I was thinking today about gather and the things that have changed from the time I joined back in August of 2006 and now. The song, Changes, by David Bowie came to mind. I'm not sure why, other than in a short year, so many things have changed here.
I haven't been on gather half as much as I used to be as there are so many things going on at home that there hasn't been time. But when I do sign on, and at least scan the hundreds of emails that have accumulated, I'm seeing more and more of the people that were here when I joined, leaving. Off the top of my head:
Nic P.
David B.
TJ Thompson (deleted)
Cynical Coz
Jackie
and on and on and on. True, there are many more people than there used to be on here and that's OK too, but it's hard to see the people that were here before me, leaving.
If you know these good people, they all wrote. Probably still do, though not here anymore. I miss them and the things that they published here. So.
Gather is not a writing site anymore though I thought it was when I joined. I had so much help and kindness from many in trying my hand at writing and also at correcting mistakes. Invaluable help.
It feels like the very people who hung in there when the site was new and started the site are either gone (there's many more that have left), or aren't here as much. I'm not saying that there's no good writers here anymore as that wouldn't be true. What I AM saying is that we've lost many, many good people that could write and also were willing to help others. That's sad.
I know there are more people on gather than ever before and I'm nobody to say who can and can't write or publish whatever they want.
Is it all about the points now? You betcha. I guess I'll write, play games, post jokes and whatever else comes to mind and hopefully in the midst of it all, writing will become important again, like it used to be. I realize that since I haven't been here from the start that I missed out on a lot of writing that I'll probably never see now.
But, I sure wish some of you would come back. You're missed.
Marilyn
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Comments: 66
~Natalie Neal
The Best in the Whole Wide World
Change is inevitable. It's a different Gather from when I joined too and they were screaming about that as well. I'm sure it will continue to change here.
I haven't read or rated any of the Romance Writers, Natalie, as I know if I start to read and rate them, I'll want to read them all and I haven't even been on every day. I tried that with the First Chapters contest as well and never got through them all and still feel bad about it.
I'm sorry that it has changed and that many of your friends have left. That part is very sad.
I don't have the answers. I keep writing here because there is nowhere else for the kind of garbage I like to write.
I'm not going anywhere.
Shawn
Marilyn, you said it very well...there are people leaving every day, I'm trying to stick it out...but, some days are harder than others to do so.
Travis LEFT? I thought I was just moderating one of his groups for now!
Shawn left too?
I'm glad to see some of the people that I got to know when I first joined here still. Dame Ruth, you're right. People are so worried about points. They shouldn't be, as it may be about the points, but the points are disappearing for a lot of people. Too many games that mess with the search engines, same with lots of other things posted here.
Ina, I'm glad you're still here.
Cori - I'd love to read some of your writing.
Sue, I know how you feel. I'm not on here half as much as I used to be, though a lot of that is due to family stuff, but when I do sign on, it just amazes me how many good people are gone.
I don't understand people who think change is good or should be easily accepted when the changes are all going in the wrong direction. Regardless of how much people want to justify "getting the most for doing the least", I don't believe there is one person here who honestly thinks going from informational and educational articles to mindless drivel and games is a sign of progress, anywhere.
I hope you aren't talking about me, Marianne. This is my main account and the one I use to gad(fly) about Gather.
Maybe she'll clue us in on who uses the alternate Gather accounts to do this.
Sandy, you just named off a slew of people that I didn't. Good writers all. When I joined, and like I say, I wasn't part of the original Gather, but from what I understood, they were the people that made it possible for there to even be a Gather now.
They wrote; they hung in there, they critiqued and helped others and I can honestly say that I got the best and most help by trying and just asking for critique - and Sandy, you've always been a help to everyone who was serious about wanting it. I think it stinks that people are leaving or have already left due to the changes here.
It may all be about the points now, and it surely is, but what about a chat-room for those who want to chat, play games, tell jokes, etc's - with NO points given? It's fairly easy to make a few chat-rooms. It would solve a lot of problems as those type of things wouldn't show up as articles and also - those who wanted to hop in and play a game while thinking or just wanted to do something mindless, could do so, but they'd get no points for those type of things.
It would literally mean the difference between mindless drivel as Sandy says and having fun, as others say. I won't say that I'd never be in a chat-room with games and such, but I WILL say that I wouldn't expect to gain any points for it.
It would also solve the problem of having games and things of the sort show up as the most read articles. Or articles with the most comments as games aren't articles.
Problem solved.
We both joined around the same time. Doesn't it feel like ages...?
Click on this book cover
Voting ends at midnight. All critiques especially welcome.
Ennui has set in here. Who wants games, quiz, freebies all the time?
Then people have started to talk about their bowel movememts. Is it what we want to read or comment on?
Help my wife become a published author -
please read and rate her Romance entry on Gather!
A Scandalous Overture
Nope - just original work by you about something. Use sentences, preferably at least five if you're calling it an article and yes, please read and follow group requirements before posting there.
I just read your tribute and story of you and your Dad and you sure CAN write, very well too. Keep writing, you're a lot better than you think you are.
Layla, oh yea, I do remember when we both joined, and it does seem like ages, mostly because of all the changes there've been. Makes me wonder how it must seem to those that were here from the beginning.
Rita, I'm not even on here every day, nevermind hours in each day - no time. Usually by the time I log on, somebody else has already left and I missed whatever lead up to it, though I can take a good guess.
Nobody has to be a great writer to be here. The things I've had published were aromatherapy/herbal articles (not here), but going by the presumption that everybody knows something about something, that would make it so that people could all write an article that others would enjoy reading.
NOT, things that begin with the letter "M".
We were having the new roof put on and there was a little bit of a problem with where some of the shingles were left. As a result, the church was flooded. Almost every room received some amount of damage. Sadly, that included my library and my HUGE collection of books. So, between dealing with repairs and cataloging the damage, I have time for little else.
I'll be back once I get everything in order here.
Been busy here at home...with a now eighteen month old and a newborn (nearly 3 months already). I'm dying to write something new. And, having my inlaws here from India is a great inspiration. Along with the drama that comes with everything Indian.
I'm in the midst of writing something else. And, finishing my initial story. Just grabbing tidbits as I finish college (end of this year) and get myself back into shape. Two babies in two years really reeked havoc on my body!
Robin - Two little ones? They'll grow up so close, plus you're going to school too! Whew, you made me tired reading your comment.
Roses - True, there've been many changes on here and I guess that's life too.
Elsie - Your writing is some that I truly love. You've got a lot of talent :)
Liz - I was the same way and to a large extent, still am when I first joined. I always asked for critique and got some good suggestions that I was so glad to get. Still am.
William - Thanks, good to see you here!
Kim - That would be great if people came back.
Lorri - It's true that this community changes and reflects life, though the writers that left, also left a huge hole in gather.
Carol - They're still not paying Canada, huh? Ridiculous!
Also, I'm guessing that some people who feel like they're being censored by the powers that be won't want to stick around. Others seem to adapt themselves.
Also not everyone likes Romance novels. Maybe some writers are waiting for their preferred genre's competition.
And some people also don't like the new videos...
You're right about two things.
1) People who take advantage of a paying system will cause problems in the long run. If there is not enough revenue, then they can't continue to pay. Personally, I would suggest that articles should be 250 words or more, but then the silliness folks would still write silliness, just longer pieces.
2) People come and go at sites like this all the time. Sometimes they announce their departures, sometimes they just disappear. Perhaps it is because they got busy, got sick, got married, finally published a book and have to market it. The reasons are as unique as the membership. But it is not unusual for this to happen at any "writer's" site.
Change will always be embraced by some and abhored by others. That's part of life, part of growing - for members and for owners of sites such as this.
Where I have been an active part of a writing community for years, the site started out as a free site, then had to go to paid memberships. In fact, at all of the other/real writing sites I frequent, I have to pay to be a part of them.
I think this site can be one for serious writers and one for those who are not so serious. The key is in the connections you make and the groups you join.
I can't wait to get back to the site. I miss reading all of the great stuff and seeing all of the neat pics. I can't wait to get back to writing too. I really miss having time to do it.
Talea - You're right. We once had "the house from hell", and if we weren't fixing one thing or three at a time, we were waiting for the next few to need to be fixed. We lost the contents of our entire atic right after we moved in and we were using it basically for storage till we had time to unpack it all.
So, I'm joining the others here, many I enjoy very much, and going for the points. If I sneak in an interesting article or two, maybe someone will enjoy it but if not, I'll enjoy the soicalbility of it all.
Thanks, Denise, Sue and Marilyn.
I like your articles about your daughter - they're writing! Someday, maybe she'll be reading them.
Bret,
The points thing. I didn't even know about the points till about 2 months after I joined gather and someone mentioned that you could cash them in for things. Then, I looked to see what it was they were talking about.
There is another way - chatrooms (easily added), for jokes, games, etc's and no points given. Will gather do it? Doubtful.
Going by the assumption that everyone knows even a little bit about something, those somethings would/could be articles all on their own.
I don't believe there is any hope for this place. And I won't list the names (too long now) of writers who left because they knew that before I was ready to admit it.
Ten unsolicited points from the world's worst connection. Merry whatever you celebrate!