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About This Site: Ask Your Network Creator

updated 10/27 to remove outdated info.

Welcome to Tribe Refugees. I've compiled some questions I've been asked over time about this site and my role in it. I thought it would be helpful to share them in one place. :) Feel free to post additional questions using the Reply to This function and I'll incorporate them here. :)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

3 IMPORTANT POINTS:
COMMON QUESTIONS:

3 IMPORTANT POINTS:

Please frame your demands and criticisms for the site while keeping these 3 things in mind. :)

#1: The Most Important Thing To Know About This Network

Unlike all the other social networks you may be familiar with such as Facebook, MySpace and Tribe this network is NOT run by a big company with tons of resources. It is NOT a business service. It is NOT created from scratch with total control over the code or server.

This little network was created by 1 single individual -- with no assistance and with no payment -- for the sole purpose of trying to do something nice for what has turned out to be hundreds of strangers she's never met. Yes, that's right 1 person. Yes, that's right a PERSON.

This little network is run by myself and several people who volunteer as Administrators. Yes, that's right, PEOPLE. Yes, that's right, VOLUNTEER. As in, not paid. Be nice to them.

This site just started as an experiment on a NEW, BETA PLATFORM offered by a company called Ning, which itself is new and still getting its legs. I have not coded the software that makes a network possible and am not hosting it on my own server. This means that any technical problems or bugs are the result of the Ning platform on which this network is built, NOT the fault of the network itself. The network and Ning are both growing together. I appreciate your patience.
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#2: If You Have Suggestions Or Complaints

Become a PARTICIPANT in the network you've chosen to join. I welcome your input. I openly ask for your input. Don't be a lameass and just slag the network somewhere, yet meanwhile stay here and enjoy the benefits without actually telling anyone what you'd like to change. I want to help, but I can't read minds. If you have a complaint or suggestion, voice it in the right place where your network creator or admins can actually see it and possibly do something about it.

If you have suggestions for new features, for adjusted privacy or settings, for visual changes, for new or revised profile questions, for different homepage arrangement, or for any other thing... please share them IN THE SUGGESTIONS FOR SITE & FEATURES FORUM. That's what it's there for, don't be shy using it. :)
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#3: This Site Is Not All Things For Everyone

No single social network site, particularly created by one person on a beta platform, can be everything for everyone. This network was created to give a wide variety of people an alternate way to keep in touch with Tribe friends. But it can't be the exact preferred style and vibe of every single individual who comes here. And that's ok. It's just ONE alternative created to help folks out.

If all you want to do is bitch that this isn't exactly like Tribe, or snark without expressing your feedback in a constructive manner that could be used to improve the site, then clearly this isn't the place for you and it's best if you find another alternative that suits your needs.
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COMMON QUESTIONS:

What is the purpose of this site?

This site was created to give any Tribe.net member an alternative resource to keep in touch with Tribe friends while Tribe is unavailable or should it go under. It's offered so people don't feel forced to flee to places like MySpace or Facebook as the only alternative (sites which I personally feel offer lesser services and a poor environment.) It's meant is to be a helpful place whether you're a Tribe cheerleader or have become disillusioned with Tribe. It was born out of a desire for networking self-preservation and my intense dislike for the big places like MS and FB. ;) Aside from the basic rule structure I've made this is ultimately a playground for members to shape to suit their needs.
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Is this site about hating Tribe.net?

This site was never intended as a place to just piss on Tribe.net; play out personal conflicts with staff or members of Tribe.net; or continually make antagonistic remarks about Tribe.net, its members, or its staff. Expressing frustration, occasional grumbling and venting are all understandable. However, if your primary purpose here is a venue for attacks on Tribe.net I suggest you find another place to do so.

I'd like member's time here to be spent building connections and looking forward on this site, not mired in problems with Tribe.net. This is a new, different place. Let's enjoy that. :)
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How will this site be used?

As I said, I'd like members to determine the direction of this site. I've just made the playground. :) I'm aware of the irony that in a way this network's success depends on Tribe.net's failure, which is not something most of us want. :) So there's a bit of a fine line to walk to offer a good alternative here without snubbing Tribe.

If Tribe continues to decline or people feel dissatisfied with that venue then this site can be a place to migrate to:

a place to recreate and continue tribes you enjoyed (make Groups)
a place to continue the relationships built on Tribe (bringing your friends here)
a way to keep all their former Tribe contacts and discussion groups in one place (either this single network or a collection of Ning networks)

If Tribe makes a turnaround and is able to offer more consistent service and a more stable future as a networking venue then this site can become a number of things:

a place to retreat to if you get burnt out on Tribe (as sometimes happens with any venue),
a place to play when Tribe has technical problems,
or simply be a backup for your Tribe contacts. :)

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Why did you create this site?

I noticed a steady decline in Tribe as a company, a site and a networking service. This both depressed and alarmed me. What would I do if Tribe went under? How would I reach all those wonderful friends and discussion partners? How would I get all that info I rely on my tribes for? Like Scarlett, "oh where will I go? What shall I do?" ;)

I started doing some research on alternate sites and posted a blog entry about the subject. A Tribe friend, DaBomb turned me on to Ning.com in that discussion and I started exploring it. I was sick for about 2 weeks at the time, so being unable to really do much else my Proactive Woman stepped in and, skiddledo! I made several Ning networks. :)
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What is your role as the site creator?

In a nutshell, I'd like my role to be "hey, I set this space up, now you guys make something of it, I'm just here to answer questions (and play around)." ;)

My hope is to be hands off once this gets going. :) I'd like this site to become self-sustaining where the members run and self-manage this site, with the network creator only needed occasionally for issues that require top-level access. I have given specific members Administrative permissions for the site to allow them to help moderate and manage members.

I have a million other things to be doing, and several other web site things to manage -- I don't need another job like running a full social networking site. ;) Right now there's some set up needed and people have questions on using the site, so it's still a fair amount of my time.
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Is this site only for this specific target group?

The site was created for no specific target group, no specific population or friend set on Tribe. It was created as a general resource for anyone on Tribe.net to have a place to keep in touch with their Tribe friends and continue the connections they've made there in the event that Tribe.net goes down or completely under.

Basically it's a general gathering place so Tribesters don't have to join 25 different networks from the start. So at this stage, it's for anyone who can follow the rules. If it goes in a more tailored direction, that'll be an evolution from the member base not the site creator (me). :)
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Are Ning and Tribe related?

Not in any way that I know of. :) They are completely separate entities. I've set up this network to include things like your Tribe name to make it easier for fellow Tribesters migrating here to recognize one another. I've seen several Tribesters starting networks here, presumably for similar reasons. But other than the similarity of names used for members or discussion Groups, there is no connection. I haven't seen mention of Tribe.net anywhere on the Ning.com pages (see FAQs for links to Ning info).
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What about the other Tribe-related networks I've seen?

Being totally awesome as I am, it didn't occur to me to do a keyword search for "tribe" when I started on Ning. ;) I had browsed around and didn't find any Tribe-related networks so I wasn't aware that others existed when I created my own. When I later discovered the others I sent each network creator a message asking if they'd like to combine efforts in some way, perhaps to help reduce the tedium for members and prevent a dilution of our member bases. Many of other Tribe-related networks are more specialized and I feel we can co-exist peacefully.
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Will you be mad if I make my own Ning network?

Not at all. :) I totally encourage members to make their own networks. I'm also happy to include your networks on the home page Related Networks list to keep people moving within the family, so to speak. At the bottom of that list is the info for getting your network included in the links. It does take A LOT more work to make a network than to run a Group, so allow yourself time to deal with all the Admin and setup duties.
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Should I make a Group or a Network as a backup to my favorite tribe?

It's totally up to you. There is no site rule regarding this. :) You may want to check out this discussion on the subject.

Some things to consider:
Think about the use and discussions of the original tribe you're making a backup/replacement (b/r) for. :) For example:
For the tribe b/r of Burning Bright I chose to make a Group because it's already a specific topic and discussions don't go multi-level.
But for the tribe b/r of Burning Women I chose to make a new network because the discussions tend to 1) provide in-depth info that you'd want to reference and easily find later and 2) tend to cover many different kinds of topics.

This comparison may help:
Most tribes on Tribe.net are like a narrow forum with no subcategories. They don't go multi-level, they tend to stay within a specific topic or interest, there's no sorting or categorizing of topics, and users just rely on the search function to find past topics. So in that way, a Group is a more direct parallel of a tribe than a network. However, as I said it depends on the tribe. Larger tribes may be more suited to networks.

My own personal non-Admin view:
Personally, I think a Group will be fine for most tribe b/r . A Group will likely be most convenient for members because it will allow them to have a single profile here and still check all posts and groups in a single place. For tribe b/r that are more indepth, a new network may be better.
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I made a Group, but now I want to change it and make a separate network. Is that ok?

That's fine with me too. :) If members start a group and then find that either it's outgrown Group size, or they have a better handle on Ning and want to start a network there's no problem or rule against that. I don't consider that a waste of space here or an inconvenience. I think that may be a natural progression for some.
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Tags: admin, faq, group, help, network, tribe

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Permalink Reply by Ms Dynomite on October 4, 2008 at 12:18pm: MOD NOTE: The previous post by "Cathy" was deleted for violating #1-3 above, and also for being written in unintelligible troll-speak. If the member wishes to contact me directly regarding this, they are welcome to.; ▶ Reply to This

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