Greetings All!

Several months ago I purchased a brand new server to replace the existing server that powers the site. Once in place the site would become a hell of a lot faster, would allow for more expansion and general bring the technology powering the entire server into a semi-current phase (we are currently running on an old PII 350 with a gig of RAM for those who know about computers).

I have not implemented the new server, hell I have not even bothered to build the new server. Reason is the site is DEAD and I am wondering if it is even worth the bother to spend a couple of days installing, hardening and configuring a replacement server let alone paying the shipping costs just so it can sit and gather dust.

So bluntly: If you want a faster site, a more robust site, ask for it. I will let this go until my birthday at the end of the month and base my decision on the responses.

Chas

While I would love new bells and whistles, I don't want you wasting time over something that isn't being used or appreciated by more than a handful of pretty quiet people.

I went AWOL and the site was more active then than it is now. Which I hate -- there used to be a thriving community here but it's all gone dormant or died or something.

I will say that I have become really cynical over the last year or two, been kicked by life one too many times to simply walk away and say nothing.

The site has died or become dormant because Melissa and I were not actively leading people along by posting topics, challenging people to think by taking the stance of Devils Advocate or just simply goading people into expanding their minds.

Think about it, at its biggest time the WPR was active because we were active in it daily/hourly and we purposely gave a direction for the end use to move towards. When we built this site we wanted people to be more active themselves.

The sheeple mentality struck again and won out. Too many people get lost when they are expected to stand on their own two feet.

Then of course there are the ones who disappeared because I took down the WPR or I did not stroke their egos enough. Wah wah wah cry me a river. Things change, people grow and I got tired of feeding people's delusions of grandures when I exited my 20s. I am allowed to have my own opinion, views and beliefs without having to tip toe oh so quietly around those whos egos I might offend.

I know that this is going to piss some people off or hurt some feelings but honestly some of you need it. I have spent the last sixteen years providing resources for the community at large; when I hit a rough patch in my life I looked around and not a single person was to be found.

Hell most of you never seemed to notice that Melissa or I disappeared from online.

But you know what? Unlike a lot of fair weathered users I made a commitment to provide the resources and I honor my commitments and consider those who I labeled as friends still to be friends. I still talk to the occasional person who IMs me and I would still bend over backwards for most of the old users without question.

You want to keep it then get off yer lazy cyber butts and make it lively again. I honestly do not care either way since the site is not here to make me feel good, it is here for the online community to use. I am willing to do the grunt work, I have already invested the money. Now it is your choice, I am just simply giving you options at this point.

Chas

Hello Chas,

First of all I’d like to thank you for running the site and devoting your own personal energy and effort to make and keep the site alive for us. I can sympathize with your frustration and want you to know that what you have done does not go unnoticed, for I personally appreciate being a member of Paganism Today.

Paganism Today has been a source of interesting discussions with people who have similar beliefs to mine, which means a lot to me; even though, they have been far and between. My wish has always been to find friends who shared my spiritual beliefs. Your and Melissa’s dedication has allowed me to do so in a way. I am just not so good at cyber friendships because I am used to knowing people on a personal, face-to-face basis. The only people I have kept in touch with without knowing them in person are the several few I have exchanged thoughts with on here. What I am trying to say is that I am cyber shy. I know, pretty lame! But, I really am. So, I make it my New Year’s resolution is to come out of my cyber shell and speak out more. Problem is, once I get talking, I may never shut up .

I initially logged on here to pose a question I have been pondering today, but I’ll post it in the General Discussion forum.

On a final note for today, I want to sincerely express my offer of friendship to you, Melissa, and Paganism Today. I know this sounds cheesy, but I realize that sometimes, unless our true intentions are expressed clearly, everything else seems false, more like an illusion. I am the kind of person you can turn to once you are my friend. So, I do not make such offers lightly. You’ve taken the time to respond to my ramblings and complaints.

In reply to whether you should add more to the site, I say wait. There is no need for you to spend more of your time and energy on something that won’t get enough notice because we are so few and so slow.

Once again, thank you.

Happy New Year and merry blessings,

Maria (WillowBreez)

everything that needs to be said has been said. thats all i have to say.