New members, quantity over quality?

[ian]

I'm all for new members joining here, it has been quiet for a long time, but of late, does anyone else get the feeling that quantity over quality isn't exactly helping, or does it not matter, providing there is posting activity?

With the greatest of respect to all new members, I can't remember the last one to join that wasn't either trying to indirectly sell seo or web services, registering every FTR uk domain based on estibot valuations only to try and sell them to an audience of seasoned domain investors, or those trying to flog domains as premium that no one would accept even with money attached.

Everyone has to start somewhere I'll admit, and maybe I was no different, but of late, the pattern has been the same, sign up, offer no introduction, try to sell some low-rent domains and argue with anyone that doesn't agree. I even had one rant at me on PM because I marked his post as 'optimistic' (trying to sell something like BabyItsColdOutside.co.ltd.org.uk for £1,000); he turned out to be ok and took my opinions on board, but was very defence to begin with.

As said, nothing against new members, just the odd quality of posts (probably like this one) lately, and absolutely nothing against this forum, of which I still enjoy visiting, and still benefit from the occasional sale on. Just an observation, and to spark a bit of conversation with the regulars (if there are any left )

 

[Adam H]

Its a webmaster niche, its bound to get its fair share of junk, this place seems to have flown under the radar for probably longer than it should, which stunted its growth considerably imo. With every handful of crap you'd normally expect to see a couple promising posters come through who show some enthusiasm for the niche, the only thing with acorn is there is no community anymore, there is no discussion that makes anyone want to stick around and learn, when the occasional one does come through they get beat down with their first mistake instead of being explained that its not done like that around here.

Acorn is hostile, it has been for a very long time and was when I signed up. A little clique if you like that's hard to penetrate but even harder now days as many of the regulars don't really want or care to add any quality other than an abrupt or sarcastic response ( I've been guilty of that too ) and they've seen and replied to all the same questions over and over again. Acorns biggest problem is not letting new blood come in to replace / prop up the old guard of fear of upsetting some of the regulars imo.

People like Accelerator is a forum admins wet dream, prolific posters even if most of them spark heated debate its what makes forums tick........but the "forum" won't allow posters like him to keep it going as he gets shot down ( just using him as an example, obviously need a bit more diversity than that.......and common sense )

 

[Murray]

I was thinking someone should post a wanted thread, just something generic

"Fitness domain wanted £x,xxx budget"

But at the end of the post it says "this is not a real wanted thread, if you post a domain below you're likely to get banned"

Then ban all the people who reply who don't come to read or contribute, just post their crap domains

 

[ian]

I'm not sure there is a "clique" here is there, not any more, or certainly not one I'm privy to anyway (where can I join!). Don't tarnish us with the same brush as a certain individual you have had a disagreement with, every forum has one haha. Agreed there is sometimes hostility, but not out of malice, just sheer frustration at the naivety of some members, especially those that should know better (you mentioned one), but as said, we all start somewhere right, and for many of late, they are not UK residents, so language barriers and understanding of the UK market are limited which is fair enough; nothing against the world wide audience, but this is a UK domain forum that chose not to branch out, so knowledge or a willingness to learn is surely requisite?

 

[scottmccloud]

The problem is that it's not a discussion form anymore, it's a classifieds site.

For a discussion forum about domains, there's a remarkable amount of restrictions on actually discussing domains.

 

[ian]

I was thinking someone should post a wanted thread, just something generic

"Fitness domain wanted £x,xxx budget"

But at the end of the post it says "this is not a real wanted thread, if you post a domain below you're likely to get banned"

Then ban all the people who reply who don't come to read or contribute, just post their crap domains

HAHA, would there be any members left?

Case in point, thread started for "Premium Gambling Domains Wanted[...]Budget is up to 7 figures for the right domain. Only looking for super premium stuff" (regardless of how genuine it is), promptly followed by the regular "PM Sent" (all from members with less than 10 posts), and then "Redouble .net".

Can we have an area to discuss these which doesn't directly impact the 'for sale / wanted' section

 

[Adam H]

Agreed there is sometimes hostility, but not out of malice, just sheer frustration at the naivety of some members, especially those that should know better (you mentioned one), but as said, we all start somewhere right,

I think that's enough to scare off anyone that has anything about them, the people that just come here to sell will post sales threads regardless of hostility as they are only here for one thing.

 

[ian]

I think that's enough to scare off anyone that has anything about them, the people that just come here to sell will post sales threads regardless of hostility as they are only here for one thing.

Exactly, revert to my title, for sale ads that don't actually result in commission/profits for the forum, won't hold up well without contributors and discussion. I guess domain investing in its own right causes this, because it is a very isolated industry where everyone, even you and I, are competitors.

 

[scottmccloud]

I guess domain investing in its own right causes this, because it is a very isolated industry where everyone, even you and I, are competitors.

Why are you competitors? You almost certainly have domain portfolios that are substantially different from each other so I don't see where the competition comes in?

 

[ian]

Why are you competitors? You almost certainly have domain portfolios that are substantially different from each other so I don't see where the competition comes in?

Ok fair point, competitors is a little more specific to certain aspects of the industry (drop-catching, trying to buy the same domain etc), rather than domain sales, but the main point being that the industry is very cagey about sharing, on any level. I guess it works for other forums because the spread is much greater, I'm sure some seasoned pro's on there know who and who not to discuss business with for conflict of interests.

 

[Murray]

Acorn is hostile

I've never really found it to be hostile

 

[Adam H]

I've never really found it to be hostile

It never bothered me personally, thick skin and all that. I always like communities like acorn but I could see why it would put some people off...I've mellowed a little in the past couple of years since my little girl was born, I cant see the point in bickering with people that have no significance anymore where I used to find it entertaining. #gettingold

 

[bonusmedia]

Domaining attracts a lot of chancers. The lucky ones get nowhere and quit fast, the less lucky score a sale or two, waste a lot of money on crap, and end up spamming desperately.

Anyone who posts domain wanted threads knows what a barrage of shit you get - but I'm sure many buyers are just as bad. I actually responded to that super premium thread with a 5/6 figure domain and the guy had no clue.

I think in truth there's often just not much actual domaining news to discuss. I suspect a lot of the controversy and arguing here stems from sheer boredom.

Outside domaining, it seems pointless trying to have serious business discussions because, like most forums, the people with half an ounce of sense are in the minority.
I know this sounds arrogant but there's no sense in exposing commercially sensitive information for ridicule by the tin foil hat brigade.

 

[scottmccloud]

I've said it before but I'll say it again, the only way I can see Acorn thriving again is to widen its remit. There simply isn't enough activity in the .uk domain space to have a forum dedicated to it.

The no discussions in domain name sales threads is ridiculous. I know this rule has been in place for a long time but when I first joined Acorn, it wasn't enforced and some really fascinating discussions ensued (and I bet more sales were made because of it).

If I was an outsider coming to this forum and saw that you couldn't comment or ask questions on sales threads then the warning signals would start to ring. Why not? What have you got to hide? Why do we have to discuss it by PM? Why won't you commit to discussing something in public? Am I going to get scammed?

 

[bonusmedia]

Without that rule my guess is you would get 1 or 2 'nice domain' comments and 10 or 20 arguments as to why it's not worth the asking price

Let's try it: http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/threads/dandelion-co-uk.143358/

 

[Murray]

I've said it before but I'll say it again, the only way I can see Acorn thriving again is to widen its remit. There simply isn't enough activity in the .uk domain space to have a forum dedicated to it.

I think in part that's because the amount of good domains dropping is drying up

Even 3 years ago there were a lot better drops so more to talk about and more buzz

 

[Murray]

At least you're honest about why you are predominantly here.

I would say I'm here out of bordem & nosiness mainly

 

[bonusmedia]

I would say I'm here out of bordem & nosiness mainly

Me too

 

[Murray]

@Murray and @bonusmedia if you're deadly serious and not replying in jest, surely that'll remain the case only until you find somewhere slightly less boring? I mentioned I'd noticed @bonusmedia had been away for a while in a recent post and wondered if that was his beginning of having better things to be doing after getting annoyed with posts within The Bar over the early summer.

I like to read about peoples domain sales and what not, that's what I'm nosey about, so have to come here for that

 

[Adam H]

This place is probably the only forum I visit daily now, I think the only reason I come here is to look through the dropped list to see if i can pick up any bottom scraps that everyone else has left behind...and to have an interest in what other people are selling obviously. I've found I'm much more productive when I spend less time hanging around forums.