1st time I've seen only 1 page of new topics...

Part of it is that folks nowadays don't want discussion and feedback - they want validation. Validation works great with FB, Twitter, etc., but not so well on "old style" forums like this.

Part of it is the political climate. We lost a lot of posters over the past few years because people on both sides can't separate political hatred from non-political conversations, as well as fallout from Marcus' political comments. It has been settling down, but many of those posters were the most prolific.

Part of it is that our current social climate is to accuse others of bad behavior by way of doing that same behavior. "Rude and personal attacks are not allowed you stupid little ditz" type comments get said and then it turns into a fighting match between two sides. And unfortunately, in this day and age, the two sides are almost always split politically regardless of the subject between argued about.

Most new folks coming to these types of forums do so to find a specific answer to a specific question. Once they get that answer, or the thread gets bogged down into tangents, off topic, fights, etc., the OP leaves never to return. But, the truth is, they will return the next time they have a question that needs answering. And then they will disappear again. There is no desire to discuss RVs or the RV world, or help others find answers to their questions, and so on. It is a very one-sided relationship.

With all that, I will say that this is the best forum for technical stuff. I am amazed at some of the information floating around on other forums about towing calculations, etc. And most other forums are dedicated to a specific RV, or at least a specific category, and the posters tend to lack a well-rounded knowledge of RVs and their systems. So, it's very difficult to get differing viewpoints on battery usage, water usage, etc., when you move from one RV category to another.

Bird Freak wrote:
I have been a member for 14 years and have also seen many rude members come aboard. A few of them are quick on personal attacks but have not posted on this thread yet. Its sad to see new members run off because of it and yes I have to agree the site is declining.

I think the clowns that are condescending and attack other members should be banned after the third instance. Three strikes and you are out. Unfortunately there are some clowns on here that are still here after continually attacking.
Let's all get together and call them out when they do that then ignore them right after. They may not get the satisfaction they desire and go elsewhere after a while.

ScottG wrote:
The forum is dying for all the reasons posted in the recent thread "Dead air".
Rather than learn from that thread, it was deleted (as this post will soon be).

Oddly enough, this thread is actually getting some good response action.

I agree - the forums are dying. There's little or NO participation or interest in replying to RV technical requested information it seems. I've posted threads that are getting little or zilch response. The enquiry for fogged glass thread prompted one member to make a sarcastic reply that was clearly just trolling to harrass.

I notice A LOT of the old timers on this thread like ScottG.

However, there must be a shortage of new RVers, interested in participating. I dunno. But I do know that it is dying.

BarneyS wrote:
I have been here for 18+ years and do not see the attacks, personal insults, and rudeness that you speak of. If/when it occasionally happens the mods, including me, are quick to remove the offending post - often from being alerted via a PM or e-mail.

I think part of the problem is that some members think that any discussion that does not agree with their line of thinking is a slam at them or is rude. This is not the case. When the remarks become personal is when we have to step in. You just have to remember that we have a life also and need some sleep now and then! :W

This is the largest and most helpful RV forum on the internet and I hope that you and the rest of the members continue to post and enjoy the help, information, and camaraderie that is to be obtained here.
Barney

Well, we have had our disagreements, but that is nicely put.

I have been a member for 14 years and have also seen many rude members come aboard. A few of them are quick on personal attacks but have not posted on this thread yet. Its sad to see new members run off because of it and yes I have to agree the site is declining.

I, too, have seen a big decline in participation on this site over the 12 yrs. that I have belonged.

What bugged me was, I made a mistake of posting info for a good RV insurance company in a thread where someone was asking and I included the phone number. It was a slip on my part as I was just trying to help someone.

My account was discontinued by admin. I thought it was a very severe move as I had never violated the rules before. I think a warning would have been sufficient not a complete ban from the site.

I requested to come back and they reinstated my account which I appreciated. Over the years, I have met some of the members here in person and we have become friends. :)

Since I was off for about 3 months, I found other avenues to discuss RV's on very active sites which has taken me away from this one.

Stay warm this winter!
MM.

Barney, when multiple people post the same thing in regarads to rudeness, attacks, etc, it's a pretty good indication it exists.
And it most certainly does. It's not that they take things the wrong way, it's that people make inflamatory commments about someone elses post of point of view. They say things on-line that they would never say in person.
If peoples concerns are simply dismmissed, this forum will continue to dry up - I've seen it before.

Interesting that some of the worst offenders have not posted in this thread.

blofgren wrote:
I think a lot of people have either quit posting or left the site altogether because of the attacks, personal insults, and just plain rudeness of some people. I have seen way too many posts where someone simply asks a question or posts their experience to be beat up repeatedly by the same people.
And I'm not talking about anyone that has posted in this thread! :B

I have been here for 18+ years and do not see the attacks, personal insults, and rudeness that you speak of. If/when it occasionally happens the mods, including me, are quick to remove the offending post - often from being alerted via a PM or e-mail.

I think part of the problem is that some members think that any discussion that does not agree with their line of thinking is a slam at them or is rude. This is not the case. When the remarks become personal is when we have to step in. You just have to remember that we have a life also and need some sleep now and then! :W

This is the largest and most helpful RV forum on the internet and I hope that you and the rest of the members continue to post and enjoy the help, information, and camaraderie that is to be obtained here.
Barney

I see folks complaining about condescending answers and rude members and then I see others complain about moderators who over moderate and delete posts and threads.....:h

I enjoy this forum and have learned a lot from it over the years.....and it's free. I too hope it doesn't die completely.

Yes, this forum has slowed much more than normal for the time of year. It seems some forum members are no longer active, and many new members just ask a question, read the answers, never to return.

I recently had half of a post moderated/removed, and that part was off topic. I try to stay on topic with an active thread, or one still in need of answers only pertaining to the subject. I quoted another members humor (tasteful), and added a little, (also tasteful) one sentence, before giving my on topic answer. The OP already had two pages of good response, and thread not very active. I was wrong to go off topic, adding to another members humorous post, before giving my on topic post, but still felt the moderation was not necessary.

I enjoy this forum, won't be leaving anytime soon! :) I do think some new members don't come back, due to condescending answers, and others may leave due to personal attacks. The personal attacks should be moderated, but the condescending answers, on topic, are just rude, and often from the same members.

I don't see this forum coming back, to the level of activity, from just a couple of years ago. I hope I am wrong!

Jerry