I've posted similar inquiries here in previous years, and I'm trying again.
The Hypnos Forum has been around for more than a decade, in various incarnations and versions, and it's gone through periods of thriving, buzzing activity, as well as slower doldrums. This latest slower period is probably less to do with the normal ebb and flow, and more to do with the fact that all over the internet, forums of this type seem to be less busy and active, as many people spend more time and energy on social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
While I enjoy those sites myself, I think many of us would agree there's something to be said for a somewhat specifically focused, member-based site like this one. When you visit the Hypnos Forum you can assume a certain common ground with other members. It's nice to be able to post "I think Future Sound of London hasn't aged very well," and know that most people will have heard the albums you're talking about, and many people will have opinions, whether in agreement or disagreement.
I'd love to find a way to enhance this community with some additional features that would make people feel like visiting and posting here more often, without losing the narrow focus that is the whole point of this place. The moderators (APK and JKN) and I have been talking about this a bit, and thought it would be useful to take suggestions from Hypnos Forum members.
Also I've started to feel the Hypnos News page
http://www.hypnos.com/news.php is sort of redundant since most news gets posted here. I've considered that maybe an enhanced community might have a series of blogs, not just by myself, and that the Hypnos blog would also be the main news outlet, replacing the above-linked news page.
Many of you are also members of JKN's Relaxed Machinery community on the Ning platform, so you'll understand what I mean when I say Ning comes close to being the sort of thing I envision for a new version of this place -- it's more than just a forum, but also a place where community members can share news, sounds, images and possibly blogs. I'd love for the Hypnos Forum to be more than just a traditional message board, and to allow people to share more than just little time-sequenced bits of text like this.
Let us know what kinds of features you'd like to see, and we'll try to take the wishes of our membership into account.
Is it important to you to see social network integration? Even if you already have a Hypnos Forum membership, do you think it would increase activity here if people could log in using their Facebook or Twitter or Google or Wordpress account?
Do you want to a central area for member blogs?
A shared member image gallery? A shared member listening area?
We'd love to hear suggestions, preferences, complaints or whatever you have to offer.