I assume the purpose is to be a platform where people can learn and discuss theravada buddhism. If that's the purpose, why not try to make it better and more appealing? Again, this information could be solely for the moderators to know, and no one else. This way, the principles that make this a good forum could be mantained and yet new good/useful suggestions could arise.Mkoll wrote:I agree. Intervention to spur growth is unnecessary.acinteyyo wrote:Seconded. Besides I don't think there is any need for growth. I don't want to say that growth isn't welcomed but I just don't see any necessity for it.TheNoBSBuddhist wrote:I don't see the point of the question, if I may say so. From my PoV such membership traffic is par for the course. People can come here with an open mind, take what they need and come and go as they please. For all the fluctuations in the forum, I see little or no effect on the overall purpose of the forum. Like a river, it is largely unaffected by the number of boats floating on it....
Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
- Modus.Ponens
- Posts: 3853
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:38 am
- Location: Gallifrey
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
My question would be: What practical steps could be taken to make Dhamma Wheel better and more appealing?Modus.Ponens wrote:I assume the purpose is to be a platform where people can learn and discuss theravada buddhism. If that's the purpose, why not try to make it better and more appealing? Again, this information could be solely for the moderators to know, and no one else. This way, the principles that make this a good forum could be mantained and yet new good/useful suggestions could arise.
Honestly, I can't think of any that make good sense.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
- Modus.Ponens
- Posts: 3853
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:38 am
- Location: Gallifrey
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
That's precisely the point. New people have new ideas and new information that can be useful. Just on the technical level alone, this format will become obsolete some day. Isn't it best to hear from younger people who are up to date with new formats? The stack exchange format is being extremely successful and is one step further than this format. What will happen when there's two or three steps ahead to be caught up by the forum?Mkoll wrote:My question would be: What practical steps could be taken to make Dhamma Wheel better and more appealing?Modus.Ponens wrote:I assume the purpose is to be a platform where people can learn and discuss theravada buddhism. If that's the purpose, why not try to make it better and more appealing? Again, this information could be solely for the moderators to know, and no one else. This way, the principles that make this a good forum could be mantained and yet new good/useful suggestions could arise.
Honestly, I can't think of any that make good sense.
Besides, what's wrong with asking people who enter, and people who leave, what they expect and what they didn't like? We, the most active forum members, may be somewhat unsynchronised with what many people want. If what they want doesn't go against the forum's principles, what is wrong with that? I really can't see anything wrong with that. Can you explain me what would be wrong?
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
I just think the teaching available by way of Theravada isn’t very appealing to the masses. Not our problem.
Oh yeah, and we argue about everything.
Oh yeah, and we argue about everything.
“Life is swept along, short is the life span; no shelters exist for one who has reached old age. Seeing clearly this danger in death, a seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” SN 1.3
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
OK, updating the forum software, that's a practical step.Modus.Ponens wrote:That's precisely the point. New people have new ideas and new information that can be useful. Just on the technical level alone, this format will become obsolete some day. Isn't it best to hear from younger people who are up to date with new formats? The stack exchange format is being extremely successful and is one step further than this format. What will happen when there's two or three steps ahead to be caught up by the forum?Mkoll wrote:My question would be: What practical steps could be taken to make Dhamma Wheel better and more appealing?Modus.Ponens wrote:I assume the purpose is to be a platform where people can learn and discuss theravada buddhism. If that's the purpose, why not try to make it better and more appealing? Again, this information could be solely for the moderators to know, and no one else. This way, the principles that make this a good forum could be mantained and yet new good/useful suggestions could arise.
Honestly, I can't think of any that make good sense.
Can you think of anything else beside that?
I don't see anything wrong with that. Neither do I see much point in it either. I mean, what do you expect will follow if the moderators and forum staff have some poll results? What could they do with those results? What would they use the information for? What would they change?Modus.Ponens wrote:Besides, what's wrong with asking people who enter, and people who leave, what they expect and what they didn't like? We, the most active forum members, may be somewhat unsynchronised with what many people want. If what they want doesn't go against the forum's principles, what is wrong with that? I really can't see anything wrong with that. Can you explain me what would be wrong?
And I don't think this forum is here to cater to "what many people want". This forum isn't trying to sell a product. This forum is not competing in a marketplace and trying to be better than other forums. It's, as the top of the page says: "A Buddhist discussion forum on the Dhamma of the Theravada".
~~~
Granted, I'm not a particularly creative type of person so maybe I'm missing something. If that's the case, please enlighten me.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
Except in Theravadan countries. But there is a different dynamic in play there having to do with culture, identity, history, social structure, etc.SDC wrote:I just think the teaching available by way of Theravada isn’t very appealing to the masses. Not our problem.
That's a bit hyperbolic. It's an online religious forum. What do you expect? I'd be very surprised...no, completely astounded, to see even one online religious forum where there isn't arguing about religious points.Oh yeah, and we argue about everything.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
You wanna argue about it?Mkoll wrote:That's a bit hyperbolic. It's an online religious forum. What do you expect? I'd be very surprised...no, completely astounded, to see even one online religious forum where there isn't arguing about religious points.Oh yeah, and we argue about everything.
I expect nothing less after 5 years here. While it may be a symptom of online forums it is sure not an appealing one.
“Life is swept along, short is the life span; no shelters exist for one who has reached old age. Seeing clearly this danger in death, a seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” SN 1.3
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
An attribute, more like.SDC wrote:You wanna argue about it?Mkoll wrote:That's a bit hyperbolic. It's an online religious forum. What do you expect? I'd be very surprised...no, completely astounded, to see even one online religious forum where there isn't arguing about religious points.Oh yeah, and we argue about everything.
I expect nothing less after 5 years here. While it may be a symptom of online forums it is sure not an appealing one.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
Hi Mkoll
We are either a customer or a supplier (buyer or seller) always.
Even Buddha was trying to sell something. (idea)
We are either a customer or a supplier (buyer or seller) always.
Even Buddha was trying to sell something. (idea)
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
So all human interaction comes down to trade and economics? Interesting way of seeing things but a bit too cynical in my view.SarathW wrote:Hi Mkoll
We are either a customer or a supplier (buyer or seller) always.
Even Buddha was trying to sell something. (idea)
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
Don't blame me.
This is what I was taught in the school.
This is what I was taught in the school.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
I think I know what you mean.SarathW wrote:Don't blame me.
This is what I was taught in the school.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.Mkoll wrote:An attribute, more like.SDC wrote:You wanna argue about it?
I expect nothing less after 5 years here. While it may be a symptom of online forums it is sure not an appealing one.
“Life is swept along, short is the life span; no shelters exist for one who has reached old age. Seeing clearly this danger in death, a seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” SN 1.3
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
SDC wrote:Yeah, yeah, yeah.Mkoll wrote:An attribute, more like.SDC wrote:You wanna argue about it?
I expect nothing less after 5 years here. While it may be a symptom of online forums it is sure not an appealing one.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Re: Why Dhammawheel is not growing?
True, what makes a person register with a forum and what keeps them coming back might be two entirely different things. People grow and with time their expectations from a community also changes.Dan74 wrote:I think offering an optional questionnaire at the time of joining (what one is looking for? what are the expectations? etc) and also asking for feedback (optional of course) from members is a good idea to gauge where the forum is succeeding and where it is not.
I personally do not think things are dire here at Dhammawheel. For the type of content/ideas we have here, the forum is fairly busy. We have to accept that only a small fraction of total human population has any real interest in giving up their worldly distractions and taking any steps towards learning about Dhamma (particularly practical Dhamma). Their kamma might not be strong/ripe enough yet for them to take more concrete steps towards liberation. Forums like Dhammawheel will never compete with gossip/sport/hobby/BS oriented forums in terms of members and traffic.