get this!! total brain frizzle!!
i'll just stream of consciousness type anything that comes to mind, so if it wanders or jumps or loses focus here and there, just remember this is an
initial brainstorm before i forget my frizzlies!!
ATS researches .... ATS!
a project like this could potentially accomplish several different purposes...
a) forcing members to become more involved with the board and develop relationships with moderators and admin- it's not like anyone can go 'buy the
book' (or can they? LOL) ultimately the researchers would need to question individuals who have been around since the site's inception (who are
they, where are they now?), find out what the goals were from the beginning and how those have expanded or changed as the community grew. what were
some of the unexpected results or impacts? what hardships have been encountered? overcome? over the entire history of the board, what things have they
witnessed that were particularly impressive, endearing, unfortunate? has there been anything they can point to (a post, interaction, revelation) that
has had profound effect or influence on their lives personally?
b) improved relations with media and those who don't understand ATS- didn't i read somewhere that the results of research are sent to the media? i
read a thread within the last couple of days, and folks were a bit upset that a 'seemingly reliable' magazine quoted a member and made the
assumption that these were the views of ATS. well, what better way to set the record straight and INFORM them?? written ABOUT ATS, by ATS members and
coming from reliable sources whose presence has been an integral part of what this place has become today- it's the best way to set the record
straight with outside parties, and the most wonderful part of that is- ATS maintains control over their own image.... isn't the point of research to
share what we've learned and get that information OUT THERE?? who wouldn't be interested in
THIS?????
c) memorializing ATS history.... i'm seeing a timeline... some simple little graphic timeline of events from board expansions to adopting new rules
or regulations... from new forums opening, to milestones in membership numbers or post counts... who joined on when (of admin/staff)... ending with
the ATS member research of ATS.
could be interactive, with links to each board, etc. have there been any awards? praise from respected sources or
individuals? keep it all in one nifty graphic that could be updated to share and illustrate ATS success each year.
i know there are threads EVERYWHERE with board information and help- the handbook, faq's, more faq's, the board business forum... there's so much
information spread all over the place that it gets a little confusing for new folk.... (speaking as such).... and it doesn't seem that there is a
convenient or likely way to compile all of it into one nice neat little place.. i'm sure i'd broken ten rules before i ever read them all... LOL....
it would be nice if every time the page refreshes there was another rule that pops up at the top (kinda like photoshop tips) to keep everybody up to
speed without overwhelming anyone... oh, but i've lost site of why that even came up... (oh, yeah, the research)... what are felt to be the most
important rules of the board? why? are there any examples of why they had to be put in place (protection of the site owners, members, etc) i just
posted to the thread about 'shared rights' yesterday... but things we agree to when we see the terms and usage didn't appear overnight, somewhere
along the way necessity dictated for the continued success of a place that became larger and larger and needed to be kept from getting out of
control....
ummmm... gosh, now i just shot myself down... maybe something like this is a better proposition for an article than research project.... oh well! just
thought i'd throw it out there....
done frizzling now...
~amithyzt