{{
`${userDetail.user.displayName}${userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode ? `#${standardizeBungieGlobalCode(userDetail.user.cachedBungieGlobalDisplayNameCode)}` : ""}`}}
{{getUserClans()}}
Edited by stosh:
11/14/2014 1:15:07 AM
36
The Seventh Column: Remembering our Heritage
When the topic of Bungie.net comes up, I often proudly, and loudly exclaim how I've been devoting hours of my day to these forums for the last six years. For some that doesn't seem like much time at all, and for others, it's an incomprehensible amount of dedication. Regardless of how others see the quantity of time I've spent here, the fact remains that I have grown up on this website. Just as I have changed, so has this site. The attitudes, the popular topics, and the faces, but there's one thing that has never changed. The pride. The sense of community. The heritage.
This community has a rich heritage that stretches back farther then my own existence, and it's always been unique. How many other game developers can boast a rich community that's not only invested in the games, but in each other? How many communities invest the time and effort into something like the "Community Carnage?" Care enough about each other to execute "Average Joe" interviews? Make a "Bungie Bathroom Reader," filled with news not about The company or their games, but about community events? Or spearhead their own massively complex and comprehensive "FAQ" section?
This community cares about its members, and loves each other's company, the past has proven that. But what of the present? Where have these projects gone?
The Darkness weakened us, there is no doubt. Many members left unable to cope with the void that had formed, but from it emerged a stronger, and more devoted crowd. A crowd that despite the odds still worked on and executed large scale community projects. The community survived, and we approached the coming light with enthusiasm, but looking back, maybe we shouldn't have.
Everything changes, trying to fight that is futile, but this community has changed, and truthfully, Bungie has changed. I still think Bungie is an amazing company, but I feel like they've lost touch with their community. With us. We've had our tools stripped, private groups reduced to barely a sliver of their former selves. The forums, are no longer forums. "Comment," does not encourage discussion the same way like "Reply." We were promised changes and improvements, and we got a lot of great things, but at what cost?
It seems that this website has been made for the Destiny community. An effective tool for someone looking to check their stats, find a group to raid with, or stay in touch with their game when they're away from their console. What happened to the Bungie community? Where has the focus on retaining member gone?
No old guard deserves to remain if it can't adapt to the new, but many of us have been eager to face this time of change and the new members it brings. To better this community, and to broaden its horizons, but it doesn't feel like that's what's wanted anymore. Why not encourage both? Why not make a home where the old member can bring the new member under his wing. Share the strong culture of this community.
This community is unique, but it's slipping. Everyday I see more and more of the old guard leave, seeing no future here. Heritage is important. All I ask is that we are given the tools to continue the strong legacy this community has before it dies out. Engage in dialogue. Ask us what we need, and don't promise us anything. Just involve us; let us have a say in what is ultimately ours. We're here because we love you and each other. We ultimately want the best, and is it such a detriment to open up a little dialogue, make us feel like something more then fodder?
This post is far too wordy, and far too reminiscent, I know, but it's important to remember. Don't be afraid of the new, our future awaits us, but don't ever forget where you came from.
-
6 RepliesEdited by Arbitor5: 10/7/2014 1:51:38 PMzOMG. Somebody said it. I agree 100%. It's one of the reasons I left and why I only visit once a week now instead of once every 30 seconds. EDIT: I posted this in another thread but it fits better here; Sigh. I wouldn't know where to begin. I'm still young on this site compared to some but i've been here for 6 and a half years. I been involved with and created many Bungie community projects such as [url=http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/Community_Joes]Community Joes[/url], the [url=http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/The_Community_Carnage]Community Carnage[/url] and [url=http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page]Bungiepedia[/url] and far more - even with Destiny such as being a founder of [url=http://destiny.wikia.com/wiki/Destiny_Wiki]Destinypedia[/url] and [url=http://insidedestiny.net]InsideDestiny.net.[/url] As most members during 2007-8 I came and signed up for the Halo 3 stats. That's all I cared about. I browsed the forums here and there but never posted until Halo: Reach. Everyone was so friendly, the Ninjas (apart from Tom T), the Employees and the members. The more I posted in the forums, mostly the old Community forum the more I felt apart of this awesome BUNGIE community. The darkness came and [url=http://halo.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=75065465&postRepeater1-p=1]we were left to fend for our selfs[/url] listening to rumours in the wind waiting for Destiny. I used to log in every day and even viewed/posted on the site on my mobile to and from work - [url=http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx72/TheArbiter93/41C0495F-C7D9-4F5A-B65D-D4EA6399D177-1420-0000020CC1251F79.jpg]even though it broke sometimes.[/url] Then the new Hawtness came and we didn't know what to expect. I remember coming home from work on my phone trying to view the new site. I was so excited to be apart of the community when a huge update was upon us. That's when the community really fell apart. [url=http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/Bungie.net_Beta]We had new features[/url] but we also lost a lot more. Many fellow community members left in anger as they felt abandoned because as Rollin pointed out in his thread, the site had been designed for the DESTINY community, not the BUNGIE community. There IS a difference. I stayed for as long as I could, I hated the update, sure it was new and fresh and snazzy but personally it just didn't work. I stayed, as Bungie said many times that the Bungie community would be transferred over, that the groups will be given back their powers and that site changes were under way. A year passed and by that time I was a Bungie.net Mentor (we had no white badges at the time). The site still had not and hasn't changed to benefit the community. I left Bungie.net and resigned for that reason and for personal reasons too. I now visit once a week if that. I miss the old site and the old days. I actually loved halo.bungie.net and my heart really does ache with memories when I think about it. Everyone knew each other, everything was in order, everything was easier to view. However this thread is about us giving feedback.. again about the site so here we go. [b]FEEDBACK[/b] What I'd like to see returned: 1) BLACK SCREEN Firstly I would like to be able to change my screen from white to black. I can't stand really white blank backgrounds and it's not fair when my brother is trying to sleep (I share my room) that in the corner of his eye theres a huge frackin' white screen. Not only that but it's actually easier on my eyes. Why was the option taken away in the first place? 2) PINNED THREADS Important information and employee threads where great and easy to find when they were pinned at the top of the forum page. Not only for regular members but new guys too. 3) HOT TOPICS Hot topics pinned on the right hand side of the forum were also awesome. It led to more community conversation and led to you to what everyone was talking about whilst still viewing the normal threads without having to go to a complete new page called 'trending'. 4) COMMUNITY INPUT What the heck happened to custom community avatars and group themes. Some of us spent hours creating artwork for the community by the community. I really would like to see threads such as '[url=http://halo.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=18748346&postRepeater1-p=1]Avatars and User Skins[/url]' return. It should be easy to do with the amount of Bungie employees available now. 5) THE GALLERY One of my top referrers for InsideDestiny.net is [url=http://halo.bungie.net/forums/posts.aspx?postID=76089759]this thread - over 6,000 people have reached my site via it.[/url] The gallery allowed us to post our creations directly onto the Bungie forums without them being lost in a sea of threads and never replied too. 6) POWERS FOR CHAPTERS [url=http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/Chapter_Themes]Private groups once had amazing customisation[/url]. Now they're just a shell of what they used to be. Why have Admins lost powers AFTER a site update, if anything shouldn't they have got more? What happened to in-group member titles ect. 7) CUSTOM PROFILE Lastly (for now) with so many members we could do with customisation. For example on Halo.Bungie.Net we had titles such as Mythic, Exalted and Senior ect. I'm not saying that these should be brought back but [url=http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2unx5hw&s=6]maybe something like nameplates.[/url] As humans we have a desire to distinguish ourselves and not to look like everybody else and so the same goes for internet users too. A small number badge that shows only when you click on their profile is just not enough. Colours and shapes related to Destiny, Bungie and Halo if allowed should be used. I'll create some examples later. Make Bungie.net pretty again. [url=https://insidedestinydotnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/trial1bars.png]Anyone want a cool swag bar?[/url] Here is a [url=https://insidedestinydotnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/example.png]Forum example.[/url] [b]FEEDBACK[/b] What I'd like to see taken away: 1) HASHTAGS Really, this is not twitter or Facebook. As it's been stated by many people it's not a freakin' social site, it's a gaming website. Hashtags really don't work on here like they do on Twitter. Hashtags are even pointless on Facebook. IMHO it makes the site look cluttered. 2) SUB-REPLY Again, this really really makes the site super cluttered and hard to find what out what people are actually talking about. I would like to see thread posts in date/time order all in one screen with quotes instead of having to click little arrows. You miss so many posts and waste so much time.
