Reality check

[MatrixGamer]

Am I wrong? It looks like the rate of posting is declining on the forum.

Is that a problem? Do we need to do anything about it?

Chris Engle
Hamster Press = Engle Matrix Games

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Chris,

There's no big deal.

1. The Forge has always experienced cycles of activity, and recently, a number of new sites and discussions have sprung up which are drawing a lot of regular participants' attention. It happened before when 20x20 started up, when Story Games started up, and so on.

2. The Forge may be entering a phase of drawdown, which is part of the vision. In other words, it won't last forever, we know it won't last forever, and the hope is for the Forge's Big Bang to come to a noble end, leaving behind galaxies and constellations with their own unique identities. Whether the recent slowing of posts reflects that, I don't know, but it might.

3. The Forge vision does not and cannot include recruitment or any drive toward more members or more posting. Ever. The message has always been, "this is what we are and how we do things, join in if that works for you." If it's good at 1000 active members, fine; if it's good at 10 active members, then also, fine.

Best, Ron

[MatrixGamer]

That's cool. There is a Sufi saying "No tea house lasts forever" that amounts to the same thing.

I seen out on the web thoughts that the closing of the theory forum took away something from the site. But if the theory is fully formed then the action shifts from forming to teaching.

I'm certain some of the well versed will get a book out of it. Probably a good thing anyway.

Chris Engle

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Chris,

One correction: the phrase "the theory is fully formed" is not accurate. Here, the term theory specifically means "best possible explanation," which means it will always be up for debate, clarification, additions and subtractions, refinement, and perhaps overthrow, who knows.

The venue for that is now the Actual Play forum, that's all, where it is more effective and fruitful than in an abstract context. With any luck, the kind of discourse we often get in Actual Play will also persist on other websites.

Best, Ron