I’m still bumming around the Inn. I am exploring with part of my academic/ analytical hat on. Firstly, I think the scribes are well written and welcome the guest. However, I do not see sufficient content to attract my interest or understanding on what the Inn is really meant to be. I get drips and drabs… more vibes of what you are trying to create but as a guest, I want something to mentally grasp upon. Perhaps some content. Perhaps something or someone ‘else’ at the Inn who can stir my psyche. Perhaps it is useful to have some faithful ‘founders’ lead the way by example or at least have some ‘open source’ content. An example is if I write my thoughts on ‘disease’ or ‘clinical care’ and then have this as a string for someone to grasp on. The question then is how does this defer from a blog site? If the bazaar is about encouraging talent, maybe you can post some art or music of yours to tease guests (or once again, provide a mental anchor or thread).
Thanks. I expect nothing less from a scientist.
I agree with the lack of content. Since you’re the first guest, there is, in fact, zero content 🙂 I specifically wiped the slate clean before you arrived. No, I wasn’t trying to make it difficult for you. You just happen to enter at the early early stages… it’s so fresh even my wife hasn’t had a chance to see it yet! (Our baby is still waking up every few hours.)
What you astutely noticed is the “chicken and egg” problem: Good content attracts people, who create more content, which attracts more people, which cultivates more content, etc.
But in a new system, the chain has to start somewhere. In this case, we’re starting with a state of “zero content” and 2 users (you and me). I’ll be inviting more people as time goes on, but slowly, because this is like a new, untested ship fresh out of the shipyard. I want to make sure it’s seaworthy before we fill the ship up to capacity and sail across the world on risky adventures. It’s like a baby still learning to walk, and it will still trip and bump its head and cry.
So, yes, what you see is a void. That’s because the people to create the content aren’t here yet (except you).
But first, it is important to create a unique place that breeds a unique nature of content and attracts unique people. E.g., most places elsewhere are created for children (Millienials — the first generation of people who can’t comprehend a world without the Internet), and there aren’t many interesting social places for educated adults.
Patience. When M starts getting some free time, I’m going to invite her too. It has to start somewhere, so it starts with a few of us. Slowly we’ll invite others.
To start, I’m seeding it with imagination, and people like you. I will be very picky about who I invite, because the only way to create a place where good content can flourish is by inviting winners, not losers.
BUT — the fact that you are thinking about writing your thoughts on “disease” or “clinical care” is encouraging to me. It tells me that even with nothing, this place gave a little spark for you to imagine writing about those topics. Because, think about it, how many other places can you have those sort of conversations, off the record?
How it’s different from a blog? That is a good question. There are differences, and I’ll answer that better in the future. Probably with a demonstration.
But for now, try this as a simulation:
- Create a persona
- Find the room “Test”
- Create a new, not-so-serious post, just as a test
- Reply to the one I created called “Straandbeest”
I’ll then interact with you to point you to a few unique features of the Inn.
Yes, I agree, it is valuable to have some faithful “founders”. And that’s why I invited you 🙂
I know, it’s a little lonely still. But patience. I don’t know how it’s going to play out yet. Maybe nothing will come out of this. That’s okay. I had an idea last year and I got tired of mulling over it, so I decided to do something about it and made this.
What I do know is that I don’t want to flood it with a herd of faceless people.
So over the next few months, I will work out the kinks, build, renovate, adapt, etc. And I will recruit others slowly — I have a few people in mind.