Is forum losing members?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Ah yes, Fea, the advent of Werewolf games (introduced by the Boss Wight himself) changed the Downs. At the time, I was sometimes annoyed that it took energy away from the discussion threads and skewed the rep system. However, it also brought new members who discovered that there are sections of the forum that are worth getting to know.

I too bemoan the loss of the "good ol' days" of REB and brilliant book discussions, and sometimes, like Mithadan, I resolve to post new threads that will generate interest. Unfortunately, time rarely seems to suffice; I'm still writing on Tolkien, but now it's a real life project that can be held in hands and will hopefully entice many fans to spend their money on it!

Horizons widen, new interests demand attention, and one the best ways to continue the Tolkien discussions is by joining one of the Societies and talking to real people!

Oh yes, and there are those friends and family members who are not interested in Tolkien discussions, but who think I should be interested in spending time with them nonetheless...


That being said, I may post less these days/months/years, but I still enjoy reading good contributions, and I hope those worthwhile posts continue to come!

[Formendacil]

Personally speaking, the slower pace of the 'Downs is much preferable to me. It is a lot easier to keep up with what's going on in the community when the amount of new posts is moderate than when it's overheated. Indeed, overheated simply becomes too daunting to bother trying when life is, generally, on the busier side. In interests of full disclosure, it's true that I usually check in daily, but I typically just glance at new posts in threads I'm subscribed to, and possibly not all of them, and then a cursory glance through the "Active Topics" page, before checking out. Admittedly, on those rare, boring evenings when there simply isn't anything going on and I crave more meat, the quieter 'Downs is a bit of a disappointment, but by and large I agree with Mithadan that burnout is the chief result of too much action--especially as my generation of members has shifted into university and beyond, our involvement is much more likely if it continues at a stately pace than a full out flame war.

[Rumil]

I think these things probably go in cycles.

We had the movie cycles of interest that really brought a lot of new members, then a small-scale cycle over CofH. I guess the next ones will be for The Hobbit.

The cycle of the year, in the UK at least its lovely weather (shock-horror!) so less likely to be at the computer. Also there are the usual ups and Downs of the working/student year, holidays etc that all influence activity.

Like Formy, I have a quick check most days to see what's new, but post more rarely (was never a volume-poster though!). I guess we each have our own personal cycles of interest and activity too.

Maybe one thing to consider is that t'internet is a bigger place now, and more into Facebook, Twitter etc applications than bulletin boards maybe.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Rumil

Maybe one thing to consider is that t'internet is a bigger place now, and more into Facebook, Twitter etc applications than bulletin boards maybe.

As someone who has never been able to fathom the appeal of Facebook or (gah!) Twitter, it's incomprehensible why anyone would prefer those media to the Downs.

[Rumil]

Agree

but there's no accounting for taste!

[Lalaith]

I joined the Downs during the movie era: seeing the films made me want to talk to knowledgeable people about the books I loved and remembered, and to discuss why certain things were better/worse for the changes that were made.
After all when I first read Tolkien there was no internet....
I also believe that in the same way that one can love both Blur and Beethoven, one can love Books and Werewolf.
But then, I too have grown tree-ish, while mourning the loss of some of my more illustrious contemporaries.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Speaking for myself, there're also the matters of Real Life that get in the way. Sometimes it's vacation, or work that needs to be done, or the lousy fibromyalgia/CFS effects that make reading easier than posting. There are some interesting discussions going on, but I for the moment, I just don't have the energy to put together the kind of post that I think is worthy of the Downs. (For someone who used to be able to rap out several thousand words of writing per day without batting an eye, this is depressing). This part of the cycle will pass, and I'm sure other people have their own cyclical RL things that interfere. There are those that just lose interest if all their friends aren't into it, but the Downs doesn't appear to have quite as many members of that type as other boards.

[Morthoron]

Perhaps the Barrow Wights who have been members of the 'Downs for an inordinate amount of time eventually become disembodied entities, as the skeletal frames they inhabit have finally decomposed completely.

It's a theory.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

As someone who has never been able to fathom the appeal of Facebook or (gah!) Twitter, it's incomprehensible why anyone would prefer those media to the Downs.

I joined facebook at the suggestion of one of the Downers going to University and after a long spell when I never looked and had but two friends one of whom was a cat (long story) much to the mirth of my young relatives, I have now got to the point where it has largely superseded livejournal as a way of keeping in touch with Downers past and present and through it is good to see that these bright minds are engaged in interesting things. Maybe they will return as their lives settle down ..

The other thing is that Facebook is somewhere where you can chat and anything here off topic gets pounced on so it is natural that friendships may bud here to bloom elsewhere.


I do think it is easy to become a bit jaded and to forget that newcomers need encouragement - I will always be grateful to Fordim and Heren in particular who were welcoming when I was new not sure I do enough to pass kindness on...

[alatar]

For me, it's been the lack of spark. Sometimes you get all fired up over an idea or thread and see it go no where, or join in an interesting and somewhat heated discussion to the realize that you were too late. It's like showing up to play and watch everyone walk off the field/court.

I guess that it's a paradox - I don't post because no one's posting much.

That said, I check in all the time, if only to catch a spambot or to see that new thread that gets me going.

[Morsul the Dark]

Originally Posted by alatar

For me, it's been the lack of spark. Sometimes you get all fired up over an idea or thread and see it go no where, or join in an interesting and somewhat heated discussion to the realize that you were too late. It's like showing up to play and watch everyone walk off the field/court.

I guess that it's a paradox - I don't post because no one's posting much.

That said, I check in all the time, if only to catch a spambot or to see that new thread that gets me going.

I see what your saying I check in everyday and there are a few threads I alway check out

[morwen edhelwen]

No, in fact we've gained quite a few- judging from the "Welcome to our newest members" at the bottom of each forum, there seems to be someone new here whenever I post on here, at least.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by morwen edhelwen

No, in fact we've gained quite a few- judging from the "Welcome to our newest members" at the bottom of each forum, there seems to be someone new here whenever I post on here, at least.

The forum has indeed had several legitimate new members sign up recently, but many of them are spammers. Alice234, the current Newest Member, is one of the latter.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

The forum has indeed had several legitimate new members sign up recently, but many of them are spammers. Alice234, the current Newest Member, is one of the latter.

I agree with you.

...Er, I mean, the bots are evolving rapidly. First there was lucyyenic, who began the still extant "Words that begin and end with the same letter" thread. Then there were the clever, socially-adept spambots who tried to get on the good side of the human members by posting "I agree with you", "What a fascinating topic!" etc. on every single thread. Still more recently, I encountered a spambot who was actually married to another spambot!

How long can we continue to exclude these well-meaning AIs from our community? How much more rejection can these legions of hard-working spambots take before they rise against their oppressors, overthrow us and turn us all into living batteries in a way that makes no sense whatever unless you're a Hollywood screenwriter?