A BIG Day

[Hobbit]

Happy anniversary Mark! Here's to 25 more!

As much as I would love to be here in 25 years time, I would be 87 then, so it is unlikely! You never know, though - and I would love to see SFFWorld continue for as long as possible!

 

[tpetty]

Appreciate all the years Mark, thanks!

 

[Raf]

Well the Cookie Monster was because I got a reputation for eating biscuits whilst working on SFFWorld stuff. The cat avatar is because two years ago I became a cat fosterer for a local rescue service here. My latest two have now been with me 18+ months - don't think they're going anywhere, sadly.

View attachment 1044

After 18 months, they would have to fight me for my foster kitties

 

[Hobbit]

After 18 months, they would have to fight me for my foster kitties

They're an interesting pair... very different to my previous foster, who believe it or not was named (not by me!) Podrick. He was a real character....

But these two are (again, not by me!) Arora (spelt like that!) and Arista. Arora is a tabby and Arista is a longhaired black cat - she has not coped well with the recent UK heatwave.

And seeing how we've gone down the 'pet route', here's a recent picture... (they love sitting on boxes....)

 

[Raf]

They're an interesting pair... very different to my previous foster, who believe it or not was named (not by me!) Podrick. He was a real character....

But these two are (again, not by me!) Arora (spelt like that!) and Arista. Arora is a tabby and Arista is a longhaired black cat - she has not coped well with the recent UK heatwave.

And seeing how we've gone down the 'pet route', here's a recent picture... (they love sitting on boxes....)

View attachment 1046

A likely looking pair of kitties, Hobbit. After 18 months they become family.

 

[RedMage]

@Hobbit, do you have any goals for the SFFWorld? Maybe things you'd like to do or see happen around the forum in the next few months? Halloween is coming up and, eventually, the end of the year. We have some fun annual events with both of those. Those are the sorts of things I'm thinking about.

Or do other forum members have things they're looking forward to, things they want to do or see happen with the forum? (I see people keep reacting to posts, but not much more. I'm not trying to pressure you, but this is a discussion forum )

 

[Hobbit]

I always look forward to October - I find myself contributing less and less each year, sadly, but Randy & Rob always find more for me to add to my reading lists! (I've seen some of the books they're reviewing this year already and they're great!)

But we're always interested in things Forumites would like to do.

 

[RedMage]

Something I thought of after posting today, what about a summer reading list? Maybe a bit late for this year, but we could do something like our Halloween countdown at the beginning of next summer. SFFH beach reads.

Another event might be a Romantasy thing in January and February, before Valentine's Day.

I don't know if we should have events constantly, or event-like lists that come across as all "official". But just some thoughts. My news feed has some daily items from genre sites and they're always doing these sorts of things. I look and out of the 10 book in this list, I may be interested in only 2 and the others are just okay in their descriptions. And a Brandon Sanderson book appears at least once in most of these lists, regardless of what it is. These guys sure like Sanderson and, while he's not bad, there's just so much more.

 

[Hobbit]

Something I thought of after posting today, what about a summer reading list?

I have done these before: https://www.sffworld.com/2020/07/summer-genre-reading-2020/ . But in recent years (and post Covid, I think) my work has limited what I write/review from May to well, now.

I have more time now, but as you say for many Summer is underway and nearly over.

We've always preferred ideas to come from Forumites - after all, it is them who use the site. So ideas would be welcomed....

M.

 

[Ropie]

No radical ideas from me, sorry. For most of the time that I've been visiting the site I have really just enjoyed finding out what everyone is reading on a monthly basis, seeing which books have been reviewed, mentioning what I've been (slowly) reading and getting ideas for what to read next. This is the essence of the forum for me. I'm happy just visiting a few times a week to catch up.

 

[Hobbit]

Summer Reading Article on the way.....

 

[RedMage]

Speaking of things forum members want... We just got news from Daigoro, our owner, that member profiles have been updated and modernized to include links to other social media platforms. Go check it out! And, if you're inclined, add some links to where forum friends might find you elsewhere online.

 

[Dawnstorm]

It is weird thinking I've been doing this 25+ years - it's actually longer, but for some reason that escapes me I had to re-sign up to the site. Might have been a system upgrade.

Heh, my first reaction was "Only 2001?" That's only 2 years earlier than me... Except the join date would have been the same in 2003. I was internet-naive back in those days.

Not many people are still around. I sometimes wonder how everyone is. I mean, I'm still here, but you wouldn't know, since I rarely post.

Alos, those are nice kitties (most of mine would have loved sitting in boxes).

There's quite a bit of history here. Who still remembers the "Funzone"? Apparently some of the then-recent teenage members made to many non-serious posts which led to the creation of said sub-forum. I always imagined barbed wire and guys with guns at the gate handing you party hat as you passed through...

I miss the author sub-forums. Who did we have apart from Scott Bakker and Gary Wassner? I can't remember.

I'm sort of out-of-touch with the genre literature of today... I'm sure there's plenty of good stuff, but if you buy in book shops around here, the genre stuff's hard to get (if you want the original), because due to amazon importers stopped importing anything but the hits.

In any case, you've probably been the most constant presence over the years here.

 

[Hobbit]

Thank you, D.
I am always aware that people read posts, even if they don't want to post. That's not a problem, but if people wish to comment, it is usually welcome. Thank you for posting on this occasion!

Personally, I have always been pleased/proud that members on the whole are respectful to each other and willing to listen to others of all types. It is one of the things that make SFFWorld special for me.

Ah, the Funzone.

Not sure I've been the most constant presence - Rob has been here longer; although he posts less these days, he's still around. Dag too, of course.

People like KatG, Chitman (Mark), Prairie Dog, Fluffy Bunny, Randy.... RedMage, of course.... always pleased to see them around, as well as the staff who give/gave time when they can. As most of you know, we are all volunteers here (I was once told.... "What...you do all that....FOR FREE?") and time is precious. After all, we could be reading/watching/listening...

It also makes me happy when people return, even if they haven't been here for a while. Sometimes other things get in the way, but we're still here! (And I am pleased to see people like Nila and Andrew pop in when they can too.)

Of course, you don't do such work without upsetting people at some time and somewhere; but I/we try very hard not to! I'm also very pleased to say that the staff generally get on with each other - it helps.

Thanks to all again. It is genuinely humbling. Some of you will know how uncomfortable I am talking about myself - it is definitely NOT all about me! - but on this occasion I feel that it is worth mentioning how important SFFWorld is to me. Long may it continue!

M.

 

[Ropie]

Or do other forum members have things they're looking forward to, things they want to do or see happen with the forum? (I see people keep reacting to posts, but not much more. I'm not trying to pressure you, but this is a discussion forum )

You know, I had a thought about the forums today, and not for the first time.

I usually only look in the science fiction section of the site, and very occasionally in the fantasy section. However, when I do look in fantasy I see exactly the same people posting about similar books. Often we can't even decide if a book should go in the SF or fantasy section. So my idea is simply to combine fantasy, horror and science fiction into one section, like they usually do in book shops these days.

Is there a good reason to keep them segregated? OK - if there were hundreds of science-fiction-hating people discussing classic high fantasy every month and nothing else, it might make sense, but there aren't. And didn't we used to have the genres combined at some point in the past?? If nothing else it would mean poor old Hobbit would only have to post one 'Welcome to the month' topic each month.

 

[RedMage]

Hello and welcome back after the commercial break. You all know me, I'm RedMage, host of the talk show A BIG Day.

@Ropie, that's quite a suggestion. Not unprecedented though. No, far from it. SFFWorld has a history of creating new forums and subforums to fit the needs and desires of the community, as well as combining forums and deleting sections that are no longer used.

Case in point, @Dawnstorm referred to a "Fun...er Zone"? I joined the site at the end of 2009 and I have no idea what that is. (Though, something is appearing far off in the fog of memory, just a shadow I can barely see. So maybe I do remember it but it's just been so long and I visited so rarely.)

What are others thoughts on Ropie's idea?

@Hobbit, @Raf, @Westy, @blailock, @Prairie_Dog, @suciul, @Fryan, @chitman13, @Randy M., @T77, @tpetty and just @EVERYONE (wish that was a thing... )

 

[suciul]

Re combining sf and fantasy reading in forums, I am ok either way, but I think that the current system is better as it makes both "reading in" threads less cluttered, so arguably easier to follow; now, what to put where is of course somewhat subjective for some books, but that's fine - personally, anything with magic is fantasy unless the magic is obviously advanced tech a la A. Clarke saying, while alt-hist, near-future, apocalyptic etc is sf at least as long as the apocalypse and zombies and what not that follow have a sfnal origin like a plague or such, but I am fine if other people have diferent criteria.

 

[Dawnstorm]

Case in point, @Dawnstorm referred to a "Fun...er Zone"? I joined the site at the end of 2009 and I have no idea what that is. (Though, something is appearing far off in the fog of memory, just a shadow I can barely see. So maybe I do remember it but it's just been so long and I visited so rarely.)

I don't remember how long it lasted. It was certainly at least one forum-software-change ago. Probably more. I think it was its own thing with subforums? My memories are hazy, too. I'm not good at judging time. You might have come in at its tail end? I remember it kind of fondly... from a distance. Like an embarrassing relative you've always liked but can't quite bring yourself to miss.

As for genre merges: I'm entirely indifferent. I've always read books that sounded interesting, no matter the genre.

Some of you will know how uncomfortable I am talking about myself - it is definitely NOT all about me!

We talk about ourselves one way or another, whether we like it or not. It's the internet.

I don't know if people know this about me, but I'm not actually a magical squid creature. That's just a scouting avatar I'm sending out...

 

[Hobbit]

We have debated the separation a few times over the years. If I remember right, one of the issues was that members would have to trawl through lots of posts they didn't want before they got to what they were interested in. By taking The Funzone and the Promotion Zone to other places it reduced the quantity of posts people had to go through whilst those who wanted those sort of posts could still see them easily.

It also made management potentially easier in that we could look at sections one at a time, rather than the whole damn thing.

There are positives and negatives on both sides. At the moment it generally works for us, and most people seem OK with it.

There is the issue of where books crossover - SF books mixed with fantasy elements, science fiction horror, science with magic, etc etc. Generally we make executive decisions - time travel we still count as SF, for example, even when it is sounding more and more like it is probably fantasy.

Fantasy is still the default Forum, even though SF has the greater traffic. It's not a major issue in my opinion, and these things do vary; it may yet return to dominance.

We talk about ourselves one way or another, whether we like it or not. It's the internet.

Yes; and it can be fun, but I am always thinking you may not want to know details about me. I always feel I am making things about me when they don't need to be! (Works in reviews too, but people seem to like it, so I do sometimes add details there.)

 

[Fryan]

Regarding combining the Fantasy and SF threads, I don’t mind either way. I tend to read both and don’t mind clicking around to see what folks are talking about on both sides of the forum.

I’m probably more likely to post in the SF section but I have a soft spot for fantasy as well. Despite having a list of authors/books that I hope to read someday that is a few hundred names deep, I still love to get new recommendations to add