Thread: Dream Views losing members?

Excellent idea! I see you have only 52 posts, and you have been gone for a year or two you say, so maybe you have some ideas for what could make someone like you be more active and not leave but stick around?

Oh and I agree that response time to threads is very important. You can help! If you go to http://www.dreamviews.com/search.php?search_type=1 and look for threads with at most 0 replies, and for example Find Posts from A Week Ago and Newer, and then ask yourself whether you can reply to any of those threads. If you can, please do. If we all do that on a regular basis, threads without any replies can be greatly reduced.

Also we could use more volunteers helping welcome people in the http://www.dreamviews.com/introduction-zone/ subforum or offer encouragement to people enrolled in the http://www.dreamviews.com/intro-class/ or offering positive comments to dream journal entries. Please let me or another staff person know if after all this you would like even more suggestions for how you could contribute to this community to make it more likely that new people stay, and I bet we can come up with even more ideas.

People come and go all the time, as happens with many communities. It seems there are a handful of people who are here permanently. A bit more people stay for a year or two and then leave. A lot of people stay for a few months before their interest dwindles and they leave. Even more stay for a week or two, and the majority make 1 or 2 posts before leaving.

So if you leave for a few months and then come back, for example, only a few people you knew before will be there. Everyone experiences this after they leave. There are some people who recently return after being gone for 5 years, who express distress over the fact that all their friends which defined DV for them are gone. Of course, everyone thinks the forum was at its best when they originally joined and miss those times. I don't know whether it really does get worse with time, or people are just biased.

Also, whenever I hear someone say they preferred the forum years ago, before I joined, I feel kind of left out. Like they're saying they'd prefer the forum without me and most of my dv-friends in it, and there were apparently all these awesome people who I completely missed and I'm just like some newbie in comparison.

And yes, you're being a hypocrite, as you're one of the people who left. However, you've made so few posts, I'd hardly call that becoming integrated in the community yet, so I'm not sure what you think you're missing.

Joanna's suggestions are the best way to make the forum more active. Just start posting around, people here are really great. And do keep in mind that if you don't want the forum to lose members who simply go away, you should probably not go away yourself.

I am never going to leave Dream Views!!! I absolutely love dream views and I would never like to leave this community I think I will stay here to hang around and help other people as long as I can hopefully as long as this community will exist

Why would anyone want to leave Dreamviews?

Originally Posted by slayer

Why would anyone want to leave Dreamviews?

I think this is due mainly to low sucess with lucid dreaming when compared with expectations...in part this is due to a not so holistic approach to LDing. So a strong motivation basis, curiosity, etc..is important.

Dream Views will grow exponentially as soon as we discover a reliable induction aid, which for most people will be an external one ( pill, brain stimulation, etc). Then everybody will have something to share and lucid dreaming will be something more common. Eventually most kids will retain their natural ability.

Wait what's a Dreamviews?

The question to ask is, if most people were lding and DV turned into something like FB would all of us still be here?

Originally Posted by NyxCC

The question to ask is, if most people were lding and DV turned into something like FB would all of us still be here?

I can see your point..

But i don't think so..Honestly, i would like that DV ( wait what's a DV ? lol ) turned into something like FB because that would mean LDing would be pretty easy and fun, and that is my first and foremost intention. Hope yours too, DV.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

The question to ask is, if most people were lding and DV turned into something like FB would all of us still be here?

well I would be really disappointed if LDing would get commercialised and if Dream Views would turn into something like Facebook.... it would really disappoint me and it would all kind of lose its sense... I don't know how would I then enjoy LDing like before anymore....hope that will never happen!!! anyway you say some supplements etc. to make LDing easier....well idk...where would then be the fun of trying to do it? what could you in the end say ....? I did LDing so what....!!! and no a big effor put in it....well I think it's nice when you put effort in something.....maybe it can be a some kind of a hell while you are doing it but in the end when you succeed you could say 'yaaaayyy!!! I finally succeeded!!!' while being proud ....you would look on that all with respect and being proud of what you did....but when it would all be so easy that you just snap your fingers and you've done it where would then be that beauty that effect .....where? It would take all joy away...... it would become like I did LD so what nothing special .... but the most thing bothers me is that this never becomes something like facebook or that LDing becomes somewhat commercialised

Originally Posted by Karloky

well I would be really disappointed if LDing would get commercialised and if Dream Views would turn into something like Facebook.... it would really disappoint me and it would all kind of lose its sense... I don't know how would I then enjoy LDing like before anymore....hope that will never happen!!! anyway you say some supplements etc. to make LDing easier....well idk...where would then be the fun of trying to do it? what could you in the end say ....? I did LDing so what....!!! and no a big effor put in it....well I think it's nice when you put effort in something.....maybe it can be a some kind of a hell while you are doing it but in the end when you succeed you could say 'yaaaayyy!!! I finally succeeded!!!' while being proud ....you would look on that all with respect and being proud of what you did....but when it would all be so easy that you just snap your fingers and you've done it where would then be that beauty that effect .....where? It would take all joy away...... it would become like I did LD so what nothing special .... but the most thing bothers me is that this never becomes something like facebook or that LDing becomes somewhat commercialised

Would you be disappointed if lucid dreaming becomes something completely easy because of a magical, safe pill or a reliable external aid ?

Following your reasoning, becoming a natural lucid dreamer would be boring ?

As far as i am concerned i would love to lucid dream without any effort, on demand. That would be quite an accomplishment, even if i´m using some external aid ! You still have to work on your dream control and so on.

It´s good to feel the bravado feeling, « wow i did notice i was dreaming and i did this or that..» but that´s just ego trip if you focus on this feeling. At least that´s not my motivation.

Just try to ask some small children about dreams and you will see what they are able to do without any effort..do you still feel good about yourself ?


And a last word: it doesn´t make any sense to fear that LDing will be commercialised. No one can take it from you, right ? Of course you have to pay for pills and novadreamers and so on..but that´s optional... sleep and lucid dreams are still free !

I think that lding is something very special and well worth the effort. People should be informed about it and encouraged to make that effort.

No pill or gadget can make up for all the work that you have done because it isn't just about plugging in some sort of simulation or game, but a journey of discovery whereby you enhance your awareness and expand the knowledge and appreciation of all the elements of both your internal and the external world. That is the magic of lding.

That is the hollistic approach i talk in the first post, and it is the real magic, but many people are searching for quick results and Just fun. They Just want to try out. For those, sustained practice is not meaningful and they easily give up. And they go away.

Besides that i think many people leave because they don´t subscribe to the idea of paying to have access to some features on DV, or not being allowed to post links to other forums, which doesn´t serve the LDing interest. I also don´t enjoy the dominant behaviour like post # 8, specially from a dream guide. Also, i would like to vote for dream guides in a democratic fashion.

I dont even understand how someone's interest in LD's AP's etc can get any less than huge.

i actually don't care about lucid dreaming. i'm just here for the free muffins.

Hm, I was gone for almost two years myself *high five on same-ish time return*
I was thinking the same thing when I came back, it seems a little sparse around here these days and most of the people I remember talking to are gone. Not that I don't enjoy the people who are still here or are new, it was just kind of a shock.

I didn't leave because of anything here; I'm known for coming and going from message boards but... I had some things going on and took an unintentional and regretted break.

Originally Posted by VagalTone

Would you be disappointed if lucid dreaming becomes something completely easy because of a magical, safe pill or a reliable external aid ?

Following your reasoning, becoming a natural lucid dreamer would be boring ?

As far as i am concerned i would love to lucid dream without any effort, on demand. That would be quite an accomplishment, even if i´m using some external aid ! You still have to work on your dream control and so on.

It´s good to feel the bravado feeling, « wow i did notice i was dreaming and i did this or that..» but that´s just ego trip if you focus on this feeling. At least that´s not my motivation.

Just try to ask some small children about dreams and you will see what they are able to do without any effort..do you still feel good about yourself ?


And a last word: it doesn´t make any sense to fear that LDing will be commercialised. No one can take it from you, right ? Of course you have to pay for pills and novadreamers and so on..but that´s optional... sleep and lucid dreams are still free !

what if you could just succeed doing LD the first time however you want it without any problem or anything....would it still be fun.....if you didn't put any effort into it.....whenever I do anything I think that it could be better if I can do it right away yet often I realize that some things are more fun and satisfying when you put some effort in it.....if you could do LD without an effort after that it would feel like no acomplishment......there are many things you can do without not much effort and a lot of times when I do some of these things I don't feel like I did anything....so I take it like nothing's happened what I just did.....but when I put effort in something it feels nice and I feel satisfied and proud....and it's more fun to explore by your own effort something and learn......

Originally Posted by Karloky

what if you could just succeed doing LD the first time however you want it without any problem or anything....would it still be fun.....if you didn't put any effort into it.....whenever I do anything I think that it could be better if I can do it right away yet often I realize that some things are more fun and satisfying when you put some effort in it.....if you could do LD without an effort after that it would feel like no acomplishment......there are many things you can do without not much effort and a lot of times when I do some of these things I don't feel like I did anything....so I take it like nothing's happened what I just did.....but when I put effort in something it feels nice and I feel satisfied and proud....and it's more fun to explore by your own effort something and learn......

Sure it feels good, and you deserve it for your efforts. I know what you are talking about ..It´s great to realize « wow i can lucid dream ».

Idk if you are beginning your LD journey, but in the long run, i bet you will want to put less and less effort and just become more natural. Why would you feel less proud of yourself if that is a sign of skill ?

Now, if you are totally dependent on a magical external aid, sure you don´t feel so proud...but would you choose pride over LDing ? For me it´s not a difficult choice

Originally Posted by VagalTone

Sure it feels good, and you deserve it for your efforts. I know what you are talking about ..It´s great to realize « wow i can lucid dream ».

Idk if you are beginning your LD journey, but in the long run, i bet you will want to put less and less effort and just become more natural. Why would you feel less proud of yourself if that is a sign of skill ?

Now, if you are totally dependent on a magical external aid, sure you don´t feel so proud...but would you choose pride over LDing ? For me it´s not a difficult choice

yes I see what you mean but of course I would want to be lucid......but yet... you know I see you get what I mean...but I always thought no matter if something can be hard later you will be proud for trying hard .....there should be some effort in everything or where would be the magic of it all what if everything was done for you instead of you doing it and putting an effort into it... life would be boring so it's more interesting this way....that if everything would "already be done" and you wouldn't have to do nothing neither put any effort where would be fun then.... like when I got to sign in my high school I had to bring papers.... go there fill in that papers for signing...see the score list and if I got in school etc. and since this year it all is going to be done over the internet so you just click and everything is done and you don't have to do anything ....of course you have more time etc.... but where is the fun .... I had so much fun doing all of that to go to school.... and now nothing you just click....and it seems so boring and so not interesting and so idk lifeless..... but this what I had to do was very interesting and had a lot of fun.....and more and more things are getting done for us so we don't have to do anything I know we have a lot things to do and not a lot of time....but since more and more things are done instead of us it seems one day everything is going to be done instead of us while we will not have to put any effort in anything....it's just not interesting...and it's boring.... trying for something hard is what makes it beautiful....you giving yourself into something is what makes it beautiful

Great, i think it´s a nice approach to life in general ! without challenge and effort we can´t achieve that feeling of flow and immersion, or pretty much anything

But don´t forget you also need to take a break sometimes

Originally Posted by slayer

Why would anyone want to leave Dreamviews?

you can never truly escape this place.

"You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." Should that be added to DV rules?

Maybe when we sign in, there could be a sound of prison gates closing. And instead of a "register/sign up" button, we could have handcuffs. Soon enough, we'll be known as that weird, dream cult.........

Originally Posted by Angelpotter

Maybe when we sign in, there could be a sound of prison gates closing. And instead of a "register/sign up" button, we could have handcuffs. Soon enough, we'll be known as that weird, dream cult.........

Wouldn't be so bad if we could keep Neil Patrick Harris's face as our mascot... hmmm... who wouldn't want to join that cult?