The Death of TDH... and other forums

[Art Andrews]

@MoW - Couldn't agree more. Innovation is definitely the key and I have to say, from our producers to our members we have some VERY innovative people. I can tell you that I feel very blessed to have two incredibly innovative people who help me with the infrastructure part of the site. They are both working very hard right now to help TDH evolve and continue to be not only relevant but even more personalized and user friendly. I am not sure what I would do without them!

And I am definitely interested in hearing what you have coming down the pipe!!!

 

[Satxer]

Plain and simple...I hate Facebook, Myspace, Myyearbook...etc. I have no desire to join those sites. I would rather stick to these forums all day long!

 

[Star Wars Chick]

I do not see forums going away. To me things like MySpace and Facebook are fads and just need to go away. For example, I don't care what you ate last night. I also don't want to spend my time filling out those dumb question emails to learn more about somebody. If I want to know about you, I will do the personal thing and contact you directly.

They have nothing to do with props. Why do I want to look at a page about a person where there are more ads and pop-ups than content the person put up? Please try to find me on one of those types of sites. You will not find me there.

A place like TDH is a great place to find info about a prop. I don't see finding anything useful on Facebook about how to put Boba together.

Just my 2 cents.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[webchief]

Several factors Art...

The economy, improving weather, old timers (myself included) not posting as much as we used to, interests changing to newer projects, finishing up our Fetts, Facebook and Myspace to some degree.

I wouldn't say it's something to be overly concerned about.

All this has happened before, and it will happen again.

 

[DL44 Blaster]

Several factors Art...

The economy, improving weather, old timers (myself included) not posting as much as we used to, interests changing to newer projects, finishing up our Fetts, Facebook and Myspace to some degree.

I couldn't agree more.

Plus once many finish their costumes, the interest is naturally going to wane and move to other things. Fett was a constantly evolving replica costume in terms of accuracy and quality for the better of 10 years. I think the bar has been set about as high as it can go there, so for many of the "noobs", they are getting the top shelf stuff with no need to "upgrade" as many of us "old timers" had to do.

 

[jodo]

Well I have something monstrous coming out this summer, 2 years in the making

Free jet packs for evryone?

 

[jonmcclay]

I am not becoming a fan of some bullcrap "Boba Fett" friend page on myspace or facebook. Don't worry. TheDentedHelmet FOR THE WIN

 

[cal196]

I've been here along time, and although I have not posted in a year till today. I'm still here.

 

[Art Andrews]

With so many mysteries having been solved and TDH becoming more of a resource than an active point of inquiry, we are still doing well, but have certainly dropped off a bit. Although, checking stats, we have actually fared a lot better than many other prop related sites. Can't really complain considering how tough things have gotten on many fronts.

 

[Tim Allen]

I think as far as some of the older members goes its that we get burnt out. We've pretty much seen it all and done it all. I have come and gone, started a Fett, sold off tons of parts, helped to do a bit of research here and there. I try and pop in a couple times a week as I consider myself good friends with some of these elder members here but I must say from personal experience you do get burnt out and I def don't visit these boards as much as I have in the past years.

Some of the economy plays a big roll I think as well with whats going on in the prop world. TDH is a niche group, though a bigger one, but when some new movies come out like Iron Man for one, all the Halo stuff....etc people flock to that and then the boards become thinned out with just the real hardcore ones that stick around.

 

[Darth Voorhees]

im here to stay. I have a facebook account and useit to keep in touch with people and find nothing wrong with it BUT in my world it has NOTHING to do with these types of forums. I love forums, and TDH is one of my faves, where i can talk about a specific topic of interest i know EVERYONE herehas. I could never get the info i have for my fett through a social networking site. im on here, the FISD, my garrisons forum, the 501st forums, and BSN every day, as well as facebook. They are all part of my daily "check the forums/e-mail and facebook" routine. So i for one will never stop going on forums, they are saturated with info and people i could find no where else. Long live TDH!!

 

[SlaveR5]

while facebook has it's plce the THD as it's place as well. maybe image updates and events suit facebook better... if you want to research for fett info this is the place, today, yesterday, forever i hope

 

[Jango72]

TDH is one of my main sites, and I for one will never stop visiting my favorite forums. Facebook is fine, for keeping in touch with friends and sharing of troop photos, but forums are where I go for sharing of ideas and research/development.

Even locally, my squad mates and I use forums and message groups for coordinating trooping events and social get togethers... so I don't think that forums will go the way of the Do-do any time soon.

Besides... I'd go nuts without my daily dose of TDH. I'd miss you guys too much.

 

[Darth Mule]

I'm with Art in that I don't think Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are going anywhere anytime soon. Remember that TDH is also, besides being an informational resource, a social networking site. I think the future sees sites like ours and sites like Facebook adapting to each other to become something alltogether MORE. We already see the beginning of discussion forums on Facebook with those threads that you are allowed into after answering one of those generally politically angry polls they send out.

Right now, besides the given economical clime and the fact that xmas is right around the corner, we also have people adapting to this era of globalization. The internet is making the outside world smaller, but its making this world, the online world, bigger and giving people more to deal with. So instead of logging on, checking your email, checking TDH, logging off. You're checking email, 2nd email, Facebook, myspace, TDH, RPF, reading the news, etc.

So it isn't that forums are dying, its just that they have more to share their traffic with.

 

[Fett4reaL]

i have a facebook but the only time i ever use it is cus i have an app on my blackberry, i wish there was a tdh app for my blackberry

 

[stormtrooperguy]

what would a tdh app do that the browser doesn't? (serious question... i havent had a blackberry in years)

 

[Huntman]

I have to say I agree the bar has been set about as high as it can be. In the past year I have gotten 3 people interested in trooping but due to the cost of all the top notch parts available ( and never have to upgrade) I steer them well clear of a fett costumes.

Sometimes they steer themselves away when the learn how much a TiE, storm trooper kit costs when compared to the cost of a jetpack, guants and a helmet, guns ect.

Still, I cannot see the day I walk away from TDH. The forum is just friendlier. In fact I just got rid of my Myspace account. I just could not see the point. Everyone I want to share pics with is with is here or on my garrison page.

 

[NovallTalon]

i have a facebook but the only time i ever use it is cus i have an app on my blackberry, i wish there was a tdh app for my blackberry

Gonna agree with StormTrooperGuy, what would a blackberry app do that the built-in browser doesn't allow? All major forum software already includes a mobile version of the forum, all you gotta do is type it into the blackberry's browser. I do it for TDH and Mercs, and while I don't get all the flashy graphics I can still sign in to check my messages as well as new posts.