Originally posted by biz-engineer In absolute, nothing matters, earth won't stop spinning, even if there would be no photographers and no Pentax. But people have emotions, different backgrounds. So , we care, but we don't care.
If there was a thread when there is a new press release from camera vendor, the pentaxforum wouldn't be so alive.
It's part of marketing to encourage and maintain discussion forums, to keep passion alive, develop and nurture new desires etc... and at the same time, people like to express their point of view, to be part of a social group, people actually enjoy themselves talking and being validated by others. So, the result if that forums exist and continue to exist. For people who prefer to be alone with their cameras, it's also possible, they are not forced to read threads.
I figured passion for photography came from taking and sharing photos.. not sitting in front of a computing device arguing how Joe Somebody's view on how the company is run and what products need released is WRONG..
I think it is a mistake to have the rumors lumped in with the news, sitting at the top of the forums list. Rumors should be in their own section, near the bottom. Keep News (factual news) at the top, and bring Beginners Questions higher in the list. I'm not sure PF doing themselves a favor by having all the repeated, nutty rumor threads at the top of the forum list, where most people start (when visiting a new site). If 'we' want to encourage new users, we need to stick to the primary aspects on a website catering to a particular subject -- in our case, I think this means sifting the wheat from the chaff and advertising the actually useful portions of the forum more visibly. Rumors generally isn't one of those useful portions.
I've been here for over 5 years now.. and, if I am generous, I'd say maybe 10% of the Rumors become News.. the other 90% remains pure gossip entertainment.. but we're not really a pure entertainment site, I thought. And the same, tired rumors keep getting replayed with the same parties stating their same thoughts on the same points. It isn't a case of not seeing the purpose of the forums. It is a case of seeing the purpose of the forums and wanting that purpose to stay on target.