A question and a proposal
03-12-10 · Miscellaneous, Readers\' Gallery
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UPDATE on March 15, 2010 @ 9.59 p.m.
We’re LIVE! You may now visit the Food Talk Community. Have a look around, register, try out the features, invite your friends and let me know how things can be made even better.
Last year, I started a gallery for readers who wanted to contribute photos of dishes they have cooked based on recipes from this blog. I got great response but, after a while, as the photos started to really pour in, I found myself unable to manage cropping and resizing them, and spellchecking the accompanying texts. And I just removed the link on the sidebar that led to the gallery. And I do apologize. I always meant to post all your contributions but as a one-person team running this blog, I’m only human after all and I do have my limitations.
Months after that, I thought about creating a community where readers could directly post their stuff — photos, recipes and cooking tips — and, well, just hang out (there was a forum before but the spam was really terrible and I just gave up). I tried but technological problems were in the way. A long story of trial and error that I won’t bother you with.
Last month, something wonderful happened in the WordPress community. BuddyPress, previously available only for WordPress Multi-User installs, became available for WordPress single installs. If that makes your head spin, never mind, it’s not all that relevant anyway. The relevant thing is what BuddyPress can do now that I can run it without too much trouble. It’s like a blog + Facebook where users can post photos, recipes, statuses and links. Users can also have “friends” and form groups to connect with foodies with similar interests.
I’ve you’ve seen my Facebook fan page, there are now over 6,000 members. But, like you blog readers, those 6,000 are a very loose community. So, I’m wondering. Would you like to get to know one another and have a place where you can talk and share stuff about food? A place where you can connect with “friends”, track their activities and statuses? A place where you can create groups for people who share the passion as yours? Not a forum (never again!) but a real community.
I have to ask first because it’s a major leap, a lot more work for me (although I am hoping that some of you will eventually volunteer to be moderators) and it’ll require more resources (bandwidth, etcetera).
I have BuddyPress set up already, I’ve tested it, everything seems to work, but unless there are enough of you interested in using it, well, I’ll just consider the installation and tweaking a learning exercise for me.
I’m throwing the same questions to the 6,000 plus fans in FaceBook. If, over the weekend, I get a positive response from 50 people (I think that’s a good enough number to start a community with), here and in Facebook, on Monday (Manila time), I’ll open the community for registration.
So, post your comments and let me know if you’re on the “Yes, I’d love to” team or on the “Not interested” team.
UPDATE @ 3.15 p.m.
Okay, so, about three hours after I posted about this in Facebook, I’ve gotten the necessary number. 
Facebook.
count me in
I remember the forum days. Yeah, spam was terrible and a lot of bogus accounts. I learned a lot there and still remember some of the recipes that were discussed. Looking forward to the new community!
me too connie.
Yup that forum was good but it didn’t last long nga. I’m looking forward to your new community – it’ll be very interesting.
ayayay! sali po ako…
Yay! Thank you for taking the time to imagine (and create) a gathering place for us.
YES! YES! YES!
count me in,please..
count me in! although i dont have a facebook yet and i only post my food pictures in my flickr account.
You won’t need a Facebook account.
Wonderful idea!!I’m in.
Yes, count me in.
yes, I’m interested
i’m interested too!
yes, please count me in.
i’m an old fan…. so COUNT ME IN!
Very much interested!
Yey!very interested!=)
What a wonderful idea. Do count me in!
go! ang taray ng mug. di ko kinaya!
HAHAHAHAHA
super yes!!! =)
I like the idea. We should go for this. I’m in!
Posting a thank you note to you is something I wanted to do for a long time and finally I have done it!! I have benefited a lot from all your recipes and the least I can do is to commend you for a job well done. Though I am one of the very few who is still being stubborn about not opening a facebook account, still I would love to be a member of this community..
Again thank you and please keep on posting.
I would like to participate.
want to be a member too!
what a very good idea ms.connie
count me in! i would like to be a member! yes! yes!
Me too, please.
yes!