State of the Site - An Open Discussion

Site Discussion Team Discussion
1

Hey guys, hope everyone’s doing well. I’ve been wanting to make a post about this for a while now, but really didn’t know what exactly I wanted to say. So here goes nothing…

First off, I want to apologize for the lack of participation from myself in the last four months. I’m not going to make any excuses – the site has had to take a back seat in regards to other priorities in my life. A lot has happened and I trust that many of you are in the same situation.

I know that I’ve made promises and commitments in regards to the site redesign and to Nick about his content being posted. Suffice to say, I’m probably not going to be making anymore promises from now on.

That being said, I’m not exactly sure where I stand with the site. As Chris mentioned in the thread that shall not be named, the site has really been in a stand still with the exception of Kyle’s artwork and Nick’s interviews. I know that as the supposed person in charge, I should be the one trying to motivate people to get things done and whatnot. If I was paying everyone, I probably would be doing that; however, I’m not. I can’t really push anyone to do things when I can’t even keep my own promises.

Currently, I fluctuate between working on the redesign with the little time that I do have and also just trying to log on to the forums at least once a day to check on things.

I’m not going to lie – I do have other online projects I’m working which I’d like to get launched and while I am still committed to the site’s redesign, I feel much more motivated to work on new projects. I know that sounds really terrible, but I just want to be honest with everyone.

So what exactly is the point of this post and this thread?

I guess I just wanted to get everyone’s thoughts and opinions on the state of the site and what’s going on with you guys.

Are you guys also busy? What have you all been up to? It’s been a really long time since our last meeting…and I would suggest having one, but it has been hard to get everyone together. And when I mean everyone, I mean guys like Neil and Matt. :slight_smile:

I need EVERYONE to participate in this thread because I think that’s the only way we’re going to get this site back on track. Please. :slight_smile:

Think of the thread as an open conversation about the site and about everything and anything. I think my goal right now is get people to start posting on the team forum (and on the main forums) again and go from there. :slight_smile:

There’s more that I want to bring up, but I think I’ll end this post now and see where the discussion leads.

2

Well I personally have some extra time available for the site but not really sure what to work on. I posted my Mike Germakian article which I’m really proud of because its some unique content and I think very interesting material too. I’m thinking of trying to do a similar piece because I made contact with some cool individuals connected to the show, not sure what exactly I’d do it on though.

I have dozens of scans of my T-Cat cels ready for uploadingbut I’m waiting for the redesign before posting them because I don’t want to to waste my time reconverting all the pages.

Something that I’ve been thinking or wondering about is when the site will be able to post more stuff on the movie. Haven’t heard anything about it in ages and I’m really keen to know what they’re up to. Manny is there any inside scoops that you’ll be able to post on the site soon cause I know that would re-energize us more than anything.

By the way, this thread started off on a fairly negative footing and I wanted to energize it a little more by saying that I think the site is doing really well. We’re #8 in the yahoo search results and #11 on google so I’ll bet our traffic is taking off. I’m in awe of the interview content that Nick has been pulling together and I’m appreciative of Chris’ help in turning my article into web content. And as always I just plain love Kyle’s new artwork additions.

I’m not sure how easy it is to post in the forums unless there is something to actually talk about you know? There’s not much new in T-Cat fandom to talk about at the moment so I find it hard to rehash old stories and stuff which is why i don’t post in the public forums much.

3

Okay.. so first of all, I agree with you Manny, that the raising of this issue is due.

Speaking from my point of view first;

I am always busy, and wouldn’t have it any other way. I slap anyone who utters the word ‘bored’ lol.. I am full time University Student 9-5, Part time Apple Employee 25 hours per week, I paint as a hobby, maintain my own website and play football 3 times a week.

This has been me since I joined ThundercatsLair

…and holidays aside, I have contributed content on a consistent basis since I joined and have all intentions of continuing to do so.

and thats my life story over. With regards to the team, I guess we can only gauge this if everybody contributes to this discussion.

Cheers

4

Personally, I think the website is doing great. Sure, our forums (both on the Team and the main Cartoon forums) could be a little more energised - but to be totally fair, this is a ThunderCats website. We can’t be pulling the traffic in all the time - we’re a website for a 1980’s cartoon show. So because we’re not something current-based, we have to consider that we’re probably not going to have consistent posting. It’s not too bad - but boy, it’s slowed down for the past few days.

Content wise? We’re definately doing fine. Mark’s column is a great read, Kyle’s contributing and Chris & I are constantly getting stuff done for interviews. I do have two things I’d like to have done with the website - first of all, please upload the documentary page at some point. Also, my Peter Lawrence interview is pretty much available for online broadcast. I’ve taken a screengrab of Peter for the image next to the link on that page - along with Mark’s column, this would make a really sweet large update to the website. Along with the eventual editing of the latest ThunderCast episode and I’ve got several interviews scheduled and also pending.. we shouldn’t have a problem with material for the website.

But we do need an update - just everything uploaded, a large update of sorts, post it on the forums to get people excited and keeping the place modern. We don’t have to update it every day/week - just enough to keep it consistent. Other websites are nowhere near as consistent as we are - but we could get lost in the shuffle if we’re not careful. I’ve got plenty of interviews to conduct - Gerrianne Raphael and Jim Meskimen (sp?) mostly with a possible text-interview with Leonard Starr. I’ve emailed Newman again through my Yahoo account to his Yahoo account (his email is throwing back my emails from Hotmail but not from Yahoo) - so I’m keeping positive about that.

All we really need is a once a month update - a big one with all sorts of new things for fans to get stuck into. That’s my take.

5

Chris here…

First of all, I think this is an excellent thread - double thumbs-up to Manny for kicking off this discussion, and I very much hope that all of the team will be able to give their $0.02 on this subject. :slight_smile:

My take on the site - it’s about 75% dead IMO. Now, in fairness, some of that is because large areas of the site (such as the Toy Section) are either complete or so large that any updates that happen are just likely to trickle through (for example, the ThunderCats Original Comic Art sub-section). However, to a large extent, activity on this site has slowed to a halt, and I think this is down to a few reasons:

  1. Of the biggest areas of the site that still need to be completed, most of those are awaiting my attention - the Cartoon Section (and specifically the Episode Guide) and the Comic Section (with a guide to all the Star, Marvel UK, and DC/Wildstorm comics). This year I have been extremely busy, which was something in my mind when I posted up my now-infamous resignation thread - in addition to the weekly music club I run, I am now extensively gigging and rehearsing with 2 bands + a vocal harmony duo, and to be honest, whilst I love the music side of things, I find it quite stressful fitting everything in and so this site, as the most “non-essential” thing, has kind-of fallen onto the backburner. :frowning: That said, I take full responsibility for the fact that my work of late has been lax, and apologise unreservedly to all of the team for not being able to do more.

  2. When this site was started up, and for the first 12 months or so following that, we were all in the full flush of ThunderCats nostalgia and excitement. As I remember it, WB had just released Season 1 Volume 1 of TCats on DVD, and it was excitement and enthusiasm stirred by that release that lead to our initial conversation on He-Man.Org, which lead to the formation of this team, and so on. Since that time, our passions have had time to cool - I don’t mean that we’ve lost interest in ThunderCats (which remains my all-time favourite animated series) - but, that overwhelming urge to put a site together as an expression of love for the ThunderCats has, for the most part at least, been satiated, at least for now. I could be wrong, but I suspect that this is what you’re experiencing, MannyF. :slight_smile:

  3. Now, this one is going to sound like “Chris going off on one again”, because I’m sure I sound like a broken record - but, I think there’s a telling quote from Mark in this thread:

Now, let me preface this by saying, I’m not saying that the site re-design is a bad thing! :slight_smile: Yep, I’ve had my reservations about it, yep, I’ve had my disagreements with you, MannyF, about certain aspects of it - but, in principle I think it sounds like a good idea and I’ve loved the look of everything I’ve seen so far.

But, I think Mark’s comments mirror certainly my own, and potentially those of other folks on the team as well. For myself, my spare time is very limited, and my HTML skill distinctly mediocre - I look at the task of integrating some of the content I have into HTML and find myself disinclined to do it. The reason for that disinclination is that, whilst I know it’s been stated that the site re-design won’t necessarily yield any major changes to the way content is laid out, I nonetheless don’t particularly want to spend time working on an HTML page for the Cartoon or Comic Sections to get it “just so”, only for it to be superceded by a new version in a few weeks’/months’ time, because my time is too limited - I’d rather wait until the new version of the site is live, and then create a page that will (at least theoretically) stay online for good.

My time is so limited, that this even extends to stupid, trivial things like screenshots for the Episode Guide pages - I know, MannyF, that you’d run past me the idea of doing away with the little illustrative screenshot on the left of each episode’s synopsis. Now, don’t get me wrong, if it looks better without then I’m more than happy to run with that - but, as pathetic as it sounds, I haven’t got the time to pick out what would probably be something like 80 screenshots and then re-size them accordingly, only for them to either not be used or discarded after only a short period uploaded to the site…

I know the screenshots example is a bit weak, but I’m trying to illustrate my thinking. Again, I’m not suggesting that the site re-design is a bad thing, and please don’t think I’m criticising or attacking anybody - however, if I’m honest, I do think this is an issue. :slight_smile:

Even though the site is slow moving at the moment, we are fortunate in that we do have new content and material sneaking through thanks mainly to Kyle and Nick, and that this should keep things ticking over until we’re in a position to give another spurt of activity. Despite my lack of work of late, I’m still hopeful of getting back to the Episode Guide at some point, and am sure that others on the team feel the same way. :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

6

Well guys Ive been going through some very tough times recently both at school and in my personal life as well as work. The demands at work are immense because I am now in a supervisory role while trying to do school. Many of you from He-man.org know what kind of financial turmoil I went through since Friday with one of my investments going completely sour, it was a gamble and I lost…Im doing ok though but it will take some time to gain some funds back. My wife is also pregnant as all of you may know and my daughter is due in December. So needless to say my desire to put out any sort of updates to the site is at a standstill because i have to put my sanity towards things going on with my family and my life

Its a very tough time for me right now but I must do something to get thorugh it. Its crossed my mind to take some time off from school because it is very stressful. My apologies for bringing so much of what is going on to you guys but one thing I find is that by talking it actually makes me feel a bit better.

7

I actually wrote this really long post about the redesign issue…but I had a change of heart. I don’t want to stir any more trouble. :stuck_out_tongue:

How about this – I’m going to put the redesign on hold indefinitely. In the beginning, I was so motivated about bringing the site to the next level. However, that feeling slowly went away over the summer. As much as I want to persuade everyone that a redesign is needed (which I still believe), I just can’t help but feel like it has been more of a hindrance than a motivational factor. To be honest, my vision of what the redesign was going to be originally has changed so much that I have to convince my own self that it’s a good idea. And if I have to do that, then may be I was wrong and what we have now is good enough.

I totally understand where you guys are coming from with you having very little time and not wanting to waste that time creating pages only to have something new later on replace it…it might have been a year or so, but it’s understandable. Just a FYI…my original design was less than 2 years old before we changed it too, so it isn’t like it hasn’t already happened. And a redesign is part of a website’s life cycle. I’ve being making websites since 1999 and that is one thing that hasn’t changed. But I digress. :wink:

I may not have my own section to manage, but I do have control over this particular issue…and my decision is to just hold off on the redesign and focus on what we have to work with now.

Issue resolved! :thumbsup:

Soooo, now that the redesign isn’t an issue, does that help a little bit? :slight_smile:

8

Personally I want the redesign and think we need it. I thought we’d all moved past this already ?

I am more held back from contributing because of my inability to do html on the site than anything else. I’d have way more content up on the site if it was as easy to post stuff as it is on facebook or on my rubberslug cel page.

9

Chris here…

Whoa, hang on there a sec’ - I’m not suggesting the re-design should be abandonned or any such, I’m trying to explain why IMO work on the site has stalled, and if we’re having an open discussion, if I’m honest I think this is a contributory factor.

If people (like myself) are waiting for the new version of the site to debut before adding new content, IMO that’s 100% natural - you may recall that when we went from the original version of this site to the one we have currently, all new content was being channeled into the new version, which debuted with something like 150+ pages of new content, following a period of about four months where, to the outside viewer, the site was pretty dead, whilst we were working on new content for the new version…

But, as I see it what you actually have is a situation where a number of folks (like myself) are waiting for the new version of the site before adding any new content, and the new version of the site is at a standstill in its development = you have no new content being added to the site, be it this version or a new version. :slight_smile:

Knowing that I’ve (contentiously) referenced the site redesign in the past I did contemplate not saying anything - but, MannyF asked for an open discussion about why there is inactivity on the site, and I honestly believe that the site re-design is a contributory factor as to why. I’m not suggesting it should be scrapped (I thought I made that clear in my post), but just answering Manny’s question as honestly as I can. :slight_smile: I hope that this is OK with everybody. :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

10

MannyC … bro sorry to hear about your investment troubles and life’s stresses. I am thinking of you and hoping that better times are right around the corner for you.

11

I’m not abandoning it. I’m just putting it off indefinitely. :wink:

12

To be totally honest, I’d rather see new content and such than this ‘design’. I think the website looks slick enough for now - but we do need to update this site and show people we’re still active because, otherwise, we’re going to become like the dozen of inactive ThunderCats websites out there. :frowning:

13

Exactly, if we don’t have to worry about waiting for the redesign, then holding content won’t be an issue.

I’m not canceling the redesign…I already put a lot of work into it, and that’s not even mentioning that Mark and I spent A LOT of money for the license to use the Wordpress theme.

14

Chris here…

I think this is the best solution - I’m glad the re-design hasn’t been scrapped altogether as I think it has a lot of potential merit on all fronts, but also agree with you, MannyF, that for now it’s best to focus on the current version of the site. Nick’s comments are bang on the money too as far as I’m concerned - so, FWIW I think this is a very good way of approaching this. :slight_smile:

Sooooo, on a slightly different but related note - could I stick my neck out and suggest that we begin assembling material to go “live” on the site as part of one biggish update, say at the end of this month? I don’t know how other people would feel about this, but if we could upload Mark’s amazing article, Nick’s awesome Peter Lawrence interview, plus the Episode Guide write-ups that I’ve completed (if I can properly integrate them into HTML), plus some more Encyclopedia illustrations from Kyle, that would actually look like one hell of an update utilising material that is pretty much already prepared! :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

15

Its allright…hey you win some and you lose some, its life. I guess the plus of it is that I wont have to pay taxes for the next 3 years :wink:

16

I’m just stepping in briefly to say I’m still alive! :smiley:

But I am extremely busy still I’m afraid. It’s not that I’ve lost interest, but the fact I have no time at all. Infact it takes me all my time to even check my email these days! I also have home problems too, so it’s lucky I’m finding time to write this post if I’m being honest!

So for the foreseeable future I won’t be making any further contributions content wise to the site I’m afraid :frowning:

17

Manny, with all this material we have at the moment.. Can I ask for an estimate on when it’ll be uploaded to the website and this site can be updated? Me and Chris are working on some interviews at the moment which we’ll keep on the backburner for large updates - so we always have something to put out there if production on other stuff is a bit slow.

18

Stepping Down As Site Director

I don’t know Nick. I still have your documentary and the podcast to sort out. Then there is Mark’s article. I don’t have time.

That being said, now that I’ve been able to get the discussion progressing a bit…I wanted to bring up the topic for which I made this thread in the first place:

I’d like to voluntarily step down as site director.

I didn’t bring it up right away because I wanted to see where everyone stood regarding the site. Now that we’ve gotten most of the team to respond, I feel I could bring this issue to the forefront.

I’ve been contemplating this decision for awhile now especially when I was spending a lot of time with the redesign and I think it’s time for me to step down from that particular title.

However, I don’t necessarily want to leave the site totally. I really would like to focus my efforts on a specific area of the site which would be the geared towards the upcoming Movie. I can help out if and when I have time with other areas, but I feel like if I can focus on one thing, I can probably do my job really well compared to what I have (or haven’t) done as the so called Site Leader.

Also, when the time comes, I will also continue working on the redesign. I could also continue to manage the site in regards to creating emails, and all the backend site stuff (not including HTML).

You guys can decide who takes on the position of Site Leader. :slight_smile:

19

Chris here…

Well, as far as Mark’s article is concerned, it’s all done and HTML-ised - http://www.thundercatslair.org/cartoon/special/mikegermakian/index.html :slight_smile:

Wow, OK…um, didn’t quite see this coming, although I know it’s something you have spoken about before, Manny. Again, first of all can I say that I hope none of this is triggered by any of the comments I’ve made - yep, we’ve had our differences lately, but prior to recent events I’ve never had any major problem with you or your leadership, which I always think has been of the highest quality. :slight_smile:

The biggest question in my mind would be, who on earth would replace you?! :confused:

A couple of years ago I remember you took a break from the position of Site Leader and we all kind-of muddled along, but with MannyC tentatively taking hold of the reins in your absence. However, obviously at the moment that would appear to not really be a viable prospect with everything that’s going on in MannyC’s life right now…

I won’t lie, if I had the time it’s a role I think I’d be very good at, and even a year ago would probably have accepted if asked - however, these days I think the only way I’d be able to take on that responsibility would be at the expense of the little amount of new content I’m currently able to contribute… :frowning:

I think Neil would have made a great Site Leader, but obviously right now is not a good time for him, either… :frowning:

That said, I can definitely respect where you’re coming from, Manny. I know you’ve been unhappy at times in the role of Site Leader, and if it’s frustrating you or making you unhappy, then, as I’m fond of saying, people are more important than websites. :slight_smile: I’m glad to know you won’t be leaving the team (which I think would be a hammer blow to the fortunes of this site, which would not exist without you), and am certain you’ll continue to add your intelligence and wisdom to this site in whatever capacity you choose to serve! :slight_smile:

In terms of getting Nick’s documentaries added to the site, to be honest it’s tricky (although not necessarily impossible) for me to update it because it looks like it’s been constructed with DreamWeaver - http://www.thundercatslair.org/cartoon/special/interviews/index.html . However, if no one had an objection I could possibly have a go at building a similar (although sadly probably a little different-looking) page in HTML, which would be laid out in such a way that it would be really easy to update - just a simple case of copy-and-pasting text and then changing file names (e.g., change “kimberlymorris.jpg” to “larrykenney.jpg”, “stephenperry_interview.mp3” to “peterlawrence_interview.mp3” - you get the idea). It’s not something I’d be able to do right away because of time constraints, but is something I could take a bash at if anyone wanted and was happy with this - just LMK. :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

20

First of all, Manny, I’m really saddened to see you step down. There I was, having absolutely wonderful news (which is over in my thread) and then I saw your post. It sucks. I thought you were a great Site Leader and, generally, a wonderful guy. Personally, I wish you all the best. It must be an extremely crappy role to have at times as it does need someone with html experience and such, something I definately don’t have and would never want that role because of all the pressure and hardwork in web design and maintaining. As Chris said, personally.. you’ve been nothing but fantastic and I’m sorry to see you step down. But if you don’t have time, you don’t have time and there’s no way past that. So I’m glad your staying around - could definately use the advice and such.

But now we definately have a problem - right now, all of us have time constraints that mess with our ability to contribute properly towards the website (including me - I’ve got college and possibly two radio slots for student radio along with anything that comes along. It’s not set in yet, but it’s going to eventually sometime). However, I’d like Chris to take a crack at Site Leader as he’s a) regularly online, b) probably has more experience and c) is very insightful which definately helps me a great deal. Right now, we just need the one update to boil us over until we get things organised.

This would consist of: Neil’s article and the new Peter Lawrence interview along with anything else that’s been completed. The documentary and such can wait - we really do need an update and show people we’re still around.

I think we should aim for monthly updates with new interviews, ThunderCast etc. That way, we can keep interviews and anything major on the backburner to give people something to look forward to. Releasing it all in one go would mean we’re stuck in terms of future updates - so if it looks we’re going to be extremely busy, post one update. This does include the front page - we need a new post just saying what’s going on and what’s going to change. Any updates, too.

That’s my two pennies, two cents, whatchamacallit. All I wish to say is that, regardless, I’m loyal to the team and will definately stick around.