http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us I wonder why the rate of new posts as well as responses/ discussion has slowed so much on Lightstalkers. Do you all think that photographers are using social media (Google+; Facebook: Twitter) instead of forums like this? I just started with Google+ and I think that it, more than others has the potential to create an online community similar to what Lightstalkers was a few years ago. That bbeing said, I miss looking through new posts here. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:35:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media Among other reasons, earlier this year a large number of profiles were deleted by a system glitch and many long standing members never really came back. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:11:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174070 I think social media is to blame...there are lots of other groups on FB for photographers now for instance. In the UK there are groups like snapperweb and PTO-all closed Facebook groups for professional photographers. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:00:37 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174072 Oh JR well I haven't been invited to join! Hehehehe.. I suspect it is related to the economic down turn as well as the rise of social media.. Plus the amount of begging posts from people wanting everyone to look at their work, contribute to their projects or otherwise annoy the shit outta people for the frippery stuff... Times have been really tough and I find it difficult to get into a long philosophical debate when I have been as depressed as I have been... not all of that has been financial but its to do with the constant struggle to do stories without someone trying to stop you from doing them and in western democratised countries the level of control of everything is astounding... So you get weary and I think loads of people are weary at the moment...and thats why no conversation... I would love to get back into it though as I feel there is a tide changing... But we need the Duck and Sion to get into head butting those sacred cows... Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:35:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174073 Yes, we are all waiting for a tide changing in rough times. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:53:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174075 Well- I can fix the PTO one right now Lisa ...... https://www.facebook.com/groups/107087062655267/ But as far as the broken model that being a photographer is these days-I'm afraid I don't have any answer as I teeter on the brink of extinction just like many others! Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:07:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174077 All things fall and are built again, And those that build them again are gay. -W.B. Yeats Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:50:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174078 Because some of they are out of the profession cause the crisis. Others are busy working because they are still in the profession. An that leaves the rest of us, the gays trying to rebuild this community, accord to the quote of W.B. Yeats that mentioned Barry. By the way, I don't participate in Facebook, twitter, and I only put a + in the blogs I read to my Google reader, I don't know what is Google +. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:01:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174080 I have to admit that I've been hooked to Facebook. Although I have a Twitter account, I don't use it as much. In my case I am working in music and photography, so Facebook gives me the opportunity to express myself in English, Japanese, and German. I can also connect with friends in areas other than music and photography. I do like Lightstalkers, though, because you can still post without having a network of friends on this forum and get responded. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:22:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174083 Hernan, Google+ is like Facebook-- an excellent way of maintaining superficial relationships. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:36:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174085 Ouch! Bit harsh Barry ;-) I have gone on to meet some of my Facebook friends-nothing superficial about that! Unfortunately you'd be too far for me to drop by for a coffee ;-) Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:19:49 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174090 Sorry, JR. May I make amends by offering something a bit more than coffee, such as a Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale? Do come by. I am only on the other side of the pond, you know. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:30:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174092 mad dogs and englishman..... Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:09:22 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174094 Lol-thanks for the kind offer Barry and same goes for you if you find yourself this side of the puddle-old malt whisky ok? ;-) Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:40:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174096 Thanks, JR. Old malt whiskey is fine. Even young malt whiskey will do. Actually, I will drink almost anything though I draw the line at Budweiser and anti-freeze. Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:48:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174097 I still check in and read, but haven't had enough time to post as I used to. I hope that LS thrives because there is something unique about this place :) Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:41:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174098 I think that Erica actually put her finger on one of the reasons. Many of the people who were participating in LS in, say, 2006, were young photographers like Erica then, trying to gather information needed to succeed. Many of those, like Erica now, are artistically (or journalistically or both) successful and don't need to rely on LS for as much information as before. Many of those were indeed zapped by the recent glitch and, while many came back, they just haven't been as active as before. There is a small group of founders and other trying to get help rebuilding a permanent infrastructure for those emerging/young photographers in the next (say, ten years younger) generation. It is proving difficult but there are glimmers which may yet bring LS into an even greater era, while still pursuing the same eleemosynary objectives that the original LS went after. So keep reading and, most important, keep contributing and helping those with questions and needs as developing photographers. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:39:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174107 How and when was it determined that the rate of new LS posts has declined. I am not saying that it has not declined but I think we should have some real numbers here before we start talking about cause and effect. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:26:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174108 people get bored with the whole caper Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:04:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174109 Too much noise for too little signal. Sion Touhig gave way to Stupid Photographer. At the moment other photographers are the last people a photographer should be talking to. So many other platforms available for the compulsive posters. The fewer the people who post anything interesting, the fewer interesting posts there will be. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:32:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174111 Also Neal, the last couple of years on LS I tried to be someone who answered questions, posted about helpful things, etc. to 'give back' and that flooded over into private emails asking for help with this or that, so much so that it made sense to start DEVELOP to provide a stream of resources to our community outside of and different from what LS was so wonderfully providing. That decision has resulting in me having no spare time whatsoever, and will remain that way till DEVELOP is fully launched. I think LS can bounce back to its full glory, but maybe it needs a surge of financially backing to get some of the tech glitches fixed and, what? Does it need to work cross platform better with fb? An LS invite only group on fb? or is that just an extra time sucker? Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:52:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174112 All pictures in members profiles are unavailable : ? in blue square is all what is let, just with legends. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:52:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174114 Yes DL..As of the past few days all profile pics and my gallery pics are gone. Wish management would post something about what is going on and if a fix is forthcoming. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:27:26 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174115 I have not talked with anybody recently about technoissues, but as I have said, the technical side of LS has been for the last few years a one-man operation called Shinji. Now he is a big deal at Groupon, which has sucked all his time, and of necessity LS has a rather low priority. So until LS can get a new technical platform, problems are likely to happen. Some of us are working to find someone to take it on, but so far that magic person has not surfaced. All others are encouraged to think about this and to use their own contacts to come up with possibilities - educational institutions, photojournalist organizations, Web site companies relying on photojournalists, equipment manufacturers and vendors, anybody else you can think of. They just have to be committed to the core principles of LS - including education and advancement of civil society. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:30:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174116 I, too, have been using Facebook for very much real-world networking. A photography project I worked on with Taiwanese aboriginal kids recently was almost entirely coordinated through Facebook, and garnered enough funding to build them a new Village Community Center. Certainly nothing superficial about that. :) So yeah I would also like to consider moving Lightstalkers to an invitation-only Facebook Group, where it would be more integrated with other daily networking activities. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:04:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174117 Neal...so who is at the controls of the out of control LS freight train? Making a supportive response to the membership would be a professional move. Just something. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:18:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174118 Well something has to happen at this point---so who is the tip of the spear? No one has time but like a friend of mine says, I'll sleep when I'm dead. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:12:35 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174119 Well as far as a Light Stalkers World Headquarters is concerned, Kathmandu is about as sexy as it gets ----you'd just have to have a constant supply of visiene---at least enough so you could see the keybard, right? Any Yak could handle that I am sure ---which means that we could say LS would be completely dependent on a Yak called BaBu....that is out of hand, very, very sexy... Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:42:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174124 We,re still waiting for a comment from the "mother ship" or whomever. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:53:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174129 I think this is the part of the movie where the main character is laying on the table and can see and hear to some degree but can't move, like if you are holding your breathe underwater in the pool of the Lima Peru hilton and you can see the jacketed waiter up above and you know he is waiting for you to come up but you just continue to float below, holding your breathe and thinking how marvelous the colors all look ---and in the midst of it all, when the character realizes everyone wants him to go on to win but does not believe he can---he comes up, takes a breath, and hits the field to win the game---just kind'a think'n its sorta like that n' stuff---hopefully---oh, yeah don't forget the cheering, that comes right after the win so there's gotta be a lot of cheering I think. bro Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:55:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174130 the fact that LS hasn't updated it's SSL certificate since august could be something holding people back... Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:39:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174204 Can part of the problem be that we have become an elitist organization with membership by invitation only? Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:24:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174205 Since you are already a member, Barry, you might not have noticed that LS is no longer an invitation only site, which is how I got in; none of you elitists would send me an invite. As a professional pastor and missionary, I spend quite a bit of time talking theology with lay-folks which is fine, but sometimes I yearn for more in depth conversation with other professionals. I know that this is starting to sound a little elitist, but bear with me. For example, would a professional photographer be enticed by a conversation that began with someone asking you what kind of camera you used to take photo? Probably not. For me, when someone starts by asking my my views on creation and evolution, I kind of know which direction things are going go and I pretend that my phone has just vibrated and it is a vital pastoral phone call. My hope for LS, for my purposes anyway, is to have conversations that go beyond things like film vs. digital and the like. I am interested more in the people, stories, and situations that pros find stimulating for the application of their skills and vision. So, elitist or not, I hope that LS continues to be, and is rejuvenated as, such a forum. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:35:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/why-has-the-rate-of-new-posts-declined-social-media#174223