Why did we all abandon Launching Pad?

[Lost Boy]

I know there was some kind of problem over at Fab's board that got a lot of people upset. Moonliner worked his butt off and in two days got another chat board up for us, and we all went there. Then all of a sudden, Mice Chat opens and everybody flocks over here, leaving the Launching Pad looking like a ghost town.
I don't get it. Nothing against Mice Chat as I am here too. And I was just thinking the other day, we are all back where we started low these many years ago when Al ran Mouse Planet and we all hung out over there on Mouse Pad's Chat Board, until something happened on that chat board and we all ended up with Fab, then something happened over there and we all ended up here, back with Al again. I think that's very ironic, and I love this board, but I also feel that is kind of strange that hardly anyone goes to post on Launching Pad anymore after all the work that Moonliner put into giveing us a place to go. Am I missing something here? :monkey:

[Darkbeer]

Alas, boards open and close...

I was on Fab's boards long before the MP issue, and the place was basically dead...

I also was part of the DCA Central Boards, which also was pretty dead...

Both those boards I was there due to friendships with the board owners...

JimHillMedia's boards never have caught on, and they are trying to merge with FabBoards to try and bring life back to both...

No offense to Moonlight, but which comes first, the chicken, or the egg? Folks want a board with a lot of users, and it is hard for new boards to get users...

This board, due to the connection with MiceAge automatically brought a large group of users, and I think you will see things settle down, as folks (who only have a limited time to post and read) will find their favorites....

So thanks to Moonliner for all the hard work.....

[Mousey Girl]

LB, not everyone was invited to Launching Pad... Even some of us who have been around for awhile were not aware of it...

[Monorail Man]

I never even got the LP link until later on. Plus, between Admin duties here, and reading the LoT, I'm about Disney message boarded out.

[Disneyphile]

Launching Pad is still around. It was started as a place for people to retreat to if needed, and also as an experiment in creativity. Moonliner's still working on it, and will be doing so for quite some time. (I'm helping!) He has some great ideas that will be popping up and I'm even working on a fun "virtual" element for it too. So, it's not abandoned in the least - it's just a bit quiet, yet growing. We're still adding graphics, smilies, etc. Most of what we're doing is very time-consuming and elaborate, so it just may seem deserted, but it's not.

And, it's a community-moderated public board - everyone is welcome at anytime. No real formal "invitations" were sent - just a link to be passed on to folks. It would have been near impossible to send out invites to everyone.

Here's the link if anyone would like to check it out: www.moonliner.org/forums

Just keep in mind that while it's very quiet there, discussion still does go on, so feel free to post.

I post there and a few other places, including this one!

[Moonliner]

Hello:

First off, Thanks to Disneyphile for the link to this thread.

Here, in condensed format is the story of The Launching Pad (/^\) . I was a regular over at

[Evil Minion]

I appreciate what Moonliner did for all of us but the fact is the other 2 new boards were already in the works at least 2 weeks before The Launching Pad 'launched' & I was already involved in those 2 projects.

Sorry Moonliner!

I do still apprecaite what you did & thank you!

[Disneyphile]

Not only that but they were also using a retro tomorrowland theme. Son of a Bi***!

And that's what happens when great minds end up thinking alike without knowledge of one another's "projects". Doh!

But, it appears both sites (and this one!) ended up with very different atmospheres and topics, so all is good in the neighborhood, and variety's not a bad thing. LoT is a variety board of close friends, /^\ is aiming more towards a historical Disney aspect with some other topical discussion thrown in, and MC is pretty much Disney based.

I like this - I can post different things in different places, depending on my moods or thoughts.

[Moonliner]

I appreciate what Moonliner did for all of us but the fact is the other 2 new boards were already in the works at least 2 weeks before The Launching Pad 'launched' & I was already involved in those 2 projects.

Sorry Moonliner!

I do still apprecaite what you did & thank you!

C'est La Vie! Everyting you all have done here and at LoT is great, kudos to you. Besides as soon as I finsih my Anti LoT & Micechat worm upgrades to /^\ then things might change.

[Codename Danger]

C'est La Vie! Everyting you all have done here and at LoT is great, kudos to you. Besides as soon as I finsih my Anti LoT & Micechat worm upgrades to /^\ then things might change.

Heehee.

As a participant and Minion of the Lounge of Tomorrow, I'd like to say that we also believe that there is plenty of room for all the boards that currently exist. I dig the concept of a full-on armchair Imagineer board like Launching Pad, and a Disney info/rumors board like this one. Our board is less Disney-oriented but still knows our roots.

Lost Boy, not everyone ended up here, and not everyone ended up elsewhere. It's just the natural progression of a group this large. You've always been a great part of the Disney internet community and I know you'll continue to be one, wherever you post.

See you 'round.

[General You]

Methinks it premature to pronounce any site dead at this point.

Alas, the online Disney Community is far too large to be service by one message board, which is why you see so many. Each serves a niche, follows it's own rules, and attracts is own clientel. I belong to at least six myself, and have registered at many more. We're just the victems of our own popularity.

[Not Afraid]

Each of the many sites has it's place in the community at large. Even those that are strictly Disney based differientate themselves from each other by what their focus is - be it travel, rumors, WDW, etc. Most of us were lucky to witness a minor explosion in the amount of choices we have. We don't have to choose just one, but can tailor our participation to fit our needs and interests. Those who love armchair Imagineering might prefer LaunchingPad while those who are interested in Disney rumors and opinions might find MiceChat appealing. If you want something a bit beyond the fringe, but with some familiar roots, LoT is a fun destination. And, these are just the three new boards! Variety is the spice of life and we are lucky to have an overage. Partake of the many, and don't get bogged down by the few.

[Gemini Cricket]

I heard about MiceChat before Launching Pad. That's the only reason why I post at one and not the other. I do Disney stuff here and lounge stuff at LoT. Otherwise, I don't really go to many other Disney boards. I like to pick one place and post. But as was said before, there's room for all of these boards. One shouldn't give in just because it seems dead. There could be a increase in members, posters at any time. Look at Fab's board. It jumped up and got busy.
I don't really look at the boards as competing with each other. They are just doing another show with a different cast, that's all. And there are a number of shows to see and do. You want to do 'em all, great. If you want to be dedicated to just one, great.

All in all, it's just a different flavor of 'nerd' according to which place you're at.

[Boingonut]

The first place I was invited to was Launching Pad after the *ahem* madness that took place, but i have not spent much time there. But it is on my bookmarks and I go there every now and then to see whats up. If I ever think of a cool armchair imagining thing thats the place I think I would post it. So like most everyone else on the thread I feel that the more the better, but some boards are going to be more popular then others but I would hate to see launching pad go just becase their are not as many people who post there.

[Bambi]

Sadly, I rarely post, so I kinda focus on one Board at a time!

However, I did try to sign up weeks ago at Moonliner's Board only to never receive an e-mail. Thus, I cannot post. I never received a link, either. (I was invited via word o' mouth).

A smarter girl would take this as a sign she ain't wanted. Much.

[The Shadoe]

I pop in at other boards from time-to-time, though between my duties as System Administrator and Style Creator at MIBoards.com and administrator of a discussion site dedicated to Billboard Magazine, it really isn't often.

I'm sure glad that MP let me go when it did...

[Disneyphile]

However, I did try to sign up weeks ago at Moonliner's Board only to never receive an e-mail. Thus, I cannot post. I never received a link, either. (I was invited via word o' mouth).

A smarter girl would take this as a sign she ain't wanted. Much.

Yeah, there's been a few technical issues. Certainly doesn't mean you weren't wanted. This happened to a few other folks too. Apparently, it's something still needing fixed. :o

[Lost Boy]

Thanks for all the replies to my inquiry. I post on all four of the above mentioned chat boards and have fun on each one. I have many friends on these boards and it's nice to know that we all sort of hany together no matter what. :love:

I haven't been posting much as I have been sick with a miserable head cold that has kept me out of work for almost an entire week and I have just slept and stayed in bed for the most part, only using the computer to continue to make movies of my RCT3 Harry Potter Theme Park. It takes hours to do this, so I just set it up and let it run while I sleep and try to get well.

I was planning on going to Disneyland next Sunday, but being out of sick time at work means no pay for most of that week, so the the paycheck next week is going to suck and I have to pay bills. Drat! Then the rent (which just went up) is due out of the next paycheck, so that kills that weekend. Maybe in a month I will be able to make it out there again.