I wasn't sure how to label this or where to put it, so here it is. I was wondering if I was the only one to have ever had this problem and what I should do about it (besides get more members).

My board is a fairly new one based on a sort of futuristic doom type thing (as in, the world gets so messed up and chaotic that a huge war reverts it back to the Dark Ages). It's based on a story that I wrote that's very close to my heart. I shared the story with friends and they loved it. Then I got the idea to make a board sort of based on that idea because my friends wanted to role play (and I wanted them to), so I made it hoping for it to be a small success.

But now we're a few months into it, and they barely post at all. I'm not some tyrant about it; I realize they have other things to do. But they wait weeks or longer between posts and its getting on my nerves because I want the place to look good for whenever I get it all ready to start advertising.

The main thing is, I was wondering if there's any way that maybe I could motivate them to post without just being awful about it. They're my close real-life friends, so I don't quite know how to say it. I've put it bluntly to them, as nicely as I could, before, but it hasn't really helped any.

So does anyone have any suggestions for me, or is this hopeless? x.x And thank you all, in advance.

I've had this problem, kinda. More like, I've had people I know and care about post on my board, and they've been great, and now they're being distant and lax in their posting, but act like its normal when I see them in RL.

I say tell them how you feel about the story. You seem to have a strong emotional investment in this. Tell them how you feel. If anything, that should make them realize how much it means to you... right?

Sorry if I'm not much of a help.

Oi, i had the same problem when i first started on my own site. I had this brilliant idea that i really wanted to get into motion and i had a couple of friends that i wanted to help me with. They check out the site and made their accounts..but never did anything.

So you want them to start posting? Just remind them, call them up and remind them that you got that site and maybe even start a thread that might spark their interest? Sometimes, being a bit of tyrant is useful. But, i'd save that until its absolutely necessary.

Just remind them that it exists and you're waiting for posts. But be nice about it and just keep poking them ^-^

If you want more members, and your friends arent helping you achieve it, just start advertising and just present it very well. I'm sure if they start posting it'll be much easier.

But when i think i stopped relying on them and focusing on people who found the site who really wanted to see it succeed. I was lucky to find someone like that however. But im sure you will too ^-^

I really don't know if there's too much you can do without ruining your friendship. I guess it depends upon how much they invested in this site from the beginning. They may have grown tired of RPing in general, and they've strayed from it. If this is the case, then there's nothing you can really do but remind them that it exists, thank them for helping out and trying something new (RPing), and get some more members.

I've had this problem before, and there wasn't really anything I could do about it. I mean, you can ask them and be like "When're you gonna post?" I don't know I'm a little direct XD

But do yourself a favor and don't give them special privileges above the other members just because they're your friends. From a person whose made that mistake, it's a MISTAKE. I watched a good, and incredibly active and very popular site DIE because the head admin and her other friend (who was an admin) give her friend special privileges, and in the end it totally backfired. If they miss an activity check, then it's their fault for not being active. You know what I'm saying? It's not fair to other members that they get treated differently.

Just a little advice. =]

Thank you all so much for the kind and excellent advice. I guess I just wasn't sure what to do because I don't want to step on their toes seeing as how they're important to me. I'll keep poking them (that's a good way to put it :lol: ) and just hope things change when more members join. And LittleRikku, I hope I'm that lucky as well, because it would be nice to have someone else who really cared about the place to help me with it; I'm not the best planner in the world. :sweat: But thank you all again, I'll definitely do/try out some of your advice. I knew I could count on the people here! ^_^

If they are your real-life best friends, they should understand that it means a lot to you if you're being honest to them about it. (yeh I'm harsh when it comes to friendships but yeh). If they're makign a problem out of it, they aren't worth it really.

You can just go up to them and talk to them. Put it like this, you really want to get this roleplay going, if they post daily or at least every other day, the place will look active, you then start advertising, which brings new blood in. IT brings in new characters, new relationship, and well all new interesting stuff for them to roleplay with. If they aren't that interested anymore, you should say that they should be honest with you (because honesty is really what friends are for), that if they want to quit with the board, you'll be all right with that, but they just have to say so. Either way, you can then move on with the board, with or without them.

A week ago or something I had a little inactivity period as well, I don't have rl life good friends onboard. But really, members are members XD, and if someone has decided to help you, they should either stick with it or be honest they're not suitable for the job or don't have time to maintain the job. In my experience, honesty and a direct chat about it works the best. You don't have to be a tiran or come across as bossy in a chat like that. Just be honest, be yourself and be kind. I"m sure they'll understand if they are your friends.

Arg, I know what you mean.

I have this friend, whom I love to death and is a mod on my site but she's completely inactive and everytime I mention it to her, she promises she will be active and try to post and all that, only she just never seems to find the time. It's really hard because if she wasn't my friend, I've had deleted her by now. Only I can't do that because I really don't want to upset her and she's an amazing roleplayer.

So, you are not alone on that one. I think that MAYBE, they might be bored? If you haven't started advertising it, perhaps there just isn't enough to hold their interest? I mean that could be the problem... I'd suggest keep working to getting it ready to open and start advertising. Maybe the promise of "fresh meat" might lure them back in?

Failing that, I say just be straight with them. Like my member right now, I've told her: She has two days to post and complete the activity check and if she doesn't I have no choice but to delete her. I mean, I can't play favourites. If I don't delete her other members will want to know why and stuff.

My advice is to be honest about how you feel.