Very quiet

[PJDeluhery]

Hi Mark,
Well then, if the other metrics are down as well, then maybe its time to bump this issue up to leadership. I respect your opinion and all your work in keeping this site alive and functioning. You are in the best position to see what is happening. If you are concerned; then I am as well.
My only point was that for "lurkers" like me, our participation may not be counted. But you have shown that it is counted. Thanks for that input and for all your work (not intending to neglect others who keep this site up and running!).  I'll see what I can do to get a response from leadership.
Thanks.

[marko]

PJ while I respect your opinion, simply dismissing this as a 'seasonal' discussion I think ignores the point and the issue.  A Society with no 'society' loses its purpose.

All of our metrics - participation both from members and leadership, uploads, sign-ons and memberships are down.  There are a very few participants here and in the Journal along with very occaisonal new voices which is worrisome.  What's more I have noticed a tendency of late were even direct questions to the participants - mine included - receive no response at all. 

Beyond a request to deal with a problem my contact with leadership has been absent.  I could expand but, not the place.

I realize the role this site has and thanks to everyone here it is a magical repository of knowledge which is one of the few available in English - it has heaven when I first discovered it years ago.  But, that being the case I could mothball this site, and leave it on line performing essentially the same function and saving quite a bit of effort....

mark

[PJDeluhery]

This question seems to cycle through every few years when things get quiet. I don't participate in Facebook, etc. so this is my main source of finding out what's going on. Not a technophobe, I just don't need the B.S. of social media and some of the people that go with it.
It does not seem to me that quite periods are an existential crisis. Our time and competing interests sometimes conflict. I, for one, don't post unless I have something constructive to say, but I do come every day and read what is here. But that does not show. I suspect I'm not alone. Maybe we're looking at the wrong metric - postings. Maybe traffic or some other measure is a better ruler to measure the site.
If those in the leadership are concerned, maybe its time to meet and discuss this issue.

[John Alberts]

The amount of information and photographs on this site is very deep and essential for the pursuit of painting and collecting Zinnfiguren, it is a virtual and visual catalog and history of painters, engravers, and printers.  This site is a treasure trove and much more accessible and comprehensive than print publications and even Facebook.  My view is that it serves a somewhat different purpose than other platforms.  Although participation and visits appear less than other referenced community sites, its purpose as a repository far exceeds any others that I am familiar with.  Indeed in daily life in many cities and suburban areas coffee shops are livelier and energetic than libraries.  To question the effort and hard work of carrying on is a healthy process despite comparatively lighter participation.  Please understand that the time and work of a few is appreciated.

[marko]

Unfortunately I have to echo this to the point of question the worth of this effort.  Our leadership, of which I am a part of are very unengaged/invisible for a long time now and like others I notice the participation much higher elsewhere.  Perhaps this idea has run its course?

Still I love the Journal and the few I speak to in this environment are all polite talented folks.  The work shown continues to be stunning but, is very occasional.  Off setting this is too often I feel I am talking to myself?

Saddened but, things do change…

Mark

[Hannibal]

Probably becase non of the members of the board of the BFFS attended these contests during the last two years, Brian..


And regular members are perhaps not used to give any indication of report of the activities, This is also not done by normal members in other forums or site, but by the membars of the committee...


It can't be a matter of having no time as it is several months after.  I am still working on the pictures of these shows for a gallery.  But having absolutely no list of participants, nor title of the exposed works, I have to reconstitute them slowly with my memory, facebook widely ad prervious other shows, by correlation and associatons.  No halep as in the past .
...

[Brian]

Very quiet indeed,  I have stepped  away from posting as it felt I was the only UK member!  but lots have been happening, we had Kulmbach last year and a few of us was there, no write up, we had the World Expo and again a few members there but no write up, our very own show day and AGM and once again nothing.


Where is the BFFS where has it gone where is it going because I just don't know anymore 
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[Hannibal]

 

[gerhard]

Yes, I see much more activity on Facebooks few  Zinnfiguren related sites. It seems that Forums are out of date. I liked the Forum, because Facebook is like a train station. Nobody stays long enough to get into a detailed and interesting discussion. For instance Andreas Trost (talented engraver) works now with 3 D prints. Very good but only for his private collection. But all you read is "good work", because the train does'nt wait....

[Hannibal]

I don't think so, Gerard, just people prefer FaceBook today to Forum, although some are still very active in France.
Change of habits, or tool to communicate. I hate FB, and do prefer Forum, but the world does not leave choice and we start becoming 'has been's' perhaps.


Today, people have to live and burn every minute .. this is imported from the USa, liake Ma Donalds, hamburers, coca cola, high consumerism, fast food, not quality food, short term life and jobs, no longer long terms.


Europe does not invent, creat, just absorb and copy without much thinking. Also we are divided, therefore weak, dispersed.


But USA import flats from Europe, their creativity there is very low. They also lack History, Art, Music (past), ...  also !!!!
Asia plan long term, has patience, precision, copy all but better ...


I prefer Forums, but I become a 'has been', how shall the next two generations behave in flat painting ?
More computer creation, abandon creativity to IA? , quit figurine painting? you shall see, my feet approach the end of the trail slowly...


But let's be alive, strong and let's keep going .... it is a human cement between people, cultures, nations, ages, believes ...


It is also the vacation time, ... ending soon, with new shows, club re-opening their activities, and hopefilly all of us coming back to the BFFS also !!!

[gerhard]

Is there a problem with my browser or something else, or really no new post in nearly three weeks?