returned to me.

I hope that wasn't worded too strongly...it's a fair question, and I hope I answered it fairly.

AC Gellert Photography wrote:

Tony.. Tony... Tony....

can you tell us how you really feel????   LOL!!!  nice to see you getting active my friend.. LTNS

Have you been in the Mesa area lately??? I aint seen you in ages.

LOL..."getting active".  Well, like I said, the folks here treat me well...if I start getting, "Your work sucks" and "Your models are ugly" like I was getting at the MM Forums (and yes, both of those were hurled at me as critiques there...), I'll go quiet (lol).  There seems to also be less arm chair psychologists analyzing me, which is nice.      Generally speaking, I like the atmosphere here...lotta good folks just discussing photography and it's many aspects. 

I like speaking my mind...and when Iona throws out a question that just allows me to do that, I'm all for it.  One of my many nicknames is "Tolstoy" because of my  love of the written word and my ability to use it in long and drawn out posts...lol.

Nope...haven't been even near Mesa lately.  Tucson keeps throwing lovely ladies at me and I just keep takng their pictures.    How've you been?