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Eightfish
Feb '20

Surprised I don't see more discussion about this change since I've seen people asking for it for a while.

I'd like to read some discussion though- I am curious to hear what other forum goers think.

  • The forum is better with this thread.
  • The forum is worse with this thread.
  • I'm ambivalent.

58voters

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To me it's an extremely welcome change- thanks, ratique! I think it's really cleared up the front page. At some points it felt like almost 10% of the front page were self promotion posts consisting of pages and pages of links with no clicks.

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    Feb '20

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rajillustration
Feb '20

It's an interesting change but I don't see a dip in the number of promotional posts honestly? Like there's still just as many? I assume it'll be a slow roll out to enforce just because there's so many posts of this nature. TBH the only post I get clicks on and the only post I look to for what new comics to read is the "post your latest page" thread which I do because I can see an art sample but also because I can see who's still...updating.

The big problem with the megathread is that in a couple of months (especially years) you'll have hundreds of pages of links where a lot of comics will be dead links as people delete comics or they get taken down or they just...stop updating after 10 updates. So...I don't know a way around that.

But, it is nice to put more emphasis that the purpose of this forum is about talking about the business of making these comics and novels and meeting other people who are doing that.

skicoak
Feb '20

It appears the self promotion threads are mainly just converting to "Critique my series" threads.

You force those into a mega thread... Here come the "Rate my series" threads.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Feb '20

I don't mind people asking for critiques, but more often than not they're too vague with their requests. Like they only ask for people's thoughts and feelings and with these I'm hesitant to give any constructive criticism as I'm unsure if they're actually looking for that. I would however mention easy fixes though, like changing up the font if at first glance I can tell it will be a struggle to read more than a couple pages.

skicoak
Feb '20

I don't either... But I didn't mind people promoting their stuff either.

I just think most people are basically gonna figure out that Mega Thread is a rubbish pile that is more about housekeeping than getting eyes on their projects...and they're gonna try workarounds.

Wouldn't it have made more sense to make PROMOTION it's own category, then the people it bugged could of muted it like I do the COLLABORATION category ?

rmdooley
Feb '20

I'm fine with people promoting their work on threads. I've found comics I sincerely enjoy through checking those topics out. I think it is better to set down requirements if you are going to do a comic share/promo thread such as before you post you must read two other comics and comment on or like a few pages. That way people don't just drop and go but actually interact. Either that or have it be thematically tailored like: share your villain or favorite action page with a link to the comic

Iris-Grimoire
Feb '20

Changing into Critique My Series wouldn't be bad IF people weren't still just dropping the link and running, sometimes not even a promo, just look at Why Won't You Read My Comic.

This thread is nice, and as Ratique told us, it's going to get remade every now and then to keep it from being a link graveyard, so that's nice. Just gotta actually enforce real comic discussion on these copycat threads to keep them from replacing the old ones.

BobbyjoeX
Feb '20

imo promo threads never helped at all, and this one, for example has already done the same thing the others did, if you're comic is not at the very beginning or the very end, it is useless cause no one is going to scroll through in it's entirety

I say we try to find another way to promote thats more beneficial

Kaylim
Feb '20

I dont like mega threads. I don't read them. Too long to scroll through. Those threads are useless for promotion bc who actually looks at all of those posts? Who actually talks to each other and discusses the comics? I like the individual threads or those centering around a certain type of promotion (ie: share your GL comics) because its easier for me to find content i like and also easier to share my content with people who will find it relevant to their interests.

CarltonIsaac
Feb '20

The essence of 'Self Promotion' is negated with this single 'communal' thread.

As @Kaylim says, it is a real pain sifting/scrolling through such an overloaded thread to find what one is specifically looking for.

It also compromises the 'personal aspect' of Self Promotion.

burginlewis
Feb '20

Is it a problem/pain for people to hide or ignore threads?

Novel writers deal with a third of the threads here being about comic related topics, and not germane to us, all the time. People who don't write BL, same. People who don't care what anyone ate or watched or listened to lately, same. Make liberal use of "mute thread" and the problem is solved. You won't see it again.

I fail to see why this need ever rise to the level of an annoyance.

33rdCenturyCaveman
Feb '20

Single-serving self-promotion posts am resembling spam though. No engagement or value-added. They go Wham! They go Bam! Then they just go, without even a thank-you.

Self-promotion only go so far on this forum anyway. Vast majority of us am creators. Work of creator am not 1% making stuff and 99% reading other stuff. There am not enough hours in the day. We already have time-consuming job or hobby or jobbyhobby.

If we am serious about making forum more fun and productive place, we ought focus on two things. Firstly, suppressing spam. And secondly, bringing more non-creators to forum. Mebbe by hosting Q&As here, I dunno.

RCGates
Feb '20

I didn't have a problem with the promo threads from before, so it doesn't really matter to me. I'll still see when everyone else wants to self-promote themselves.

Karmillina
Feb '20

I think the critique threads are a better option to get people to look.... AS LONG as there is some sort of reciprocation and there are people willing to participate beyond dumping their links and leaving. Seeing it as a learning experience, where we look at the kind of critique others receive and trying to apply it to our own work, would be a worthwhile activity, but only as long as people use it as intended.

Anithia
Feb '20

The problem with the self pronotion threads is that the only links that can be seen are first ones posted. The rest are only forgotten in the vast space of links

Im afraid that my link is already lost there.

The comic of the week and the Q&A sound like a fun idea

And, the idea of asking people to critique your comic.. is not giving me a lots of results, i posted something alike recently, but it didn't work very well

Eightfish
Feb '20
33rdCenturyCaveman

I don't know if Q$As about specific comics would do well. Those might be better off done on the actual comic. It's simpler, only people interested would see it, and readers would be more likely to participate if they don't have to follow a link to the forums.

But if someone successful in webcomics wants to share tips to succeed, or if someone wants to talk about their weird or interesting story, like in reddit AMAs, that might be cool.

33rdCenturyCaveman
Feb '20

Well, yes. Default option am convenient option. Regular Tapas site have comment section, walls for members, also ability to subscribe to comics. It possible for artist to build community around self. But it also focused little community, and in some ways very dead end.

Building general community in forums am not convenient option. It investment requiring time and many people. But if successful then everybody win: readers, creators, website morlocks.