Why so quiet lately?

[divinem]

Is it because of summer, or have members lost interest? Seems like there was so much more activity in the Makeup Chat forum a year ago -- even during the summer. Just wonderin'.

I've been quiet due to a year's worth of illness and hospitalizations, so I haven't had much reason for makeup. Hopefully I've had my last surgery for a WHILE!

[shellygrrl]

It may be due to the forums being offline quite a bit in the last few months. Forums go offline, everyone scatters. Some make it back; others don't.

[Daantje]

I noticed the same. I agree that the problems with posting pictures and the forum being offline are probably reasons people leave or forget about mug, summer probably also has a hand it in but i still miss a lot of regulars!
Also the respones in the show your face forum were really low but it seems it starting to increase a bit.
divinem i hope your doing fine now!

[Aro]

I've been quiet recently mainly because I've been trying to push on through some issues without too much collateral damage. I think, after a little over a month, I'm finally on the other side of it. Though, admittedly, still sulking.

I agree with others though, I think the forum being offline has been a big contributor to lack of activity. Especially as it's been done without warning, explanation, or information on when it'll be back up being posted on the forum or site. I think the image issues have also been a struggle for some, and off putting to many. I can only hope that once the new forum system is in place people will see that it was worth the teething issues.

I'm so sorry to hear about your own issues divinem, and hope you're feeling better.

[makeup.obsessed.xo]

I was going to post this not long ago! It's seemed to have become really quiet on the forums. I remember when you could be away from the computer for only a couple hours and there would be a ton of new posts. Replies to topics are also slowing down now.. It's too bad! I hope we are able to get a little more traffic coming along. I'd love to hear from some of the old regulars. Speaking of... has anyone seen or heard anything from Ladyveil?

[Aro]

To be honest, I think the real issue with the forum is that it needs someone dedicated to managing it, who actually has the authority to do so. What I mean is someone whose priority is to the forum and not to other work around the Makeup Geek site, social networking accounts, YouTube, the offline aspect, and everything else it takes to run a site like this. I think the core issue is that the forum outgrew the ability for people to manage it part time around other responsibilities or work they do for Makeup Geek. Once any community, digital or otherwise, hits critical mass it starts requiring a certain level of dedicated attention for things to continue to run smoothly and for issues, that will quite naturally arise even with the very best of intentions and the most careful planning, to be dealt with with a minimal amount of disruption to the wider community. I think that if a different way of managing the forum isn't put into play then it wont matter how much the forum is promoted or how many members it gains, because sooner or latter (usually sooner rather than latter) things will fall apart again because there simply isn't the foundations to support it.

[Turboweevel]

You know, I had noticed that things seemed sorta quiet and flat around here but I chalked it up to the novelty of the place being gone for me. I guess I'm not going crazy yet!

[divinem]

To be honest, I think the real issue with the forum is that it needs someone dedicated to managing it, who actually has the authority to do so. What I mean is someone whose priority is to the forum and not to other work around the Makeup Geek site, social networking accounts, YouTube, the offline aspect, and everything else it takes to run a site like this. I think the core issue is that the forum outgrew the ability for people to manage it part time around other responsibilities or work they do for Makeup Geek. Once any community, digital or otherwise, hits critical mass it starts requiring a certain level of dedicated attention for things to continue to run smoothly and for issues, that will quite naturally arise even with the very best of intentions and the most careful planning, to be dealt with with a minimal amount of disruption to the wider community. I think that if a different way of managing the forum isn't put into play then it wont matter how much the forum is promoted or how many members it gains, because sooner or latter (usually sooner rather than latter) things will fall apart again because there simply isn't the foundations to support it.

I agree with you and hope that isn't MUG website's fate. I've so enjoyed hanging out here, getting excited about new releases, sharing looks, advice, etc.

[divinem]

I've been quiet recently mainly because I've been trying to push on through some issues without too much collateral damage. I think, after a little over a month, I'm finally on the other side of it. Though, admittedly, still sulking.

I'm so sorry to hear about your own issues divinem, and hope you're feeling better.

Hope the sulking will no longer have a payoff, and you'll be back to your normal self. {{hugs}} Wishing you well in what you're dealing with.

Thanks for the well wishes.

Still a steadfast MUG . . .

[divinem]

It's nice to see familiar names/faces replying and that I am not alone in my observations. I hope this lull passes, and the forum returns to a flurry of makeup excitement, like I used to feel here.

[Aro]

Thank you divinem *huggles*

It does worry me a bit though. This forum had become quite the hub for conversation on cosmetics and for simply connection with others and sharing a passion, especially for those of us who don't really have anyone offline who does share that some interest. Also, it's been a place where there's a certain level of acceptance, as vs judgement, not just with makeup but as a general approach. A friend from another forum (not makeup related) was just last night discussing with me how judgmental the world seems to have become and how refreshing and relaxing it is to be able to escape to somewhere online where that simply isn't the case.

[Ozzie85]

I too have noticed the message boards have been very quiet and this is my go to outlet to ask questions about makeup and to not feel judged about how much money I spend on makeup or why I buy so much sometimes, lol. It is kind of a bummer that it's been quiet but hopefully...hopefully...more people will come back and liven up the boards again. Please!?!,

[Mori]

I still have no camera and when I'm not able to post looks I just seem to forget to check these forums. I guess after a while it becomes a little bit repetitive too with the same questions about concealers for dark circles, best drugstore foundations and what brand 120 palette is the bestest.

[Aro]

Admittedly, while I enjoy helping people, I do often find it difficult to muster the motivation to help people when they wont even try to help themselves. It does become extremely frustrating to see people posting the exact same questions over and over, especially when there's a thread already asking that very question on the first page of the section they're posting to (and often within the first half a dozen threads) or a quick search would have turned up more than enough relevant posts with the answer.

[Iris L]

I noticed the same. I agree that the problems with posting pictures and the forum being offline are probably reasons people leave or forget about mug, summer probably also has a hand it in but i still miss a lot of regulars!
Also the respones in the show your face forum were really low but it seems it starting to increase a bit.
divinem i hope your doing fine now!

true... when i noticed the forum wasn't working i stopped coming for months i was too lazy to get a new password. then when i posted questions or looks , no one would respond ... not even the moderators:( i really hope people start getting interactive...especially the regulars! i need to start wearing a full face of makeup more often to post looks, lol.