Yay! The good ole days when a bottle of Coke was a quarter, kids ate their vegetables and we had world peace!
SalonGeek.com is a microcosm of the industry. Chit-Chat is a little star in the "break room banter" quadrant of that cosm. But that doesn't mean you have to visit it
A better way of putting it is that SalonGeek.com is an eco-system modelled after our own industry. An eco-system relies on each of its parts to make itself work. Chit Chat is part of that system as it rounds off content and humanizes the interactions with the real people. Is there a lot of drivel in Chit-Chat? Yup. Just like in life. Always has been and always will be. Is there more drivel now than ever?
Would it surprise you to know that less than 1% of the content served up on the site is from Chit Chat? (Sadly, on content most served, Chit-Chat is #9 on the list while Search is #10)
Over time regular members start to see current core content becoming repetitive (gel polish, hair extensions, tanning, etc...) and they start to lose a level of interest and become more conscious of what is being posted in the "Break room" section of the site. Many then become "bored" with the site and move on, take a break or... make change.
What kind of change? They engage the community in the professional forums. Participate in the seventeenth "Which gel polish" thread of the day (but maybe from a slightly different angle). They create new threads that are thought provoking or stimulating for the other regulars on the site. They make change.
That has always been one of the greatest aspects of this site: The ability for the community to engage each other in a positive, constructive and utterly awesome way. Sure, we have all personality types here and sometimes they can put a serious downer on the other personality types, but overall we tick along quite nicely. Especially after the occasional "need to get this off my chest post/thread" cleansing.
Wanted a quick word about the theme of patience running out on cheap/short/no courses.
We all start somewhere. Seriously.
If I would have joined within year 1 of my career as a nail professional, I shudder to think how I would could have been received here. I didn't start with formal qualifications or "accredited" training. Luckily, I discovered some very inspirational and talented professionals that helped me discover the complexity, beauty and joy in my profession. Those people cultivated a passion for my profession and forever changed my life.
This site should be helping each other cultivate that passion for their profession. Not passing judgement for taking the wrong direction; inspiring them to take the right one.
Other points while reading this thread:
- Yup. I am still here. Still trawl through. But my time is a little more finite now and the sheer number of posts sometimes makes it harder to keep up.
- Mods do not police content unless it violates the rules. What we need more of in "el cheapo" threads is tolerance, inspiration and leadership.
- Making members qualify themselves before being able to see/participate in the forums would be impossible. See last time I posted about this.
Have fun, be tolerant, try to be constructive and inspirational to those new to their profession and finally: don't ever have an emotional reaction to what someone has written. Those who post negative remarks look idiotic and mean to the rest of the world. And you look weak for rising to their bait.
SalonGeek.com is a microcosm of the industry. Chit-Chat is a little star in the "break room banter" quadrant of that cosm. But that doesn't mean you have to visit it
A better way of putting it is that SalonGeek.com is an eco-system modelled after our own industry. An eco-system relies on each of its parts to make itself work. Chit Chat is part of that system as it rounds off content and humanizes the interactions with the real people. Is there a lot of drivel in Chit-Chat? Yup. Just like in life. Always has been and always will be. Is there more drivel now than ever?
Would it surprise you to know that less than 1% of the content served up on the site is from Chit Chat? (Sadly, on content most served, Chit-Chat is #9 on the list while Search is #10)
Over time regular members start to see current core content becoming repetitive (gel polish, hair extensions, tanning, etc...) and they start to lose a level of interest and become more conscious of what is being posted in the "Break room" section of the site. Many then become "bored" with the site and move on, take a break or... make change.
What kind of change? They engage the community in the professional forums. Participate in the seventeenth "Which gel polish" thread of the day (but maybe from a slightly different angle). They create new threads that are thought provoking or stimulating for the other regulars on the site. They make change.
That has always been one of the greatest aspects of this site: The ability for the community to engage each other in a positive, constructive and utterly awesome way. Sure, we have all personality types here and sometimes they can put a serious downer on the other personality types, but overall we tick along quite nicely. Especially after the occasional "need to get this off my chest post/thread" cleansing.
Wanted a quick word about the theme of patience running out on cheap/short/no courses.
We all start somewhere. Seriously.
If I would have joined within year 1 of my career as a nail professional, I shudder to think how I would could have been received here. I didn't start with formal qualifications or "accredited" training. Luckily, I discovered some very inspirational and talented professionals that helped me discover the complexity, beauty and joy in my profession. Those people cultivated a passion for my profession and forever changed my life.
This site should be helping each other cultivate that passion for their profession. Not passing judgement for taking the wrong direction; inspiring them to take the right one.
Other points while reading this thread:
- Yup. I am still here. Still trawl through. But my time is a little more finite now and the sheer number of posts sometimes makes it harder to keep up.
- Mods do not police content unless it violates the rules. What we need more of in "el cheapo" threads is tolerance, inspiration and leadership.
- Making members qualify themselves before being able to see/participate in the forums would be impossible. See last time I posted about this.
Have fun, be tolerant, try to be constructive and inspirational to those new to their profession and finally: don't ever have an emotional reaction to what someone has written. Those who post negative remarks look idiotic and mean to the rest of the world. And you look weak for rising to their bait.