STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hermes

should I bother anymore?

Sibeski · Dooney & Bourke

Hmm.. I don't know what to say really. I enjoy the forum and visit every weekday but that in no way entitles me to say, "keep it open for me!"
As for posting, I will willingly put my hand in the air and call - guilty.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

D
I am really sorry you are feeling like this.
I can't really tell you to keep the forum open, if you decide not to. I love this forum because it's a place I can meet like-minded girls that are of help and support whenever I need it. And I try to offer the same help, whenever I feel I can add something to the conversation.
I find the forum isn't so dead lately (there have been slower periods), but it's definitely slower than at the beginning...
Of course I can only speak for myself, but I'd really love for the forum to stay. I'll try to contribute more (and if you need help with other things, please let me know!), and hope other girls will do so.
I am sorry you are feeling so frustrated right now...

carmenb513 · Coach

You should keep this thing going until the wheels fall off. I feel like ppl here are my "cyber" family. I know I have not posted as much as I use to, but I'm fixin to get back on. My job has had me slackin on forums that I post on.

For the record D, you are solely to blame, as I have not bought clothes or purses in forever. To do my part for the shopping thread I am going to spend some chips next week in NYC. Now if I show up at your door skinny and homeless just let me in, and admire my cute clothes. lol Seriously though, I will be treating myself next week. Hopefully I will get some emails for some sample sales between now and then. :)

Kelly · Hermes

I can definitely see how frustrated you must be. I remember when I first joined, the shopping section was filled to the brim - just about every day, there was a whole new page of posts. Now there are maybe 4 a day. It's slowed down considerably. I still enjoy it here because it is a place to discuss my interests with other like-minded women, but I don't know how to revive it to be as busy as it used to be. I try to be as talkative as I can, but I can see where your frustration lies and obviously can't fault you for it or try to say that's unfounded.

Kelly · Hermes

carmen, do you mean "not solely"

ILoveChoo · Hermes

Sibeski wrote:

Hmm.. I don't know what to say really. I enjoy the forum and visit every weekday but that in no way entitles me to say, "keep it open for me!"
As for posting, I will willingly put my hand in the air and call - guilty.

ditto

Hermes

ok, good points, and I agree with them.

I don't want ST to go away.

Perhaps I am just spending more time here, and didn't realize how bad it was.

I'm obviously frustrated.

I look at the forum that has captured the attention of many STers, and it's just plain a whole lot more active in regard to posting, and that's why people are going there (don't ask me what site it is, because I'm certainly not going to direct you there!)

the key to this forum/site surviving is to get more activity. yes, I know the economy sucks and people aren't spending like they used to, but if you look at some other forums, that doesn't seem to be a factor. you also don't have to buy things to participate in the forum. my spending has gone down A LOT (in the past month I bought running shoes and sunglasses) but I'm still here posting as much as I can.

and I feel bad expressing my frustration. it's not like I can force anyone to post, you have to want to post.

ahhh - I don't know. sorry for making anyone feel guilty. I know there's a lot of other social outlets available. We just used to be so much more active.

alb · Marc Jacobs

hey D! you are not making us feel guilty - seriously, you should be able to speak your mind here. fwiw, although i have been guilty as well of not posting as much as i would like i love and appreciate this forum, and your contribution to it, so very much. i don't know why participation is down, but i will definitely make more effort to do my part to keep it going if that will help. please let me know if there is anything else i can do, and thanks for everything you do to make this such a great site.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I also miss the days of when the style section had pages of new posts every day. I don't know abut anyone else, but I feel like a few seasons ago I loved everything. I'd walk into pretty much any store and try on a million things. Now, I don't know if I'm just in a rut or what, but I don't like much of anything! I'm sick of all my clothes and I swear i try to go shopping, but I'll visit 6 stores before I find even one thing that I want to try on (and then it usually doesn't fit right). All this to say, maybe this just isn't a great time for fashion? Has anyone else been having this shopping problem?

I'll try to post more. I'm very guilty of just lurking lately.

Sibeski · Dooney & Bourke

Don't feel bad for expressing yourself, that's a no-no smile

As for other sites the only one I go to is Polyvore, those teeny bopper's have lots of ideas. I do miss people posting their outfits so I will thank Kitty, ico, and Claudia. They seem to be doing their part. I suck at posting - never been a big one. Maybe your frustration will be the kick in the pants I need (I'm a fraidy-cat).

What I have done is saved (dork) inspirational pic's from here. I think I'll have show 'n tell.

ETA: I'm in complete agreeance with ILC

-- Edited by Sibeski at 14:13, 2009-02-19

Kincali · Dooney & Bourke

This is going to be an odd observation, but it seems that snark/sarcasm has become the taste du jour for blogs/forums. This is a subject I've been thinking about for a while, so maybe I should start a separate post.

Anyway, I feel people are more attracted to the drama/snarkiness rather than discussing fashion. Maybe everyone is so angry/miserable right now, that is it a way to take it out on someone else, and it helps to have some one feel worse than you do. Somewhere along the line, being snarky/rude has been confused with having real humor and wit.

I come here because people are kind & supportive of each other, and not just to their "clique", but to everyone that posts. I guess my point is that even though this forum feels safe, apparently it isn't entertaining enough, at least for the world we are living in now.

But you know what, I'm an overly sensitive person. I take things to heart that I probably shouldn't, and I've always been over protective of the little guy. So what do I know?

I'm a mostly silent poster on here, and I do miss some of the older posters that are now gone(Smash, DC, Courtney, Mia etc), so maybe I feel out of rhythm on here now. Plus, I have my own blog, and I try to keep it separate from this forum.

I don't want this forum to end either, maybe you should start making everyone have to post at least 5x a week or something to get it rolling? Maybe we should talk about poop, and dicks, and make fun of each others purchases? biggrin

-- Edited by Kincali at 14:57, 2009-02-19

Elle · Hermes

I've also been feeling frustrated with the lack of activity - it's been lonely for those of us that hang around frequently. And if it's frustrating for me as just as member, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you, D.

Honestly? I think the fact that people are buying less or not liking things in the stores and therefore not posting as much is bunk. I feel like while we may have all come here originally for the fashion/shopping talk, as we've all gotten to know each other, people come here more to talk to their friends about things, get their opinions, ask for suggestions, whatever. There's no reason for that sort of participation to have tanked, and that's really the stuff I've missed the most. I really like everyone who's around now, but most of the 'old regulars' aren't around anymore and that in itself feels weird ... like everyone has really busy super interesting lives and don't have time for us anymore

.

I'm still here. And I plan on being here until the day I type the address into my browser and am told the site no longer exists, which I hope is never. Or as close to never as is reasonable.

Hermes

Kincali wrote:

This is going to be an odd observation, but it seems that snark/sarcasm has become the taste du jour for blogs/forums. This is a subject I've been thinking about for a while, so maybe I should start a separate post.

Anyway, I feel people are more attracted to the drama/snarkiness rather than discussing fashion. Maybe everyone is so angry/miserable right now, that is it a way to take it out on someone else, and it helps to have some one feel worst than you do. Somewhere along the line, being snarky/rude has been confused with having real humor and wit.

I come here because people are kind & supportive of each other, and not just to their "clique", but to everyone that posts. I guess my point is that even though this forum feels safe, apparently it isn't entertaining enough, at least for the world we are living in now.

But you know what, I'm an overly sensitive person. I take things to heart that I probably shouldn't, and I've always been over protective of the little guy. So what do I know?

I'm a mostly silent poster on here, and I do miss some of the older posters that are now gone(Smash, DC, Courtney, Mia etc), so maybe I feel out of rhythm on here now. Plus, I have my own blog, and I try to keep it separate from this forum.

I don't want this forum to end either, maybe you should start making everyone have to post at least 5x a week or something to get it rolling? Maybe we should talk about poop, and dicks, and make fun of each others purchases?

you are so spot on. that's it.

it's funny. whenever I discussed stylethread in a business sense, I always said the core competency was "safe community." A core competency is something that your business does better than anyone else and is difficult to replicate. A core competency is what one should focus on when growing a business, which is what I tried to do until my new techie partner flaked on me this past fall.

I have been a very protective mother hen.

I too have wondered if we're "too nice." But I prided myself in setting us apart as a "nice" community. We used to have our moments when we weren't. Yes, there were some good posters back in the day. I guess the best we can do is just mention stylethread.com when we're at other forums to try to get some fresh traffic over here.

Remember when the lucky forums sucked, and was teeming with trolls? everyone just marched right over to FH, and a new community was born. A safe, nice community. It's contradictory to the theory we're discussing, but it's amazing how people can migrate.

ok, everybody - start being assholes! nobody likes a nice woman

now, another thing that sets us apart, as well as what I think makes us nicer, is that we tend to be an accomplished and educated group of women, hence more evolved mentally and emotionally... I guess I prefer to hang out with accomplished and educated women...

Hermes

Elle wrote:

I've also been feeling frustrated with the lack of activity - it's been lonely for those of us that hang around frequently. And if it's frustrating for me as just as member, I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for you, D.

Honestly? I think the fact that people are buying less or not liking things in the stores and therefore not posting as much is bunk. I feel like while we may have all come here originally for the fashion/shopping talk, as we've all gotten to know each other, people come here more to talk to their friends about things, get their opinions, ask for suggestions, whatever. There's no reason for that sort of participation to have tanked, and that's really the stuff I've missed the most. I really like everyone who's around now, but most of the 'old regulars' aren't around anymore and that in itself feels weird ... like everyone has really busy super interesting lives and don't have time for us anymore .

I'm still here. And I plan on being here until the day I type the address into my browser and am told the site no longer exists, which I hope is never. Or as close to never as is reasonable.

I'm with you almost 100%. With the exception of a couple of people, the ex-regular posters don't have really busy super interesting lives. They're instead choosing to spend their time at the snarkier, high-traffic forums hmm

to each their own, I guess.

small fry · Chanel

Iam guilty for not posting, I feel like my life is all about baby now , I know lame excuse

Also I have not been able to shop like I use to for clothes and I dont want to post things I have worn before.

I do miss all the buzz and alot of the reg. posters that are not around, but that does not mean we can still can't have a kick ass fourm again

FashionPrincess · Hermes

I agree with everything that has been said! And I've recently thought to myself that when I read a post and think, oh, I like that or oh, that's good or whatever thought I'm thinking, that hmmmm, maybe I should actually post that :)

And I also wanted to mention that I love the kinds of post you have made recently where we discuss color combos or the fall fashion and those kinds of post. Helps ad substance to the where do we find this, etc kind of post. KWIM?

And a big thank you to all you do!!! Just hang in there for us, ST can pull thru this!

ico · Dooney & Bourke

FashionPrincess wrote:

I agree with everything that has been said! And I've recently thought to myself that when I read a post and think, oh, I like that or oh, that's good or whatever thought I'm thinking, that hmmmm, maybe I should actually post that :)

Me too! I am often lazy, think something like - I'll post a reply when I get home, then I forget.
Or I get dressed, think about taking a pic of the outfit, then decide not to bother...

ico · Dooney & Bourke

... and - may be it's me only, but I really have a little concern when posting here.
I don't live in the US, so if I post something I bought, which has some exotic name, even if it's something from the cheapest store down the street, but which has an italian name, I am afraid to come out as snobby...

I know I am just being paranoid...

Kincali · Dooney & Bourke

ico wrote:

... and - may be it's me only, but I really have a little concern when posting here.
I don't live in the US, so if I post something I bought, which has some exotic name, even if it's something from the cheapest store down the street, but which has an italian name, I am afraid to come out as snobby...

I know I am just being paranoid...

oh no please post! I love hearing about different things to buy. The hubby and I are trying to save up enough money to go back to Europe in the fall so I am always interested in brands over there.