Andrew, thank you for responding here. I will get to your critique of my site, but since we are being frank with each other, let me first mention that I am guessing that the Dolphin sites here have a 90 percent failure rate - maybe 95. That is shocking and in my opinion should be the central issue that needs to be addressed. With all the "Rob you suck" comments here do you see what is missing? No one yet has said, "Rob, check out this awesome Dolphin site - it is highly engaging". see more

Perhaps the next version of Dolphin really will solve this, but we have all heard this for a very long time now and it is getting difficult to "keep the faith". I agree with some of your comments here. That people try to use too many features and it does more harm than good, etc, but not all of this can be thrown back at the users here. No matter how hard we try, it is extremely difficult to get user engagement here. Have you looked at your alerts system for example? If someone makes a post or does anything it just sits there. Maybe we should look at solutions that are not related to development - some kind of incubator here for example, or private site reviews - anything - I just think the extremely low rate of successful implementation here is an issue that should be understood thoroughly - with evidence - not just the same assumptions, that almost always put the blame on the users here - many of whom are very smart and have tried hard for a very long time.

Ok, now on to your critique.

1. Ok, it is a little extreme to say the site has "no goal" but I am working on a more specific delination of user benefits. I have failed enough time here on niche sites that this time I decided to "go big". If I am going to fail again, it might as well be on something ambitious.

2. You are saying that everything has "no practical use" - including the images, members, etc. I get criticized on that text no matter what - when it was shorter I was told it should be longer. So you have told me all the things that shouldn't be there, but what should. That was almost my whole point in posting that other site - it is possible to engage in a discussion right on the surface. If there is a way to do that in Dolphin, please let me know - I will try. Also, again, please give an example of a site that you consider to be great - you must know of some.

3. Goodness - everyone wants to redesign my logo. That last one was done by a corporate executive who did one for his company - a major biomedical firm, and I have a feeling someone will see yours and want to redesign it as well - however I have put that one up there - thank you.

4. Ok, I will look at that splash screen stuff - but again, all the advice I have gotten here is visual - and I agree that is important, but I still think the problem has more to do with functionality.