What is the Main Deterrent to Participation?

Feels like the community is turning more into a top member hang out then the wider community it used to be. Just my 2c

Sometimes this is the case. Initiatives like the recent Bit by the Bug generate a lot of fresh member activity, but how do we motivate new members to stick around and enjoy other benefits?

John Kutzschebauch wrote:

 

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Out of curiosity, you had mentioned that you stopped entering when you see Top Members applying, how do you see this before the chosen 15 are publicized? Or is it more that you guess due to comments/posts made be people?

 

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You can see participants for a road test, not for a design challenge. It doesn't even show a counter of how many have enrolled.

Winning a challenge is not about being a top member or not, it's about a combination of factors like time invested in the project, end result, usefulness, etc ... Being a top member doesn't mean you get a free pass on these criteria.

You cannot see who, but can see how many. Look at Safe & Sound: 41 applications.

Not so many in my opinion...

I stopped entering design competitions when I see some of the "Top Members" have applied

That should not be a motivation to NOT enter.

I was fortunate to talk with Christian DeFeo while I was in England.

He said that he read every proposal and the decision process was usually with the sponsors.

Obviously some promised 'world peace' but were in reality not able to be achieved which eliminated them...

I wouldn't worry about who enters.

Mark

Shabaz could do a Webex but you will have to bring your own Alcohol! ;-)

Agreed. If anything they like to get the "new" folk  to have a go so if there's any bias it may be the other way.

Just keep the quality of t he submition high and you have a good chance!

Obviously I can't speak for kas.lewis but I took his meaning to be more along the lines of when seeing multiple Top Members entering a contest that the level of technical competition just jumped from amateur/hobby to olympic level/professional.   Not that Top Members would get a free pass but that they would up the level of the game to a serious high point.  But that was just my read on it and one I can understand.

My wife and I spoke at length on this curious if perhaps the "Millennial Generation" (which we have some "adult" children of our own that fall in this) might be discouraged due to the level of competition that they would just refuse to participate and avoid any possible disappointment. 

We both volunteer for school activities and the "competitive" rules seemed to have changed quite a bit since we were students.  Where as both my wife and I would be challenged by the stiff competition we can recognize that some of our children would just not even try.  There is a humorous sitcom called "The Great Indoors" that hints at some of the challenges of working the newer generation into things.

both my wife and I would be challenged by the stiff competition we can recognize that some of our children would just not even try

I agree about your observations of some young people.

Sadly there has been a change in the life skills, so that participation is no longer the key reward.

I must admit I hadn't looked at the 'results' side of having a few TM's in a competition, BUT I've seen some really great results from others, and some less than expected results from TMs as well.

The criteria for joining the TM group is about participation, not their blogging skills, or even the technical abilities.

My take is (and I'm stating this to others), you should take it (Design Challenge) as an opportunity to learn and expand on your knowledge and skills.

I did say that quitting is the only way you don't complete the challenge.

Mark

I think you came the closest to understanding what I was getting at but still a bit off. You want people to participate and for that you dangle cool prizes for them to win. If there is no chance in wining why enter. You say to learn, to challenge yourself etc. etc. etc. While this all sounds good from your perspective turn it around a bit and think a bit differently if you want MORE participants and not just the ones you already have.

I can challenge myself on a project that is possibly more interesting to me, aimed at learning the skills I'm more interested in attaining on a schedule that is more fitting to my lifestyle and the final outcome is the same. Except for one thing, E14 has not gained any participants. So the younger folk, kids can't take a challenge etc. might help justify how the status quo works. Saying it's not about winning and all the rest just means you are looking at it through a very narrow lense.

If it's about the learning why not look at the model I previously suggested with collaboration. Where all team members do not have all the same gear and boards. Then learning really starts, challenges that need to be overcome when setups cannot fully be reproduced but workarounds need to be made.  A well versed member with a beginner working together just think of the possibilities in both learning and outcomes. Yes it takes time on BOTH parties and that is harder but hey is this not about learning and participation.

Challenges as they stand now are about have a shot at participants winning and achieving a standing if it was not that then they could just as easily do a project they want on their own time table and learn the skills they want. Sadly being the only one with a possibly broader perspective and not interested in the status quo I doubt anyone here will actually agree with me.

Kas

I think you came the closest to understanding what I was getting at but still a bit off. You want people to participate and for that you dangle cool prizes for them to win. If there is no chance in wining why enter. You say to learn, to challenge yourself etc. etc. etc. While this all sounds good from your perspective turn it around a bit and think a bit differently if you want MORE participants and not just the ones you already have.

I can challenge myself on a project that is possibly more interesting to me, aimed at learning the skills I'm more interested in attaining on a schedule that is more fitting to my lifestyle and the final outcome is the same. Except for one thing, E14 has not gained any participants. So the younger folk, kids can't take a challenge etc. might help justify how the status quo works. Saying it's not about winning and all the rest just means you are looking at it through a very narrow lense.

If it's about the learning why not look at the model I previously suggested with collaboration. Where all team members do not have all the same gear and boards. Then learning really starts, challenges that need to be overcome when setups cannot fully be reproduced but workarounds need to be made.  A well versed member with a beginner working together just think of the possibilities in both learning and outcomes. Yes it takes time on BOTH parties and that is harder but hey is this not about learning and participation.

Challenges as they stand now are about have a shot at participants winning and achieving a standing if it was not that then they could just as easily do a project they want on their own time table and learn the skills they want. Sadly being the only one with a possibly broader perspective and not interested in the status quo I doubt anyone here will actually agree with me.

Kas

Well put. I agree with this analysis. There are other perspectives, but this is a common one and an important one - as the poll shows. One of the reasons for this poll is to air this type of perspective and explore ways to address the deterrents. Your collaboration idea is great, maybe all it needs is a method of administration that doesn't burden staff.

I'm not sure why it should burden staff. It could be the same as the current format, but the team choose who gets what part of the kit from E14 the rest goes as usual. The final product comes from one location if shipping is required (like safe wearables) and it should be a team effort to complete the project. I'm not saying this is the best solution but it's another solution.

Input from members was requested, I am therefore participating by giving my input.