Re: Should you care about people who aren't fans of your nic
I can't believe this question is actually being discussed. This is something common and you should be thankful that your forum/forums have members like that. Off-topic discussion is really important. She/he helps fill the forum in so many ways.
Re: Should you care about people who aren't fans of your nic
Why would people want to join a niche forum just to post in the general discussion area?, there are plenty of boards out there that cater for general discussion.
You have to consider what genuine posters will think of all those posts in general discussion, when really all they want to do is talk the niche.
Re: Should you care about people who aren't fans of your nic
sapper said:
Why would people want to join a niche forum just to post in the general discussion area?, there are plenty of boards out there that cater for general discussion.
Indeed. However, a person may find a specific community to be more comfortable for him/her so he/she decided to join a specific forum instead of general discussion one. That is just my guess; I never really think like that. XD
I did have a member who only posted in general discussion. I had no idea why she decided to stick with us, but she seemed happy, so I was happy as well. She replied to members who posted in the general discussion area, and everyone was happy. Must I push such member away?
sapper said:
You have to consider what genuine posters will think of all those posts in general discussion, when really all they want to do is talk the niche.
Again, it depends. Each person has their own views... And as a member who has been in online communities a lot, including as administrator, I can understand how general discussion areas are easier to grow than on-topic ones. So I won't consider it that much. I will stick my eyes only to the on-topic ones. Therefore I don't think administrators need to worry that much too. However, this doesn't mean they do not need to do anything to improve the on-topic sections to grow as strong as general discussion ones.
Re: Should you care about people who aren't fans of your nic
There are many reasons you should pay attention to those who are not hardcore fans of your nice.
First off, they represent the 'common' person's voice which can be incredibly useful not only for your industry but also for maintaining your forum.
Also, if these people enjoy your forum, the ability to draw new users increases simply by word of mouth.
I know it's hard to regard people who don't really seem interested in your topic, but they are great in keeping the forum running and can give you a lot of insight that you might not get from people immersed in the forum.
Re: Should you care about people who aren't fans of your nic
It won't harm you to have one or two general discussion sections on your forum because we all like to take a break once in a while and I am sure there are a few of your members who might warm to the idea of an off topic zone. 🙂
