Basenotes/Parfumo Comparison

I just had a brief look at BN. It seems they cut off the off topic section in their forum since they want to concentrate on perfume topics.

Wrong decision!

First, they move to Huddler without the Scent-of-the-day section. Then they re-install it. Then they move back to the old platform but then decide to cut off other functionality! Now, instead of welcoming the new "old" site format, people are complaining again!

What are they doing over there?

EXACTLY !!!

While the whole SotD exclusion (and the Huddler site "partnership" in general) was a major mistake that I think BN regrets, I respectfully disagree with the sentiment that eliminating the "Off-Topic" area was a further mistake.

That area was a breeding ground for hate speech, seedy explicit pictures and other unmentionables in addition to the mundane one line comments about what someone was eating, etc... It added absolutely zero value to the site in my opinion and I would guess was occupying all the moderators' time to constantly remove the lewd photos and comments found there. I never posted in the Off-Topic area so maybe my comments come off as cold and detached, but I wont miss it one iota.

Hm, I remember the discussions that we had at the German Parfumo before our Off-Topic section was invented.

Actually, we did not want irrelevant posts either, but we were getting them. The solution was first to have a thread for drivel, but this was not enough. Finally the Off Topic section was created only for logged in users. Our Off Topic section is not visible to the general audience which is very important to us as we do not want Parfumo to become a kind of general social media platform.

On the other hand, people want to socialise a little, and so I think we cannot do without it. When Parfumo users meet each other (we have regular user meetings in Germany) I can tell you we do not talk perfume the whole day either!

I don't think we have any particular problems with what is being posted in the Off Topic. I appreciate that I can simply move a thread there that should be kept out of sight of the general audience.

I suppose that BN "Scent of the Day" will be the only place for chit-chat. Like, "I am wearing XXXXX and I am off to do such and such."

Management seems to think that it is enough for that crowd. (It resembles Parfumo's "I have been" topic. Or, Fragrantica's "Say Anything".)

With such a large crowd at BN, there ought to be an Off TOPIC area, because such a tiny "Scent of the Day" chit-chat opportunity is not enough.

People want to socialize, too. Not having that opportunity, makes the place "cut and dry".

There was the suspicion that some BN members just want to run up their post count with one-liners ... well, it would be easy to establish that posts in OFF TOPIC are not counted towards the post count, and voila, problem solved.

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Update: I suggested to run a POLL to find out how many BN members want an OFF TOPIC section for socializing and chit-chatting.

I was just checking out the "new" site ( again ) and I think it sucks. There's no other way for me to say it.

What kills me is that they continue to come up with "admin" reasons for changing this or eliminating that and in truth, I don't believe they have a clue as to what they're doing and are simply winging it.

The lackeys and ass kissers there all applaud " the bold and gutsy move"

I think I want to throw up in my mouth...........

It's still a mess over there.......and yes, I still want to throw up in my mouth.

Why? Why throw up?

I was over there for the past two days and all I can see is that they are struggling. Data need to be moved, the crowd is impatient, nothing is fast enough.

For the ones who are NOT RUNNING THE SHOW, it would behoove them to "shut up". How do people (members) think that it is THEIR living room???

One good thing which is currently being tested, is the addition of the LIKE and OBJECT buttons.

So LIKEs are being collected (similar to Facebook) and show up in the Profile Page of the member who did the post. The other members' names show. Fine and good.

The OBJECTIONS are also being shown but no name, instead the notation "HIDDEN CONTENT". I said, "Am I to guess who HIDDEN CONTENT is?" Yes. It will not be revealed because it would just lead to 12 round arguments.

As a tool, I believe, it is a good idea. Straight away, discontent can be voiced.

When many OBJECTIONS begin to accumulate, Moderators will decide to then hide that particular post.

This is a method to "nip it in the bud", I think that is good.

Well, maybe members are sort of tired of the furniture being moved around in the livingroom so often they no longer know where to sit.

Ha ha ha ha ... that is so funny, Cincy, you said it well.

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You may think, "what is it with her, make up your mind" but ... I can see this up close and involved and I can see this from a distance, remote, just like a camera focuses in and out.

Apparently, you don't understand what it is I'm referring to.

My "figure of speech" is aimed at those who continually heap ass kissing praise on those "running" a site that's constantly in flux.
I'm not a fan of those types of people that I meet physically or interact with on the web. I prefer direct and honest people.

If you don't care for what I said, I suppose you'll simply have to get over it. I said what I said.......and I meant it.

You're talking to the wrong person here AromiErotici... Just sayin'.

Re the deletion of the Off Topic section.
I agree.
Bad move.
People who are solely interested in talking shop don't have to venture there, but it gives some breathing space and a much friendlier atmosphere to a site.

Meanwhile the OFF TOPIC area has been "reinstalled" for the ones who want to chat. Just go to either the General Fragrance Discussion Section or gather in the Scent of the Day topics.

People want to chat, and chat they will, and chat they now can.

Not trying to argue. Just voicing an opinion. No worries.

I am not arguing either. For the past week I had a good time on the renewed BASENOTES boards. Things are coming together over there.

That does not limit or change my involvement, love and respect for PARFUMO.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying oneself on more than one website - there is something wrong with badmouthing them.

Why should one be declared "better" than the other?

To me the internet travels feel like a college campus, go from one building to the other and listen and learn and get your education.

Pipette, it's obvious that you and I are like oil and water. That is all well and good. I too, want BN to succeed and if you read my previous posts, you can see I believe the online community is better with them than without them.

That aside, if I post that a minority of members at BN twist my balls up because they are the sucking-up types, what is that to you? If you disagree with my posts, then move on. I don't agree with some of yours and you won't see me responding because it solves nothing. You may be "venting" about this or that and that's your business.

If I "vent", leave it alone...........and if I think they are "winging it" over there, then that's my opinion. It has nothing to do with me hating their community. I dislike their site and format......and that's extremely different than feeling that way toward their entire community. Next time, instead of reading and responding to my "thought life", simply leave it be.

I'll do the same for you.

Fair enough.

I often write before I have thoroughly thought about the matter.

Sorry.

No worries and you owe me no apology whatsoever.

Here's what veteran members on BN think of us

Is there something on parfumo that I'm missing?

I see a fragrance directory that for some lines is more complete than basenotes, but this is not so for other lines.

There are very, very few reviews. What good is the directory without information? It's just basically a list of fragrances.

The forums contain very few active threads with little participation. It almost seems like a dead site to me. I don't see where the community is.

I see nothing there that makes me want to return. Is there a hidden part of it that I'm missing?

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The only time i visit parfumo is when BN is acting crazy and i can't deal with it.

However difficult and annoying it can be, Basenotes is great for discussions. I do like Fragrantica for the reviews and statistics.

i don't really consider parfumo much of a competitor. Its like a back up to a back up.

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THIS.......should be motivation folks...........

Did you see my reply to this BN post over there?

I am posting with a yellow flower avatar and the user name Ursula.

I went out on the defense of PARFUMO and as well praised what is good on BASENOTES.

It is easy for me to post (as a guest to the websites) in the spirit of the song, "WE ARE THE WORLD"

but technical and/or commercial reasons prevent that all owner/managers can really and easily cooperate with one another.

Yep......saw your post. You posted well. After all, they are entitled to their opinions.

I see it as an opportunity to be motivated here at parfumo since their opinions are reflections on ( more than likely ) a good portion of members there.

The song of Sonny and Cher comes to my mind.

Over at BASENOTES the specifics of PARFUMO are being discussed.

www.basenotes.net/threads/292055-Parfumo-Net-( a-tempting-new-alternative-to-Basenotes-Fragra ntica-)?p=2991423#post2991423

So, I was thinking that a while ago a Brochure was planned which would quickly inform a Newcomer of the values and virtues and specifics of PARFUMO.

I was not well equipped to quickly point out, in that BN Forum discussion what the extra good aspects of PARFUMO really are.

If we had such a Brochure, then it could serve as a Beacon to shine the light on the well-run PARFUMO website.

I remember a while ago Don came up with the idea of a kind of presentation of the features Parfumo has to offer - designed especially for new and first time visitors. For the moment, the outcome of this is the moving banner on the starting page that highlights some basic features.

Pipette, even if you mentioned every single feature about Parfumo, it would not have stopped the negative and maybe slightly unfair comments of some users in that thread on BN.

I think I understand these statements very well. Please consider all the difficulties of the recent past with downtimes, the move to Huddler and back, with features vanishing, not to mention the obvious loss of some great reviewers who were there a few years ago. IMHO, BN has made it quite difficult for its users to still hold on to this site, and some of those who do might find it necessary to convince themselves that they are still in the no. 1 place.

Anyway, for most people the best (perfume) community site is the one that you are familiar with and where your friends are. At Parfumo, we welcome every new user but we are not on a mission to lure people away from other sites.

Having said this, the few negative statements about Parfumo are definitely to be taken as a compliment.

Parfumo is still on a very good way. I see many more new users now than some months ago (i.e, 8 new users today so far on Parfumo.net). Our listing in the Google searches has considerably improved. Parfumo International is undergoing a process of steady organic growth - and that is exactly what we want it to be.

Enough said - I'd rather write another review.

Apicius said.......

I think I understand these statements very well. Please consider all the difficulties of the recent past with downtimes, the move to Huddler and back, with features vanishing, not to mention the obvious loss of some great reviewers who were there a few years ago. IMHO, BN has made it quite difficult for its users to still hold on to this site, and some of those who do might find it necessary to convince themselves that they are still in the no. 1 place.

Anyway, for most people the best (perfume) community site is the one that you are familiar with and where your friends are. At Parfumo, we welcome every new user but we are not on a mission to lure people away from other sites.

Having said this, the few negative statements about Parfumo are definitely to be taken as a compliment.

Parfumo is still on a very good way. I see many more new users now than some months ago (i.e, 8 new users today so far on Parfumo.net). Our listing in the Google searches has considerably improved. Parfumo International is undergoing a process of steady organic growth - and that is exactly what we want it to be.
Well put my friend