PE: Forum Interview with deVere

The spotlight for our second forum interview is deVere, an awesome, frequent member of the forums who you should get to know!

How did you discover the forums?

I got aware of the forums pretty soon, when I joined dA more than seven years ago. However, it took me a couple of years to “discover” and use them. I've been on and off for somewhere between four and five years, my activity level going up and down, depending on whatever else I'm doing in my life.

What is something that keeps pulling you back into the forums? In other words, what is attractive about it?

The forums are attractive to me because time is my own; it's completely up to me, when and how much I want to take part. I can go to and from it at my own pace, and the discussions will still be there, when I feel like throwing in my ¢5 or more (which I do from the comfort of my private sphere). It's also a melting pot, and that's what pulls me back. It's very hard to say something about dA forumers in general, it's like being asked to describe the clientele at the Central Station Café. Some become regulars, some don't. Some stand out for better or worse, some don't. Some I get along with, some I don't. Some inform me, some entertain me, some do neither and some do both. Some always respond to my threads, and some ignore me completely (for whatever reason they may have). Under all circumstances, I come across a lot of people, I would never have met anywhere else, they all appreciate art one way or another, and have a desire to let their “voice be heard”.

Do you remember which forum you first posted in and your thoughts/feelings about the reception of your post?

I don't remember the subject of my first forum thread, but I remember my feelings about it. Today I can laugh a bit about my anxiety about how it would be received. I had read a ton of threads at that time, responded to a few, and made sure, that I knew the rules about posting – still, it was like some kind of exam. I believe, it was fairly well received; not dropping to the bottom of page one immediately (I was eagerly keeping an eye on it), but people weren't exactly stepping on each others' feet to reply either. It didn't scare me away, at least.

What do you think has changed since the beginning when you first posted in the forums?

I've been a member of dA for almost eight years, but as already mentioned, I haven't been to the forums on a regular basis for the entire period. I must be careful, not to answer this one too boldly... When the forums change, it's because the people who use them change; forumers come and go, and we all have our different voices, that also change over time. I haven't noticed major changes in one specific direction over the years – it's not like the jargon has become softer or harsher – the atmosphere changes in periods, back and forth. Some people are very eager to become wellknown in the forums – no matter how, sometimes. There may be tendencies in that direction, but honestly, I'm not sure that was any different five years ago.

If you could change one thing about the forums, what would they be and why?

Nothing should be changed about the forums, but I wouldn't mind if a few forumers' tone changed a bit. Partaking in forum discussions can be rough at times, and the jargon isn't always polite, which is definitely fair enough, and undisputedly part of the entertainment (edgy comments just tend to be funnier...). However, it annoys me, when new, potential forumers are scared away, by some upcoming douchebag, trying to gain popularity among regulars, by being overly rude and blatantly intimidating. It's embarrassing, when someone tries to be part of the crowd at the expense of a newcomer. Rookies make mistakes, so do the rest of us now and then, but antagonizing behavior compromises forumers as well as dA as a community. My suggestion would be that dA doesn't change things in the forums, but focuses a bit more on preparing people for them.

If you could keep one thing the same, what would it be and why?

I'm very fond of the summoning function – I hope, it's here to stay, it's a great way to involve others in a discussion, and it offers a whole new range of ways to start threads.

What was the funniest thing you witnessed in the forums?

There are many funny moments. I can't think of one that stands out as particularly noteworthy; most often, it's the little smile on the lips, that's provoked – there have been many of those.

What is your favourite forum and why?

The Deviants Forum. It's pretty much the only forum I go to these days – probably because it matches my needs very well. A lot of subjects coming up here, offer the possibility to give a deep or not so deep answer, depending on your mood. Threads can die quietly pretty soon, or ignite some rather funny “discussions”. It depends ofc. on what the question is, but also who asks it. The latter is both a good and a bad thing; some forumers can ask pretty much anything, and people will line up to answer. Others seem to have a certain crowd, while others again have to fight a bit more to stay in Top 50. No matter what, it's a pretty easy forum to be in, if you're up for a little “chat”. It's also an interesting place to observe a lot of people's styles and personal approach, when it comes to online communication.

Can you share with us one of your best and worst experiences with the forums?

I'm happy to say, that there have been more good than bad moments.I won't be too specific, but I can give examples of both. Good forum experiences are when you get the feeling, that you really click with someone – it has happened a few times, and that's great. Another example could be starting a thread, that people like responding to. It's not unusual, that a question triggers little “threads in the thread”, and it's cool if people go on discussing whatever, originally initiated by the question you asked (who doesn't want his/her thread to be popular...?!). Overall, having a good exchange of words is great – that's what it's about, not the number of posts.

Bad forum experiences can be when you experience genuine hostility – petty insults don't count, they're part of the game (to some extent). Fortunately I haven't been involved in much of that, though I am aware of deviants who're not friendly towards me. At some point a fellow deviant had some beef with me, and started insulting me in every forum reply (no matter what subject and who started it) – not directly, but obviously meant for me, and easily spotted by me and those who knew. It's a bad experience in the sense that you know someone would like to hurt you (in public even) but scorn and bitter people are everywhere – ignore them, and eventually most of them do the same.

What advice would you give to new people venturing into the forums?

First of all, I'd strongly recommend checking out the forums in advance; don't be completely unprepared the first time you ring the bell – read some posts and read the rules. Start out by replying to existing posts, before making your own threads. Look at it as starting at a new school or a new work; get an idea what kind of forumer you want to be, and find a voice you're comfortable with – it's not advisable to start out with too much of an edge, but you shouldn't restrict yourself to hiding in a corner, only to come up with a sporadic yes/no either. Be aware, that there's a fair amount of in-crowding in the forums; some people have been here for a long time, and know each other pretty well. Like everywhere else, you can't expect to be part of the circle from day one, and people tend to respond to friends and acquaintances before strangers – don't be intimidated by it, but be aware of it. The forumers are a colorful crowd - accept the fact, that you'll probably not get equally along with everyone, but don't start throwing rocks like a crazy, just because you've seen someone else do it, to the amusement of everyone – (s)he has probably been there for ages, and the majority of us are actually secretly unimpressed by it.

Has the forum impacted you at all, online or offline?

The forums have impacted me offline as well as online. I've met people here, that I seriously looked forward to write on with – inside and outside the forums – and a couple of those people even turned into love interests...(!) Mutual to begin with, fortunately, but now non-existing. You can't win every time, but there would be no point in denying, that it actually happened, and it started on The Deviants Forum. I didn't see that coming, when I started out years back, but it's safe to say, that dA has had more impact on my life than I intended it to, to begin with – largely, thanks to the forums.

What do you think the forums will be like in the future? Do you see yourself staying?

I'm primarily referring to the Deviants Forum, since that's the one I go to frequently these days. I don't expect radical changes, and I don't think the forums will die out overnight. Again, I'd like to stress that it's important, that newcomers feel welcome, and therefore also, that dA offers the best imaginable preparation and encouragement. Foruming is fun, but not if all you see week after week are the same uninspired pedestrian questions like “favorite color” or “ask me anything” - or some old thread that is kept alive “just because”. Sometimes it seems to be a popularity contest a la “how many people will repond when I ask that question?” If that's what people want, fine, but then the forums are not for me. I don't have time for that, and I know that a lot of other forumers don't have either. That sort of thing has annoyed me a couple of times, and then there are two possibilities: To take a break or bid in with something (hopefully) better. Like I stated in the beginning, I can come and go as it suits me – as of now, I don't see a point in quitting.

Thank you deVere!