POTN to start, new site for NOINKERS!!!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Originally Posted by cdifoto

If there becomes a Nikon-on-the.net forum, I call dibs on my username. I don't want some other schmo stealing my identity. They might commit suicide after discovering what it entails.

This will be something we will definitely need to work out.
Perhaps a short moratorium that will give only existing Canon forum users a few weeks to secure there current user names before open registration begins..?
Or maybe we can reserve names from the get go.. and supply a password to current members to unlock them?

[cdifoto]

You (or Pekka) could probably export an sql of all current users and then import that into the new forum. That'd let us sign on as usual with our info and passwords intact. I think.

That's what I did when I had to re-install my online shop anyway. It worked with OSC which is also PHP & mySQL based. I don't see why it wouldn't work on vBulletin too.

[arrgeebee]

Jake,

All excellent points that I of course, did not consider. Being in the demographic of "former Canon & POTN user) I just know that I've yet to find a home anywhere near the quality of POTN. My first thought was add a couple of gear forums and we're done since 75% of the forums here could very well be brand agnostic.

I get what you are saying though and I agree with you. I'm willing to help in any way I can. I'd love to belong to a community that's POTN-like but specific to the Nikon brand. Either way, with the direction of the POTN principals, I'm confident it would be like no other existing Nikon community.

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

Well nothing is definite yet, but I think you are too quickly discounting the concept of a pair of forums nestled comfortably together under the POTN mast head, each with there specific system in mind.

For the Canon shooting POTN shooters that switched to Noink, I can see the appeal for keeping it all together, but lets not forget that reason POTN is so great. It was the members that helped guide the atmosphere, and grew it to it's current state.

If we add Nikon forums, than the Canon Digital Photography forums will cease to be what it is, and we will be emulating every other tom dick and harry mega forum out there, complete with all the cross posting and in fighting and flame wars that are inherent with locking up two differing species in the same cage.

A separate but equal forum will allow many advantages:

We will remain unique.

We will allow the membership once again to take a significant lead in the growth and direction the forum goes in from day one, as opposed to new Noink shooters inheriting the existing POTN. (The direction may in fact differ from POTN, that will grow organically. )

Currently the vast majority of the growing number of Noink shooters here were either Canon shooters first, or had switched to Canon for Digital in the past,.
With the introduction of Nikon forums, either separate or part of the current forums, that would change. We would quickly attract the long time Noink shooters as well.
In no time, I feel that the number of Noink shooters NOT interesting in Canon gear would out grow our current ones that do.

Marketing options are also something the owner has n mind, separating possibly conflicting marketing approaches is simply good business sense.

Lastly, if at some point the idea of merging them seemed to be the more logical option, this would be FAR easier to do than separating the two entities,. in fact separation would be essentially impossible.



Launching it as a separate yet equal forum side by side with the current Canon forum poses no risk to the current Canon forum, none at all, and leaves the fates separated.

I understand for some it would be "easier" if we simply added other equipment forums,.
But frankly I do not think the "easier" option is the correct one in this case, life is often that way. the harder option is often the one that offers the best end results. So we need to be ready to apply extra effort to get the best new POTN Nikon forum.

Choosing the easy way of adding new forums is not the safest option, it's not the most elegant, and it's certainly not the unique concept that the other option is.

As for it becoming another "nikon cafe" I have no personal experiences there, but I do know that the POTN members shooting Nikon now, if they are willing to jump in with there boots on and help set a standard in a new fresh (and remember, VERY SMALL and there for VERY manageable forum) if they are willing to put there money where there mouth is and lend a helping hand in guiding new members and moderating the new forum with care and knowledge of the Nikon system, then you are the ones that can make the new POTN Nikon forum what it should be.

IMHO it will be a great opportunity to once again create a forum from the ground up that will put the others to shame.

So don't think about what will be easier, instead think about how YOU can be a guiding member of a new forum with a stake holding share in it from the ground floor.

[rooeey]

Yeah do it...........
The list of positives would far out way the negatives ...
LOg onto potn and then choose Canon or Nikon one tab and away you go...
Or have either as a favorite so you can go straight into where you want to be.....

[AdamJL]

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

Well nothing is definite yet, but I think you are too quickly discounting the concept of a pair of forums nestled comfortably together under the POTN mast head, each with there specific system in mind.

I discount it because of DPReview.

That place is a mess, with people criss-crossing and trolling "the other camp's" forum.
It's all well and good in principle, but unfortunately, people don't behave on the internet like they do in real life. There is far more childishness, angst, rudeness, and agression.

I say keep it as is. It's not as if this places bans Nikon users anyway. Everyone has always been free to talk about whatever system they want to, which I think is great. Segregating will just cause problems.

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by AdamJL

I discount it because of DPReview.

That place is a mess, with people criss-crossing and trolling "the other camp's" forum.
It's all well and good in principle, but unfortunately, people don't behave on the internet like they do in real life. There is far more childishness, angst, rudeness, and agression.

I say keep it as is. It's not as if this places bans Nikon users anyway. Everyone has always been free to talk about whatever system they want to, which I think is great. Segregating will just cause problems.

DPReview is under-moderated, if it's even moderated at all. It also does not fit the model proposed by CDS.

[Pete-eos]

Originally Posted by rooeey

Yeah do it...........
The list of positives would far out way the negatives ...
LOg onto potn and then choose Canon or Nikon one tab and away you go...
Or have either as a favorite so you can go straight into where you want to be.....

Amen, as you come in you can choose your path. That way it remains one forum, same user names, post counts, signatures etc will work on both sections etc.

Like the idea..

[zeva]

Guys were forgetting that Pekka pays i believe he said 6,000 USD a year for this forum... Although he does get *some* donations, he still needs to put alot of money into it... it hink personally it will be a big burden on Him (or her?) to maintain two of these sites....

[FlyingPhotog]

Originally Posted by zeva

Guys were forgetting that Pekka pays i believe he said 6,000 USD a year for this forum... Although he does get *some* donations, he still needs to put alot of money into it... it hink personally it will be a big burden on Him (or her?) to maintain two of these sites....

Perhaps one of those who espouse a preference for Nikon would care to step up and offer their assistance?

[Skid]

The reason I came here, was due to the mainly canon aspect of it, rather than a photography forum. Personally, I like it the way it is

[davidfig]

Well I would welcome it. We would be able to see things like this http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/sho...d.php?t=192918

We just have to figure out how to squelch the inevitable flame wars.

[brianch]

i think that would be a great idea. there are a few nikon forums out there but they are nothing like POTN in terms of design and ease of use. It's so hard to find anything on those forums...

[FlyingPhotog]

Originally Posted by davidfig

Well I would welcome it. We would be able to see things like this http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/sho...d.php?t=192918

We just have to figure out how to squelch the inevitable flame wars.

If you're on the Canon half, all you can type is *****
If you're on the Nikon half, all you can type is *****

Should be easy to determine which one is being bleeped.

Next Problem...

[Croasdail]

I was just told that me and nine other photographers are going to have our kits replaced with Nikon kit. So in some ways, I am excited to hear it. At the same time, I went digital with Canon, and there were many here who helped me with that transition. It would be sad to see them walled off into their own area.

But honestly, I have no patience for the fan boy flame war crap, and I don't see how the two camps would live civily together. I am still keeping some of my personal canon kit, so I will have some claim here still.

Sigh... change.

[Longwatcher]

If it could be done, here is how I would do it.
1. All usernames and passwords are common between the two systems. Sign up for one and you have access to both.
2. The POTN book (if it continues) would include photos from both sites and the shop would be common to both.
3. The archive (of everything except equipment) at the time of the split would be on both sites.
4. Otherwise both sites are independant of each other.

Or
Only Canon users can get into the Canon equipment section and only Nikon users can get access to the Nikon equipment section, but otherwise everyone can access everything. If you want access to both then a moderator has to approve the access. If this second one was done, then some strict moderator action preventing cross equipment posting would have to be enforced.

The first suggestion allows for completely different look and feel (including adverts if needed), while the second keeps the look and feel, while minimizing the troll wars between systems.

Just some thoughts.

I am still some what mixed on if it is a good idea or not.