Are RV forums dying?

toedtoes wrote:

tpi wrote:

I also agree with many of the posters who have said the forum software is getting long in the tooth. I'd love to see better searching, ability to like posts, ability to upvote and downvote posts, iOS or Android app integration, better highlighting of new posts, etc.

This.. if the posts can be upvoted/downvoted, liked etc. that could help the tenor of the forum. Upvote someone who's put a lot of thought into a helpful reply. Downvote sarcastic, grouchy, petty, unhelpful, etc.

If there is a problem attracting new users, then I would say the first place to look is the old, grumpy, and conservative angle-and try to minimize it somehow. Maybe some kind of free for all forum to divert it to. But if you can interact and don't have a thin skin, there is a lot of good here!

Great idea in concept - not so great in reality. In reality, people don't vote in an unbiased manner. They vote according to their biases. That means when someone like WesternRVParkOwner makes a quality, informative post, it will be "downvoted" because people won't like his park owner viewpoint regardless of how pertinent and how much thought was put in his post (let alone how accurate his information is). Instead, the posts that reiterate the "popular" or "cliche approved" opinion will get upvoted. And, yes, even those sarcastic, grouchy, petty, unhelpful posts will get upvoted because the poster once gave helpful advice.

As for updating the software, sounds like an easy solution. Except for the fact that updating software pisses people off (no matter how much they complain about the current software). 90% of the users will complain about the new software during the first 90 days. They will rant and whine and threaten to leave because "you were supposed to make it better and now I can't do X like I did before". For every thing the new software makes better, there will be something changed that people don't like. And they will have to voice that dislike ad nauseum.

I agree 100% with your take on the voting. It is a BAD idea. People will vote their biases and prejudices and alternative or opposing views will not be heard.

One or two moderators have their own "cheering sections" friends that lambast anyone who dare to call attention to bad or questionable moderation and I can see that turning into a revenge sort of vote.

And lastly any post voting system would only create a Chilling effect for new members wanting to post or those that disagree with some of the "OLD TIMERS".

As for the software let them complain it needs to be updated. I am sure people complained when we went from the crank telephone to the dial type too. Those will be the Luddites among us and their comfort level should not necessarily be the deciding factor.