I see the future of WC

whats probably going to happen here

The death of Writers Cafe, as foreseen by me, Mystical Mike.

 

Please put a dollar in the jar, my prognostications are not free!

 

As I am sure you have all noticed, Writers Cafe made some "improvements"

 

Now you can coment back specifically, and see your reading history.

 

Also i have read that more "improvements" will be coming in the future.

 

The better of the "improvements" is the reading history, thats nice to have.

 

I do like the commenting back specifically, I usually always thank someone for their comments, now instead of scrolling up and down the comments are grouped together and that is nice too.

 

However, i have seen and lived through these "improvements on another so called "writers site" and i fear these items will only bring this place down to the level of a social networking site, and this is how it starts....I noticed the influx of younger writers a while back and the over the top gushing, over many very bad to ordinary peices. I am not about to single anyone out.

 

I have read a lot on here, and for a "writers site" there are some very good writers here and a lot of pretty bad ones, and yes i get it, almost no one comes here a great writer, you come here to get better and learn more about writing and hopefully find your own voice.

 

But, with the influx of younger writers, or should I say new, the addition of new options and tools to use, this place will become more like facebook than what it was meant to be

and when you give people all these new tools and things to play with....good writing gets lost in the mix and silly things start to happen, ratings get questioned, comments get flamed, cliques form, cyber wars start.....

Don't think so? Well I have seen it happen with these very circumstances. It doesn't mean it will happen, but it sure can, so I would say, be cautious in these new developements, because who would want to put up something they have worked so hard on, poured their heart into, only to have 356 comments, all about flaming each other over something not even related to the poem or story?

 

The magic 8-ball hath spoken.

 

Author's Note

Be careful what you wish for.....

Reviews

[A. V. Madison]

I don't think that there's any specific problem with having younger writers on here. I mean, I'm eleven but I take my writing very seriously. The age of writers don't influence the future of a website. I still think that there's many writers that are indeed passionate about the content of their pieces. And is it a very bad thing that there's more social networking applications that are being added generously to this website? I'm meeting plenty of new people and gaining many new friends. Honestly, if it weren't for the array of younger writers, I wouldn't have met my best friend Harley that actually saved my life. But the details of that tale aren't pertinent.

Honestly, I agree that there is bad sides to Writers Cafe becoming a bit of a social networking device, but there is more pro's to weigh out the con's. I'm not trying to start a "cyber war" as you call it, I am simply voicing my opinion. Agree to disagree.

[KAOlmsted]

I just saw a great quote this very day..."Writing is 5% talent and 95% trying to keep yourself from getting distracted by the Internet..."

p.s. I am 42 and have been writing for decades...and I, too, feel like a beer. May I stay?? *laugh*

[Michael of Gilead]

Ha! Yes KAO, I agree with that...I had a kindle, second gen...loved it and all i did was read with it...got a kindle fire and spend more time distracted than reading now *sigh*

You don't look 42, but I won't be checking ID's, course you can have a beer and stay ;)

[Michael of Gilead]

Thats fine Rebel and i am not going to pick apart everything you've said because you have spoken true, to yourself, but true and thats just fine. I do believe one can write creatively at almost any age, but life experience is necessary for a deeper and fuller way to express yourself, ie; at 11 you may have had a scare or two...see how it is when you are 30..and yes this is one of those you'll understand better years from now things...and you will.

My main point here is I've seen this happen before at another writers site...it may or may not happen here....i'd rather have a smaller writers site than a larger populist site and thats just my opinion, i agree to disagree ;)

[Ruth]

Hey love...
Well...yes...happens and shall continue to do so...I have seen it happening for a while but I thought also that maybe because I hadn't been around as much, that's why I got less and less reviews each time I logged in...now I know it is because most of the older friends have chosen to swim ashore instead of drown with us (wink) LOL

Ah well...change abound...good to read you hon xoxo

[Michael of Gilead]

Thanks much Poppy, I would ove to find a happy medium here and not swim someplace else ;)
I also understand that the people who run this site are needing/wanting to make a profit, but they must also know running a writes site isn't a place that would make big bucks, hoping for the best.

[Ruth]

I agree there love...running a site of my own has taught me that lol I think it'll be ok though, the comments themselves don't bother me, good way to interact but must admit, things like that always take up more time and sometimes fail not because it is wished but because folks haven't the time to comment etc lol Have a good week sweet xoxo

[Samuel Dickens]

Since the addition of that "comment on the review" button, I've seen a good bit of fussing. Some, it seems, want WC to be like FB, and I don't want that all.

[Michael of Gilead]

Neither do I Sam.

[Brad]

hahahahahaha...yes...i do see a "GATHER"ing of impudence coming...to be honest, the only thing that these writing sites have taught me is that the future of readers has the attention span of a music video (for those who don't know what they are, it's what Mtv used to play 24/7 without commercials). i'm hoping this doesn't happen...but once you like something...something usually goes to s**t

[Michael of Gilead]

Yup Brad, you better than some know this...i'm just stuck by the similarities.....maybe they will give us gift cards for our points one day? ;)

[Brad]

now that would be sweet...i'm still trying to figure out what the HELL these points on here mean?

[Michael of Gilead]

Here ya go, this is what the points are for......bah!

Points are a away for us and the rest of the WritersCafe.org community to track how active each writer is. You receive points for several different actions such as reviewing other writer's work or sharing your writing with others [see a full list here]. The more points you have, the higher you appear on the Writers search and rank pages.

[Brad]

thanks...i'm now more cornfusified than befurr....ya reckon i'm mo famous now dat i dun commentified on yer commentificationisms?

[Michael of Gilead]

I'm havin' corn fo dinner too *high five*

Ever ones mo famous whens they comments on my commentifications

[Brad]

i think i dun found corn in ma poop

[Michael of Gilead]

You wanna make sum popcorn?

[The Random Writings Of ..]

Awe yes, change can be good or bad. I do believe that embracing it and staying true to your writing is important. For example this bit you posted here. Straight, honest and not afraid to tell it like it is. I do hope that this does not become a place like facebook (I do have a facebook, but they are separate). For me I come here to write and read others writing. Thank you for sharing. I will have to explore the changes, I have been away for a while :)

[Michael of Gilead]

Thank you Kates, often many do not like to hear things without a filter....that is not me.
Change for the sake of change is not a good thing, I would prefer before they start making this place different, would be to upgrade their servers?

[The Random Writings Of Me..Kates]

I think honesty is the best policy! If you filter things you get no where in life, except a bubble world. And yes change for the sake of change is worthless. If something is not broke don't fix it. But YES and UPGRADE to servers would be AMAZING!!!!!

[Michael of Gilead]

Thats why I hate PC....the world seems to run on it....but it's not for me.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Change is not always welcomed...I have trouble with it sometimes.

I understand how you feel, I can relate with your frustrations. However, the waters are being tested and I hope the improvements aren't too drastic that we forget about the core of this site; the beauty of reading and writing Books, Stories and Poetry, and to learn and improve our creative writing. Thank you for sharing, my friend. :)

[Michael of Gilead]

Well Robbie, I just hope the same, it would be a shame if all the writing stopped and people just posted remarks on others walls and blogged about their every thought and thing in their lives....."oh my cat rolled over" "I have to go to the store....what a bummer" "hey the mail came"......ugh

[Zeek4]

I'm so lame when it comes to using this site Mike I haven't even picked up on the "improvements." Thanks to your piece I'll take a closer look. I like the way you don't mince words when it comes to expressing your opinion.

[Michael of Gilead]

Thanks Zeek4, i appreciate your comments, you can find these improvements in the form under the blog.

[Liza]

fear of change....well at least you're acknowledging it...
i really dont know what is good any more...i am just glad this place exists.

[Michael of Gilead]

I don't fear change, only change leading down a path i have already been down...I learn from mistakes for the most part and would not like to see this site become a social network....if it does then this place as you know it won't exist anymore.

[Liza]

It is a social network...for writers, we are here to entertain and be entertained, connect for free...

[Michael of Gilead]

Thanks.