Forum...

[Black_Apalachi]

... Although this has always been the case it is still a good point. Having been close with Sam I got a fairly good say in many things while he was GM, whereas now I don't imagine I'll have anywhere near the same amount of influence that others closer to Matt might enjoy. It happens, it always will do with any people near to those in positions of power, but whilst those in favour may come and go, it does appear that any blacklisted members get their opinions pushed aside and that negative status remains. I can't think of any members of current management who would really battle for an idea that I would advocate unless other (higher) management figures backed it up first, regardless of what it might be, and the same can be said for plenty of other people around here who've caused upsets in the past. ...

I realise I'm ignoring a lot of things but I just wanted to pick up on this point. Surely it's better if management don't have favourites whom they'll agree with regardless? Probably one of the biggest argument causers is non-staff members appearing to be treated by management in a more superior manner than other regular members. I guess it's due to jealousy more than anything else but still, it shouldn't arise in the first place.

[FlyingJesus]

Oh absolutely, don't get me wrong about that. It's simply that I acknowledge it and (speaking from having been on both the favoured and undesirable personal lists) realise that not a lot can be done about it. I'd love to believe that logic could be the deciding factors in every decision made but this is simply not the case, and so I think rather than trying to change human nature it's best to limit what sanctions can be reasonably be placed on people who've caused problems in the past, be they personal disputes with upper management or disruptions across the forum, and not disregard a person's opinions simply for being who they are.

I like to think that this is generally the case as with the changes to .gif signature images a few weeks back, but especially with this new supposed ideal of rushing changes through instead of the old method of having them bounced around a bit first (which has come under fire in this very thread) it's entirely possible that the wrong choices can be made or dismissed - and quickly - on a whim and without being properly looked into. The now-not-so-recent filter change and consequent reversal is proof of this speedy update policy going awry.

[immense]

I think pretty much every other reply has agreed with me or raised a valid counter argument against something which I can acknowledge and see. Matt, I didn't mean it personally by the way and both Oli and Garion have told me you're doing things behind the scenes and sorting out the mess that was given to you. I look forward to any changes that will affect the users.

I realise I'm ignoring a lot of things but I just wanted to pick up on this point. Surely it's better if management don't have favourites whom they'll agree with regardless? Probably one of the biggest argument causers is non-staff members appearing to be treated by management in a more superior manner than other regular members. I guess it's due to jealousy more than anything else but still, it shouldn't arise in the first place.

It's going to though. Like when I was close with ---MAD--- he gave me AGM, maybe I was best suited for the role maybe it was because we were close and had a lot of jokes, like when he made me the banner etc. It happens. Then with nvr, we got on OK, he offered me staff editor, I rejected, I made a few immature comments, we never spoke again. Oh and the fact he reported me to Sulake, lol! Not a bad guy though. Then Sam, I just didn't get on with, never really did. Maybe that's proof that if you're friends with them you have more influence. AGM with one, permed with the other. It's not a bad thing, it's life. Most people won't get to like/dislike General Management on a personal level anyway so it's not an issue.

It can't ever be changed though. General Managment are always going to have the people they want to talk to more than others. I have Matt, Oli, Garion on MSN, although I'm not all that close to any. The majority of HxF wouldn't have them on there. Just the way the cookie crumbles.

Edit; also just to verify I spoke to Oli on MSN about what I said earlier about someone being unpermed for a perm offence and someone else not for the same offence was my mistake. Got the wrong end of the stick.

[Tintinnabulate]

I am surprised I didn't see this thread till now. I too have noticed a lot of members being online but a lack of posts. Take the 'Discuss Anything' forum for example, a year or two ago, the first page was filled with posts made in one day. Now it goes back several days.

I have been on this forum for over 5 years and number of posts in these forums have declined slowly mainly due to the people who used to post in them used to break a few rules too. Over time they ended up being perm banned. They left, meaning less activity, meaning some others left too.
That is why I have always asked for a mass unban. Place all unbanned users in a special usergroup, if they get more than 2 infractions = ban again as they clearly don't deserve to be here.

Even Habbo unban users from perm bans so I dont see why Habbox can't. It will increase a bit of activity for sure, and that is beneficial to the forum. Like I said, the special usergroup will mean the unbanned users will probably not break rules as they will want to keep their account.

Secondly, I would rather Matt makes good decisions rather than quick ones which end up harming the forum. Sammeth was a useless General Manager and I am very glad he left. I sent him 4 PM's and never got a reply. I believe he took up AGM (Staff) as he had less time with his previous job - meaning he should never have taken up GM. His attitude towards some members was also terrible.

Thirdly, read my signature . I can't say anything else about it but to read my signature. If what I think will happen happens, people will love it. That's all I can say.

Habbox.com is also getting a makeover. Jin posted an announcement regarding it earlier this year stating you will be able to customise the site, move the content boxes around etc, so that should make Habbox unique as no other fansites offer that.
Habbox needs to offer more things rather than just Rare Values as the key thing. I have suggested to Alkaz a few ideas for the site, which he liked so I am hoping they will be implemented if they can get the right people to do it.

It will also be good to do more forum wide competitions - where members have to get together - as it makes the forum more active. The Forum Elections clearly increased activity. It also meant a lot of new members signed up to vote and hopefully some of those will stay on to post etc.

Another thing I think is vital (and this used to happen a lot back in 2006-2007), is for Forum (Super) Moderators to create threads and post regularly. I am not going to name any names as its unfair, but most Forum (Super) Moderators rarely ever create threads or make posts. Its a fact that new members love it when people in Red / Lime reply to their threads/posts.

This is not forum related but ... some HxHD staff are ridiculous. They are like robots. They look for key terms and not actually read the whole conversation. I was having a joke with someone in there and I called that person an idiot (clearly as a joke if they read the whole convo) and I got a warning. I am sure only JamesOYES seems to have common sense there.

[Grig]

Saurav- throughout the post I had to be nodding my head continuously through your points. I think after nvrspk4 left, there was a big vacuum left within Habbox and really, it was more or less Jin doing most of the work. The latest managerial changes seem to be working quite fine and things are starting to get done quicker, updates faster and I know there are lots of new ideas somewhere behind the scenes.

The forum isn't as active as one has been, now this could be due to a number of factors such as the fact the lack of major events. This HabboxForum Election event did indeed boost forum activity and kudos to everyone for that, as more initiatives like this will bag in people. We can't deny that we did have a lot of older members from the 04-06 era that have slowly left and sadly there was no one to fill their place.

I think it is time to look at all the dartments and see how the full potential could be maximised from them. This, as you so rightly pointed out Saurav needs to get people who don't take their job as seriously, I swear I may love my job here, but I don't treat it like I'm some manager of a big co-opertation making millions of dollars in profit. This is meant to be a past time activity, and some people are indeed taking it in the wrong way. I do agree with that help desk comment too, I have been in numerous drop ins, councils and help desks and Habbox' seems to have far from the best and most welcoming atmosphere. I also give kudos to JamesOYES there who is one of the staff members I respect there, for being more down to earth- it is people like that who would be the best in promoting to Habbox.

Also it seems the popularity of not only the forum here comes in question, but Habbox as a general site with a radio etc. as I have not seen such low listeners on radio primetime in years, they seem be going below 100 quite often now. I think it's due to a number of factors and may reflect on Habbox's declining popularity. If new initiatives and some promotion is done on Habbo, then I'm sure there can be some major breakthrough.

I am glad Matt is GM, as I know that he makes rational decisions without jumping into something too quickly and that is probably why you haven't seen any major breakthrough etc. just yet. I also think, as Jake pointed out there needs to be an element of risk taking and bold moves that go outside the box and that's where members could be attracted to the forum.

[Catzsy]

Yeah, that does sound better once fully explained However, that means you have to let management fire their staff with much more freedom, for not being up to scratch. You used to have to wait weeks to prove that before the staff editor would remove permissions. Communication is key, MAD was the best for that in my opinion as he was for the inter-department working which is a problem at the moment which I'm glad to see you're working on. Although not entirely sure that'll improve the forum.

Are you insane? Lol MAD was GM and FM and it wasn't communication - it was dictation. Sometimes, Jake I just wonder if you post threads just because. Habbox is still one of the two biggest fansites and is comparable in numbers to CHF. Members join everyday. Members leave especially this time of year. It has always been the same. What exactly are your suggestions to improve it or are you just posting because you now have more time on your hands?

[Tintinnabulate]

Are you insane? Lol MAD was GM and FM and it wasn't communication - it was dictation. Sometimes, Jake I just wonder if you post threads just because. Habbox is still one of the two biggest fansites and is comparable in numbers to CHF. Members join everyday. Members leave especially this time of year. It has always been the same. What exactly are your suggestions to improve it or are you just posting because you now have more time on your hands?

No, he is posting the facts. HxF is comparable to CHF yes, but we used to get more posts than them, now it's the opposite.

[HotelUser]

Are you insane? Lol MAD was GM and FM and it wasn't communication - it was dictation. Sometimes, Jake I just wonder if you post threads just because. Habbox is still one of the two biggest fansites and is comparable in numbers to CHF. Members join everyday. Members leave especially this time of year. It has always been the same. What exactly are your suggestions to improve it or are you just posting because you now have more time on your hands?

I agree, there's nothing new about this. Activity will increase in the summer, popularity will decrease and a handful of staff will resign come September, then around the Winter months it will regain popularity. With the merge and closing of HabboForum I think forum management should be secretly hi-fiving eachother

[immense]

Are you insane? Lol MAD was GM and FM and it wasn't communication - it was dictation. Sometimes, Jake I just wonder if you post threads just because. Habbox is still one of the two biggest fansites and is comparable in numbers to CHF. Members join everyday. Members leave especially this time of year. It has always been the same. What exactly are your suggestions to improve it or are you just posting because you now have more time on your hands?

Well you've been away half the time so I don't really expect you to understand. It's funny how you criticise me though when Saurav, Grig, Garion, FlyingJesus and Oli have agreed with me in certain elements. It was actually after a conversation with General Management that I posted this as you'd understand if you read the entirety of the post. Your attitude is very poor. General Management asked me what I'd do to help their decline in posts, I said I was unsure and made this thread to try and generate ideas. I don't have any more spare time on my hands than I have in the last few months so that false accusation is just trying to stir arguments. Same old. Also, just because you disliked ---MAD--- he made Habbox official, improved inter-department working, had a much bigger presence on Habbo etc. I'd say it was at its peak with him at the helm in fact. Don't let personal judgements blur reality.

No, he is posting the facts. HxF is comparable to CHF yes, but we used to get more posts than them, not its the opposite.

Someone with sense.

I agree, there's nothing new about this. Activity will increase in the summer, popularity will decrease and a handful of staff will resign come September, then around the Winter months it will regain popularity. With the merge and closing of HabboForum I think forum management should be secretly hi-fiving eachother

Again, you've never been overly active on the forum and wouldn't understand. Those who have, have agreed with me. Once again, if you'd read the entirety of the thread you would have realised I stated categorically there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Habbox. However, there is a decline in posting. New posts go back an hour sometimes, threads in Spam go back 24 hours sometimes. In my four years at Habbox, that has never happened.

[Catzsy]

Well you've been away half the time so I don't really expect you to understand. It's funny how you criticise me though when Saurav, Grig, Garion, FlyingJesus and Oli have agreed with me in certain elements. It was actually after a conversation with General Management that I posted this as you'd understand if you read the entirety of the post. Your attitude is very poor. General Management asked me what I'd do to help their decline in posts, I said I was unsure and made this thread to try and generate ideas. I don't have any more spare time on my hands than I have in the last few months so that false accusation is just trying to stir arguments. Same old. Also, just because you disliked ---MAD--- he made Habbox official, improved inter-department working, had a much bigger presence on Habbo etc. I'd say it was at its peak with him at the helm in fact. Don't let personal judgements blur reality.


Someone with sense.

Oh I understand well enough and we would have to agree to disagree on this because a lot of the initiatives were a complete waste of time and money such as the blogs and chat. I haven't been away half the time either(about 4 months in 5 years) and have worked under all the GM's since 2005 so please dont make out that I do not know what I am talking about. Nvr and Sam both had a lot to offer in their differing ways as did 8Freak8 before them and made Habbox what it is today and I do not like to see them disrepected. Oli, Garion, & Matt have made a tremendous effort to improve the forum. Great events at Easter, Forum at HXHD, groups and and more recently the Election initiative which I would say it is probably the highlight of many a year. I think Habbox really should gear themselves up for the merge and really take adavantage of it. What ideas have you got to improve the forum - it seems you prefer just to discuss personalities than actually suggest anything which is something you have accused me of.