Is Orble Getting Too Big?
March 12th 2010 02:52
Is bigger always better?
Coming up to almost three years as a member of the community - and having been fortunate enough to recall a time when Xmas gatherings were the 'norm' and most everyone knew everyone else - these days with a gadzillion members, blogs which seem to have more a commercial bent, almost daily server woes and fewer and fewer people making comment - I think it's a fair enough question to ask.
Don't get me wrong. I have and will continue to have an active involvement with the Orblian community - particularly those who welcomed me into the fold and who I have since welcomed and made contact with outside the community here - but as the Orble Octopus spreads its tenticles - it sometimes appears that the original 'neighbourhood feel' of the site is somehow being replaced by overcrowded blocks of tennement housing.
All wonderful people with a voice and something to share - but all now a little detached from one another.
Of course, like any community, people move on and ever so occassionally journey back to the old neighbourhood just to check things out.
It was one such visitor who commented to me yesterday on how much the site had grown - some for the better - and some for the worse.
To those of you like Morgan Bell and (among others) her Deep Pencil blog, Bryn and his Horrophile insights, Jason and John Doe and their intimate knowledge all things celluoid, Janet Collins - The Social Critic, Mountain Fog and Infognito, Tracy's Movies and Life site, Michaelie and her Flick Wit blog, the Ramble On site from Miswanderlust, RubySoho, D. Armenta, James Rickard, Lilla, Cheryl J, Wilson Pon, Natalina and everyone else I haven't mentioned but who have been both friends and supporters - thank you.
Let's hope that bigger can actually mean better.
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Comment by Mountain Fog
I agree, the 'community' feel of the site has abated, particularly so with the advent of the ludicrous ego and insult wars nonsense that went on between numerous members, the Orble community seemed to separate after that, and of course some bloggers have cleverly linked to outside communities, meaning their stats are bigger, and their focus is understandably elsewhere.
All that made me less enthused about Orble frankly, and only lately, with the film blogging, has my interest in the site grown.
I also noticed, with my own infognito blog, that occassionally some friends would ask me why I hadn't blogged for so long, when at the time I have blogged regularly, they were not getting the post advisement notice, and on enquiry, management had no certain explanation as such.
So Orble's technical operation seems to have become more fault incident prone, and the hands on management less, I am sure all due to costs.
Frankly, I think Orble needs to sharpen up on those fronts, lest it start to dissolve into just another fractured site.
cheers MNG, you're a champ!
fog
Comment by Mountain Fog
fog
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
maybe next year i should enter an Orble float in the Mardi Gras?
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yeah, it's just not the same anymore, and I'm not as active in the community as I once was, but I still drop by Orble every now and then. Often I visit my fave Orble mates and don't comment, which maybe I should, but I kind of like skulking about (in a nice way!)
Morgan... LOVE the Orble Mardi Gras idea!
Mich
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
You is definately onto something.
It has definately lost it's personal touch, it is quite rare for me to get comments these days unless it is from my old faithfuls, like yourself and most of the people you mentioned (thanks for including me).
I know a lot of my friends now comment on my links on Facebook as opposed to on the actual site. A few of them found it too hard to sign up to comment.
It doesn't bother me too much - I see how many people are viewing the site each day and that has definately increased and I really write to satisfy myself.
Orble Mardi Gras float sounds funny
Agreed that I hope bigger means better - eventually a lot of the newer additions will fade away as they get bored of writing and the good ones will be left standing
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
For me, it was never about a 'community feel' but about reaching people in my target audience. Most of my comments come not from 'regular Orblers' but from people interested in what I have to say - their interest is not in me, but in what I'm writing about, and that's how I like it. The Orble community is simply a bonus.
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Comment by Steve Gann
Beyond This Horizon
Good and Bad News
Closer Look Sports
OhThePlacesWeWillGo
BackPageSports
As for the community feel, maybe the older bloggers could reach out more to the new bloggers. I've been here for a year and am just now learning how to do things. When I first started, I was posting every day but only felt two bloggers reach out to me from the hundreds on this site to comment and welcome me to Orble.
Not saying I'm great, I know that I read a lot of posts but don't comment near as much as I should.
Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
I see that there are a lot of changes here on Orble, not the least of which being the interesting new homepage design. I shall have to investigate further. I don't know why I strayed from Orble to be honest. I think I left during a time when there was a lot of interpersonal drama. Has that died down a bit. I am considering reviving the old blogs as I see they are still not taken over by a stranger. I admit I've become a bit nostalgic.
That said, I am still hard at work over at E.I. and it has been very successful. Stop by and visit me my dear... I miss your witty observations! I look forward to reconnecting with you and others. Be well!
Nat
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
I'm not sure you haven't been a little mischievous with this post.
But for those taking the question in your heading seriously, I respectfully suggest that no-one is well-served if Orble doesn't grow. Indeed, in the way of business, and especially a web-based business, it will die if it doesn't grow.
Orble is a business first and a community second. The only direction it can grow is outwards, but every new Orble blogger represents a new community member and potential friend.
I think one of the charms of Orble is that it can be what you make it.
Comment by signals
The Health Fanatic
The Natural Order
Media Piranha
Arrogant News
The Dope Chronicles
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean, it has changed over the last year or so. The last Orble war was a bit too much for me.
It's great to see new blogs and it is life that things change, but it's also a bit of a pity as I do also miss that community feel. Even though I don't often get a chance to comment these days (or actually write on my own blog), I do still enjoy flicking through and reading my faves.
Yes, I think another celebration is needed, some sort of party!
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
just got back from a month long holiday (and inevitable blog hiatus) ... Cheers for the nod!
I can't complain, as my blog is #1