Can't be John... I was all over the map!
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My own ramblings.... Posted By: John Rochowicz Date: 1/5/06 04:31 GMT
In Response To: A couple of thoughts... (Chicagoland Chuck Maddox)
Let me start off by saying that I agree with everything you said, Chuck. Well that can't be John... I was all over the map with that reply!
I see the dilemma you face in deciding to leave the site the way it is (as a tribute to Derek) or to upgrade it so that it remains an up-to-date reference site for both new and long-time Omega enthusiasts. And it really isn't so much a Tribute or not argument, but rather who's going to be able to, and responsible for, assuring the end result(s) are up to the quality level that Derek set for the site?
I am only stating my OPINIONS here, but I do think it would be an excellent tribute to Derek if the site were kept up-to-date so that we could compete with the "big guys" and be seen as a true resource for Omega enthusiasts. I can't speak for Jeff, but I would assume he would feel the same way about the On The Dash TAG part of this site. Well, let's look into that a little bit. In the Omega world, at least as I know it, there are three fairly active Omega dicussion communities, TZ, WUS and Chronocentric and a slew of other mainly info only sites. Let's talk about our immediate competition... But you first:
I have many reasons for visiting this site more than other sites, but the main reasons are my genuine like of the people on this forum and the overall "laid back" nature of it. Timezone, as good and informative as it is, has so many rules and restrictions about posting links to other sites, etc., that I find it a bit "too structured". As a "newbie" there I made mistakes and politely requested that a moderator remove a link from my post. What did he do? He deleted my ENTIRE post and sent me a scolding e-mail. I still participate there but not nearly as much as I do here. Ok, TZ... TZ is TZ... They are what they are, and they are more than a bit monolithic. But they are the big show. TZ's two greatest assets in my opinion are the sheer number of it's participants and TZ Classics. I know that I've had a number of differences of opinions with TZ over the years, most of them, if you've watched the Omega and/or Public forums you'll know about. But they are the big show.
As for watchuseek, the Omega forum is very informative and the moderator is very knowledgeable. [Text removed by Keith Downing ~ Co-Moderator] so I do not actively participate on his forum. I go there for reference purposes only. I saw John's post before it was modified and the part removed was a personal opinion about the manner of (at least one of) the moderator(s) at WUS - Omega being... well the polite way of saying it is: opinionated in fashion that could be considered, well... aloof. Certainly something I personally have likely been guilty or at least accused of in the past.
Anyway...
Last time I checked there were four moderators over at WUS, so there are some possibilities over there for who you mean. I know that I've had somewhat spirited conversations with at least two of the moderators at one time or another, (actually I've had spirited conversations with both of the TZ Om ... scratch that... EVERY TZ Omega forum moderator there's been as far as that goes).
Bottom line, every Omega forum moderator I've ever spoken with both in the forums, and privately have been good people, PERIOD. Some have strengths and gifts that others do not possess, but they all are in the end on balance good people in most instances, even though I haven't always agreed in lockstep with them.
I just don't believe the best way to bring people to your site is negative about others, but rather to make your site demonstratably better.
As for WUS's site... I really don't have much opinion up or down about their site, rules, discussion atmosphere... Other than, as much as I complained and hated the TZ Beta site, from what I've seen WUS's new site is a lot more hostile than TZ's beta ever was at it's worse. Every time I try to post anything other than the most simple message over there I end up being so frustrated I give up. It's really a shame because the old site was fairly benign. The new one is very malignant and hostile to anything but plain text posts from my experience. As a resuly I'm not over there much.
I have no interest in seeing this website expand to include Rolex, Breitling, etc. Rather, I'd love to see it become so informative that it surpasses the "big boys" in members on the Omega forum (and Jeff's TAG forum as well). I suspect that Chronocentric/OTD will grow organically as our interests demand and ability to make things happen become possible. I could easily see a "Under-Represented Brands forum" being a possible addition as soon as we figure out how to do that. But I doubt we'll ever see C/OTD expand into already covered (Rolex, Breitling, etc.) territory. I believe we'll be more of a Niche filler than a direct competitor to the "Bigs"...
In other words, why not make this site THE BEST at what Derek already set out to create, rather than expand it to include things that people don't come here for in the first place? Well, that's another part of the equation... The non-forum site of things. TZ has TZ Classics. Which is, well, it's ok, but I liked it (and participated in in greatly) when it had numbers for the posts, which made it easy to refer people to a specific post: Just go to Classics and read 1045 (for example. But the problem with TZ Classics, is that it's a bit haphazard and uneven. People participate in a manner they choose, and on topics they select. There is not uniform coverage and the floors are full of gaps and very uneven. I'm not being critical, heck, if you looked at the Omega resource (links) page I put together three or so years ago, you'll see my name is in there quite a bit... I'm telling you like it is.
WUS on the other hand, has four sub-forums to their Omega Forum: Gallery, Articles/Links, Reviews, and NASA/Space. The posts within each of those sub-forums are ok, but they aren't particularly deep or wide in scope thus far. I'm sure that will change as time moves on.
There are lot's of other Omega Informational sites out there... Here are a few: ClubSpeedmaster, Flightmaster Owners Group, Frank N.'s Watch Info, Kenji Homma's Speedmaster (jpn), Jean-Michel's: Lemania5100.net and Speedmaster-Missions, NL Speedy Owner Group, Eric So's Omega 4 U.Net, Steve's Old Omega's, Omega-Addict, OSPOG, and there is my site... Can anyone name me one site which has more useful information in a level and comprehensive manner than Chronocentric?
Because I can't.
You ask directly John "... why not make this site THE BEST at what Derek already set out to create..." Ok, John, who has the skills in CSS, RSS, PHP, Perl, HTML and graphics arts necessary to do this? Do know of someone who has the willingness to do the daily news watch, research and writting/coding/electronic painting necessary to make this happen, unpaid and for little compensation other than an occasional "well done" at or better than the quality that Derek did? If so let us know. We'd like to know who this person is.
I guess I envision this as one day being the "holy grail of Omega discussion forums". But that's a different thing than the non-forum part of Chronocentric. In my opinion the Non-Forum part of Chronocentric is so far ahead of the non-discussion forum parts of the TZ and WUS Omega experience that there is little or no comparision. Is (will) Chronocentric become out of date without attention, probably. But no other site tracked the changes as closely or comprehensively as Derek did.
The best way to make Chronocentric's forum "the holy grail" is to make sure the discussions here far outclass the quality (and hopefully quantity) of the available Omega discussion forums. And quality is prefered over quantity.
It may just be a pipe dream, and I know that right now you obviously don't have the manpower to do it, but that's the direction I'd love to see the site take if it is decided that it will, in fact, be kept up-to-date. Well, here is the schtick, plain and simple... If you or anyone you know who is so inclined to work gratis who has sufficent skills in CSS, RSS, PHP, Perl, HTML and graphics arts to the level that Derek established, please let me or Jeff know and we'll start working on tactics and a strategy for doing something along the lines you suggest, John.
If you want to suggest "yeah, you guyz oughta update the site and screw everything else" feel free to say so but it simply ain't going to happen. There is a better chance of me landing the Prima Balerina gig with the Bolshoi than that occuring.
For asking that is akin to asking Steve, Keith Jeff and or myself to abandon our families and children (prior committments).
Again, these are only my thoughts and opinions... Again these are only mine... Neither Jeff or I asked or wished for this situation. We're doing our best. If that's not enough... well I guess y'all'll have to figure out a way to make it happen and let us.
For what it's worth John and Joey, I'm not offended by the suggestions, but frankly a couple things have to happen before we can implement any change... First off, we have to know how to do it, secondly we have to find the time to do it, and lastly, most of the time our day to day prior committments are going to win out on expansion and upgrades.
That's just the way it is.
-- Chuck |
