Making American Adventurist Better: An Ongoing Discussion

Personally, I am not sure how anyone could not feel welcome at one of the events. It could be because I am fairly shy with new people and was welcomed into this group and made to feel at home from the very beginning, I maybe I am just missing something. Obviously, there are at least some that feel differently, which means we have room to improve. The idea of an informal "new guy intro" at the happy hour sounds like a good idea to me. Are there any other suggestions on what might make it more welcoming with the forum itself? Personally, I read just about every post in the intro thread, but I don't necessarily have something to say in response to every post so I comment here and there as something catches my attention, be it another Dodge, someone local, or just a job or particular photo that catches my attention that particular day.

I know I have missed some points here that I wanted to respond to, I am going to have to re-read the thread
 
FWIW, from a new guy....

It's commendable to open the floor for suggestions from members, but don't fall into the trap of hoping/trying to make everyone happy. That'll never happen. I have run larger online communities than this (going all the way back to 1996), and it is a thankless, frustrating, time-consuming job that'll eventually wear just about anyone down to "no longer give a crap" status. Do your thing, aim to make it as friendly a place as possible (which seems to already be the case), and those that don't connect with it can find somewhere else to go.

This place has been a great resource for me so far. I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into it.
 
briansocal said:
FWIW, from a new guy....

It's commendable to open the floor for suggestions from members, but don't fall into the trap of hoping/trying to make everyone happy. That'll never happen. I have run larger online communities than this (going all the way back to 1996), and it is a thankless, frustrating, time-consuming job that'll eventually wear just about anyone down to "no longer give a crap" status. Do your thing, aim to make it as friendly a place as possible (which seems to already be the case), and those that don't connect with it can find somewhere else to go.

This place has been a great resource for me so far. I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into it.
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Amen and Thank You.
 
I had a very nice message from a member, I think the message is worth sharing. Not all feedback we are receiving is negative.

The member's identity has been redacted out of respect.

American Adventurist Member said:
I wish you guys (and the rest of the team) all the best. I am in a leadership position at work and the most challenging thing I encounter is criticism from within. I lead a large team of approximately 500 people. I tell other leaders who work for me that I expect attacks from outside sources and deal with them efficiently, but it's the attacks from within that are the most painful.

The world, and especially the Internet, has become one large discussion where everyone believes their opinion is as valuable as everyone else's, regardless of their actual contribution. Anyone can start a blog site, or just comment on someone else's site and feel their opinion should be taken with equal authority as someone who has spent their entire life in the field.

As you grow this site and endure more slings and arrows from people who want their fun handed to them as if a Rendezvous is a day at Disneyland, I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement to not let it get you down or get you too fired up in your response. We used to say the dog already crapped on yesterday's newspaper as a way to say just let it go because the more you engage in the fight, the more you give it a life it does not need. That doesn't work so well these days with forum posts lasting forever, of course. I don't have a catchy phrase to match the times but I'd still caution you all the same not to get too far off center when dealing with critics.

Maybe you're all leaders into the areas of your life and are used to dealing with negativity that comes simply from leading. But maybe this is a new challenge and it can be difficult and painful when you're giving everything you've got for no pay and what may feel like no thanks. You guys have a great thing going with the right attitude and it will prevail. Just don't lose sight of the positives when dealing with the negatives. The vast majority of us migrated to this site because it's simply more comfortable than the other one. As you grow as an organization, there will be more critics and more internal attacks, just don't let them overshadow all the positive you are creating.
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TangoBlue said:
We all appreciate the explanation Matt. Minds don't need to be changed, but they need to be opened to other views, and that commences with clear intent and open dialog. Thanks for taking the time, and risk, to do that.

We don't kid ourselves around this place much... there really are no "smartest guy in the room" types here; more likely the better description would be, "not the brightest bulbs in the internet chandelier." Just say it - we want to hear it - directly. .
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Hi, my name is Matt and I'm not one of the brightest bulbs in the internet chandelier, actually I'm probably closer to a football bat.

Tango, Dave, Mitch, and all concerned. My post turned into a monster, and pissed off some good people. Not my intent. I apologize for the raised blood pressures and elevated angst. And thanks for the constructive criticism.

Matt
 
Al Swope said:
I have no criticism for the site. I think it's great. I even find reading this thread fun. One thing I'd like to see more of is people throwing out trip invites. You don't have to wait for a catered affair, complete with door prizes, to go on an adventure. The best trips I've done did not include a t-shirt. 5-6 guys say online,"let's meet here, on this date." Look for me to post some paddling trips this spring. I guarantee fun.
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This is what needs to happen around here more. Folks have to quit waiting for us to start big events and start getting together on their own. Its the way it was done back in the helicon days and where most of us became the best of friends. It can be intimidating to meet complete strangers in the middle of nowhere but I tell you what, my best friends all started out as phonetic strangers on a forum screen somewhere. Nothing makes you feel more a part of something than the shared experience of getting "out there".
 
Haggis said:
This is what needs to happen around here more. Folks have to quit waiting for us to start big events and start getting together on their own. Its the way it was done back in the helicon days and where most of us became the best of friends. It can be intimidating to meet complete strangers in the middle of nowhere but I tell you what, my best friends all started out as phonetic strangers on a forum screen somewhere. Nothing makes you feel more a part of something than the shared experience of getting "out there".
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My first trip was when my original plans fell through and D_Flesher invited me along on a trip he was doing with MtnGote. I told my wife of the invite and said "wanna go meet random people from the internet in the middle of the desert near the Mexican border" she said sure and it has been all downhill from there :D
 
Dave said:
Stan I appreciate your feedback. I'd also like to caution you - you represent OutdoorX4 magazine. Your boss would be blowing my phone up if I was being this harsh in my remarks about your organization. Organization to organization, much of what has been posted here goes both ways.
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Being harsh was never my intention, Dave. I went back to re-read my posts and I'm happy to delete anything you feel was out of context, harsh or overly critical. That is not at all what I was trying to accomplish.

PM sent and I'm happy to step away from this.
 
BlkWgn said:
Personally, I am not sure how anyone could not feel welcome at one of the events. It could be because I am fairly shy with new people and was welcomed into this group and made to feel at home from the very beginning, I maybe I am just missing something. Obviously, there are at least some that feel differently, which means we have room to improve. The idea of an informal "new guy intro" at the happy hour sounds like a good idea to me. Are there any other suggestions on what might make it more welcoming with the forum itself? Personally, I read just about every post in the intro thread, but I don't necessarily have something to say in response to every post so I comment here and there as something catches my attention, be it another Dodge, someone local, or just a job or particular photo that catches my attention that particular day.
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I'm with Cris here. I have never been made to feel unwelcome by anyone at an AAV/Rendevouz event, and I fall into that same shy-guy category. Even when I've been the crazy person with the wimpy-ass rig breaking stuff, getting stuck, and getting towed back to camp I've never felt unwelcome.
 
I've never felt more welcome in a new group as i have here. From the moment I signed up, people actually RESPONDED to my posts?! Are you kidding me?? I even threw out a meet n greet invite and had a great response. I've been on other forums that are active and unless you're in their clique,if you arent: you dont get responses- at all.
The input and advice I have read here- both directed towards myself and others - has been helpful, constructive, and knowledgeable input. I've seen much the same questions on other forums answered by trolls firing their DK5000 "dreamkiller" interweb missiles from grammas basement.
Its not just the valuable knowledge either, there's a tone here that sets this forum apart. Enthusiasts , not elitists.
I have only attended one event, and I was welcomed the way I would welcome a newly met friend.

In short, you (Dave) and your staff seam to be doing a great job. Thank you for volunteering so much of your time to provide this platform to the rest of us.
 
Haggis said:
This is what needs to happen around here more. Folks have to quit waiting for us to start big events and start getting together on their own. Its the way it was done back in the helicon days and where most of us became the best of friends. It can be intimidating to meet complete strangers in the middle of nowhere but I tell you what, my best friends all started out as phonetic strangers on a forum screen somewhere. Nothing makes you feel more a part of something than the shared experience of getting "out there".
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I remember my first "overland" trip. It was the first time out with our Kamparoo trailer, meeting a couple from New York who had never been to the southwest desert before, just after picking up his new Adventure Trailer from Mario in Las Vegas. We met up and did the Mojave Road over three days. Heck as far as I knew they could have been serial killers. LOL Ended up being one of our best trips and was lucky to do another one with them when they had come out to pick up their Sportmobile.

Sometimes you just need to put out the invite that you are going somewhere. It seems there is always someone wanting to go too. That's how AAV came about. I never would have met Dave had he not posted up a Meet and Greet to Anza Borrego area many, many years back.
 
Stan, read some of the comments here in this thread. I'll quote them if I need to. This is why I can't grasp why you think that if you're not in the first 56 members here (Not sure why some choose to point out what member number they are, someone made a comment about it once, and I think it's become sort of an inside joke.) that you won't be accepted in. So many folks, that aren't staff, will tell you otherwise.

And as for saying it's a fallacy, it is. Read the comments by others. Just because you feel one way, doesn't make it true. I get what you're saying that your perception is up to you, that you determine your feelings. I'm just telling you that you've perceived incorrectly. You said that we are a small group of people who all know each other and not one that "allows" outsiders in. I'm flat out telling you that isn't true. You can perceive it any way you want, but the reality is quite different. If that were the case, our Rendezvous events would have 56 attendees, instead of the hundreds that attend.

I'm not offended by your comments. The categories, sub-categories, etc, have changed several times. Mostly without my input. So it wouldn't be me your comments are directed to. I only went back and commented on your post item-by-item because you said I ignored the other content of your post, so I gave my $0.02. I also said we'd welcome your input, and write up a detailed suggestion. You should have seen how many forums we had when we first started! THIS is actually an abbreviation :)

Don't think your comments don't get considered just because I responded to them. I'm an admin, an implementer of things around here, that also does some graphics work. Your comments are reviewed by those that actually do the decision making around here and they decide what becomes what. Your input matters just as much as the next guys.
 
I'm a fan of suggestions that are both realistic and executable. Show me a plan that has both qualities and it Will be considered along with other realistic and executable options.

That's how any chain of command in any organization works, at least all that I have encountered.

I've seen two suggestions that are both realistic and executable.

1. Add a campfire intro for new members. I personally like this idea and do not see significant barriers to implementation. Additionally, this will provide additional benefit to New members by way of helping them through the social barrier to campfire conversations with other members.

2. Reduce the number of sections in the forum. Personally, I see this as a potential stumbling block in the future as the community grows, even if it makes browsing less efficient in the short term for less frequent forum travelers.

Of course this boils down to a strategic decision, and the only supporting evidence that I have seen for either of the point above is tactical.

Praise is good, as are constructive suggestions. At the end of the day the concerns of The community will be what steers the decision.

BTW, I'm still waiting for the adventure hat emoticon, which would make this forum perfect, IMHO.
 
Mitch said:
Don't think your comments don't get considered just because I responded to them. I'm an admin, an implementer of things around here, that also does some graphics work. Your comments are reviewed by those that actually do the decision making around here and they decide what becomes what. Your input matters just as much as the next guys.
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Just to expand on this a bit, it really is a group effort, and everyones thoughts are taken seriously. When we hear a complaint or a compliment from someone we pass it on to the staff as a whole, take a minute to think about it and discuss.

I want to take a minute on behalf of all of the staff and thank everyone who has commented here positive or negative, it all helps to build a stronger community
 
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Mr. Leary said:
BTW, I'm still waiting for the adventure hat emoticon, which would make this forum perfect, IMHO.
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Hold on Mike I'm looking...

graphics-hats-978099.gif
....nope

graphics-hats-843604.gif
...nope

graphics-hats-671349.gif
...possibly...

Still looking...

Close...

graphics-africa-997156.gif


Probably what becoming a Moderator is gonna feel like...

graphics-africa-623732.gif
 
More than a hat but possibly the official Mr. Leary AAV emoticon...

graphics-adventure-486505.gif
 
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