i honestly don't think it's a guilt trip
cuz wouldn't jelly just come out and say it?

i think it's just an effort to get mene more active

just my two cents and i could be wrong.....

Jelly's too nice to try to guilt trip us like that XD
She's gotten too soft over the years

5 years ago yes I could have seen her guilt tripping us a bit... but not now

i think that the 100 post contest was a great success
i think this is more on that line of thought.

What 100 post contest? O.o

when we all made threadies and tried to get to 100 posts.
we made it, too, every single threadie got to 100 posts!

Ooh... that's clever :D

The St. Patrick Day mini event, I think that's what Hummy is talking about.

... Why don't we have a Forum Explorer Challenge thread?

Assign a number to all subforums/forums. Then the person roll the number to see which forum they should explore for the day.
For example.
1- Media. 2-Anime. 3- Art Post. 4-Games
If roll a dice and land on 4.
Task to perform could be either have a new thread or make 5 response to currently existing thread in Games forum.

... hmm... though I think the help threads are not suitable for these kind of challenge.

Originally Posted by maidenroseheart

I know that announcements and stuff can easily get overlooked. Like there are some planning a user event for the end of May....

No I agree. It's very easy to overlook. :3

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Announcement one week earlier?
People who went busy need more than one week to realise things is going on. How far do you take it to advertise the event in other social medias?

There is something funny about the recent Phoenix Jubilee event. XD I actually saw and read the announcement, been in the pre event hang out. BUT I just miss the information of the date when it will be started.

For your information, I did notice Li Mei posted something on announcement.
It goes back to why I didn't post. NO mood or interest. x.x

Well PJ is kinda special since it's a mene specific event and never has an exact date and isn't hosted every year so I see your point on more then a week in advance notice.

But thank you for noticing Li Mei's announcement. :3

Originally Posted by Nephila

If I had all the time in the world I'd love to branch out and chat to people I don't know or don't get along with. I'm a single mother trying to follow her dreams of being an artist. If I'm not making 100 posts a day outside of events there's a reason. I'M FUCKING BUSY!

I've subscribed to a lot of threads though and I never hesitate to make a new one if I feel it hasn't been done before. I have also seen the same problem as Nemo when posting in new places. I'm either ignored or told off for being silly/being myself. If people are ignoring you or treating you bad when your going out of your way to try new things constantly, why would you stay or keep trying that method? You wouldn't. I have over 60 threads I've subbed in different places with different people and I'm always adding more. So it's not like I only have 5 threads I post in. Your making a wonderful feature sound like it's evil and it's not. Not by a long shot.

Also for that announcement everyone is busy outside of mene too. Lately during events I don't feel I'm having fun so much as rushing to get a bunch of goals done at once. I actually have more fun when the event is over and I can relax with my shiny new items. I don't really ever feel like this place is dead because you can go to anywhere and chat. Anyone who thinks that just isn't trying. Also you have to admit that that announcement got trumped by the hair one.

Why are you guys trying to constantly land a guilt trip on us? (that's how it feels lately) Mene's not making enough money, Our NPC's Are Sad cheer them up, Oh noes Pirates are attacking because you are bad people and want to chat with our NPCs for items!! Seriously?

Also I think most of the "we need advance notice" for events is more in concern to those live meet the staff events. A week notice when over half the site would have to travel to a far off location is no where near enough time.

This has been the first year I've ever RPed on Mene. Which has been interesting, but I feel I really have to work at it so I've been slipping.

Hi Neph. (You too Nemo)
I'm sorry it feels like I (or Staff as a whole) is guilt tripping you. We certainly don't mean to.

In regards to Advance Notice. I acknowledge and apologize for the lack of notice for conventions especially. While I had known in advance that Kawaii Kon was upcoming this was the first year I had considered offering the items for Menewsha. I've been doing Kawaii Kon for over 5 years and I had to have a long serious debate with myself if I really wanted to put myself out there. Even if I was on the mainland and more easily accessible to you guys the thought of you guys having to meet me is... well terrifying. Sure I'm friendly on the forums (or at least that's how I hope I come across) but in real life? Shy as a wallflower and a very long bad history of making friends with the wrong people. Add some paranoid from my parents and yeah. I know these sound like excuses but it why I ultimately decided so late to inform you guys about Kawaii Kon in particular.

Going back to Advance Notice about events though these are some posts from feedback threads. Some examples: (if you wrote this, please don't think I'm targeting you, I just wanted to show).

I am horrible at answering questions like this. I will try though. Hmmm... maybe giving a week's advance notice of when the event will start? Though I did have a general idea.

It would be nice to have advanced notice on events. This one came as a complete surprise, and I may have been able to get on sooner if I had known it was going to be run at that time.
But as it is, I DID have enough time to get a good sampling of the commons and the event items, so I really have no major complaint! Thank you for extending it an extra day.

I'm just concerned because I want events to be enjoyable. It can't be helped that it was missed due to real life commitments, but when it's missed simply because one didn't know it was coming, I'm looking to improve that. If taking xuvrette suggestions to making sure we announce it on Mene's Facebook, Tumblr, and DA is what it's going to take then I will gladly add that to my to-do list.

That would be fun. It would be about as addictive as Iku's mene achievements thread if done right

Originally Posted by Cardinal Biggles

The St. Patrick Day mini event, I think that's what Hummy is talking about.

thanks i should have clarified
how you doing Cardinal Biggles?

Seitoto~ You people have the User Plan Event required to have 3 months in planning.
I just can't bring myself to believe that staff would only decide the date at 7 days in advance. Yes sure, Li Mei is HINTING there is still some story to follow, but I don't seem to catch a hint of any time period at all? Even though it is not precise date. Can be said after Summer? Before Halloween? Or just any subtle hint that we could abstract out approximately what time it will happen next. So we can check in the month later.

Besides, if staff is worry about not being able to deliver on the precise date, yes, it will bring negative impact on the reliability of the site if announcing the date much earlier and yet delaying due to accidents or such. Well, to my opinion, accidents DO happen regardless. I would much think the period BEFORE the event started could already start the buzz around the members and also busy members, enough time to SPREAD the news. And if unluckily there is something that leads to delay or cancellation, you would still grasp more members attention.

I actually put my feedback on event regarding the story. Currently, avatar site like this, OTHER than the avatar the common thing that BOND us together is the NPC and STORYLINE. Sadly, I am one of the person that do not join stickies to know what happen during the event. You have a storyline, YET didn't make it publicise ENOUGH for the members that don't visit stickies.

... I think I am off topic... x.x

I think that's actually a really good point meave... I've been almost completely out of the loop of the storyline for a really long time...
It would be really helpful if the events over the years were showcased in a drawing or something like that. I remember the comic all those years back and it made me so sad to see it go. The quality doesn't have to be amazing... so long as it's a start right?

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

That would be fun. It would be about as addictive as Iku's mene achievements thread if done right

i haven't gone back to Lord Pickles achievenment threadie
has he added anything else to it, Poet?

No clue, I don't follow the achievements really. I've got all the ones I'll ever get XD

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Seitoto~ You people have the User Plan Event required to have 3 months in planning.
I just can't bring myself to believe that staff would only decide the date at 7 days in advance. Yes sure, Li Mei is HINTING there is still some story to follow, but I don't seem to catch a hint of any time period at all? Even though it is not precise date. Can be said after Summer? Before Halloween? Or just any subtle hint that we could abstract out approximately what time it will happen next. So we can check in the month later.

Besides, if staff is worry about not being able to deliver on the precise date, yes, it will bring negative impact on the reliability of the site if announcing the date much earlier and yet delaying due to accidents or such. Well, to my opinion, accidents DO happen regardless. I would much think the period BEFORE the event started could already start the buzz around the members and also busy members, enough time to SPREAD the news. And if unluckily there is something that leads to delay or cancellation, you would still grasp more members attention.

I actually put my feedback on event regarding the story. Currently, avatar site like this, OTHER than the avatar the common thing that BOND us together is the NPC and STORYLINE. Sadly, I am one of the person that do not join stickies to know what happen during the event. You have a storyline, YET didn't make it publicise ENOUGH for the members that don't visit stickies.

... I think I am off topic... x.x

The dates are planned well in advance but due to a numerous factors we don't release them as they are being adjusted due to the commitments of staff. There are more elements for a staff event then a user event. For example pixeling, adding the items to the shop, planning the event rares, making the event rares.

If the community as a whole just wants a fuzzy "We think having a summer event sometime between the months of June and July. We are having a Halloween event. Start and End Date to be announcement." as an advance notice I can do that.

I can honestly tell you that we never start on the projected the dates we want. No seriously. We try, I admit this we really do try as a staff to make the dates we decide on. But things happen. People have pretty negative reactions when we don't even END events on time. Some people enjoy the events but when people react badly to the unclear ending time ^^; It makes me not want to announce an beginning time that might not be delivered upon.

As for the storyline. I know this is a bit of problem. :/ I'm not entirely sure how to go about it to make it more well known to people. I can post a summary thread of what's happen so far for those who don't know but aside from that I'm not sure what else can be done. Suggestions?

---------- Post added 04-27-2013 at 09:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

I think that's actually a really good point meave... I've been almost completely out of the loop of the storyline for a really long time...
It would be really helpful if the events over the years were showcased in a drawing or something like that. I remember the comic all those years back and it made me so sad to see it go. The quality doesn't have to be amazing... so long as it's a start right?

Poet, this is the first year in like three years we had a storyline (like a real storyline and not a 'We're celebrating Phoenix Jubilee this year!') and this whole pirates have kidnapped the npcs is completely unrelated to anything previous. (except you know the npcs). There is only a storyline this year because so many people have asked for one and I tried with the limited resources. Unfortunately for as many people who loved what little storyline there is, there are an equal number of people who are lost or hated because they don't understand. Ah what to do?

As Jelly would say, lack of funding is the reason why comic stopped. Quality does have to be there for it be used officially. Doesn't stop people if they want to do their own versions though. :3 Doesn't stop me from writing fanfiction about events (I actually encourage all forms of fanart and fanfiction)

Well actually Seito... given the fact Menewsha has so many artists... maybe you could let the users contribute to a comic? I know it would be rather complicated to set up, but I know that a lot of comics have 4-5 different people all making different day's posts. Then a thread could be set up and locked strictly for the comic for people to read so it doesn't take up extra coding.

Granted yes I just sorta winged that... but the idea of a comic would I think make Menewsha a lot more appealing. Plus, what better thing to get people's attention on DA than a comic?

And if there's no event story? There's always the option of "guest users"
I mean there's always birthday cake hat girl

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

Well actually Seito... given the fact Menewsha has so many artists... maybe you could let the users contribute to a comic? I know it would be rather complicated to set up, but I know that a lot of comics have 4-5 different people all making different day's posts. Then a thread could be set up and locked strictly for the comic for people to read so it doesn't take up extra coding.

Granted yes I just sorta winged that... but the idea of a comic would I think make Menewsha a lot more appealing. Plus, what better thing to get people's attention on DA than a comic?

And if there's no event story? There's always the option of "guest users"
I mean there's always birthday cake hat girl

Unofficially, sure the users can go ahead and do that. Officially there is some standard of quality (not saying the artists on Mene are bad but think about it. Working to produce a quality comic for Menewsha with no funds is asking to an engineer to build a bridge for free).

Again, fanart and fanfiction to the DA group. Always loved, always welcomed.

Who is this birthday cake hat girl you speak of?

Ah yeah that's true... would probably take a group of high quality volunteer artists with a lot of time on their hands to really make it appealing...

I dunno who she is... but I've been hearing about her from time to time... it was Ferra or someone like that who I first heard it from... she's sort of the "NPC obsessed users" image

*nods* Yup.

Oh good. Yup. That's right.

A story summary would be nice.

It has been almost a year now since I have been able to participate in an event and earn a complete set of EI rares. I am also not a 'slacker'. My average post per day is over 5, and I sometimes go days without posting anything.

Like Nephlia, I. AM. VERY. STRESSED. AND. BUSY.

However, i am disabled and end up in the hospital fairly often... just the emergency room for two to seventy-two hours; I am kept away from away from any form of internet access and then when I am finally ready to come home I have to deal with either the Post Traumatic Stress of the whole ordeal and/or rest and recover from the pain attempting to be managed, usually futilely.

Events stress me out because I feel like I "fail" them these days instead of just enjoying them. I don't make the sign ups in time becaue I was held at the hospital. I'm dealing with an abusive care-worker. A friend of mine is almost losing her child. I have multiple appointments per week as part of my management for my conditions and then errands for food, fuel, my medication... I also have one hell of a sleep disorder where soemtimes I sleep clear through days; I have woken up not knowing what day it is. On the games I have been 'punished' by missing days.

I recall being able to earn a set, an extra to sell, and an extra for my charity or somesuch. Now I can't even earn a single damn set for myself and I feel horridly pathethic. Perhaps it is because I don't use the forum as a chat and I don't do "one word" posts, 'streak through threads', etc. Look at my post history, go ahead. I'm verbose.

I feel disgusted and inept in terms of my 'performance' at the events.
It is all I can to to put what energy and focus I have to keep my charity running decently as it is one of the oldest running charities on the site, and there are only about five or so active charities at the moment?
And now, you are applying pressure of some degree to try to make us 'branch out even more'. By the way, the 'un loved post that had only 18 replies?" guess who had post number four -_-;

Please, please, give the already struggling, abused, disabled person a break. Even if you do not intend it to be a 'guilt trip', words are like arrows, once you shoot them out, they cannot be taken back, the damage has been done, and for those of us who are dealing with stress (it is also a hard time for those in the world of acadamia as they are grearing up for final exams and somesuch)... unfortunately Mene just might need to take a back seat.

Seitoto. While I do understand that everyone have a life, I am considerate about people having life OUTSIDE the internet, there are just things to be complete. IF they are given the task in a reasonable time frame, they should deliver it. I meant the staff. When I said accident, it do not take into account of staff being busy all of a sudden, I meant the accident more like technical issues, or storm breaking down the server. Now that you have 2 more pixelist, and a few mods, if you are afraid of staff not delivering their task in time,always have a back up plan. Back up mods to replace another if needed. Come on, what is the odds of having ALL mods getting all so busy until cannot deliver the task at the same time? The staff should be very clear on their schedule and whether the task given is logical to complete at that time frame or not, if have difficulty voice out immediately, don't take 'I try.' as a good response. I don't know, you people know your staff schedule best.

As for storyline, actually, I am NOT even requesting for comic which is labour intensive and things.
I am just talking about WAY to expose, bring attention. Well, there is this already available yellow message system available. Write a catchy phrase for two or three lines. then put the link to the more detail summary of events.

About the delaying of things. Actually, it is not the first time you did it. I complain about it, and yet I still come back and join event. Delaying ending time have half of the support from the late comers, so I won't worry much about that even though I am the one that complain. XD I think you already know that it is IMpossible to please everyone. So, some complains could be put to the back and some have to take priority.

Whichever way, I am sure you staff have think through a lot, you have tried your best. I do appreciate that. But since I am not at the back of the scene to see what had been done, I have to blabber through my surface observation and become a long winded annoying person talking about a lot of things. XD

No offenses meant should any be taken, but I believe the target audience for this thread was intended for people (like myself) who do not have a constant real life attention requirement (or seven). All power to you guys and gals, we're all very, very glad that you're about when you are, but if you're busy you are busy. Post as you please and should you catch a break and feel bored about Mene then you might consider what's being talked about in this thread.

I'm not trying to be dismissive, I think it's awful that you should feel harried in anyway and the staff and members of this site would never want to put any additional stress on you if you're already living in a situation where simply to be kicking around the site is difficult. I can see where the broad dedication could cause this to appear that way and I'd certainly feel the same if I had been under the same conditions but please consider the nature of the staff and members of this community-- they're sweet people, and it's just impossible for them to add a note excusing specific people because of their situations on the get-go.

I would guess that the majority of the users on this site do not have a such constraining lifestyle as to necessitate a limited use of the forums-- and I direct people's thoughts to any past feelings or complaints about how slow threads are. I'm definitely guilty of it (*points to "The Pace of RP", which is a thinly veiled whine at best*) but it follows logically that if you're bored/have oodles of free time on Mene why not go sticking your nose into places it doesn't often turn up? If you are not bored/do not have oodles of free time on Mene... then it doesn't really apply, does it?

Just a little note... this isn't about the users to are incredibly busy, the users who are stressed, or the barely active users. This is to the people who chat long periods of time of the day and yet never leave their little hangouts.

It says could in the title, so if you're only able to find time for one thread then it's not about you. Like when I get a job, my activity on Menewsha is going to plummet for a while. Then this will not be about me... but as one of those people who spent a long time stuck to certain threads I can see where they are coming from.

There is no finger pointing or anything. There is an exception to every rule, every pattern, and every statement.

Edit - Mythos beat me to it

Originally Posted by Seito

Unofficially, sure the users can go ahead and do that. Officially there is some standard of quality (not saying the artists on Mene are bad but think about it. Working to produce a quality comic for Menewsha with no funds is asking to an engineer to build a bridge for free).

Again, fanart and fanfiction to the DA group. Always loved, always welcomed.

Who is this birthday cake hat girl you speak of?

Having done some webcomic work I can say for certain that the top motivating factor is an audience. (*cough*) If the audience is provided then it's a lot more attractive to people who do create webcomics to put forth the effort, even if it is for free.

Maybe I'm funny for thinking this way, but honestly I squee'd a bit when the comic was suggested.

Poet: Only because I read your mind! ;D