Where has the love gone?

Let me first preface this by saying that I am by no means an old head here as you can see from my join date. I went down with a knee injury about 6 months ago and because of that I went inactive here. When I come back I notice a different "feeling" here from when I left. When I first started here the only word I could use to describe this board was "family". There was tradjedies abounding with sick spouses and stolen cars or the ever growing line of divorces. However, if you were willing to air your dirty laundry then you would have a support base from all corners of the world willing to help where they could and in any way they could. I threw together my fett and sold some mannequins here and could have walked away if it were not for the sense of community I found here that fell in love with.

I wanted to help (probably the cop or Air Force in me) so I offered up free stuff for extra parts that I had come across and in return I recieved stuff from fellow members at little to no cost. I found help everywhere I looked and did what I could to help in return. I met some really GREAT guys (and gals) on here and made friendships that have endured pretty well. Which brings me to my point...

Since my return, I have sensed a different sensation of competition, frustration and lack of community. I see the Cargo Hold is more of a business and Karma has become a waiting game to see if the last guy will actually go through with what they agree to do. The COC has gone a little unchecked by the Mods and I have seen at least three threads of "Make me an offer" in the Hold. I have heard grumbling that the Wiki will hold all of the knowledge to cut down on the useless questions.

I have seen an outpouring of the "recaster" issue bubbling up to where people are banned while the issue never really gets resolved. I have seen people bowing out of the board and taking with them a great deal of experience and knowledge. Why are these people leaving? They have their reason. Everyone has a life off the boards (if you don't then get one). But the sense of community and family that was so heavilly present when I joined seems to have waned a bit. I have expressed these thoughts to three of my closest friends on here just to hear it echoed back to me from the same disaproving stance. I have even seen them remove their non costumed pics from thier albums so that nobody knows their faces.

Have we strayed so far into this as to have removed the family from TDH? Do we only help the people we know and trust? Do we want a board where the human feeling is removed and all we have are files to rumage through and the next great Fett item is point and click?

If you have positive thoughts or stories then tell the board. If you want to vent then LET IT FLY. Lets try and stay on topic and family friendly. Even if the mods are busy, I want the family mood here.

Gimme your $.02

Ivan (Boomer Fett)

Yeah, I agree with you. There have been a couple people kind of rude to me lately.

Ivan,

I agree...
I have noticed allot of the (what I deem the older fett heads) disappear, but I put that down to moving onto other projects etc. but it is allot different from when I joined... was allot more friendlier.
As for the "make me an offer" I too agree as per the COC you should state a price for your offering.
And as for sharing? guys... If I have ref then ask and I shall share...

Kudos for bringing it up bruv.

Gav
@ AA don't take it personal mate...

I agree with what you are saying Ivan. I have noticed the loss of the family feel to the forum. I don't know if I have an answer to it. I can't put my finger on any one thing and say that is what is making things change. Is it that we have come a long way in our Fett knowledge? Maybe. Is it that people that were active have finished their Fetts and have moved on. Maybe. Is it that people have gotten discouraged and upset and gone elsewhere. Maybe. I don't know. I do hate it when I see members with a lot of knowledge leave for whatever reason. There are always questions to be anwered and tips to give. When that knowledge base goes away I think everyone suffers.

I hope everyone knows that I would help any of you any way I could. I will provide all the tips that I have (which are limite ), and I will always be ready to congratulate you on your hard work. I hope we can get that family feeling back. Maybe we need to have a good old family reunion. We definately need our spark back.

I'm quite new around here,but I will say that I've made some real good friends through TDH.
Sometimes the place does seem to be more like a shop frount than a forum site.
Too many people trying to sell stuff,too few people helping with tips an advice.
One thing I hate is when someone asks a question the reply they get is "do a search" or "use the search function".
By all means post a link to another thread that my help,but don't try to make someone look small or dumb.

Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question,only stupid answers.


FMF

I'm new too, but I've not really felt like people have been rude to me or anything. The comments of "use the search" are kind of jerky. The search function isn't the best ever. If you don't know exactly what you are looking for, you'll turn up 1000 listings where someone one time mentioned a word you were looking for and you'll have to scour through all the topics to find that out.

If you want me to be a part of the family, I will gladly take on the role of snarky, sarcastic brother.

well from looking at this thread the Texans, Okies and Brits are friendly.

I am new here too, and I have noticed some of both, but overall I have felt welcomed and have gotten the info I have been looking for. I have noticed some of the "search for it" replies also. Though when I asked a "color" question which in theory you could search easily I did get polite replies and help.

I am just going to do my part to make this place decent.

I hear ya man. I realy beleive that this past year has been a tough one for everyone; what with all the public and personal tragedies, and that it is up to all of us to reach out and try to make this the friendly, supportive community that it always has been (I just wish there was an easy way to do that).

I must say however, I am very impressed with the creativity and talent of the growing number of TDH newcomers, and I'm sure thier influx of fresh talent and support will help to remedy the seemingly "broken family bonds" of our wonderful comunity.

My 2 cents worth as requested.

Ivan, you were one of the first members i met here, and got to know on a personal level...we even had the opportunity to meet, and hang out a few times...being new, anxiously awaiting that item we were needing to pop up in the cargo hold, spending hours and hours referencing pictures, having that thrill of trying to paint something on our own, and many other wonderful trials and tribulations, was one of the things that made this place so exciting...then, in our quest to build and perfect our Fetts, we met those individuals that were so helpful, those that were on the same path that we were on, and we developed awesome friendships and became "family"...i am right there with you, brother...that close nit bond that TDH had became the reason i hurriedly signed on every chance i got...to see what my brothers were working on next, or what they had just found in the cargo hold...gradually, becoming more and more informed and educated, that lending hand went out to those that came after us...the thrill to "see" the light go on in a newbs head after explaining how to make something work, or how to attach a part on the costume, became more and more prevelant as time went on...then, getting to that point of offering something to the community as a vendor, took over reasons for coming to TDH...all the pms to answer, all the armor to paint, blasters to build up, etc...i guess in the progress of the life of a member of TDH, at least in my experience, you turn away from the original reason you came to TDH, and that was the bond of "family"...being right there at the same point as your brother...helping, lending a hand, building your own Fett...i am guilty, i have become that member that has lost that kinship with his friends...turned my experiences here into means to an end...i guess that over time, as we come to completion of our costumes, or become vendors with priorities to our buyers, that family feeling tends to slip away, and need to be reminded of what makes TDH the amazing place that it is, and that is "family"...cheers for opening the curtain and shedding some light on what TDH has become...whether it has become that because of where we are personally, or if it has become that for everyone...i know i can do better in my part of the family, and i thank you for sharing your thoughts...cheers, my brother! you will always be one of my best of friends...here, or anywhere...

D

Well said D, feeling that bro. It can be hard to strike a balance. Recently, due to my new son, Harry I have not had as much time to be in the workshop or to post that much. Things will improvve and normal service will resume sometime - I hope. I have met a whole heap of new great people who are still here and some which have moved on.

The most important thing it to keep on trooping - which I will be doing in a few hours

Rob.

Speaking of family.... BFUK, congrats bruv. Harry is a good solid name. Glad to hear he came into the world healthy and happy. I think I smell a future mini-Boba build.

Just thought I'd chime in. I've been at this for just over a year. I plunged into it head first and relatively blindly. After doing a fair bit of research I have tried to track down the best (and most accurate) makers around these parts and get them on board. I am finally nearing the end of this phenomenal and expensive journey. I must say that anyone I have dealt with has, for the most part, been a pleasure to deal with. There have been some snarly dealings but they were usually justified for some reason. I also thank the community at large for putting up with what must seem some inane and uneducated questions. I look forward to meeting some of you once I actually head out and troop. If I can I hope I can offer help to those that need it although I'm not quite as talented as others here I can steer people in the right direction and hopefully offer some good advice. Thanks TDH for making my lifelong dream possible.....

When i first joined TDH there were not a lot of armor makers and even fewer vendors of services. A lot of us "old timers" had to use a lot of sweat and tears to get our Fetts up to standards. Now TDH has almost become 1 stop Fett shop. Not that it is nessicarly a bad thing but i do feel that the kinship with having to build your own Fett from scratch gets lost on a lot of the new members just because of that. I did my time in the proverbial "Fett building trenches" together with many others and have since then moved on to other projects but still take my time to check in every now and then.

And perhaps i'm crossing the line here but the forum has gone from a Boba to a Boba, Jango & Zam site to a Boba, Jango, Zam, Custom Mando, Iron Man, Clone, Army of Two and any other possible costume you can think of site. Maybe that's part of it? Everybody is to busy with their own thing to help any one else with their other project?

Gotta agree with Boba Swede, just didn't wanna be the first one to say it.
This forum has been overrun (for lack of a better term) by customs,clones, and everything else under the sun.
Also, many of us do have issues in life and are really really tired.

As with most of the other SW forums it seems we have been inundated with "joiners", "wannabees with $" and "merchants" rather than people who simply love learning how to build a really great set of gear that is as close as you can get to a screen seen costume. i have always thought that the craft is as important if not more so than the final costume. It is much that life is a journey not a destination philosophy that really makes this the hobby that I want to participate in. I think it sparks a feeling of apathy and kills the comradeship when people just want to be the Fett not make the journey to becoming the Fett.

Seems like I responded to a thread like this very recently...

A large part of the "change" here is that everything changes over time and that what started as a relatively small group of very close friends studying a relatively unknown subject has blossomed into one of the most successful single character sites within the community (and yes, sorry, Zam, Jango and Clones... regardless of what the site provides for these characters, this site mainly draws interest due to Boba). We are a victim of our own success. Look at our numbers. Look at the number of members and the number of posts... This was always bound to happen. What was once cool and unique... due to this site, has now become relatively common place... and because so many want so much, it has drawn in those with skills who can profit from those who are less skilled. It is the nature of things. As more and more people have poured into the site, the feeling of comoradery begins to break down because you don't know all the "new guys." Also, it is simply a matter of time before older members drift away or drift on to other things. Beyond that (and here comes the broken record), you have a poor economy, the relative 'death' of Star Wars, and the rise of social media, all of which harms sites like this. While we all hate change, this shouldn't be surprising. Life is about change and change is coming upon this community as with so many others.

On a personal level, I still love TDH and I hope within the next few months to be able to focus more on it, but as with so many others, my attention is currently diverted.

If there is anyone to blame for a lack of admin interaction here, that blame falls on my shoulders. I can't promise immediate change, but I will look into what I can do.

Originally Posted by Art Andrews

Seems like I responded to a thread like this very recently...

A large part of the "change" here is that everything changes over time and that what started as a relatively small group of very close friends studying a relatively unknown subject has blossomed into one of the most successful single character sites within the community (and yes, sorry, Zam, Jango and Clones... regardless of what the site provides for these characters, this site mainly draws interest due to Boba). We are a victim of our own success. Look at our numbers. Look at the number of members and the number of posts... This was always bound to happen. What was once cool and unique... due to this site, has now become relatively common place... and because so many want so much, it has drawn in those with skills who can profit from those who are less skilled. It is the nature of things. As more and more people have poured into the site, the feeling of comoradery begins to break down because you don't know all the "new guys." Also, it is simply a matter of time before older members drift away or drift on to other things. Beyond that (and here comes the broken record), you have a poor economy, the relative 'death' of Star Wars, and the rise of social media, all of which harms sites like this. While we all hate change, this shouldn't be surprising. Life is about change and change is coming upon this community as with so many others.

On a personal level, I still love TDH and I hope within the next few months to be able to focus more on it, but as with so many others, my attention is currently diverted.

If there is anyone to blame for a lack of admin interaction here, that blame falls on my shoulders. I can't promise immediate change, but I will look into what I can do.

Dude no sweat. There has not been a lack of admin interaction it's just there are just a couple of rude people, like every forum has.

I know that for me, I've tapered off posting here because what I'm working on has shifted. Boba has been "done" for quite some time now. I've been working on all Clone Wars stuff for the last year or so, and that's just not highly relevant here.

I've been much more active on clonetroopers.net and animated-army.com.

I'm going to be starting up a Clone Wars mando, but that's also not super-appropriate to this board. It's not really a custom, but neither is it Fett.

I tend to stay out of the personal side of things, so I rarely share anything about my "real" life, nor do I often post in the sharing/venting type threads. I guess you could say that I'm all business.

Originally Posted by Armored Artichoke

Dude no sweat. There has not been a lack of admin interaction it's just there are just a couple of rude people, like every forum has.

Okay AA. I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway but I felt I had to say something when you started posting stuff that was not so smart, such as posting in old threads, criticizing in a mean way, and starting arguments.
I only said what I said because I felt it needed to be said. Like I said I'm sorry I just didn't want there to be any issues in the future and wanted to help you. You need to let it go and move on, and once again if I offended you in anyway I'm Sorry.

Hey guys. I am not offended at all. No harm done here.

wait, I think supeprops was talking about me.

Originally Posted by SUPERprops

Okay AA. I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway but I felt I had to say something when you started posting stuff that was not so smart, such as posting in old threads, criticizing in a mean way, and starting arguments.
I only said what I said because I felt it needed to be said. Like I said I'm sorry I just didn't want there to be any issues in the future and wanted to help you. You need to let it go and move on, and once again if I offended you in anyway I'm Sorry.

Wait, I was not talking talking about you, but thanks for helping me, And this is my first forum EVER so if I am not being "right" on the forum I am sorry.

yea. (the thing about the mando threads)

I'll chime in w/my 2 cents. I'm very new here (maybe a couple of months), but have really enjoyed TDH over a lot of the other forums. I haven't been around long enough to know how things "used to be", but I have never experienced anything other than a sincere desire to help and share knowledge here. I'm sure there are jerks, as there always are, but they definitely seem to be in the minority here.

I can certainly understand some members' frustration w/TDH branching out to other non-Fett topics. While I can understand this on some level, I for one have really enjoyed this. In fact, it's how I ended up here in the first place. I stumbled across a Han in Carbonite thread, got hooked, and took the plunge w/ one of Stormrider's HIC castings. Of course, I stuck around and as a result I'm waiting on a Fettpride helmet. So, the non-Fett topics were like a gateway drug to me--it got me in the door, and I stayed. And I'm sure the reverse can be true as well.

I'm all for keeping TDH a primarily Fett centric site, but I see no problem in keeping the non-Fett topics, provided they are contained in the "Prop Building Workshop" thread. It's a nice diversion to have, and it's nice to have it here at TDH, which as I said before, I feel that is the most community-oriented replica board I've yet come across.

So thanks everyone at TDH, and let's keep the love flowing!

Hey Art(I wasn't talking about you), I would just like to say keep up the GREAT work! this is my favorite fourm I just love what everyone is doing here and keep up the great work everyone! Thank you so much, without TDH I never would of gotten into prop making.

Actually, I'm more inclined to lean towards those mando/clone boards being still a minority on TDH. It seems to me that it's not about more custom/clone/whatever being posted, but less Boba/Jango/Zam related posts being made in general. The customs board in my opinion is not being managed well, there's way to many "social time" posts being made by a few individuals, and less actual armor posts. Not trying to call anyone out over this, but unfortunately that's the reality of what's going on in that specific board.

I also think the posting restrictions don't work as well as they were envisioned. There's many a time I see a nice 1 or 2yr old necro-post just to get to that 25 count. Every time I see one of those, I get a little twitch in my right eye.

I'm just gonna lay this out there for some of you, because I see this type of thread pop up once every so many months. Art has gotten quite a bit on his plate between TDH and the RPF, not to mention he's a married man now as well. We've got some mods here on TDH, I don't know what their work load is currently but I'm sure it's not small considering what I know of my own group's forums. You can come and post all day about how this has changed, or how that has changed...but at the end of they day you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself "what have I done to help this community's atmosphere?". Because no matter what a community has to offer, if it looses its fun atmosphere then it's no longer a fun community.

You can't expect a small group of mods/admins to be able attempt that on their own in a 4000+ person community, it's neither feasible nor realistic. There has to be a good core group of posters that continue to help maintain that "atmosphere" so it isn't lost. You have to be an example if you ever want anyone to follow in your footsteps, and it looks to me like the example members have trickled down into an almost dangerously low level.

I have a personal motto that I live by: "To lead by example, you have to be the example." There comes a time when you have to overlook the negatives, put your prejudices aside, and move beyond the bad feelings if you want to help the community as a whole. Just because you don't like part of the TDH community doesn't mean that part doesn't matter. Believe it or not, but there is actually some inter-dependencies within many of the boards on TDH. Some posters in one section can and do migrate to other sections and take part in those facets of the community. This is probably one of the most overlooked facts by some of the posters here. At some point you either get on the train, or you get left at the station...that's just a literal fact.

So I guess that's my .02 cents. Some of you are going to like this, some of you aren't. Personally I don't care either way, but sometimes you just have to say what needs to be said.

I can see what people are saying about the growing amount of resources on non-Boba/Jango/Zam stuff on these boards, but I've never really found it to be an issue. I am here solely for Boba Fett resources, and I've really never been distracted by other characters.. the Fett stuff is seperated well into its own sections and even in the Cargo Hold it's fairly easy to weed out what is Fett and what isn't. I'm not sure how it is for people here trying to build Jango or Zam costumes, but I've never felt it was a bother having customs/clones/etc. discussed on this site.

As for the "love", the amount of support members here get from one another astounds me. I know that I am a relatively new member who may or may not have overstepped some board rules in the last few months (lol!) Aside from a small amount of rudeness when I first joined the community, the support I see all the time between members makes me quite proud to be involved in this family.

Originally Posted by NovallTalon

The customs board in my opinion is not being managed well, there's way to many "social time" posts being made by a few individuals, and less actual armor posts. Not trying to call anyone out over this, but unfortunately that's the reality of what's going on in that specific board.

Tom, if this is the case, then the blame for that rests on my shoulders, as you guys offered to help and with a number of things here at TDH, I dropped the ball on it.

Originally Posted by NovallTalon

At some point you either get on the train, or you get left at the station...that's just a literal fact.

Unless the train is going the wrong direction, then I'll gladly stay behind to avoid the wreck.
metaphorically speaking,of course.

And please, everyone, go back and read the original post.
Boomer misses the "we're all family" atmosphere that was once commonplace on this forum.

I for one have been on other boards. I have been doing other builds. I have to say I have seen some of the older guys on other boards as well. For me that was reassuring because I was a bit fearful and going to a different build I felt like it was a safety net on the other forum. At the same time i see a lot of new names here on TDH. Lat I have to agree lfe moves on. I am in a Master's program now and it's tough.
I by no means am one of the older guys or comtributed much but PM's and congrats or sympathies but... That's waht I do.
I think other people have similar stories. TDH is what we make it in the end I just hope it stays a friendly place

I am very glad to have other sections to share the non fett stuff I am doing. Most of the other forums for them are just sterile feeling to me I dont know those people and the folks I want to see my work are here.
I am thankful to be a member here.

I for one am one of the "old geezers" on here. Been here since the earliest incarnations of "As You Wish" and even before that on the RPF as multiple Fett build threads...

Even I have felt the change. Like Art said, it was inevitible. People come and people go and unfortunately, many of the earliest "pioneers" in the Fett community have gone. Like Boba Swede said, a lot of us have done our time in the trenches way before you could just use your PayPal account and buy an accurate Fett costume. There were years where we home built our own suits and poured over grainy images taken from screen caps or poorly lit images behind glass from a museum exhibit. We all pulled together to brainstorm what parts were, where we could find them. Now, almost all that mystery is a thing of the past. The teamwork that evolves out of our common love of the Fett character is what brought us all together as a community and strengthened that bond of friendship. Now, that many of us have our suits "completed" (yes, I know it's never done) we've moved on to other projects, other jobs, maybe even other communities and brotherhoods.

Also, I have to agree that breaking off into a million different genres like Iron Man, Army of Two, the Joker and everything else that finds it's way here HAS damaged the community to some degree. There's no longer that common goal we're all trying to achieve. Its almost every man for himself/herself.

Do I have the answers? I think I have a few but I don't think they're necessarily the most popular. I just think we need to remind ourselves that we should always do our best to remember that the community is only as strong as it's weakest link. Help those members whenever you can and you'll improve us all.

I agree that this site should stay primarily Boba Fett focused although some of the other topics don't really distract me personally. I just focus on the Boba posts.

As far as the feeling of "love" and community... since a great deal has been lerned about about the Boba Fett props, those of us who have made some of our own should share and help the new people who have questions. That's how a family and community is built... through cooperation!

Originally Posted by webchief

Also, I have to agree that breaking off into a million different genres like Iron Man, Army of Two, the Joker and everything else that finds it's way here HAS damaged the community to some degree. There's no longer that common goal we're all trying to achieve. Its almost every man for himself/herself.

Do I have the answers? I think I have a few but I don't think they're necessarily the most popular. I just think we need to remind ourselves that we should always do our best to remember that the community is only as strong as it's weakest link.

Bob, I know some of your answers and believe it or not... I am coming around on at least some of them. Some windows of opportunity are opening up very soon that may create a permanent resolution for a few of them. I know I move slow, but I have actually been working toward one for almost 6 months now...

Originally Posted by slave1pilot

Unless the train is going the wrong direction, then I'll gladly stay behind to avoid the wreck.
metaphorically speaking,of course.

And please, everyone, go back and read the original post.
Boomer misses the "we're all family" atmosphere that was once commonplace on this forum.

I'd have to agree with Nathan on this one. Not really sure how this ended up about the admins, but the admins cant make us treat each other well. Just my .02

"STAY ON TARGET! STAAAY ON TARGET!!!"

Originally Posted by Art Andrews

I know I move slow, but I have actually been working toward one for almost 6 months now...

Too much time in Georgia! You're working on southern speed

As for the sense of community, I think NovallTalon said it best. If everyone leads by example, the atmosphere will be created in the process. There are plenty of opportunities for folks to reach out to one and other, so when you see one, take it!

The admins are here to keep the floors clean and the fridge stocked. What folks do while they hang out here is up to them!

Originally Posted by stormtrooperguy

The admins are here to keep the floors clean and the fridge stocked. What folks do while they hang out here is up to them!

...