Where have all the members gone on this forum?

[Thunder_Mountai]

Couldn't figure any other place to ask this question... I've been here since 2005. Have no idea how many posts I've done during that time. Back a several years ago I could ask a question about something and get numerous answers quickly. In the last couple of years I've noticed a very real decline in the activity on RV.NET. So, where has everybody gone? Other forums, Facebook, etc.

[dedmiston]

fj12ryder wrote:
"there are thousands of EV drivers pulling small travel trailers now". Thousands? Seriously? Thousands? I remain skeptical. 🙂

You gotta hand it to him/her for staying on message though and never passing up a chance to shoehorn EVs into the conversation.

Pardon me while I go attend a vegan meetup and complain that they aren't serving steaks.

[Reisender]

fj12ryder wrote:
A lot of the older posters have turned up their toes. A lot can happen in 20 years. Facebook is basically worthless for in depth treatment of anything. Try to find an answer that was posted a couple weeks ago. I agree that many people have gone to brand specific forums, rather than generic like this one. Some people don't really want to hear the truth if it differs from their opinion. Just not as much pandering on this forum as a lot of them. Sometimes all that sweetness and light makes me concerned for my diabetic sugar levels. 🙂 Guess there's just too many crusty curmudgeons on here.

"there are thousands of EV drivers pulling small travel trailers now". Thousands? Seriously? Thousands? I remain skeptical. 🙂

Your probably right. Probably getting into that tens of thousands now. The Facebook user groups are very active. Dozens of new owners every day, all with lots of questions. Not all are buying teardrops but most are. But the Ford and Rivian new owners are starting to show up as well. But again, all on individual brand tow groups. I doubt any will ever set foot here, although the toxicity of these old RV boards does get mentioned from time to time.

[johnhicks]

I've tried to participate in FB rv groups off and on for several years and have mostly given up. Endless inane questions that are answered in the Fine Manual and people who know the answers being attacked by other "experts." Now I'm roads and routes and campground reviews but that's it.

This forum has long been very good and useful. It's sad to see it wind down. IRV2,com is rolling fairly well but is still slower than a few years ago. None of those newbies are joining these forums; I think they're just looking for info from #vanlifers on Youtube.

[BB_TX]

Been slowly declining for years. I think older members started with and, for the most part, stayed with this forum. But newer and younger RVers have gone more to FB.

And the same questions asked over and over can only be answered in so many ways. Some who have answered a question many times before have likely stopped. And the snarky replies so often seen have not helped.

[fj12ryder]

A lot of the older posters have turned up their toes. A lot can happen in 20 years. Facebook is basically worthless for in depth treatment of anything. Try to find an answer that was posted a couple weeks ago. I agree that many people have gone to brand specific forums, rather than generic like this one. Some people don't really want to hear the truth if it differs from their opinion. Just not as much pandering on this forum as a lot of them. Sometimes all that sweetness and light makes me concerned for my diabetic sugar levels. 🙂 Guess there's just too many crusty curmudgeons on here.

"there are thousands of EV drivers pulling small travel trailers now". Thousands? Seriously? Thousands? I remain skeptical. 🙂

[Matt_Colie]

I have seen this all over many forums for many things and the cause is always the same....
These forums are very good for providing complete and clear answers to questions. Believe it or not, that is the problem. So many of the younger people don't want clear and complete answers, all they want is a fix it now so we can play. This is all the training from the MTV days when the watchers were allowed a attention moment before the subject changed. On the forums I still inhabit (fewer every year) I frequently will post a page long explanation and suggested correction if I think the OP is up to following it. If not, (like for FB) I make the standard RTFM suggestion. This often enrages the OP because he has never bothered to acquire the manuals. Sorry guy, I'm not your mother and if you bit off more than you can chew - well good luck.
Nasty, Aren't I.
But as a much younger friend explained, FB is all about talking not so much listening.
Matt

[bgum]

Many of the active people who were on this site are now active on other sites. Some people on this forum need to be sent elsewhere. It is a full time job moderating this forum. A real thankless job.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Agree with others. Facebook will provide detailed video on just about any topic without grumpy responses.

[enblethen]

Over the years, I have seen more hostile replies which turn many people off.
A person will ask a legitimate question and gets somewhat sarcastic answers.

[Reisender]

Facebook and specific vehicle tow groups. Much friendlier and polite, you can have an answer in minutes and it won’t come with attitude. Most new RVers are joining specific to their model or tow vehicle groups.

For example, there are thousands of EV drivers pulling small travel trailers now. Not a chance they will come to a board like this and be belittled or ridiculed. Much easier to get a knowledgeable and fast answer in minutes on a Facebook group. These type of boards are more and more just hardcore old boys clubs and are toxic to new ideas and tech. Still lots of info on this board in the archives but as the old tech fades out so will the usefulness of the archives.

Jmho.

[bikendan]

There have been a number of threads here, on this topic.
Have you noticed that the Beginning RVing section has been dead for a long time. You would have thought that, during the all time record RV sales of the pandemic, the Beginning RVing section would be flush with new members seeking help. But many new members have been chased away so there's no new blood.
And probably many have gravitated to their brand's owners forum or Facebook groups that own their particular model.

[stickdog]

Summer starts tomorrow get ready.
The lack of new posts could be because newbies have read every post on every facet of RVing and have no new questions.
We trained them well.

[camp-n-family]

I’ve noticed the same. New posts usually decline over the winter months to less than a page but the summer months usually had easily 2 pages of new posts per day. Today including this post there wasn’t even half a page. Sad.

[Sandia_Man]

Members are either camping or are too busy with life, I know When I am out RVing I don't have time to get on any online forums, although I do check online forums periodically when I am homebound. Still spend more time perusing this RVing forum than other related online forums, it is not just here as I have noticed waning participation on all the online forums I visit.

[Mfan]

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