This isn't as fun as before :(

[DarkRaven]

My forum opened in February and already we have 422 members and 32,430 posts. Not bad for a forum in it's first year. However because of the growth in members, there has also been a need to keep all of them happy with competitions, solve their petty little problems, solve their stupid little disputes... I'm been pushed more and more into ''Administration''. What a boring sounding word. When I opened BC in February I had 3 months of fun. We only had 20 or so members and eight regulars. I used to hang around with them, share jokes and we had a lot of fun... Now with the growth I hardly ever joke and mess around. I'm meant to be mister all too serious Admin who banhammers people that break the rules. Because of all this background organisation that needs to be done, I don't post in the member sections as much I did before. I take a look at what is going on every day of course, but for the most part I hardly ever reply. It's quite ironic in fact. I set up this forum to help people like myself get their works read... I've been so busy between ''Administration'' and school that I haven't looked after my own writing in a month. All in all it seems pretty depressing. I can't think of a good way out of it without offending 422 people 🙁

On the other hand I feel proud about my forum that it achieved so much in it's first year and that people clearly enjoy being on it (or else they wouldn't be on it?). Thank you for being patient enough to read this. I really appreciate it. I just had to get it out.

 

[Cosmic]

Are you understaffed/ It might help to hire a new administrator, such as one of your current mods. That might take away some of the work load.

 

[FWhite]

I feel you DR. 😛

 

[AnAccount]

If you are understaffed, I would recommend trying to find a couple more administrators, actually, in your case, with 400+ members, I would almost say 5 more, and that's not sarcasm either, that's litterally! But really, you should really look at hiring more staff if you're feeling burned out. I think that's what made me give up on my forum all too soon as well was that I was understaffed and had no one helping me when I had to be away. Now I got one co-administrator (co-founder actually) and one moderator, both of whom are very active, and that has helped me out tremendously, and has helped me keep my guard down and my confidence up. I can now leave home knowing that I have a forum that's being looked after, and since we are all from different time zones, I can more than likely expect loads of posts when I return, which is seriously nice. Good luck!

 

[Cosmic]

If you are understaffed, I would recommend trying to find a couple more administrators, actually, in your case, with 400+ members, I would almost say 5 more, and that's not sarcasm either, that's litterally! But really, you should really look at hiring more staff if you're feeling burned out. I think that's what made me give up on my forum all too soon as well was that I was understaffed and had no one helping me when I had to be away. Now I got one co-administrator (co-founder actually) and one moderator, both of whom are very active, and that has helped me out tremendously, and has helped me keep my guard down and my confidence up. I can now leave home knowing that I have a forum that's being looked after, and since we are all from different time zones, I can more than likely expect loads of posts when I return, which is seriously nice. Good luck!

FP has 3 administrators and FP is several times the size of his. 3 or 4 admins should be enough for most forums if they are all active on a daily basis.

 

[AnAccount]

If you are understaffed, I would recommend trying to find a couple more administrators, actually, in your case, with 400+ members, I would almost say 5 more, and that's not sarcasm either, that's litterally! But really, you should really look at hiring more staff if you're feeling burned out. I think that's what made me give up on my forum all too soon as well was that I was understaffed and had no one helping me when I had to be away. Now I got one co-administrator (co-founder actually) and one moderator, both of whom are very active, and that has helped me out tremendously, and has helped me keep my guard down and my confidence up. I can now leave home knowing that I have a forum that's being looked after, and since we are all from different time zones, I can more than likely expect loads of posts when I return, which is seriously nice. Good luck!

FP has 3 administrators and FP is several times the size of his. 3 or 4 admins should be enough for most forums if they are all active on a daily basis.

Yeah, I guess that's true. I'm still new to all this.

 

[Jonathan]

Hire an admin, take a break. Get out.

 

[Jaosals]

You have only yourself as admin and a small handfull of mods? Personally, you ought to hire a co-admin, some guy you can trust. Maybe your best moderator?

 

[AnAccount]

Hire an admin, take a break. Get out.

Probably the best move I've ever made. Then when I need a break, or I feel to stressed, I don't have to have the urge to close the forum.

 

[Cosmic]

Hire an admin, take a break. Get out.

I second that, it might actually be a good idea. A one week or so break might help a lot if another admin is there to help.

 

[DarkRaven]

Yeah. You see I'm used to handpicking a few members and making them sectional mods, then slowly raising them through the ranks. However the global mods I have right now are either completely %&$£€'d with school, or just haven't reached that stage where I'd consider them experienced enough to become admins.

My old Vice Admin resigned so I am kind of looking for a new one. I'll hire a new one once I see someone suitable.

 

[Ascent]

That's the whole point of being an admin. You have to expect something like that if you're going to run a community.

In my opinion, I think it'd be much more fun with all those troubles you might have. It gives me something to work for with my forum. 🙂

 

[Callum93]

My forum opened in February and already we have 422 members and 32,430 posts. Not bad for a forum in it's first year. However because of the growth in members, there has also been a need to keep all of them happy with competitions, solve their petty little problems, solve their stupid little disputes... I'm been pushed more and more into ''Administration''. What a boring sounding word. When I opened BC in February I had 3 months of fun. We only had 20 or so members and eight regulars. I used to hang around with them, share jokes and we had a lot of fun... Now with the growth I hardly ever joke and mess around. I'm meant to be mister all too serious Admin who banhammers people that break the rules. Because of all this background organisation that needs to be done, I don't post in the member sections as much I did before. I take a look at what is going on every day of course, but for the most part I hardly ever reply. It's quite ironic in fact. I set up this forum to help people like myself get their works read... I've been so busy between ''Administration'' and school that I haven't looked after my own writing in a month. All in all it seems pretty depressing. I can't think of a good way out of it without offending 422 people 🙁

On the other hand I feel proud about my forum that it achieved so much in it's first year and that people clearly enjoy being on it (or else they wouldn't be on it?). Thank you for being patient enough to read this. I really appreciate it. I just had to get it out.

If you aren't enjoying running your forum, take a break and see if you get your passion for the site back. If you can't after you've taken a break, personally I'd probably sell the site. Maybe you should also take a more laid back and have more of a sense of humour on your forum. because really I think an admin who blends in with the members instead of trying to act like an admin all the time is probably a better admin.

 

[birdy]

If you aren't enjoying running your forum, take a break and see if you get your passion for the site back. If you can't after you've taken a break, personally I'd probably sell the site. Maybe you should also take a more laid back and have more of a sense of humour on your forum. because really I think an admin who blends in with the members instead of trying to act like an admin all the time is probably a better admin.

Well said Sbfc :great: and get yourself a co-admin, someone you can really really rely on - I personally could not do without my guy, he is amazing and just takes the pressure off, also in another timezone which helps too :yes:

 

[Surface]

Take a break for a few, let your moderator(s) handle things(well, guessing you have responsible and 'trained' moderators).

 

[NBK*Twitch]

A co admin or two global mods could fix your problem.

 

[KMRock]

Sell it, make some cash???

 

[golfbunny]

I'm getting the sense you are less of a "administrator" and more of a "creator." Does that make sense? Your love lies less in managerial duties and more in design, promotion, et cetera. Am I right?

 

[DarkRaven]

I'm getting the sense you are less of a "administrator" and more of a "creator." Does that make sense? Your love lies less in managerial duties and more in design, promotion, et cetera. Am I right?

Yeah. I'm actually thinking up a new network of sites right now and getting a full time admin for each. But it's going slowly right now. No one seems to have the time to dedicate to a project of that magnitude.

 

[AnAccount]

I'm getting the sense you are less of a "administrator" and more of a "creator." Does that make sense? Your love lies less in managerial duties and more in design, promotion, et cetera. Am I right?

Yeah. I'm actually thinking up a new network of sites right now and getting a full time admin for each. But it's going slowly right now. No one seems to have the time to dedicate to a project of that magnitude.

Hey it's natural. My forum is going slowly at the minute as well. Almost no activity as we speak. However, it is the weekend, and people do have plans, so that is more than understandable. I'm sure things will pick back up by the work week again.