The Energon Pub

For me I would say it's a matter of time. Full time job, working on my website and other things take up a lot time. When i first joined here i was starting my senior year of high school and had all the time in the world. Next month I'll be 30. Still trying to figure out where time went.

if this truly is Ryan's only source of income...then it's difficult times! coz with things like Adblocker...it can be difficult to promote your website on other websites & media ect

I know I can be on here all day due to not having a job; I know that I've noticed a distinct lack of activity on here - and as I'm a very 'conversation' driven poster, I tend to leave when the comments dry up - I like having conversations on here, I don't have any social media accounts, nor do I have an account anywhere else, so this is my only place for interaction.

But there are days, when there is no news to speak of, when there might be one or two comments posted in threads I hang out in. So it's not really a reason to sign in and all that.

I honestly think that this is just the result of the old guard - that made this sites' forums - moving on with life, getting a family and whatnot eventually pushes out time to hang out on here. Though I have noticed that despite how many - and often - we get new members signing up for the site, very few of them post anything, so maybe there could be a way to encourage new people to post;

A lot of things come down to the fact that some just can't agree to disagree. I have to think about my post and if it will get attacked or not if I actually have an opinion. This leaves me reading a lot and posting little. Unlike what seems to be the most of America, and their 'bullying' issue, I don't get offended if you don't like my idea. Calling it names, saying it's stupid, or worse... because you don't agree makes me unwilling to toss things out. Why not give good reason? Make a stand for what's wrong with the idea instead of just dismissing it as stupid? Maybe it's just me feeling lack of intelligent conversation?

I will admit it has been a while and things do change, I guess we'll see where it goes.

Sustain wrote:A lot of things come down to the fact that some just can't agree to disagree. I have to think about my post and if it will get attacked or not if I actually have an opinion. This leaves me reading a lot and posting little. Unlike what seems to be the most of America, and their 'bullying' issue, I don't get offended if you don't like my idea. Calling it names, saying it's stupid, or worse... because you don't agree makes me unwilling to toss things out. Why not give good reason? Make a stand for what's wrong with the idea instead of just dismissing it as stupid? Maybe it's just me feeling lack of intelligent conversation?

I will admit it has been a while and things do change, I guess we'll see where it goes.

Dude, you should totally post more, I have no idea what you like (mp, or cw, or generations, etc.) but you can just say 'oh blaster is big I like that' and go from there.

Sustain wrote:A lot of things come down to the fact that some just can't agree to disagree. I have to think about my post and if it will get attacked or not if I actually have an opinion. This leaves me reading a lot and posting little. Unlike what seems to be the most of America, and their 'bullying' issue, I don't get offended if you don't like my idea. Calling it names, saying it's stupid, or worse... because you don't agree makes me unwilling to toss things out. Why not give good reason? Make a stand for what's wrong with the idea instead of just dismissing it as stupid? Maybe it's just me feeling lack of intelligent conversation?

I will admit it has been a while and things do change, I guess we'll see where it goes.

So which is it? That you don't like your opinions being challenged or that challenges to your opinion aren't intellectual enough for you? Either way that's a bit of a piss poor attitude to have. The whole point of being a member of a community like this is to engage with others in the fandom surely?

Blast Cannon wrote:

Sustain wrote:A lot of things come down to the fact that some just can't agree to disagree. I have to think about my post and if it will get attacked or not if I actually have an opinion. This leaves me reading a lot and posting little. Unlike what seems to be the most of America, and their 'bullying' issue, I don't get offended if you don't like my idea. Calling it names, saying it's stupid, or worse... because you don't agree makes me unwilling to toss things out. Why not give good reason? Make a stand for what's wrong with the idea instead of just dismissing it as stupid? Maybe it's just me feeling lack of intelligent conversation?

I will admit it has been a while and things do change, I guess we'll see where it goes.

So which is it? That you don't like your opinions being challenged or that challenges to your opinion aren't intellectual enough for you? Either way that's a bit of a piss poor attitude to have. The whole point of being a member of a community like this is to engage with others in the fandom surely?

Saying you suck, and that's a stupid statements aren't challenging. I'm not looking for argument, but actual debate of opinion.

Blast Cannon wrote:So which is it? That you don't like your opinions being challenged or that challenges to your opinion aren't intellectual enough for you?

I don't think he was saying either. He was saying that if someone dismisses his view or opinions, he'd like a valid reason. That I agree with, I'm the same way. If I say something about something, and someone else says "oh, you're wrong" or "you're an idiot for saying that" I would like it to be validated. Who knows, I may be wrong, but I won't know until someone proves it.

And Hellscream9999, the thing about places like this, in my opinion, is the members make it whatever they want to. Yes, there are a certain set of rules, and those are up to the one footing the bill for the place, but otherwise, you can have whatever discussion you want on here, that's the beauty of having so many different forums. Some people gravitate to conversations about the toys only, some are for the movies, etc. I also like participating in all kinds of conversations, and unfortunately I have to agree, this place is not bustling like it used to. But it's up to us to make it that way. Don't be afraid to put up new topics or participate even in discussions you may only have a peripheral interest in. And if you're worried about some members being unfriendly or outright hostile? That's what your friendly neighborhood mod staff is here for.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Blast Cannon wrote:So which is it? That you don't like your opinions being challenged or that challenges to your opinion aren't intellectual enough for you?

I don't think he was saying either. He was saying that if someone dismisses his view or opinions, he'd like a valid reason. That I agree with, I'm the same way. If I say something about something, and someone else says "oh, you're wrong" or "you're an idiot for saying that" I would like it to be validated. Who knows, I may be wrong, but I won't know until someone proves it.

Yes. And She.

Rodimus Prime wrote:And Hellscream9999, the thing about places like this, in my opinion, is the members make it whatever they want to. Yes, there are a certain set of rules, and those are up to the one footing the bill for the place, but otherwise, you can have whatever discussion you want on here, that's the beauty of having so many different forums. Some people gravitate to conversations about the toys only, some are for the movies, etc. I also like participating in all kinds of conversations, and unfortunately I have to agree, this place is not bustling like it used to. But it's up to us to make it that way. Don't be afraid to put up new topics or participate even in discussions you may only have a peripheral interest in. And if you're worried about some members being unfriendly or outright hostile? That's what your friendly neighborhood mod staff is here for.

I wasn't really complaning, just pointing out that as more members get families, we will lose interactions, so we must thus nurture a healthy relationship with new members instead of pushing them away with (exclusive) our G1-ism's (I'm not trying to blame anyone, but that is just how views tend to slant around here, and it can push people away)

I stick with the toys and customs mainly, but will poke around any forum that catches my interest. I've been thinking about making a Dynasty Warriors (8) forum - since I'm amazing at it - to help other players, or to find people to play with online, but figured there wasn't enough interest in it to be worth it. Also thinking of posting some stuff in the transtopia forum soon.

Hellscream9999 wrote:we must thus nurture a healthy relationship with new members instead of pushing them away with (exclusive) our G1-ism's (I'm not trying to blame anyone, but that is just how views tend to slant around here, and it can push people away)

Care to offer up some examples of this happening? (PM me if you want to)

When you stop and think about it, aside from the majority of the collector base being those who grew up with G1 (we have more disposable income than the BW era fans), take a look at what Hasbro and Takara Tomy are doing. They're clearly targeting the fanbase with G1 and Combiner Wars.

So I can see why some of the fans of the more recent generations may not bother to hang around when Hasbro/TT aren't really doing anything for them.

Burn wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:we must thus nurture a healthy relationship with new members instead of pushing them away with (exclusive) our G1-ism's (I'm not trying to blame anyone, but that is just how views tend to slant around here, and it can push people away)

Care to offer up some examples of this happening? (PM me if you want to)

When you stop and think about it, aside from the majority of the collector base being those who grew up with G1 (we have more disposable income than the BW era fans), take a look at what Hasbro and Takara Tomy are doing. They're clearly targeting the fanbase with G1 and Combiner Wars.

So I can see why some of the fans of the more recent generations may not bother to hang around when Hasbro/TT aren't really doing anything for them.

That was the general idea, and I have nothing major to report, just pointing out something we as a community should be aware of - but I would like to know where the 'new members thread' went from my control panel, I liked greeting all the new members there

Burn wrote:So I can see why some of the fans of the more recent generations may not bother to hang around when Hasbro/TT aren't really doing anything for them.

Speaking for myself only, but I grew up during the G1 era, and the CW line doesn't interest me in the least. To me it has nothing to do with the source material but the new direction Hasbro is taking their toys designs. Thing is, I'm not a fan of the simplification in Hasbro's more recent lines, the why and how of which I'll avoid discussing, since it's really another can of worms I'd rather keep closed.

For that same reason, I still collect MP figs as well as any 3rd party TF's I can get my hands on.

Hellscream9999 wrote:I've been thinking about making a Dynasty Warriors (8) forum - since I'm amazing at it - to help other players, or to find people to play with online, but figured there wasn't enough interest in it to be worth it. Also thinking of posting some stuff in the transtopia forum soon.

Actually, IMO there's no harm in trying. I mean, there's really no telling if a thread would get popular or not.

I initially thought Sillyspringer's 3D modeling thread might go on for at least another dozen or more pages, but it simply didn't catch on. I guess the problem was that all of us are proficient in completely different software, and use them for different things altogether. You're a professional game character artist using Maya, I'm a Sketchup and ZBrush user trying to break into 3D modeling and concept art illustrations, and Springer's a TinderCAD hobbyist.

Maybe if the 3D modeling thread included Photoshop as a topic--we all inevitably need to sketch reference material using PS, as well as for rendering UV maps and backgrounds anyway.

Hellscream9999 wrote:I would like to know where the 'new members thread' went from my control panel, I liked greeting all the new members there

Should be there for you now.

It was down the page in General Discussion, flicked it over to a Global Announcement so it will hopefully be there.

Oh and thanks for showing me that the smiley was broken. I thought I fixed them all a while back. dammit.

Burn wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:I would like to know where the 'new members thread' went from my control panel, I liked greeting all the new members there

Should be there for you now.

It was down the page in General Discussion, flicked it over to a Global Announcement so it will hopefully be there.

Oh and thanks for showing me that the smiley was broken. I thought I fixed them all a while back. dammit.

Yay! Now I can get back to greeting everyone I can

Hellscream9999 wrote:Yay! Now I can get back to greeting everyone I can

Hopefully having it as a Global will attract more people to it. Thanks for letting me know about it.

If you (or anyone for that matter) have any suggestions on how we can get more people involved, and that can include featured articles (e.g. the Transtopia round-up, photo contest), donations to my Paypal account to have people banned*, or whatever ... just let us know!
*that's a joke btw

Sustain wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Blast Cannon wrote:So which is it? That you don't like your opinions being challenged or that challenges to your opinion aren't intellectual enough for you?

I don't think he was saying either. He was saying that if someone dismisses his view or opinions, he'd like a valid reason. That I agree with, I'm the same way. If I say something about something, and someone else says "oh, you're wrong" or "you're an idiot for saying that" I would like it to be validated. Who knows, I may be wrong, but I won't know until someone proves it.

Yes. And She.

I'd like to think that the majority of people would do that here. I've very rarely come across somebody giving an opinion and then had it dismissed with a "well you've got a stupid face and you're wrong' standard of argument. The community is fairly mature these days and the majority would call that person out on it and rightly call them a prat.

I just think you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Get involved and if the worst scenario is that some anonymous prick on the internet says you're an idiot for thinking that Actionmaster Thundercracker is ****, so what? You'll turn off your computer and get on with your life.

Burn wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:Yay! Now I can get back to greeting everyone I can

Hopefully having it as a Global will attract more people to it. Thanks for letting me know about it.

If you (or anyone for that matter) have any suggestions on how we can get more people involved, and that can include featured articles (e.g. the Transtopia round-up, photo contest), donations to my Paypal account to have people banned*, or whatever ... just let us know!
*that's a joke btw

Would it be possible to alter the final sign-up page to include a sentence like: 'Now you should go here (<= link to new member forum) and introduce yourself'. Then people might be more likely to go there, and current members would go there and start conversations, if it were promoted a little?

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Burn wrote:

Hellscream9999 wrote:Yay! Now I can get back to greeting everyone I can

Hopefully having it as a Global will attract more people to it. Thanks for letting me know about it.

If you (or anyone for that matter) have any suggestions on how we can get more people involved, and that can include featured articles (e.g. the Transtopia round-up, photo contest), donations to my Paypal account to have people banned*, or whatever ... just let us know!
*that's a joke btw

Would it be possible to alter the final sign-up page to include a sentence like: 'Now you should go here (<= link to new member forum) and introduce yourself'. Then people might be more likely to go there, and current members would go there and start conversations, if it were promoted a little?

Probably, but that's something only Ryan could handle.

Sustain wrote:Yes. And She.

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Sustain wrote:Yes. And She.

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

No worries. I suppose you're right, if I was around more that wouldn't have happened.

Sustain wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Sustain wrote:Yes. And She.

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

No worries. I suppose you're right, if I was around more that wouldn't have happened.

Yes. It's all your fault.