O'Reiley Networks(Page 2)

Continuation of notes on the O'Reiley networks.


Bell Curves

-Cant please all users. Some will stick around just to see you fail. Use these people to give insightful suggestiongs on system.
-On the opposing end some people will always be happy. Sometimes they may withdraw but they will also give you great ideas, and volunteer for schemes.
-Dont depend on suggestions form people that speak the most, best contributers listen and think far more than they speak.


Barriers are mixed blessing

-Amount of users vary with the amount of work in registering the users. The easier the more members, but it may result in less activity.


The first contribution
-Adding features to encourage registration(discourage anonymouse partic.) acts as a filetering process.
-Weed out lazy users by requiring e-mail registration.
-Registration should benefit the users.


The interface

-Simplicity may appeal to the users. The lack of sophistication(reply's, searching etc) will putt of some users.
-Awkward interface may get in the way of the users., but the community may still grow.

-Make things simple and consistent.


Mischief

-Plan for trouble, set simple rules, and apply them consistantly.

-Start with simple list of unnacceptable behavior. Create list of consequences, if rankings can demote users as punishment.

-If possible avoid giving the impression that the rules are a game. People will push the boundaries, and others will only participate to provoke repsonses.

-Keep rules simple, make them readily available, so no execuse to not read them.


Discuss the community openly

-Change is difficult, suddden/dramactic may be threatening, but change is unavoidable.

-Any chaneg we dont make will offend someone, try to find the best minds to develop community better.

-Have a section for discussing improvements.