Is this Site Declining and losing Members?
In just the past week I have read probably 10 comments among different threads all claiming that this site is going downhill, is losing members (or chasing them away)and generally ailing by reason of ...
Forum Discussion
I think it is definitely declining.
Some of that decline is probably attributable to the fact that forums like this in general are losing participation. Facebook, Twitter and the like have taken over the discussion market.
However, in my opinion, much of the decline can be attributed to how the forums operate. It seems many people feel it should only be an informational site. Someone asks a question, gets the answer (or someone says "why are you too lazy to search" and then post links to similar questions) and that should be it. Personally, I find that to be boring and of little interest.
Other people want it to be a discussion forum. That interests me. However, some people feel it is important to not have open discussions. They will either try to post replies that get the thread shut down or just lobby to have it closed. While the rules make politics, religion and similar veins off limits, I really don't see the harm in allowing threads to nibble along the edges of those issues. For example, I think a thread about how potential changes in either Healthcare or taxes would be important to the RV community. Discussing the pros and cons of different positions and proposals is something I would enjoy and participate in. If I was the forum overlord, I would only shut it down when it degenerated into all Elephants or Donkeys are complete idiots and if you support either such animal, you are an idiot as well. Unfortunately, the rug is pulled out from under such discussions way too quickly for my taste.
So basically what happens is there are just too few threads here to maintain my interest. I still look at them, still comment on the ones I find interesting, but there is precious little left that meets that criteria.
Some of that decline is probably attributable to the fact that forums like this in general are losing participation. Facebook, Twitter and the like have taken over the discussion market.
However, in my opinion, much of the decline can be attributed to how the forums operate. It seems many people feel it should only be an informational site. Someone asks a question, gets the answer (or someone says "why are you too lazy to search" and then post links to similar questions) and that should be it. Personally, I find that to be boring and of little interest.
Other people want it to be a discussion forum. That interests me. However, some people feel it is important to not have open discussions. They will either try to post replies that get the thread shut down or just lobby to have it closed. While the rules make politics, religion and similar veins off limits, I really don't see the harm in allowing threads to nibble along the edges of those issues. For example, I think a thread about how potential changes in either Healthcare or taxes would be important to the RV community. Discussing the pros and cons of different positions and proposals is something I would enjoy and participate in. If I was the forum overlord, I would only shut it down when it degenerated into all Elephants or Donkeys are complete idiots and if you support either such animal, you are an idiot as well. Unfortunately, the rug is pulled out from under such discussions way too quickly for my taste.
So basically what happens is there are just too few threads here to maintain my interest. I still look at them, still comment on the ones I find interesting, but there is precious little left that meets that criteria.
