Open Thread

> “Backpedaling is marvelous Dave, It really helps to tone your legs.”

SOTD.

sadly, I think there is a bigger issue at hand for Brownstoner and that is the bursting of the housing bubble.

From what I’ve read, Mr B gave up a good job to start this site a few years back when real estate was still really cranking. This site is driven solely on advertising and every ad that I see on the site (apart from a few Google clickads) is for a developer or realtor.

I can imagine how the typical conversation goes;
“Do you want to advertise on my site? We get XXX hits and they are all real estate related”
“We are cutting back on advertising because of the economy and units are just not moving. Anyway, I’ve seen the site and most of the time people are just talking crap.”
“erm….”

To date, Brownstoner has resisted being a shill for the industry which I commend. However without advertising income, there will come a point where Mr B will feel it’s not worth carrying on and go back to his old office life.

Alternatively, he can grasp the nettle by the thorns and direct Brownstoner into something it is slowly turning into anyway – a community based forum. Get advertising from restaurants, new venues, local services, hell – start charging $2 for classified ads.

One of the reasons why Brownstoner is more successful than, say, Brooklynian is content. Once a site gets to critical mass, the users start generating content themselves. As the old saying goes, “evolve or die”.

Friday evening someone and I were talking about the commenting thread and how it really was callous of Mr. B to try to stir the pot the way he did. We also spoke of a possible boycott of the site.

Mr. B TAKE NOTE:
More interesting stories please, where people want to comment on.
I frankly am tired of following F*cking developments. I don’t give a sh*t anymore about what new building is going up anymore and how much they’re slashing their prices. In light of the economy, I don’t care anymore what these developments are doing and they can all rot for all I care.

You need stories that people can relate to, lighten the mood.
– You should have followed the ‘This Old House’ Brooklyn segment. That would have gotten alot of comments.
– Maybe do more renovation / interior design / architecture. Highlight a different building, it’s history, it’s style, etc. Let the readers have a go at it. There are lots of knowledgeable people here.

So much more…..

“Maybe it was to get feedback but there was such a passive aggressive tone to it that I’m inclined to think otherwise.”

I’m feeling similarly THL. Feedback is a good thing, but openly inviting hostility is, well, just not cool.

So DIBS, tell me something, I’ve been wondering for while. Are you a financial backer of Brownstoner? A genuine question, as you and Mr. B seem to be connected or closer than some here.