Cureuphoria

I had this in mind since last summer already. I just needed time, and time is my worst enemy. I wanted to go and use my design and development skills to build a free place for those who, like me, love The Cure. And so, when I finally could, I did it.

Cureuphoria started out just as a blog, than evolved into a full site (with News, Tour Dates, a Forum, Links directory), and now has become a real social network, with the main features from common social media (like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter), plus discussion forums around specific subjects (Groups).

I’ve launched this new version while still in development process, with the intention of making it evolve “on-the-fly” by getting users’ feedback. Only, users – Cure fans, that are – turned out not to be so CURIOUS about discovering a new interface, and about what you can do and how to do with it.

So I wondered, why the lack of enthusiam or curiosity? Why they don’t seem to be all that keen about using a new tool, which after all was specifically created for them?

I sense that most of the members didn’t actually get it!
A friend told me that it can be frustrating to constantly try to pull members in and make them active on a forum. I am not frustrating about that. What I am, instead, is sad. Sad that members are passing by it, and wouldn’t recognize the value and the potential of a community tool that is unique in that, unlike other generic social media out here, is designed and built around a common interest and a shared passion (The Cure).

With this I am not suggesting to use Cureuphoria over, don’t know, Facebook or MySpace, because those allow one to interact with friends also on stuff that is not always and necessarily Cure-related. But when it actually comes to Cure stuff, why shouldn’t we use a tool that is, in fact, 100% Cure?

Another matter I’d like to bring up is… Forums!
Ah, Cure forums. There are so many out there, and I get the feeling that they’re all in war with each other. The silly war is about getting fans to use THEIRS over OTHERS (I could expand on that with real examples, but don’t get me started on that).

Well, I may come across a little (or a lot) dry here, but “I don’t need your US OR THEM”, if you know what I mean. I never thought about creating “another Cure forum”. But I have a clear vision and I am trying to make it real.

The vision is to have a social tool where fans, Cure lovers, can interact with each other on different levels, and I though about allowing those different level of interaction. And so I did.

What the hell am I talking about?
You see, I believe there are two layers of activity between fans.

One is the SHALLOW layer (and please don’t get offended by the term), and is made by those who don’t get particularly involved in conversations and discussions, but they limit themseves to a minimum, effortless way of interaction, like posting a video or a photo, or commenting with a “That’s cool!”, a smiley, or a “Thanks!”, and that’s it!

Than there is the more IN-DEPTH layer, when people get involved in a given discussion, like on a forum topic, for example, or some news.

Well, with Cureuphoria I allowed both layers to coexist and users can choose one or an other as they like best.

How is that?
Well, with the option to post simple “updates” (text, photos, videos) to the activity stream (in their profile or a Group’s home), AND to create Topics or reply other’s, in Groups of discussion.

I believe there is a considerable flexibility in this (you just have to unknowledge it), and this is where Cureuphoria marks a difference with regular social media and traditional forums: it puts the two worlds together.

Now, I got a few: “This is all too complicated, why Groups, and why Forums? What’s the difference between them?”.

Mmmh… About that!
If you go on traditional forums (and they all work the same way, and will soon be obsolete, believe me), you’ll notice that topics are classified into categories or folders or whatever you call them, right? Well, Groups are also way to classify discussions under a specific subject. That is not so difficult to get, is it?

BUT. The notion of “a Group”, is much stronger than just “a folder to classify topics”, if you see it the right way. You can choose to join the “Lyrics” group because that interests you, but not join the “Playlists” because you got none to share and it’s really not your thing.

Plus, beside having a Forum, a Group got a members list (members who join in), a Home, to display activity stream and post updates, like a Facebook Wall, and in the future we may have other things attached to a group (links,media, ect…).

It is just a matter of finding out more by being a little curious about stuff, in order to enjoy the stuff, really.

Should I go on with this long, useless bla-bla talk about the new Cureuphoria?
I think I’ll stop here. Except, I need to point out one last thing.

I my have come up with this (Cureuphoria) myself, but the place is NOT my site. It’s YOUR site. For the moment being, most Curemates pass by and say “hello”, and I appreciate that, but I kind of feel that they do pass by and say “hello” to ME.

Well, this is not about me. I’ve spent months on doing this for YOU, and out of nothing else but passion. No rewards, nothing (and I did have to turn down some paid job to finish it, so it even costed me money, in a way, but hey, I am of the “if-I-don’t-do-what-I-feel-I-may-as-well-die” kind, so, no complains).

That said, I invite everyone to start changing the way you see Cureuphoria, and make it about you, whatever that means (Example? If a new member is joining in, don’t let me be the only one to welcome him or her, but do it too, because it’s your place that they have joined in).

Anyway, Cureuphoria is here and it’s in your hands, and will surely continue to evolve. But in the end, who knows, maybe Cure lovers will never exploit its full potential or never get involved as they should, out of lazyness or dull unappreciation or whatever, or… maybe… someday…

PS: I apologize for the crazyness of the following analogy, but if instead of words I could write notes, this article would ended up being a song like “The Kiss”, trust me (and if that doesn’t make sense, than it just doesn’t…).