The website is dying

Wikkit · Post by **Wikkit** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:39 am

You can see it on the stats page, on the last twenty weeks and especially the last twenty months. The forum is practically dead; there hasn't been a new comic jam in a long time and even the immortal One Hour Comic thread died.

Do you think it's because Scott isn't posting any more, because of the Talk About Comics forum, or because this website is no longer updating or drawing any new people?

Is there anything that can be done?

Post by **Greg Stephens** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 2:17 am

I think some of all three. However, in point of fact, I'd like to say that the forum is the part that is showing the steady lapse of traffic, rather than the site as a whole, which has been in pretty deep sleep for quite some time, but not dead or dying (in my opinion).

I'm reluctant to say more, except that this was always a personal site and I was pleased that it found a purpose for a time that was more communal in nature.

2003 is the year of change.

Tim Mallos · Post by **Tim Mallos** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 3:58 pm

Well, personally, I've been very busy with life changes (new son, moved in December etc.) I'm still peeking, but not posting a lot right now. I think in many ways, the frequent visitors /posters to the forum may just be evolving. We've had the "Is this comics?" discussion several times, have debated economics and other "big" issues until we were tired of thinking about them.

I think a lot of people, including Scott, are just wrapped up in projects and, probably, fiscal issues. A lot of people working harder to make the same income.

Anyway, I am loyal to Zwol and will be, I'm sure, more active again.

I think it may be a little melodramatic to say the site is "dying". I do think site traffic may be a reasonable barometer of the available free time for members. A lot has changed in the last 20 months.

Tim

Wikkit · Post by **Wikkit** » Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:40 pm

Did I provide impetus, or just another case of timing/psychic abilities?

William G · Post by **William G** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 4:12 am

Hey! I just came here from Talk About Comics and it's not exactly a wild ride there either. I'm just going to assume that everyone here (like there) is a totally mature human being and that's why things are sleepy.

The internet, and especially message boards, thrive on childish behaviour. There's only so much intelligent discussion to be done before everyone starts to agree with each other. Or agrees to disagree.

Regardless, unless you want to start some flamewars, you're not really going to get things around her hopping anytime soon.

....
....

Unless webcomics become more popular than web-porn sometime soon.

Post by **Greg Stephens** » Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:16 pm

Wikkit wrote:Did I provide impetus, or just another case of timing/psychic abilities?

Timing.

There are an awful lot of factors in play in my life (not unlike anybody else's, to be sure) which contribute to the appearance/lack of any comics.

Jack Masters · Post by **Jack Masters** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:13 am

Greg Stephens wrote:2003 is the year of change.

I'm willing to bet 2004 will have even more change then 2003, and 2005 more then 2004, and on and on up to about 2015 or so, when a self-improving artificial intelligence converts the universe into computronium.

japanimationfist · Post by **japanimationfist** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 4:51 pm

The "immortal one hour comic jam" is likely to revisted some time soon, if people are keen. I for one just got busy as Tim said, and haven't visited as often. I think that web communities like this one have a tendency to work much like circles of friends in the real world: we meet, we do stuff, we get busy, we drift, we get back together and it all starts again.

Strangely though, and I wonder if I am the only one who noticed this (in which case I am probably imagining it) but it seems to me that a lot of people (Cat Garza for instance) became a little disengaged last Fall. I don;t know if it's ennui, or frustration with the fact that it takes so much to be noticed on the web, but a lot of people seemed to drift off. I imagine some of them will come back (as Cat did), and others will be replaced. The wheel turns round.

I'm just pleased that Greg has been such a great host and allowed us to hang out at his place. I feel like one of the Little Rascals (Spanky maybe)

Jack Masters · Post by **Jack Masters** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 7:22 pm

Seriously you guys! 2015!

lemmer · Post by **lemmer** » Mon Jan 27, 2003 12:15 am

FFLIIIMMMMMSSSYYYYYYYY
WHERE ARE YOU

losttoy · Post by **losttoy** » Mon Feb 03, 2003 6:16 pm

here is my deal ... I got bogged down by the holidays, then my wife and are getting prepared for our baby (due May 7th), then a lot of job hunting and some temp jobs, and I really haven't been posting anything here or my site. UNTIL, lately ... I am back and working harder than ever. I am redo my site with a new design, I'm putting out illustrations, and working on a comic strip that I don't to post until I have enough finished. I just realized I have have not been on Zwol for a while. That's because I just have not had the time on the computer with my phone not working, computer acting up, and the time I am at a computer lab is spent on my site. I wanted a time where I could come on and read all the new items indicated with the orange flags.

So when I get back ... what do I see??? ART!!! Welcome back Greg, great to see you drawing again. It's really good to boot. Keep up the good work, bud.

So this site is not dead, just seeing it's peaks and valleys.

Keaner · Post by **Keaner** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 6:46 pm

Admittedly, I think a lot of people have moved on to the talkaboutcomics.com forums. I must admit, I have as well, but here's hoping Greg's run on the Diesel Sweeties guest list gets things moving a little more around here.

I think if you start to get concerned about the number of people "viewing" the website, then you might wonder what your real reasons are for having the site... Hey, the comic jams were certainly fun while they were still going.

Vizon · Post by **Vizon** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 3:52 am

Great to see some new Zwol Greg! You are still my inspiration. I've just celebrated a year of comic-drawing at my site - all thanks to you. I hope you keep drawing Zwol. I'll always have your link at my site.

Post by **Greg Stephens** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 11:32 am

Thank you.

We'll see if I can get another one up this month.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Tue May 20, 2003 12:07 am

I agree with Jack Masters....the computers will soon take over and then all will be fine. Ill stick with the blue pill....screw that red pill, too much work involved.

By the way check out this article if you have SEEN Reloaded, DO NOT read it if you havent and dont want a spoiler surprise.

http://www.corporatemofo.com/stories/051803matrix.htm

If you hated the movie as I did before reading this, then read this it just may change your mind....though the FX still suck...Ill leave it at that.

Post by **Greg Stephens** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:28 am

I decided to address your Matrix comments in another thread.

websafe · Post by **websafe** » Sun May 25, 2003 5:00 pm

I am still interested in collaborative comics, comics jams, one-hour comics, 24-hour comics, comics improvs, and the like. Groupboards -- shared digital whiteboards -- could be great for that. Anyone use them? Or NetMeeting?

See a sample of my work at http://websafestudio.tripod.com

Zwol.org