by Gnaeus Dionysius Draco on Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:45 pm
Salvete sodales,
I do not post here often these days. In fact, almost never, even though I helped founding the SVR back in the olden days, and I was one of its most active members for its first few years of existence.
Like Marius said - don't stop talking. It's what keeps things alive.
The discussion about the low-key level of activity here has hampered the Societas for as long as I can remember. I think there are two major reasons why SVR has never been as active or as lively as other online communities:
- Our image and the way we discuss is unattractive to people with just a passing interest in Rome, or people who are interested but uneducated. They may feel overwhelmed, they may feel our level of discussion is above their heads, or they may simply think it's boring. At the same time, academics do not have time to devote to our website, which hampers our development as a community that could be taken seriously by academia. In turn, this may lead to the fact that academics probably think (and not entirely unjustifiably so) that most of what we have produced is, in their eyes, sub-standard, often lacking footnotes or giving just broad impressions of broad topics.
- The second reason for the relative inactivity here I think is that this is generally a community without conflicts or animated discussions. Most people here are intellectuals who tend to seek compromises, who try to empathize with another person's point of view, or who have mastered the art of shades of gray. While this is all fine and dandy, it leaves little room for really sharp-edged discussions. Added to that, I've always found the effort that people put into the SVR to render it a community by doin silly community things, rather disappointing.
Okay, if you went through all these words, thank you. If not, no harm done.
I'm sure the Societas will keep existing. It has been in existance for many years now, and soon the bulk of its lifetime will have been spent without any of its founding members, which I think is a very good thing. It shows that others have taken control, have assumed the mantle of leadership and feel connected to the Societas and its principles.
If you want to attract more members, or people who stir up discussions, what you can do is post teasers on other Antiquity-related forums, draw people in your own circle of friends to this place, create banners to be exchanged with other websites, join webrings, etc. Don't be afraid to unabashedly promote yourself. While we aren't selling anything, we are inviting others to a nice, good community FOR FREE. I am a copywriter and a public relations officer at my work, so I'd like to think I have an understanding of how stuff like this works.
Improve the content of the website. Make is user-friendly. Provoke thought. Create controversy, maybe. Let friendly academics or people with a similar grade of knowledge and experience review essays. Don't be afraid.
This all sounds like dreadful catchphrases, but it's true.
For now, that's all I can say. I hope it helps to further discussions here.
Optime valete in pace deorum,
Draco
Gn. Dionysius Draco Invictus