The jury returns ….

So I have been on SC for almost two weeks now with just two days left in which to decide on whether I stay. I’ll be honest, right up until the last couple of days I wasn’t going to extend my subscription and I still won’t commit to the lifetime membership … yet.
It just so happens that the very reasonable 50% reduction offer to stay for another 3 months has swung the decision, but I still have some pros and cons about SC (see below).
I’ve certainly given the site a good workout; joining groups, creating blogs, dropping into the chat room most nights, I’ve even created a group of my own, although its membership remains at 1 and I have no idea how to populate it or promote it.
I’ve met some nice people and have become engrossed in some interesting blog threads, and above all else I’ve discovered that SC has a good vibe – no question about that.
So, I am staying for the time being, checking out my personal life at the door, and will wander around the corridors of SC for at least another 3 months.
I mentioned the pros and cons – well for what its worth here they are, and of course this is just my own personal experience, and the opinions given are purely subjective.

PRO (brief because these features are already well documented)
1. Friendly welcoming people
2. Reasonably safe from scammers and trolls
3. Good value for money
4. Service seems stable – no outages so far
4. Potential to make some real lasting friends

CONS (longer because these are my personal observations)
1. Small community – although it boasts 4000+ members there are never more than a handful online at any given time, and they tend to be the same people. Newbie drop-out rate appears to be high. You meet nice people, but they are mostly the same people.
2. Not ‘chat rooms’ as advertised but rather one single chat room. Again the same people tend to inhabit this room, and while I feel right at home in there it may be intimidating to people not used to this form of communication. I anticipated a number of chat rooms, each one relating to a particular interest or age group but I think the absence of these ties back to the small number of regular online users, which is disappointing.
3. Takes time to work out functionality. I’m no slouch in front of a computer console but it took me a while to work out things like search features and the creation of personal chat rooms (not that it would actually be worth doing that at present) and I still don’t know how to promote the group I created.
4. Longevity: SC is run as a hobby not as a business – Rob does a fantastic job considering he’s a one man band but what happens to SC if he decides to give it up ?
5. User retention rate (as previously mentioned) seems worryingly low with many inactive accounts. Without new blood and an increase in members the potential is for SC to remain static and even become stagnant. It’s got the potential to be a vibrant community with depth and diversity – but at the moment it doesn’t quite make the grade.

So – the jury has returned and has decided on a trial extension. Maybe in the next three months some of my concerns will be addressed.

Thanks for reading 🙂

Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Senior Chatters

Related Articles

Responses

  1. Very good blog darkfarmowl. I agree with everything that you expressed.
    I do believe that there is potential here to satisfy everyone’s needs and wants.
    And as for the new blood, if you can’t find it in 2 weeks, it must be you!
    Maybe it’s time to shake the tree a bit. Like my wife loves to say,” give your head a shake, your eyes are stuck!”
    Keep blogging.
    David

    1. Thanks for the reply David. I notice that the renewal is for 12 months rather than 3 so there’s plenty of time to shake that tree.
      It’s difficult to write a blog like this without appearing to be a complainer (which I’m not) but it’s good to see that you at least can see why I made the comments.
      Actually there is a last minute snag with the payment process so unless that gets resolved in the next two days I will be evicted anyway – might have to resign as another newbie, but this time one with some idea of what SC is all about.

      1. You didn’t sound like you were complaining at all. I joined over a year ago, then my two week membership ran out. I just renewed it for a year yesterday. I had been on another site, Buzz50 for a while during that year.
        Finally had enough of their style of almost anything goes, and the type of individual that draws. Times I felt like I needed a bath after I logged out. Didn’t go on very much, it was free, so no time limit if I stayed off for a couple of months. It is refreshing to be back here. As Faye mentioned, it is a nice clean site. It is nice to meet you. Hope you stay. 🙂

    2. Excellent comments. I get so caught up in my own little world that it’s a pleasure to just “chat” with friendly folks. No drama, no judgements, no grading. Just a nice, “hi, how are doing?” It’s good to be around friendly folks. Makes my day go by so much better.

      Your comments are well taken.

  2. An interesting – and I think well-balanced observation. There are a lot of very nice people on SC and during my time here I have met many people – from all parts of the world— a diversity which I like.

    I have to admit I am not a Chat Room user – but many are and seem to enjoy that interaction. Also there are many groups – catering to a wide range of interests and opportunities – as you have found – to create your own group.

    Its there when and if you want to participate.

    Hope you enjoy and contribute more during the remainder of your membership – who knows may become a ‘Lifer’ LOL!

  3. Darkfarmowl…Most of what you say is true. I do have one point though…there are other chatrooms here and they do get used from time to time but the Community Room is the hub of the site. There is also the ability to make your own chatroom and invite people into it. Of course that lasts only until the last chatter leaves. Unfortunately we can’t make newbies stay on the site if they find it is not their style. Some want the freedom to say as they wish, create arguments, get down and dirty, etc but the majority of those who stay like the fact it is a “clean” site, monitored, and lots of different activities. Adding too much would make it like many other sites where it is too easy to get lost in the hub bub of it all so it is kept simple and easy to use once one finds their way around. Pleased to hear you are staying for a little while long…maybe it will be like it is for us all who have been here for so long…contagious.

  4. darkfarmowl. I enjoyed reading your blog. You have gotten involved at a fast pace and you are very annalytical, but joy and friendship are hard to quantify and both tike time. Sometimes, the harder we work at making a friend, the harder it is.
    How to fill your group is a question that was not answered but you did not mention your group so you missed an opportunity. As you meet people, you will know who to invite to your group. You can ask people if they are interested in your group and I think you can mention it in the info box on the home page.
    Contact the admin about your pay problem and for any other help you need.
    Remember, Becoming familiar and comfortable takes time, but this is a good place with good people.

  5. Owl liked your analysis of SC and your evaluation for perhaps a few amendments and improvements.Being a Newbie myself and I was electrical at first due to lack of liveliness to the site.However I now feel relaxed to drop in and out to browse and persue what I choose ,and whilst having the opportunity to talk to new people has been a pleasant experience ,my verdict ,………..it is a good site and I will remain.

  6. Good comments from all and, as i said in the blog, these are just my impressions at the moment – SC is indeed everything that has been said here and that’s why I’m staying (the concerns raised about the future of SC are out of our hands anyway).
    Don’t worry – I’ll get involved!

  7. Darkfarmowl…Im sure Rob will support those of who believe this place is in it for the long haul. Yes it is a hobby for him but unlike most hobbies it wont be disappearing anytime soon to be replaced by the next idea. I hope you hang about long enough to see Im right with this prediction..:-)

  8. Hi there,Nice to read of a NEWBIES OPINION… we rarely recieve any of these and if we did we could certainly gain from your insights and experiences, we do have a friendly group of (PREVIOUS CHATTERS FROM OVER THE YEARS ) ….. who are pleased to assist with any information required , however we need the questions to give the answers….. the help section top of page is a wonderful introduction to the site if it were read right through and perhaps then questions asked …..
    I’m sure Rob will have this site going for many years to come , he puts a lot of time and effort into it to make it as pleasurablefor all as he can , as do the Admins and moniters to keep us all as safe as possible as you no doubt have seen for your self ……
    It’s been a pleasure to chat with you in the chat room and Im sure when you have been here awhile you will enjoy it even more …..It can be difficult when you first join…..trying to find what your main interests are but intime andinvestigationof

  9. Hi there,Nice to read of a NEWBIES OPINION… we rarely recieve any of these and if we did we could certainly gain from your insights and experiences, we do have a friendly group of (PREVIOUS CHATTERS FROM OVER THE YEARS ) ….. who are pleased to assist with any information required , however we need the questions to give the answers….. the help section top of page is a wonderful introduction to the site if it were read right through and perhaps then questions asked …..
    I’m sure Rob will have this site going for many years to come , he puts a lot of time and effort into it to make it as pleasurable for all as he can , as do the Admins and moniters to keep us all as safe as possible as you no doubt have seen for your self ……
    It’s been a pleasure to chat with you in the chat room and Im sure when you have been here awhile you will enjoy it even more …..It can be difficult when you first join…..trying to find what your main interests are but in time when you investigate , “You Tube” and how that works , also the Quiz room Wednesday mornings Aussy time , then there’s private chat for one on one conversations, and messages both online in chatters and private messages one can leave to others they wish to converse with … , Groups you can join for all one is interested in …. and of course as you have found the wanderers or walking groups in the U.K perhaps an invitationto the U.K members who live close to you ,which you will find in their profiles , may be of interest to you , .. hope this advisers you a little more of what one can find on senior Chatters … by the way
    I love it and it does become addictive after awhile lol …Lani xxx. best of luck with your group …..

  10. I too am AOL alumni. I totally agree with everything he said here.
    I am very grateful this place exists..only place online where direct group conversation exists anymore.
    I have committed to a year because of that.
    I do also see, though, the great potential for growth here. More rooms: topic discussion rooms, quiz and other game rooms, support rooms etc, the potential is limitless. To create rooms with direct communication like the main rooms, but themed? People would flock to this place.
    If there were more chat rooms, more diversity of subject matter, etc. My friends would all join. We all miss AOL very much. We are older folk now though, and most are not willing to learn to navigate a whole new system for just one general chat chat room.
    For me?
    So thrilled to have found a chat room that is pleasant, monitored, fun, sometimes hilarious…music trivia was amazing!
    I am here to stay.

    1. Lyninca..we used to have themed rooms. For some reason they didnt take off as expected so now we have just the 3 with the ability for someone to make their own if they want a certain theme. Its better to be making a temp. one than to have 6 or 7 rooms being empty and unused. I have no idea why they werent utilized although my guess is with so many sites on the internet with such rooms it is quite novel to find a site that isn’t overcrowded with rooms yet be able to make one of your choice…:-)

  11. Darkfarmowl sounds as if he has been on the site more than a trial period. You are a fast learner. Your blogs are excellent too, by the way. It is good to hear you will be around awhile longer and maybe you will continue to blog.