As I was considering publishing this article, I noticed that that there are currently 6688 pages of recent articles, with 20 per page. I haven't done the math on this one yet, but I'm pretty sure that adds up to over 100,000 recent articles. I have no clue as to the time span that recent articles covers, and I'm not about to go back through 6688 pages of articles, 20 per page, to find out.
Also as I started writing this, I noticed that there were 72,224 recent comments, with 20 per page. I actually tried to calculate the actual number using my Windows Calculator, but it seems that my computer is bogged down due to the amount of Gather files that are stored in my Internet Explorer ( please excuse me while I right click on the IE and delete all of the temporary internet files, cookies and history, then sign off and sign back on. Bet most of you have had to do that after logging on to Gather and navigating around ) , however I'm sure that all can see just how big Gather has become.
This has all grown so big that it's hard to follow your favorite authors and commentors around. It's also hard nowadays to have your articles read and commented on. The most prolific authors are still doing quite well, but even they aren't receiving as many comments on their articles as they used to. It also seems that the days of the " Hot Threads " have gone by the wayside, or at least they have become next to impossible to find.
Then to add to all of this Gather cluster, we now have the personal bloggers. First of all, there is a difference between authors who write about their own personal experiences and those who create their own personal blogs here on Gather. I know that all of you have seen these types of bloggers. They publish three of four articles per day about their daily lives, subjects, news articles ect, receive several comments, and they never respond to any of the comments on their articles.
Oh how could I forget about the photographers. These are the people who post photographs, receive several comments, and you never see them comment on their own photographs. The unfortunate thing about these personal bloggers and photographers is the fact that some of them post some excellent articles and photographs, and they could do very well here on Gather if they would stick around and comment on their own threads. I personally don't believe that Gather is the place for personal bloggers and photographers. I would suggest that those people go to My Space, My MSN Space or perhaps YouTube.
There is no doubt that Gather has become very huge, and I'm not sure as to what should be done about it. Maybe Gather should require that articles consist of perhaps a minimum of 1,000 words or so, and then the author would be required to sumbit the article to Gather for approval ?
I'm not sure if that would work, however something has to be done in order to moderate all of this clutter that is now Gather.
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Comments: 65
Kathleen...Good points. I'm also curious as to where Gather is going with Gather Corps.
Melisa...500 words may do if you use a large font ( or large foot ) lol
Robin...Why don't those people go to My Space to blog ?
For the early gatherers they were a big fish in a little pond. Now there are many more and more of them could join soon! I guess the key is to visit people that put out consistent, original and entertaining articles in the various areas of interest. I am finding the software is getting slower ...thanks for pointing out the temp internet files. I need to do some housekeeping!
You can divert to yourself, through subscriptions and connections, the choice bits in the flood.
I like the constant expansion, keep stumbling onto cool stuff.
Actually, I think that the personal bloggers and photographers are the ones who are causing all of the clutter here on Gather. I'm all for new members. Heck, I'm practicly a new member myself, but this personal blogging and photography needs to go bye bye.
I think there is lots of good stuff on Gather and if articles were required to be at least 1,000 words and approved by Gather we would lose lots of great stuff and intimidate lots of great people.
I'm still exploring. I would really like to get involved in the writing aspect of this large community. My brain has been stimulated by some of the stuff I've read. I also enjoy the banter of articles that turn into conversation.
For me- I love the place and I've been taking Liz's approach. I read. And I get a feel for a person through their words and if I'd like to read more, I connect with that person. If they aren't around much, that's okay- when they are, maybe I'll see it and maybe I won't.
I learned that it's about quality, not quantity and I think in this realm it's something you build. The people who matter will make the effort.
As my contact list grew, my e-mail in-box was maxed out and I had to edit my e-mail settings on Gather. I never reached 2,00,561,493,716,175,237,000 contacts, but the ones that I had were hard to follow around and comment on, and I loved all of them.
BTW- 1,000 words? You're on!
1,000 words just might scare some people away from Gather.
There needs to be some kind of rules, word limits or moderation, however it needs to be done in good taste.
The personal bloggers and photographers need to go somewhere else though.
John...I'm not holding my breath.
JoAnne..You make a good point. Counting words is quite an inconvenience, however something needs to be done to keep the personal bloggers and photographers off of this site.
When I joined-I joined groups that had a theme I thought I'd be interested in. I went to those groups and in a lot of cases, I found articles about things that had nothing to do with the group description. I found many duplicate groups on the same subject.
Since I've joined, I've gotten a lot of emails stating that certain groups I joined are now moderated because the content that was being submitted didn't pertain to the original intent. Kudos to those group owners. There are enough "post anything about anything here" groups to get the exposure one might want.
I am also very particular about who I'll even tell about Gather.com. I've told 3 people and only because I thought they'd have a place where they'd get something out of it and would be able to contribute in a way that I understood it to be.
And I was serious about the 1,000 words. This has gotten my mind working in a good way and I want to learn from it too. It'll take me a bit to get into that part of it but it's a good challenge for me. And I figure, those in my connections will be there for that journey if they want to and I'll be grateful for their input. You are one of them.
JoAnne...How many times have you researched a tag that you are interested in only to find that nobody is posting articles on that tag ?
Steve...Good point.
I just read the other day about the origin of gather.com and in that article it said that it was started as kind of a "myspace" for baby boomers. Is that not the case?
I believe part of that journey is to get comfortable with the place and the people in it. The fluff is what would get in the way of that and it's exactly what would make some comfortable to spread those wings. I think you are talking about the extremes of that fluff to those who are just dumping whatever out there with no direction and no target. I don't know that you can have the middle without the extremes.
BECAUSE I was given the description of this place that I was- that is what I search for and I pass everything else up. I've only been around for a little while and I read those I've connected with and some more on top of that if I'm so inclined.
I'm a writer. I can whip out a technical or procedural manual in short order. I write for business. I have never written creatively or for fun or dumped any of the stories in my head onto paper or screen. I figure this is a good place to get my sea legs doing that and I would be blessed with a great group of readers who would help me with it. In the meantime, I'll comment on what I collect and who is the greatest guitar player ever. It's all good.
However, I very much enjoy the photographers. Part of what got me to stay was that I could post pictures if I wanted too. I could not really do that at Epinions,and certainly not with my reviews over there. It is a major draw for Gather.
But yes, the one-liners and what have you need to be pared down a whole hella bunch.
I was getting way too much email from some that I had joined because I didn't want to hurt feelings. But it seems ridiculous to have them just for that reason.
There are way too many posts to read if I visit every group that I have joined for no reason , no interest to me. There is page after page,etc. I initially joined for the poetry, but I have gotten way out of hand. You don't have to accept every group
that invites you, do you?I wasn't sure. I have read some poetry that is really good, and that is what I enjoy. I have no interest in politics, personal blogs, or reading arguments in the comments. I agree, Gather does need adjustments. How easy is it to copy a news article? Alot of your suggestions are good ones. Let's hope the right person reads them and tries to improve. Thanks for posting this article. I look forward to the changes it will bring about. lol
please let me know
Carolyn...At first I started accepting connection invitations and group invites from everyone,. but I'm thinking about going back and deleting most of them.
I was advised that creating as many contacts as possible would increase my readership, but when my contacts are writing articles about Ginger Snap cookies, which is something that I know nothing about, I doubt that they are going to be reading my articles.
This increasing your contact base has worked for some people such as Ed Nudleman who has 2,134,961,591,492,645,349,463,658,967 contacts.
I've also tried spending time on threads, but it's hard nowadays to find the hot threads. It seems that most of what I find are the personal " Hit and Run " bloggers and photographers who never comment on their own threads. Like I said for, go to YouTube or MySpace for that.
I'm not interested in baby names or free stuff. Mostly I just following Timothy around to see what he's going to write next! (Congrats to Sandy on being one of Timothy's wives - he's a pretty cool dude.)
Seriously, though, I mainly like non-fiction. Politics, history, that sort of thing. And I love opinions. To see what others think of all kinds of subjects. (I even read Dear Abby!)
So to all you writers - thanks for all this wonderful reading for us readaholics.
Its a true statement!! and the best part........EVERYONE KNOWS IM RIGHT!!! LOL
Game, set, match.....ME! LOL
And Amber, if Sandy gets to sit around all day eating Bon-bons and typing opinions on Gather, then I'd say... I am sooooo jealous.
I joined gather not too long ago with the BzzAgent thing and I love it here. I may have one or two articles that seem short, but they tend to be more question types of articles. I agree that in order to make this site worthwile is to keep the so called blogging where it belongs and keep the stories here.
I have written about things that have happened in my life, but I told it in a story form. Such as my time of seeing a ghost or having other weird things happen to me in life that I think others would enjoy me sharing with them and it could also be written in short story form ... not the i woke up today.. I ate today.. and I slept today... we all do that who gives a hoot...lol.. sorry...
I try to respond as much as possible on comments that others leave while trying to keep up on articles that seem interseting and need reading...
Thanks for posting this.