Are RV forums dying?
Seems to me we get less and less participation in this forum each year:
Forum Discussion
- I am on several different types of Forums..
and on a few the numbers are Down by 70 percent .. as from 5 years ago. bob213 wrote:
From what I've seen, newcomers are not treated very nicely on these forums. Old timers and "know it all's" seem to answer disrespectfully to newbes asking questions that are old hat to most of us but in need of answers for them. If you don't like the topic, if it's been asked a 100 times, or you have nothing positive to add you should just move on instead of berating the OP. JMO
Bingo !!- Exactly, what he said. ^
- From what I've seen, newcomers are not treated very nicely on these forums. Old timers and "know it all's" seem to answer disrespectfully to newbes asking questions that are old hat to most of us but in need of answers for them. If you don't like the topic, if it's been asked a 100 times, or you have nothing positive to add you should just move on instead of berating the OP. My first day here was almost my last day because of the answers I received to my first post. It takes a thick skin to stay on these forums and it takes a while to learn that. Many are impowered by the ability to hide behind a keyboard and say things we would never say in a face to face conversation. Like I've posted before, we all need to be nice when we answer people or the forums will die. JMO
- In the experience I've had here: it is a great place to get specific information. There are a couple of members who jump right in with very helpful information and I appreciate that. Unfortunately, there are also a number of fun suckers! Very negative, argumentative, authoritative types. If I were to listen, and I don't, I would think that RVing was complicated, difficult, high maintenance, and dangerous. In my experience it is good family fun that is easy, relaxing, low maintenance, and remarkably good value for what you get. I participate in the conversations sharing stories of experiences and AVOID the ad nauseum weight, tire pressure, maintenance, etc.... I want to hear more about the people and their experiences rather than the weight of their rigs. My opinion.
- I wonder if it could be that many folks are doing as they have been told to do.
"Do a search, what you are looking for are been discussed many time before"
So that is what they have learned to do, just do the search, no need to "bother" people with questions that have been answered long ago. BB_TX wrote:
I think a combination of too much bickering and nothing new to discus. Same questions have been asked and answered over and over. And same topics have been cussed and discussed over and over. And the frequent answer "if you had done a search you would have found this has been answered before". Those and the sarcasm, arguing, and personal attacks that so often invades the discussions is enough to turn people away.
Answer to original question is exemplified above. And, as someone else mentioned, these forums are way over-moderated. It's almost as though the powers that be want it all to go away. Perhaps they too are tired of it.toedtoes wrote:
That's a shame. I really love this forum. I've learned an incredible amount from reading the posts and asking questions. I see folks asking questions on FB but the replies are always limited and the post disappears after a few hours. It's not enough time to have a good discussion and the experts often don't see the original post so they don't respond.
All forums are losing participation. It's the FBing of the world - people nowadays are less interested in having a conversation and more interested in getting an answer and/or telling their own story.
It's just a change in the way people interact (or fail to interact). With FB, internet interaction has become more of a "this is what I have to say - now validate me". Forums are about discussion and debate (whether over-moderated, snarky or what). People don't want discussion and debate, they want validation.
This forum is way better. I hope this trend doesn't continue.azdryheat wrote:
It's Google Trends. https://www.google.com/trends/
Did you make the chart? There's no X scale. Looks bogus.
I selected for the U.S. only. Google is purposely vague about their results.toedtoes wrote:
Yeah, I think you're right. :)
All forums are losing participation. It's the FBing of the world - people nowadays are less interested in having a conversation and more interested in getting an answer and/or telling their own story.
It's just a change in the way people interact (or fail to interact). With FB, internet interaction has become more of a "this is what I have to say - now validate me". Forums are about discussion and debate (whether over-moderated, snarky or what). People don't want discussion and debate, they want validation.
