Well, I'm thinking everyone just comes in every now and then to check up on the site, like you do. I come in every day seeing if there is new content, and I still advertise Fwunk in a lot of places, but somehow it seems the site is dying nonetheless. I don't know what this site is lacking, really. I'm thinking it's just lacking a stable community. Perhaps it is because there are so many other sites like us out there. I agree with you though, it was such a wonderful idea when we built it, and it tears me up inside to see how it has become. If I were more tech-minded, I would try to see if I could build it up to be even more than it is, but sadly I don't have access. No matter what happens though, I'll always be on Fwunk...and always advertise it.

I see. Has anyone who is helping run the site tried to partner with other sites? That could help out quite a bit I think. I know I've been helping a buddy with a new up and coming record label, and he is constantly trying to branch out with partnerships in order to build up his community. It's helped bring in new members from different areas.

I would try to get the word out about the site as well in forums elsewhere. It seems like such a cool site and idea that I hate to see it fail before it gets a chance to succeed. But it seems like it is heading that direction unless someone takes a leadership role and decides to go out and progressively find new members.

Just some thoughts on the subject. Take them or leave them as you wish.

Well, we bought out this one anime site, and then we also became partners with Aviary.com....at least I think we did. I like your idea. I should probably think about partnering up with other sites. Most of the people who were admins seem to have left the site, mainly because lack of community and direction. Not even I have full power to change stuff on the site, so even stuff like partnerships might be hard for me to add in. I'll see what I can do though, since I'm really the only admin still active(or to some degree still active.)
Also, I really appreciate your concern and thank you so much for your suggestions. I'll try to do something. There's just a lot of weight on my back right now trying to manage a site alone while working a semi-full time job and not having a lot of available time for accessing the internet. I too do not want to see Fwunk fail. It's sort of like my baby. I helped it into existence and wouldn't want to see it die before I do.
But again, thanks Gravey.

~Steph

You are doing this all on your own? The fact the site is up and running at all is a bit of a small miracle honestly. I thought there were more people involved with running the site. Doing any sort of expansion would be really tough then to be honest. Go knows it's hard enough with a full team involved, let alone when you are doing all the grunt work on your own. :-/

If things don't work out here you should check out the community the record label I work for is building. We are small at the moment, much like yourself. But all the same we are trying to build up a community.

If nothing else it might be a decent networking opportunity by meeting new artists, composers, programmers, etc.

http://community.5linerecords.com/

Best of luck with everything. Hope everything works out.

I vowed to never post here again after all that has happened… But I can’t just sit here and say nothing If I see this thread.

If I may quote you steph: “I don't know what this site is lacking, really”
I try not to use the words that came to my mind when I first read this, because then I will surely be banned for swearing.
But what I can say I’m overwhelmed by your blindness and lack of common sense. I honestly wonder if you ever read the things chronamut and me where going on about… well every goddamn time we admins met? Because then you would know what this site is lacking because we spelled it out for you loud and clear!!! But none ever listened, not you, not xay and not admin. You crippled the potential of this site yourself by refusing to change important things the moment they arose. You were deaf to our constant warnings that this site will fail you if don’t change the way it works.
So I won’t repeat myself again by telling you once more what could have been done. Read through the fwunk staff postings if you want.
Not that anything of that matters now.

Scythe,
I'm surprised that you are still here. I've been to the IRC chat and don't see you on there, I just never see you guys here anymore. I can't handle this site on my own, and I do not hold the power to change anything like you think I do. I can't change a thing....only Xay can. So I'm not the one who crippled this site, despite being given full reign. There is still nothing I can do to improve the site rather than advertising, which I have done. Despite efforts I've made, well, it seems this site will still only cater to a very small audience. And thank you for refraining from speaking your full mind. For the record, I don't even have the authority to ban you.

Gravey,
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll certainly look at it.
And sorry for not replying sooner. I've been having connection trouble lately.

like scythe I also vowed to never come back to this site until it actually stabilized and became something that could move forward and sustain itself - I still don't feel it has reached this stage - and frankly - I feel the way you have created the site itself to be the biggest hindrance of all of it actually ever evolving into anything worthwhile - a site in which only one user who is too busy with their life to actually carve and mold it is not a worthwhjile endeavour. You and I both know this module based system is awkward at best - and a very bad way to make a site. If you want my personal opinion - scratch the code - all of it - and start over with actual coders - so that you can actually modify this site properly and make it grow into something worthy.

There are quite a few useless features on this site - mostly becayse you don't have the userbase to demand it all - rebuild the site - start with a few core things - and slowly add and build things as you go. Another thing I feel has killed this site is it has tried to grow too big, too fast, on shaky foundations. It's a brilliant concept - me and scythe have told you guys this again and again - and has the potential to be something really huge - but it's like a 2 man crew trying to man a battlestar cruiser. You're going to kill yourselves. If you're really serious about this invest in the right resources and the right people to make it happen.

that is all I have to say.

Hey, thanks Shawn. I really do know what you mean. It wasn't a good idea for two busy people to decide to open a site of this magnitude. But even still, I'll always be around. Maybe someday, when I have a better job anyway, I can spend even more time here, and maybe I'll open another domain or something and let you guys have full reign over the programming. :)

I must admit that the server prior to just yesterday (December 25th, 2010) was not powerful enough of a foundation to support the site. Today, a new bigger, faster and more reliable server is in place. I spent my Christmas day upgrading the server and I am proud to say that Fwunk is now running on a more capable server. Considering that the site is FREE to use while not having any budget whatsoever, I feel the site offers more than what is expected of it. Anyway, the new year is approaching and we can only learn from what has happened in the past. I will personally see to it that all unecessary features be removed and the remaining ones become finely tuned. Other than Steph, I really have no one else technical enough to handle (or even understand how to handle) the whole site's functionality. As of now, I am the only one who can maintain the site and fix anything that is broken. For the most part, it is working as expected but if any of you find something wrong, just let me know by leaving me a message through the site.

work on keeping users here, and giving them more incentives. I'm glad to hear the server is back up.

also communication - or lack of it - is what I really feel killed the staff on this site. You got your work carved out for you.

When you have need for us again let us know.