Maple Village News!

<sup>read the announcements sometimes.


it's there for a reason.</sup>

I did, and it made me sad! I'm trying very hard! I don't want Maple Village to go away. (cries) do you think you could extend the deadline a little. A lot of people are going back to school, which might have something to do with the slump...(I know that's part of my reason)

Is there anything else that can be done? Like do you need help with anything besides activity? I have no real experience to speak of, but I'd love to help out in any way I can.

<sup>no not really. it's just activity. without active members, we see no point in holding festivals and events cause no one will post there anyway.

and school is no reason for people to not be active, to be honest. i have school from 6am to 4pm and then work all day after that and i still find time to go on the four sites i run.</sup>

Plus, this inactivity plague has been going on over the recent summer break, so school is not the issue.

We've been struggling with on-and-off activity for awhile. Over a year. Maybe more. The past year specificly the acticity spikes have been more severe and the downs have been getting longer and longer. And frankly, it makes it difficult to get people going from a planning perspective.

Example: the last 3 times we have had open apps, there have been LESS than FIVE people applying. There is no interest.

Please don't assume that this thread is to convince staff over wise. The decision has been made, no going back, point of no return, whatever you want to call it.

Do feel free to express yours thoughts, say goodbyes, share memories, whatever you want. But this is the final call.

I'm sorry it came off as me trying to assuage the staff. I understand that their are reasons for what they do. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help. I'll be as active as possible, and I'll try to persuade my friends to join before friday...

Any chance for an overhaul and get someone to financially get Maple on it's feet again? (ie. me)

I have to admit. I don't roleplay much anymore. But I am starting to do a lot of admin/coding and design work. and though this might not be a big deal, I could try to get MV back to one of it's old lively states if with enough support.

Plus I wouldn't mind getting back the old Maple Village URL for this place that I could do. >.>;

Just an idea. >.>;

Planning to fix MV isn't the problem, it's the second part, "getting the support" that becomes an issue. Jesse has knocked herself out for a year trying to keep the village active, and it hasn't worked. She and the rest of the staff have drained themselves trying to keep the forum running and beautiful, and in the end no one posts. It's just not a fun forum any more, and no one seemed to want to help it out of its slump until it was too late. That doesn't mean anyone should start feeling guilty, or start making pleas to keep it running. It's hit the point where, unless a surge of activity hits by Friday, this is the end. There's just no way around it.

It's been prolonged as much as possible, and it's painful to think things are really over, but this is Maple Village's last hurrah. When I first joined as a wee teen I never wanted to imagine it closing, I wanted to be 45 and talking to my same favorite members after a long day at work and tending my children. But sadly, it was an impossible wish.

To all of the staff, you've been wonderful. I support everything you've tried to establish for the village, and love how much of yourselves you've dedicated to this place. They haven't just been great leaders, they've been good friends. I'll never forget that, and I'll still be harassing you people on MSN <3

Mm, it's true. I guess all good things come to an end.

Still.. Maybe it's time for a new generation to come for Maple. The old generation may be done with it. I still think anything is worth a shot.

........... It's the "new generation" that is already here and not posting and being active. Trust me. We've been watching.

Lul, true. But... All forums have it's ups and downs. I mean, it may be a little inactive at the moment and for a little while but look at whar we went through. It got chaotic at times.

We've been through many admin/mod changes, we lost the domain name, skin problems, plot problems. I mean. I wouldn't blame someone for not being here in the chaos.

We need stability. Something that is here for the long term again.

(Last time I'm changing the argument. xD)

The staff has tried their best, but nothing is working. We can't keep new members and even the most loyal of the old generation don't feel they have many reasons to come post again. Maple Village has lost its spark. It was beginning to decline in activity before some of the problems you mentioned even came to a head. It hasn't been a little inactive for a "moment." It has been struggling for a year.

I'm not trying to bury this forum in a coffin by disagreeing with you, but your optimism that things will change is naive. I held that optimism for a while too, as did veteran members, staff members, our admin at various points. Unfortunately, that optimism got us no where. Why let the village limp along another year growing less and less busy? Why not go out with good memories, and old posts to read back on? Keep in touch with your forum friends, post in the off topic thread, but accept that no one has been active enough for anything the staff has done to make an impact. MV has hit a dead end.

Thanks, Peri.



Also, not trying to rub anything in.... but do have a look at the join dates of some of us who have made this decision. We're not doing this simply because we think it's been bad for a few months. Years. Years. Keyword: Years.

Mmm.. Indeed. Still, this place used to be the biggest Harvest Moon roleplaying forum. But. Oh well. Nothing I can do then.

I shall stop being persistent and live and let die.


Mmm.. Though the members still need to keep in contact. I don't wanna miss you guys. xD

P.S.

All of us at Torrenta are paying our respects to the passing of Maple.

It will have been 4 years in a month and 4 days from now. Well done everyone, that's a tremendous accomplishment.

Can we put up a banner that says "RUTHIE RULZ #1" once it closes?


Maybe that will generate interest.




...Just sayin'.