What should I do? Your opinions please.

[Fred588]

This is, of course, only just my opinion, but I disagree that this is a "dying community" unless perhaps that was meant to refer to this forum, and not to the community of people interested in quicksand. I think it more likely that the lower frequency of posts is related to factors such as greated use of small devices (phones) and less use of devices with larger displays. I have no independeent evidence other than my (Studio 588) own data on sales and on-site activity but those are indicative of a healthy community. Personally, I pay no attention to IA-genrated images - I do not even open the threads. One reason for this, I think, is that whereas human-generated artwork is clearly able to show talent - or lack thereof - and, even more importaantly, style, "artwork" produced by a machine lacks the latter. If there is any "style at all it is that of the AI program itself and not that of the person running it.

Another likely issue affecting activity, I think, is the lack of anything resembling a chat. We had a chat room a long time ago but that went away. I believe the reason had to do with upgrades to the forum software than made integrating a chat difficult or impossible. Perhaps others can shedd brighter light on this, as I was not involved. The need for a chat has, of course, been largely resolved by groups on Discord and other systems, but that has obvu=iously diluted things.

My opinions only.

[dlodoski]

I agree with Fred regarding the board not being mobile friendly. I don't know if that will improve in the future. But I will posit that folks who are only on the internet with their phones are missing a great deal of what the internet offers in general.

Other factors effecting participation here is the dispersion of content across multiple new platforms such as DA and Discord (and other Social Media platforms). Conversational engagement is higher on Discord. But it's a fleeting thing, as there's only one feed per channel and it's difficult (at least for me) to find older comments.

The AI forum here is on my own harvesting route, and I have commented on items that I find compelling. I think it's easy to become discouraged when there's a lack of feedback. But most folks are here for content, not to be seen or heard. Views and downloads may not be a natural warm fuzzy. But the relative views and downloads can at least provide a yardstick to measure popularity. And some satisfaction can be gained by studying that a bit - and tweaking the output to maximize popularity.

Having said that though, most artwork is self-indulgent - with positive verbal feedback a bonus.

I will suggest (again) that AI is problematic with regards to output. Diluting a theme across multiple images not only cheapens each one, but also lessens the likelihood of meaningful feedback IMO.

[redjak6t4]

This is, of course, only just my opinion, but I disagree that this is a "dying community" unless perhaps that was meant to refer to this forum, and not to the community of people interested in quicksand. I think it more likely that the lower frequency of posts is related to factors such as greated use of small devices (phones) and less use of devices with larger displays. I have no independeent evidence other than my (Studio 588) own data on sales and on-site activity but those are indicative of a healthy community. Personally, I pay no attention to IA-genrated images - I do not even open the threads. One reason for this, I think, is that whereas human-generated artwork is clearly able to show talent - or lack thereof - and, even more importaantly, style, "artwork" produced by a machine lacks the latter. If there is any "style at all it is that of the AI program itself and not that of the person running it.

Another likely issue affecting activity, I think, is the lack of anything resembling a chat. We had a chat room a long time ago but that went away. I believe the reason had to do with upgrades to the forum software than made integrating a chat difficult or impossible. Perhaps others can shedd brighter light on this, as I was not involved. The need for a chat has, of course, been largely resolved by groups on Discord and other systems, but that has obvu=iously diluted things.

My opinions only.

I note your opinions and thank you for responding, Fred588.


Picking up what you say about gathering evidence to discover the 'health' of the community from sales data and on-site activity, I would like to make this point.

I've contributed photoshopped manipulations in the past and now I contribute AI-generated images. But ALL ordinary members (not producers) are in the same boat regardless of what they contribute - be it artwork, stories, photos, home movies or Second Life. Unless other members actively respond with comments and initiate feedback, then all the contributors have to go on are the numbers.

The number of times something we have posted has been viewed and downloaded.

From that scant amount of information we cannot clean who liked what and why. To know these things requires some initiative from what might be called, 'the silent majority'. That is why I've been so grateful to Madmax359 and StephyMink for their tireless support, their encouragement and for not being silent.


Thank you,


Redjak.

[redjak6t4]

I agree with Fred regarding the board not being mobile friendly. I don't know if that will improve in the future. But I will posit that folks who are only on the internet with their phones are missing a great deal of what the internet offers in general.

Other factors effecting participation here is the dispersion of content across multiple new platforms such as DA and Discord (and other Social Media platforms). Conversational engagement is higher on Discord. But it's a fleeting thing, as there's only one feed per channel and it's difficult (at least for me) to find older comments.

The AI forum here is on my own harvesting route, and I have commented on items that I find compelling. I think it's easy to become discouraged when there's a lack of feedback. But most folks are here for content, not to be seen or heard. Views and downloads may not be a natural warm fuzzy. But the relative views and downloads can at least provide a yardstick to measure popularity. And some satisfaction can be gained by studying that a bit - and tweaking the output to maximize popularity.

Having said that though, most artwork is self-indulgent - with positive verbal feedback a bonus.

I will suggest (again) that AI is problematic with regards to output. Diluting a theme across multiple images not only cheapens each one, but also lessens the likelihood of meaningful feedback IMO.

I hear what you say about feedback, Dave.


Anyway...
Addressing what you say about dilution across multiple images, I hope that my work pushes back against that somewhat by my attempts to vary the predicaments I put my damsels into. Instead just "Plop and sink!" I've tried my hand at bringing in associated kinks and fetishes to spice things up a bit.

Specifically QS peril with constricting snakes, QS peril with tentacles, asphyxiation perils, damsels facing the peril of rising mud, damsels being lowered into quicksand, damsels being kept alive under the surface of the mud, mummification, humanoid mud monsters and other stuff. If there is a degree of 'sameness' about my AI work that's not for the want of me trying to vary things. That sameness is purely a result of the censorship filters in the Grok AI system I use.

But I'm going to follow MadMax359's suggestion and try a workaround by using photoshop to do what Grok won't. The jury is still out on how successful that's going to be.


Thank you,


Redjak.

[cbqdbq]

I happen to like the melodramatic sink (and both male and female are okay with me), seeing the person simply sliding down and -bloop- is gone out of sight and bubbles erupt on the surface. I don't need "big boobs" on female.

I enjoy Boggyman's sinking videos that follow up his accounts of a day's visit to his quicksand lairs. I also like photos of real sinking. I like seeing images - still and video - of actual people sinking to entertain us (and they get out afterward, off camera). AI is a side-bar and while it is impressive what the computer can simulate (Viridian, you just had one on DA with someone who lets go of a bare tree branch and just slips down right under, smiling about it on the way as if she's curious about the adventure!), I definitely prefer the real person filmed doing it. I guess the AI shows what can't be done in reality - the Viridian video I just referred to is very soft sand and sinking down that quickly would probably not be really possible in such a substance, but if it were, it would happen too fast to rescue the performer! AI there comes to the rescue of showing the amazing without endangering.

[redjak6t4]

Thanks for your input cbqdbq


You've highlighted the all important issue of personal taste. What AI can do doesn't seem to be to your taste. Which is fine. This forum functions on respect for each other's taste. It also functions on the mutual respect of each other's opinions.

And, as a bonus, you've given some feedback to the Boggyman and to Viridian - which is great.


Thank again,


Redjak.

[Viridian]

For what it's worth, when I feel like I'm missing out on interaction and feedback, I remind myself that I'm making these for myself. People aren't making the things that I like, but instead of moaning about it, I've built the skill set to make the kind of content that I want to consume. That others can also see it is a bonus.

Especially with the costs that come with experimenting with AI, I justify it as buying a scene that otherwise wouldn't have been made.

Whenever I don't feel like making moire or that it's not worth the time, I take a break and do something else, until I feel like I want to consume more content - which means making more content.

[redjak6t4]

We're on the same page in that respect, Viridian.


I create my stuff, first for me and then for others... if they're interested. If other folks aren't, then don't view it.

Perhaps that's where my alter-ego, Redjak the Quicksand Killer, originated from in my psyche? To explore and satisfy my particular interests. To realize what doesn't (and shouldn't) exist in reality. To solidify a thought into an actual image.

As you say, without AI these scenes could never have been made. But now that we have this tool to hand, we use it for ourselves and if our images strike a chord in the minds of others, then, as you said, that's a bonus.


Thank you,


Redjak.

[Fred588]

I agree with Fred regarding the board not being mobile friendly. I don't know if that will improve in the future. But I will posit that folks who are only on the internet with their phones are missing a great deal of what the internet offers in general.

Other factors effecting participation here is the dispersion of content across multiple new platforms such as DA and Discord (and other Social Media platforms). Conversational engagement is higher on Discord. But it's a fleeting thing, as there's only one feed per channel and it's difficult (at least for me) to find older comments.

The AI forum here is on my own harvesting route, and I have commented on items that I find compelling. I think it's easy to become discouraged when there's a lack of feedback. But most folks are here for content, not to be seen or heard. Views and downloads may not be a natural warm fuzzy. But the relative views and downloads can at least provide a yardstick to measure popularity. And some satisfaction can be gained by studying that a bit - and tweaking the output to maximize popularity.

Having said that though, most artwork is self-indulgent - with positive verbal feedback a bonus.

I will suggest (again) that AI is problematic with regards to output. Diluting a theme across multiple images not only cheapens each one, but also lessens the likelihood of meaningful feedback IMO.

For once I agree (lol) with everything said by dlodoski above, including the weakness with Discord. [If I wanted to be argumentative, I suppose I could disagree with him agreeing with me. They say arguing with oneself is ok - its when you start getting mad about it that you may have issues.]

[Fred588]

This is, of course, only just my opinion, but I disagree that this is a "dying community" unless perhaps that was meant to refer to this forum, and not to the community of people interested in quicksand. I think it more likely that the lower frequency of posts is related to factors such as greated use of small devices (phones) and less use of devices with larger displays. I have no independeent evidence other than my (Studio 588) own data on sales and on-site activity but those are indicative of a healthy community. Personally, I pay no attention to IA-genrated images - I do not even open the threads. One reason for this, I think, is that whereas human-generated artwork is clearly able to show talent - or lack thereof - and, even more importaantly, style, "artwork" produced by a machine lacks the latter. If there is any "style at all it is that of the AI program itself and not that of the person running it.

Another likely issue affecting activity, I think, is the lack of anything resembling a chat. We had a chat room a long time ago but that went away. I believe the reason had to do with upgrades to the forum software than made integrating a chat difficult or impossible. Perhaps others can shedd brighter light on this, as I was not involved. The need for a chat has, of course, been largely resolved by groups on Discord and other systems, but that has obvu=iously diluted things.

My opinions only.

Feedback is a form of reinforcement and can be helpful when it is constructive. Unfortunately, there are things that happen, especially on line, that cause trouble. For example, sometimes a comment is taken badly the the recipient. This tends to discourage further submission of material and may subsequently tend to discourage others from posting comments or material that might be subject to comments. For another example, phrasing or wording can be misunderstood, especially on line where details such as demeanor, and even intent, is invisible. "That drawing is good,"... "Why do you say just 'good,... What's wrong with it?"

For what its worth, video producers are affected by feedback also. Of course, since there are multiple ways to communicate with most producers (info is out there because we want to be in communication) we get feedback through other, generally private, channels, such as email. I would estimate that more than 90 percent of new scene suggestions are sent that way.