Alright, How Do We Kickstart the Metal Community On This Site?

The Batlord · 09-19-2014, 07:28 AM

A few years ago the metal community on this site was popping, and it didn't really seem that we needed to pull teeth to get people involved. But these days any and all attempts at reviving it have been met with almost immediate failure. It's not because of a lack of dedicated members either. At times we've had as many bangers on here as back then, many of whom have shown interest in reviving the community, and yet nothing ever happens. We've tried big ****, we've tried small ****, and yet there's still very little participation (I'm just as guilty of this as anyone.)

There has to be a way to get things moving again. Any suggestions? Some kind of thread that we haven't tried yet? New ideas for old threads? Sniper teams to "encourage" people to participate?

Necromancer · 09-19-2014, 08:09 AM

The evolution of metal would be interesting.

Trollheart · 09-19-2014, 08:53 AM

Maybe if more people participated in my attempt at the Heavy Metal Album Club? Metal Month II would be a good place to start; gather and comment and discuss, even contribute if you want.

Or what about something I touted before, with a slight amendment: a freeform journal perhaps concentrating on metal only, in which anyone can post reviews, thoughts, articles?

Mind you, I like your idea of snipers. Who here knows how to use a gun?

Seriously, I know exactly what you mean. My own attempts to get some participation failed miserably (some of that due, in fairness, to my stepping back from the site and unlike the Prog Rock Album Club, nobody being there to carry on in my absence) and I see your King of the Hill has received nothing but one pithy response, which must be very annoying.

I guess it's down to what you want to see. Are you looking for discussion of albums or bands, or a general yak about why people like metal or even why they don't? Or looking for new recs? Trouble is, there are a lot of threads that cover these already, so it's hard to think of something new that will attract attention. Hottest females in Metal? Longest Metal songs? How do you know if any thread will draw interest?

I think you should revive and expand your "Edumucation for you dumb ****s" part of your journal, maybe move it in here? A way of giving people a grounding in the world of Metal, a sort of "Agony Uncle" (with the emphasis on the agony)?

Hey I don't know! You can't force people to take part so sometimes you may just have to accept that people are either a) lazy b) uninterested or c) haven't the time to get totally involved. I really don't know what the answer is, cos as you say there are a whole lot of metalheads here, but they just tend to not want to shout about it.

Defenders of True Metal thread?

Engine · 09-20-2014, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Hey I don't know!

I agree. Less Trollheart, more metal.

But seriously, I have no idea what you mean when you say:

Quote:

A few years ago the metal community on this site was popping

I must have missed that. REGARDLESS, there's clearly no solution other than just discussing metal at will. Do that and they will come. Or they won't but **** it do it anyway. Also, sending Janszoon money probably can't hurt. I just sent him 10,000 USD so let's see how this goes.

**Janszoon** · 09-20-2014, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

Also, sending Janszoon money probably can't hurt. I just sent him 10,000 USD so let's see how this goes.

Folks, please listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about.

Unknown Soldier · 09-21-2014, 04:11 AM

It was most active when I was running 'Metal Wars' as I was doing it constantly and daily for months on end. All it needs is somebody like The Batlord who's here everyday with plenty of time on his hands either to take the 'Metal Wars' thread by the scruff of the neck and make it his own or start something community based similar.

The trick is just a dedicated person, that can put out something that anybody can participate in without too much effort.

**Janszoon** · 09-19-2014, 08:53 AM

I think sending me a bunch of money is probably the best approach.

CoNtrivedNiHilism · 09-20-2014, 02:15 AM

It all boils down to participation and interest. From what I notice here. The metal community on the forum is a bit diverse. No single one individual that identifies with metal music, listens to just that specific genre, interests are elsewhere; some pop, others country, some rap or hip hop, and so forth.

Obviously forceful solutions, are not the solution at all. I do see the same people, along with myself, that are actively discussing metal related topics here...there's like, five or six of us that actually talk about metal.

I do think new thread ideas may help, not topics that are so typical, like your run of the mill Metallica or Megadeth thread, continually. Perhaps we could do polls or debates on what the best of the worst metal bands are, and see how many new faces or existing metal junkies take part in that discussion? That is however, if that sort of thing doesn't already exist here. This thread alone is getting some attention. So it is a step in the right direction I think.

I've been thinking about opening a thread that explores the purpose or need for costumes or metal bands that dress up as characters they make up, to generate interest in the bands that do that sort of thing. I'm just not sure if there is a thread like that.

Zack · 09-21-2014, 07:45 AM

As a newbie here, I don;t know the forum's history.

BUT. Unfortunately, Metal listening is becoming more and more of a niche, and a fractured, subdivided niche at that. Heads that love Nightwish don't necessarily dig the Opeth, and Opeth fans aren't exactly gagging for Kayo Dot all the time. And then there's the problem that most of the populace thinks that Slipknot and Disturbed are/were what metal is about, with maybe some Metallica thrown in if you're lucky.

In terms of jump starting a forum, I'd say it needs more thought-inspiring, debate-provoking, story-pulling threads.

-----------------------------------

Threads with 50 pages of people listing bands they like are great, and they're an awesome reference, but they don't inspire activity.

Threads that make people think about how metal affects other genres or daily life, threads that ask about specific concert stories, threads that pit Black metal against Death metal against Post Metal against Trollish Hoe-down metal, those are the threads that might get some people chatting in here.

-----------------------------------

That said, as of my writing of this post, "Rock/Metal" had more viewers than any forum except "General Music."

Trollheart · 09-21-2014, 11:21 AM

Yeah I see what you mean, both of you. But if we subdivided it then you're looking at less members for each club, like half a dozen for say Extreme Metal, another six for Prog Metal etc. I can't see that working. Surely everyone will try something new once? Even I've listened to death and doom, even some black! It shouldn't be so fragmented and I think pandering to that sort of cherrypicking is only strengthening the divisions within the genre.

If people (me included) are prepared to listen to, say, a death metal album with screaming vocalist, and get something out of it, surely that's better than just sticking with (again, using me as an example) traditional, prog or power metal? Encouraging the widening of musical taste is our (unstated and unofficial) mission statement here, so why should Metal be any different?

Look at the HMAC: first we had Anthrax, a thrash album, albeit not a very good one, then Witchery, a black one. Surely diversity like that should only draw people in, not push them away? Are yiz all pussies, like me?

Come on! Stand up for your genre, guys and (maybe) gals!

09-19-2014, 08:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Maybe if more people participated in my attempt at the Heavy Metal Album Club? Metal Month II would be a good place to start; gather and comment and discuss, even contribute if you want. Or what about something I touted before, with a slight amendment: a freeform journal perhaps concentrating on metal only, in which anyone can post reviews, thoughts, articles? Mind you, I like your idea of snipers. Who here knows how to use a gun? Seriously, I know exactly what you mean. My own attempts to get some participation failed miserably (some of that due, in fairness, to my stepping back from the site and unlike the Prog Rock Album Club, nobody being there to carry on in my absence) and I see your King of the Hill has received nothing but one pithy response, which must be very annoying. I guess it's down to what you want to see. Are you looking for discussion of albums or bands, or a general yak about why people like metal or even why they don't? Or looking for new recs? Trouble is, there are a lot of threads that cover these already, so it's hard to think of something new that will attract attention. Hottest females in Metal? Longest Metal songs? How do you know if any thread will draw interest? I think you should revive and expand your "Edumucation for you dumb ***s" part of your journal, maybe move it in here? A way of giving people a grounding in the world of Metal, a sort of "Agony Uncle" (with the emphasis on the agony)? Hey I don't know! You can't force people to take part so sometimes you may just have to accept that people are either a) lazy b) uninterested or c) haven't the time to get totally involved. I really don't know what the answer is, cos as you say there are a whole lot of metalheads here, but they just tend to not want to shout about it. Defenders of True Metal thread? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018*

09-19-2014, 08:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I think sending me a bunch of money is probably the best approach. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

09-21-2014, 07:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Zack Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brunswick, Maine Posts: 79	As a newbie here, I don;t know the forum's history. BUT. Unfortunately, Metal listening is becoming more and more of a niche, and a fractured, subdivided niche at that. Heads that love Nightwish don't necessarily dig the Opeth, and Opeth fans aren't exactly gagging for Kayo Dot all the time. And then there's the problem that most of the populace thinks that Slipknot and Disturbed are/were what metal is about, with maybe some Metallica thrown in if you're lucky. In terms of jump starting a forum, I'd say it needs more thought-inspiring, debate-provoking, story-pulling threads. ----------------------------------- Threads with 50 pages of people listing bands they like are great, and they're an awesome reference, but they don't inspire activity. Threads that make people think about how metal affects other genres or daily life, threads that ask about specific concert stories, threads that pit Black metal against Death metal against Post Metal against Trollish Hoe-down metal, those are the threads that might get some people chatting in here. ----------------------------------- That said, as of my writing of this post, "Rock/Metal" had more viewers than any forum except "General Music." __________________ The Passage of... ------- (Classical Synth) Danceables ------- (Dance Synth with a Latin Flair) Meanderings ------- (Classical Synth) Raven ------- (Rock Opera)

09-21-2014, 11:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Yeah I see what you mean, both of you. But if we subdivided it then you're looking at less members for each club, like half a dozen for say Extreme Metal, another six for Prog Metal etc. I can't see that working. Surely everyone will try something new once? Even I've listened to death and doom, even some black! It shouldn't be so fragmented and I think pandering to that sort of cherrypicking is only strengthening the divisions within the genre. If people (me included) are prepared to listen to, say, a death metal album with screaming vocalist, and get something out of it, surely that's better than just sticking with (again, using me as an example) traditional, prog or power metal? Encouraging the widening of musical taste is our (unstated and unofficial) mission statement here, so why should Metal be any different? Look at the HMAC: first we had Anthrax, a thrash album, albeit not a very good one, then Witchery, a black one. Surely diversity like that should only draw people in, not push them away? Are yiz all pussies, like me? Come on! Stand up for your genre, guys and (maybe) gals! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

09-19-2014, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	The evolution of metal would be interesting.

09-20-2014, 02:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
CoNtrivedNiHilism Because I Am, I Can! Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,128	It all boils down to participation and interest. From what I notice here. The metal community on the forum is a bit diverse. No single one individual that identifies with metal music, listens to just that specific genre, interests are elsewhere; some pop, others country, some rap or hip hop, and so forth. Obviously forceful solutions, are not the solution at all. I do see the same people, along with myself, that are actively discussing metal related topics here...there's like, five or six of us that actually talk about metal. I do think new thread ideas may help, not topics that are so typical, like your run of the mill Metallica or Megadeth thread, continually. Perhaps we could do polls or debates on what the best of the worst metal bands are, and see how many new faces or existing metal junkies take part in that discussion? That is however, if that sort of thing doesn't already exist here. This thread alone is getting some attention. So it is a step in the right direction I think. I've been thinking about opening a thread that explores the purpose or need for costumes or metal bands that dress up as characters they make up, to generate interest in the bands that do that sort of thing. I'm just not sure if there is a thread like that.