Animation Source Forums

(Hi there. I'm new-ish, returning member from '08 on a new account after self-deleting my old one, so sorry if a bunch of you are like who the heck is this person)

I don't want to start a huge argument here, but I'm going to be truthful. I am so disappointed. What is this? When did this become animation source? I though this was BALTO SOURCE. Why are there fifteen other sites now? And who keeps creating them?

I really think Steet or whoever is running the site now, needs to sit down with their mods and talk this out. WE. DO. NOT. NEED. THIS. MANY. SOURCES. It's confusing. And the sources are empty, so what's the point?

And I know I'm going to receive a huge hoopla for my next suggestion, but here I go anyway;
What if we scaled down, and deleted some of the unneeded sites? And started focusing on the more active ones? Such as Robin Hood source. Is that one really needed?
I do realize a lot of hard work goes into creating these sites, but this work is going unnoticed. These sites aren't being used. And the more that are being created, the more crowded it is, and confusing, and suffocating.

Just a rant/thought.

Animation Source became AS during the fall of 2009. It all started when Steet created Tailspin Source during the summer of 09. Things just went downhill from there.

I completely agree with you, there doesn't need to be anymore sources, and the dead sites defiantly need to go. These sites are just a waste of space, but Steet would argue with that point. He would say that people are viewing them, so that doesn't make it "dead". He is very wrong to say that, he's just defending his "creation". Saying that is like keeping some old rotten steak around saying that someone might want it some day. No one in the right mind would even think to eat it, they would find something fresh. The same goes for these sites. There is no point in keeping these sites around. If someone is looking for information for a movie, then I'm sure there are PLENTY of other resources out there.

As to who creates these sites, that's the job of the site builders (only when Steet approves and opens a site for builders to work on). I have helped create some of the sites, but only graphics-wise. I am, however, a content builder on some of them.

Unfortunately, Steet doesn't care anymore, nor is he around anymore. He used to just be on TailSpin Source, but now it seems he isn't there anymore either. I've heard he spends a lot of time on Fanfiction.net.

This is just one of the MANY issues that Animation Source has.

Oh lord, not this all over again..

Look, you're one of many people who have complained the exact same thing with the exact same reasons and the exact same suggestions. Mods and members alike have talked this with steet and these will not change. I will say the same points from the opposite side of you (being that I AM on the opposite side) that I've said several times before that if people don't like the other sources, don't visit them. Simple as that. Don't even recognize them if you don't like them. Members have put a lot of work into the sites and it seems a bit harsh to just shut down that work because members feel it's a waste of space. It certainly wasn't a waste of time to the creators who put time into them and people who support the work. It's 100% evident that these other sources will never be as active as Balto Source or The Lion King Source. That's just how it is though. Those sites were the very first ones and were around much longer than other sources were made, along with being the only ones around longer than others being brought in production. That doesn't mean they can't stay.

^^This, I really have nothing more to add because you said pretty much everything I would have.

This isn't a matter of viewing them if you don't like them, this is a matter of these sites just sit there and collect dust. In this case, wasting space.

I can understand that shutting down a site that someone put their time and effort into would be upsetting, but they need to understand why that happened. I'll use myself as an example. If LATTS were to be a candidate for removal I wouldn't be upset. Why? Because I would understand that the site is inactive, and is wasting space that could be used for something else. Also, saying that I built the site, and I don't want go, is nothing more than an excuse. It would be like me saying that I don't want LATTS to go because I was an admin there, and that I made the layout n' stuff. That is in no reason to keep the site around. Those days are in the past now, I wouldn't need to keep it around just because of that reason. You have to LET GO, you can't keep everything.

I need to get this off my chest, but this whole Source thing reminds me of hoarders. Yes, hoarders. Allow me to explain.

Hoarders are people who, as you should know, are usually compulsive shoppers, and their homes are packed to the gills with mountains of stuff, and they CAN'T let go of things because they're "bound" to the object. The reason for this is because it reminds them of someone, or they experienced some sort of tragic event in their life that led them to hoard. Some of them do eventually wake up and realize that this is too much for them, and they become overwhelmed by their stuff and want help.

How does Animation Source fit in? The creation of all these sources. If you suggest to Steet to eliminate any of these sources, there is no doubt that his response would be "no". I think this is because Steet is bound to his Animation Source site, and doesn't want to let go because he wants to be king of the net or something. And as far as I'm concerned, Steet has already reached the overwhelmed stage, as it seems that he has isolated himself from AS. Why? because it became too much, he doesn't want to deal with it anymore. He has bitten off more than he can chew.

^ Wow. That was really depressing, mostly because it's true.

It almost makes me want to leave to know that this site will never get better unless steet does something or at least responds once in a while on other sources.

There are an infinite number of great animated classics and newer animated films out there. We can't make them all into sources, obviously, but it seems like we're trying to.

Don't get me wrong, I love all the animated films these sources are based on, but I think this situation is like hoarding also. Always wanting more, never knowing when to stop because they can't let go. They want more because they think it will satisfy them. But when it doesn't, they think even more will. And it goes on and on.

I'm not saying steet's a hoarder or anything. It is kind of our faults too. For suggesting all these sources in the first place. I would be completely fine with about...5 sources tops. But I agree, all this is a little overwhelming.

I think steet doesn't want to give up these sources because he'll disappoint the few people who actually want to make the sites active. But this is exactly what happens in the Television business. When a certain TV show isn't popular enough to satisfy their average ratings, they cut it. They don't really care about the 1 million people who actually watched it every week. Those people will eventually get over it and find another show to watch.

Either that or he doesn't want to deal with the crybabies who will baww to him demanding why he got rid of ______ source. I mean, really, who does?

Just my two cents, but long story short. All the newer sources should go. And if the people working on them has a problem with that, well we'll tell them to post the layout somewhere else so everyone can see what a good job they did. I know, I feel bad for the hard workers who made the sites, I do. But they shouldn't make a huge deal out of it. Just like the creators of those TV shows. They're forced to get over their show getting cut, a show they spent a ton of effort on.

I would totally not get upset if 101 Dalmatians source went up and vanished forever. Even I though I worked on all the info portions of the site, and a few characters. It's just life, people. It isn't fair 50% of the time.

I agree. Some people are actually using those less-popular Sources, but what is the purpose of keeping a source like Brother Bear Source where I sent my review more than a half year ago and it is still not activated (Old rant there - is-there-anyone-to-take-care-of-other-sites-t33397.html)!
It's great to have sites for many movies where fans can get info and share their creations, but if mods do not care than some people want to bring life to those sites, it becomes very discouraging.

The topic came up between myself and another member in the BBS box earlier of why nobody visits all the Sources. We settled on that people have their "favorite" sites that they happen to frequent. The solution we agreed on was that maybe some of us could meet in different boxes from time to time.
It wouldn't necessarily make the Sources more active, but maybe more people would join in the discussion on other Sources and be motivated to make fan creations for that particular movie.

To use Brother Bear as an example: I remember that was one of my favorite movies when I was younger, but I haven't seen it in years. But now that I've been talking on the site a few times, I might rewatch the movie(s) to refresh my memory and rekindle my fandom of it.

I agree partially on what Sakujo said, I kind of copped out in my earlier post without explaining what I believe. Sometimes it doesn't take a multitude of people to make a source active, sometimes it just takes a dedicated individual who spends a huge amount of time there. When we still had individual admins for sources, I remember a lot of other boxes being alive because of the people who were there to take care of them. That drew other members to that source too, sources like: Rio, ADGTHS, Brother Bear, they had people who dedicated a decent amount of time to that source to make sure it's not just a waste of space. When everyone lost their jobs and it turned into one tiny group of moderators to handle everything, then things really started to go down that road, people left, because they had nothing to do. There was no individuality BECAUSE there was too much to do. How can you when you have to moderate everything? They're no longer "Balto Source" mods per se, but Animation Source mods who just happen to put most of their focus into what's already active (not accusing, just saying). Some didn't leave, and good for those who still go to try keeping things alive, but as it was said earlier:

I know it's not mod's fault that they have all Animation Source on their back, but there comes another old rant about something that is not gonna happen - more mods.
I can see only two posibilities to slove this issue. More mods or closing the sites. I don't believe any of those are going to happen though...

Exactly--this is a vicious circle that the sites seem to be in the middle of. People are constantly asking for more Sources--that or Steet just wants to create more; I'm not sure which has a greater effect--and they get made (I believe there are at least 4 or 5 MORE in the works: Toy Story, Ice Age, Watership Down, MLP, etc). Since no more mods are created, they're further divided between even more sites.
And if the sites don't immediately jump into activity, even what few mods that pay attention eventually leave it to die. And the members who want to actually participate in the sites get bored with the lack of activity and leave as well.

Not to say anything against the builders of Sources currently in progress, but how active will the new sites be?

Ice Age: This one, at least, makes sense, as there will be a new sequel soon if there hasn't been already (I'm not sure about the release date.) But how many people do any of you know who are actually true fans of the franchise?

Toy Story: This has potential for being active, but again: whether there are fans of it or not--and I know it's a popular movie--who would seek out a fansite for it? Of all the fandoms I've seen, Toy Story is one of the minor ones out there.

Watership Down: I'm personally not familiar with this movie, so I can't say much about its potential for activity.

MLP: Of all the WIP Sources, I think this one has the most potential for becoming one of the most active sites. (I say this in judgment of the number of fans of that show on here, not the actual show.) However, I also feel that it will attract more trolls than fans of the series. Even from what I've heard while talking to a few members on the site, the so-called "bronies" seem to be strongly disliked by a lot of people. Those people could potentially come to the site only to troll, and that's not even considering the ones who aren't on this site already.
I personally have nothing against the show or the fans (male or female). But some do, and I'm forced to wonder whether this site will attract negative attention.

^ Granted, this is all speculative, and I might be completely wrong, but I don't see the point of adding more sites when there are several in need of deletion. And that brings me to my second major point:

I appreciate the hard work the builders put into the sites. But they aren't active anyway, so your work is already under-appreciated. And if it's not working yet, what's the point of having it sit dormant for 6 years in hopes of a sudden explosion of activity?
The hoarder example brought up earlier is perfect for this situation. The Sources haven't been deleted for one of two reasons: the creators feel "attached" to them, or they're keeping up this hope that there will suddenly burst into life and become as active as Balto Source or TLK Source. The truth is that there's no point in keeping them. You're already seeing your work just sit there; why not just delete it all?

I understand where everyone's coming from, and valid points have been made, so please don't take my next statement as something that is out to start an argument. But just because a website is a fansite doesn't mean it needs to be overrun with fans in order to be a good website.

I've seen PLENTY of fansites out there that probably get a hundred visitors a day. Many, fewer. But they are TREMENDOUS sites and only lack a higher-up position on Google. They can even be small, nothing more than a few paragraphs and some crude graphics, and don't get that many visitors - let alone contributors. But that's not what makes them a fansite; they are fansites because they are run by fans.

All the Sources are created by FANS of those movies. I know practically everyone who has made the Sources, and I know all of them put in a lot of time and effort. All that time and effort into making a Source based off a movie they love. And yes, even back THEN they knew there wouldn't be a lot of activity. But the Sources wer made to be fansites for a movie, not a fan deviantART-style gathering for the movie.

Not enough mods? Duh. But too many Sources? I don't think so.

There's really no point in having a fansite if there's nobody there to be a fan. Fan =/= supporting member.
What I mean to say is that it doesn't matter how many fans a movie has if people aren't going to make images, fanchars, fanfics, etc. For example, I'm a huge fan of Mythbusters. But I wouldn't participate on a Mythbusters Source because I have no motivation to do things like fanfics, etc. (This assuming it would be possible/practical to do so.)