Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

Jun 1, 2009 at 10:29 AM
51 comments

For the last two and a half years, we've been providing you with two daily prompts to inspire you when your fingers are frozen on the keyboard: The QotD and Vox Hunt.

We've noticed in the past year or so that while most of you love to answer the Question of the Day, fewer and fewer of you have been responding to the daily Vox Hunts. In fact, it seemed that, if anything, the Vox Hunt was taking away from the Question of the Day, rather than complementing it, as intended. Because of that, we've made the tough decision to remove Vox Hunt and focus solely on the Question of the Day.

We understand that change of any kind is never easy, but rest assured: while Vox Hunt is going away, the ideas and challenge associated with Vox Hunts will still remain, only now you'll find them within the QotD. From time to time, QotDs will ask you questions that encourage you to add media associated with your answer (photos, music, videso), just like the Vox Hunt did.

We hope that by combining the two, we will succeed in inspiring even more people to answer the QotD and in bringing the Vox community together by prompting you to share your vast array of opinions and stories (and the media associated with them) on similar topics.

Today is the last day for Vox Hunt, so take a moment to say goodbye by showing us whatever it is that makes you happy.

If you have any questions or thoughts about this... or anything, you can always send me a message.

Until next time...

daisy

51 comments

Tags:

qotd,
vox hunt

Comments

Am I the only one here who thinks this is a cutback and not a descision that is intended to enhance this place? I've seen lots of my neighbors participate in the Vox Hunt. I think often times it's just which one tickles your fancy.

I just don't think it's a good idea to take away a feature without offering another one.

Just one more nail in the coffin?

First the [tig] and now this? I have to agree with Skoolie, I don't think this is a smart move

It's kind of a good idea, but I can't understand the thing with the [This is Good] that you can find on the same page as "your neighbothood updates"..?!?

Skoolie replied to Cap'n Stephel’s comment:
Jun 1, 2009
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I'm confused what is going on with the [tig] ? I didnt hear anything about it

Cap'n Stephel replied to Skoolie’s comment:
Jun 1, 2009
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Well, that was actually changed awhile ago. There used to be one [tig] that took the best of everything and now it's all split up. I know I don't always remember to look at all the other sections and I just glance at the culture thing since it's first on the homepage

Skoolie replied to Cap'n Stephel’s comment:
Jun 1, 2009
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Oops I never even noticed that there was more than just the culture is good one

Cap'n Stephel replied to Skoolie’s comment:
Jun 1, 2009
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Haha, that's exactly my point. People don't know or forget there's more

I didn't know Six Apart even worked on Vox anymore.

oh wow - I guess i'd better participate since this is the official last VH.

[this is good]

Actually, I think it's a superb idea. Yes, I can quite understand the appeal of keeping them separate, but I agree with the reasons stated. In fact, they already seemed a bit hand in hand with each other.

Daisy has already been very kind to answer my questions/concerns in the past, so I can vouch for her claim ;-) I'd also point out that there is nothing stopping VOX users from creating groups to suit their tastes here. There is already the Qotd? group to satirize some questions, and my wife and I started a Journal Jar group which is much like the QotD but seems to suit our Neighborhoods a little better-- "more personable" I think is what one said. Do note that QotD is called "Writer's Block" at LiveJournal, which suggests it's totally optional. Do your own thing as it moves you.

jaklumen replied to Cap'n Stephel’s comment:
Jun 1, 2009
Reply

That would imply that the masses don't realize it, which might be the case, but I have noticed that quite a few have noticed [<fill in the blank> is good], actually. But I have seen more often that those in the spotlight don't realize it more than those that come to post (until those posting say they have come because of it). So I would suggest that SA implement some sort of notification system.

I think that the reason why more and more of us aren't participating in them is because you are allowing sponsors to ask us marketing questions, especially on QOTD, which is now consistently filled with crap questions by sponsors we don't care to hear from.

A better step would be to encourage other members to submit questions, instead of just pulling it.

i have no idea about what's going on..

I second that.

I'm sad as I love participating in Vox Hunt... I hope Vox isn't really dying as I heard from some bees...

Hey Daisy, when will there be any new Vox features? How about some new designs to choose from?

It definitely feels like Six Apart sold Vox users to a bunch of marketers. And when the marketers no longer care about us then SA will just pull the plug on us entirely.

I will miss it !

WAIT. Did the questions also go away for each category too? Didn't there used to be weekly questions in technology, news, music etc?

thegrumblebunny replied to Design Shark’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
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I agree completely. I would not answer any vox hunt that was "sponsored" because I felt like I was being used as a marketing tool. I tended to answer the non-sponsored ones all of the time.

I am disappointed that the Vox Hunt has been retired.

New themes sponsored by Cisco have recently been added !

good idear.i never used them much anyway but ok

*sigh* are all my favorite places on the net just going to die off limb by limb?

Cap'n Stephel replied to jaklumen’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
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I agree that it would be nice for Vox to notify those that make it to the [__ig] thing

[vox is dead]

I would go that far yet, but I'm surprised they never comment or interact with the community they create. You would think they would.

As soon as I hit enter on that one, I realized I should've said, [vox is dying]. It's still got some life left, but the amputation of the Vox Hunts isn't a good sign.

This figures. My personal world as usual, as I liked the Vox Hunt far more than the QotD, especially now that those no longer seem to be user contributions. Most of my QotD answers are making fun of the question, so if it appears I liked them better because I answered them more often, I feel the irony.

Vox Hunts were fun and engaging, except when they tried to teach me or sell me something.

I hope it's not just laziness or disinterest on the part of page managers. And I hope even more that it's not because people have abandoned blogging in the Vox community in favor of typing banal dross on a virtual "wall."

daisy replied to Design Shark’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
Reply

Unfortunately, despite lots of encouragement and a link within the Vox Hunt, I only received suggestions for it about once a month... I definitely encourage everyone to submit QotDs though, as many of you already do. I would much rather ask what YOU want than come up with them on my own! :)

If you want to suggest a QotD, you can just click the link in the QotD module, or send a message.

We just added some new designs yesterday! :) Sorry - I should have posted about them sooner.

daisy replied to Cap'n Stephel’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
Reply

That's a good idea. We do try to notify people much of the time, but you're right: we could do a better job at this. :)

Design Shark replied to daisy’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
Reply

I'm not sure where the encouragement was posted, but I never saw it - and I have blogged here every single day for the last two years, and on and off before that. I just recently discovered via another member that you could even submit them. More emphasis should have been placed on that.
Also, I wonder what it is hurting to have them on there, even if they aren't used that often. It's not like it takes up a lot of space, or even effort on the part of vox.
I've talked so much among friends about what a great place vox is, but more and more I'm feeling like things are being taken that really support the community and fun.

I must admit I have trouble seeing this as a "cutback." The feature is so minor, IMO, that I have difficulty believing its removal would save significant money. More likely it is just relieving a small group of overworked admins of a mostly thankless task.

Even if it were a cutback, why the surprise? We're in a recession--and, by the way, Vox is still free. I'm pleased 6A has kept the product going as well as they have.

I don't like questions posed by marketers either, but someone has to pay the bills. If you think the ad presence is obnoxious here, try Facebook.

Damnit, this isn't LiveJournal.

Perhaps I should clarify-- I was responding to "And when the marketers no longer care about us then SA will just pull the plug on us entirely". I don't think that's quite a fair assertion, and that sort of negative comment reminded me a lot of attitudes by LJ users. They despised 6A most bitterly in a very public way, and I think that's a shame, because I think 6A added some nice features. I left LJ myself too, but then that's another story...

jaklumen replied to Design Shark’s comment:
Jun 2, 2009
Reply

So go ahead and submit. I have had a question or two featured, and so have a few of those in my Neighborhood.

I will miss Vox Hunt.

what?

[this is good]

i have just started using vox. Any help accepted. Les

Well, doesn't matter to. Because I am a new user.

[this is not good] well i don't see a lot of intergration of the hunt and the quality of the QotD hasn't significatly improved.

and did the vox team help these new guys who wrote in? or alteast point them in the right right direction?

I am new user here so it si does'nt metter, i want make more friends and help accepted.
Nexpider

[this is good]

Oops I never even noticed that there was more than just the culture is good one

dong ho

Robert Joe replied to Skoolie’s comment:
Jul 26, 2009
Reply

I did not hear a thing either!

what?

[this is good]

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why hasn't vox made an application so it could be linked to users facebook accounts so that updates could appear in friend's news feeds?

I think Ari has a point there. People would be much more likely to use the interface from facebook rather thatn having to sign in to another account. But then i am new to this so perhaps all of the more experienced users would disagree.