So it's no secret that Ernya has been a little quiet lately. What's one to do when things are getting slower and things are starting to look the same? Well, there's no single, correct answer, so I'm here to suggest a few options!
"The forums are dead." This statement has been ringing around Ernya's forums for quite some time now, and for good reason. Some threads take days if not weeks to get new responses. Some members have recently suggested doing away with or merging some forums and subforums. While we don't know if the administrators will take this suggestion into consideration, here's a solution we might want to try in the meantime. Remember that movie or tv show you just finished watching? Post about it in the Media Discussion. What about that banging new recipe you tried, or that article of clothing you just bought? The General Discussion would be a great place to post about it! Frustrated with your gadgets or games? The Technology or Game Zones are the places for you! So you see, there are plenty of opportunities to bring these slower forums some life, because as humans, we love talking about these everyday things, and that's what these forums are here for. And what's more is that you're not limited to how many topics you can create, with the exception of the Babblesphere, which is ironically where a lot of these topics end up going! This is not necessarily to say that these topics don't belong there, but perhaps consider posting in the other forums and see what it can do!
"I don't know who (else) to talk to." Feel like you're seeing the same faces, or perhaps that you just feel so comfortable in certain threads that you just can't leave? That's okay! Nobody should feel ashamed of having limited places to chat. While some have claimed that the community is too clique-y, others have been able to thrive in almost any topic. But you know what? That's okay too! The fact of the matter is, everyone has met someone else here because they crossed paths in another thread, and everyone has their comfort zones. But if you're feeling more chatty or want to try someplace new, there are several places you can visit. For example, the Quests & Charities forums seem to always welcome new faces. Even if you're not questing or are not able to donate, owners of threads are always appreciative of someone to chat with because you can keep them company AND help them earn gold by chatting! Another place you might want to visit is the Hangouts forum. Several of them have introductory posts that discuss why the Hangout was made, so if you find one with interests you share, feel free to pop in! Did you also know that there are sometimes user-run contests? From the Avatar Corner to the Art Requests, from the Ernyan Community Discussion to the Lotto & Casino, there are always contests going on. So why not give some of them a try and meet some people you've never met before?
"I'm never/hardly interested in the new items." Everyone has their preferences and their standards, so interest in items may wax and wane. What you might do is invest in the items you do like. And if you can't invest in those items for the moment, perhaps try selling your art or other services to earn them, or enter user-run contests. Understandably though, some might not be interested in collecting more of items they already have. So what I might suggest is offering item suggestions and theme suggestions, or perhaps entering the occasional User Item Contest. There's even a feedback thread for the artists so you can help them improve on their skills, or suggest items/poses that would be more favorable to you in the future! One final option might be to talk to the artists themselves. Even though, ultimately, Emy has the choice of which pieces become items, it doesn't hurt to share your voice for what you want to see for the future!
"I can't get rid of my items, and I'm sick of looking at them!" Perhaps consider hosting some sort of contest to get rid of them all. Avatar, art, posting, writing...there are so many to choose from! "But nobody really wants this junk!" Consider package deals, or donating the items to somebody new or that you know will accept less desired items. Finally, you may want to consider auctioning them off inthe Gold Auctions subforum of the Exchange. Nobody can pass up something they can get for so cheap!
"I've done everything I can, and I'm thinking about leaving." If that's what it comes down to, then by all means, go for it. Things in life change, and that includes interest in sites like Ernya, and that's perfectly natural! Do what YOU think is best for YOU, whether it's going on hiatus or quitting. People coming and going is just part of life for avatar/forum sites. If you do decide to leave for however long, know that you'll be missed, and cherish the good memories. And even if you never come back, maybe your path will cross with someone you once knew on Ernya. You never know!
These are but a few issues and solutions I have thought of to cut through what may seem mundane for some. Readers of this article are in no way obligated to take the advice given in this article, and these opinions are my own and are not representative of any other member of Ernya. Ultimately, Ernya is here for your enjoyment, so do what you think is best for you because everyone has their own ways of keeping things fresh. Remember to have fun with what you do, and may your Ernya experience only ever get better!
