Greetings Jim;
I've been quiet (busy happens...), but am still watching! I've a few recent upload to comment on too.
I would advise moving files to the Skunkworks site - you can then display fan art and assembled completed works as you see fit. Sketch work and things that you don't intend to 'formerly display' are probably best left on the group. Making room for fans to contribute more works is certainly worth while, as well as having space for you to display WIP or sketches or similar. I suspect it is also quicker to upload to the group to show WIP/sketches than it is to most web sites and have it labelled and arranged. Content Management Systems are a whole another story....
As mentioned, there is no requirement to clean out the messages. I would say it adds credibility to the group, showing we have been here since 28th September 2001 and have over 27,800 message dating all the way back (which scarily I have read all of them over the years). We've (YOU have) stood the test of time, which not many other furry artists, let alone groups, can claim. With 9519 members (not all active) we have one of the biggest membership count of nearly any group I've seen and probably biggest furry group around. Is it worth 'throwing away' all that built up credibility for change sake? When I see stats like those, I suggest people like what they are seeing and the group is worth while!
I don't think we would gain much benefit of moving to an alternate groups system as it would be something else you have to administer, host and what ever else. I suggest the way this group is currently managed works quite well and does not warrant change for change sake. Just like you've had 'drama' with your web site, why risk extending that problem to a forum as well? Leaving it 'as is', where it is currently set up and working, gives that external level of protection from a single point of failure. Why go through the hassle of maintaining a group at the 'system' level when Y! will do it for you?
Being on a separate site also means you are less likely to be 'stumbled across', where Yahoo groups people can search and find us (if they want). And you can link both directions.
A big annoyance is having yet another login for yet another forum. I hate having all these logins and passwords to access more forums. Part of the reason I don't do much on FA, DA and any other forum - the format doesn't suit me and it doesn't feel as polished as Y! Groups. And why does everyone keep using the annoying black backgrounds??? Sooo depressing...
We can link from the web site to this group. You can link from posts in this group to items posted on the web site. Do we need any more flexibility?
TL;DR - move the finished artwork and fan art to the web site, leave messages as is, don't mess with a working system!
Scrapper, Black Dragon, who likes consistency of experience. :-)
>________________________________
> From: jmhcustomart2004 <a_change_of_plans_at_yahoo.com>
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>
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>Here's an idea I was toying with a few months ago regarding this group. Let me know what you think...
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>This group is basically a forum for the Skunkworks site, since I have no plans to actually install such a thing on the site itself. Since space on the group is not limitless, what are your thoughts about cleaning everything out (including old messages) when the site is up and operational? A direct link could be posted to this address from the site itself, so members would be able to converse as necessary.
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>Thoughts? Opinions? Words of wisdom? Death threats? Lay 'em on the line, folks!
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>--JMH
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Received on Wed May 30 2012 - 16:26:07 CDT