Is forum losing members? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lindolirian · 04-28-2005, 10:34 AM

First off, we're in our traditional spring slump of attendance. Most people have too much going on in the real world as compared to summer (students on break) or the holidays (which used to include the release of the movies). Secondly, as Formendacil brought up, a lot of the "Movie Members" who registered just to talk about the movies have run out of things to talk about and seem to be slowly dwindling out. Not to discount those who come for the movies and end up discussing the books; we have plenty of those.

And lastly BW might be cleaning up old unused accounts, resulting in a lower number of registered posters.
Like Ainasaid, the Barrow-Downs Birthday Party next month will wake things up a bit as will summer with people having more free time.

AbercrombieOfRohan · 04-28-2005, 06:59 PM

Just out of curiousity, why do a lot of members have their last activity as being in the year 1969? For instance Arathlithiel, s/he was reportedly last on BD on Dec. 31, 1969. Is it because of the great switch?

mormegil · 04-28-2005, 07:44 PM

Well I'm a long time Tolkien fan (pre-movie) and I have been frequenting this site for a couple of years now but I guess I always went to the quizes and didn't notice the forum. I guess I never looked that low on the page. I think it needs a bit more of a predominant spot on the site to attract new members. I am thouroughly loving the discussions I've been engaged in and hope to add some insightful comments on occasion as well.

mark12_30 · 04-28-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbercrombieOfRohan

Just out of curiousity, why do a lot of members have their last activity as being in the year 1969? ... Is it because of the great switch?

Yes. That is essentially Unix Zero time: UNIX time began Jan 1, 1970.

Lhunardawen · 04-30-2005, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindo

First off, we're in our traditional spring slump of attendance.

It's summer, in my (and Nilp's) case. There are a lot of things to do like going to youth camps...not to mention actually enjoying sleeping all day or being a couch potato. Yes, I'm sorry. I'll be reading TTT now and ketchup-ing (to steal Helen's idea) on CbC.

As for marriage...how about waiting for around ten years?

Legolas · 05-14-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbercrombieOfRohan

Just out of curiousity, why do a lot of members have their last activity as being in the year 1969? ... Is it because of the great switch?

Yes. That is essentially Unix Zero time: UNIX time began Jan 1, 1970.

Correct. All users with '12-31-1969' as their join date are users who created their accounts prior to the forum software switch done February '04. Also, if you look at the member list, it lists the date each member visited last; those that haven't visited since the switch have that same date listed.

Carlas · 06-04-2005, 08:30 PM

I for one came here because of both the movies and the books, but stayed for the amazing book discussions (though I rarely took part) and RPGs. I have drifted away though, probably like many other people because I have just been so busy. Things like family, friends, highschool...boys

, just seem to pile up and I found I spent less and less time on the Downs.

I don't think it's a bad thing that there are less members however, because at one point (about a three year long point) the Downs seemed to be way too crowded. Im sure it'll be nice to have a bit more space, and less "Do Balrogs have wings?" type boards.

VanimaEdhel · 06-12-2005, 01:30 PM

To be honest, one of the reasons I was driven off was because of the decidedly - erm - chatty nature this forum began to take. It also sometimes became painful to read other people's posts, in my case. I think I disappeared around the time the third movie came out, when that last wave of Legolasses popped up, ready for one more round in the ring with us fangirl fighters. I realize that was about a year and a half ago, but I just haven't had the motivation to come in and catch up.

I do visit the chat every now and again, and sometimes I see people I know. Mostly it's just mindless banter, though.

If I remember correctly, around the time that Return of the King was released in the theaters, there was a lot of hissy arguments being started on here between two or so posters. Fighting is the one thing that will undoubtedly drive me off of a board, no matter what. I just can't for the life of me discern the cause for board tiffs - even though they seem to be rampant in all forums. People that don't even know each other but who share a common love fighting over something as innocuous as a specific interpretation of a word just gets to me.

I do frequent another board now - non-Tolkien related. I am still a Tolkien fan and reread his works in my off-time. That's another thing: "free time" was practically non-existent for me this year. Between academics, college essays, various theatrical endeavors, and sleeping, I really did not come online at all. I was spending fifteen or sixteen hours a day at my school, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was sleep, eat breakfast, and head out the next day.

When I go to college next year, I hope to have more free time to return to the boards. Coming on here today - though granted nothing could upset me today - just feels so great, I want to make it more of a habit. When I'm not working this summer, I'll also try to come on.

Arwen Imladris · 06-12-2005, 08:23 PM

Yes, I'm afraid I'm also one of those members that has sort of ghosted away. I do still drop by occasionally, but I generally read much more than I post. I am in constant fear of being repremanded for saying something that has already been said! So I try and keep my mouth closed and let people think I'm an idiot instead of opening it and leaving everyone with no doubt of my lack of intelligence. I am still deeply interested in Tolkien, and am currently still working my way through some of the HoME books. I have a lot to learn, but I have learned a lot reading the posts here.

Personally, I like forums with few members. I think that this forum has staying power. Another forum that I used to be on had an administrator type who was easily swayed by the newest fads. The forum quickly switched from a purely LOTR forum, to one devoted to Harry Potter. That is one of the reasons that I left it. Now that I have left it, I hope to spend more time here, where people are truely devoted to Tolkien. This forum has been around since before the movies, and it will last long after the movies are considered out-of-date.

By the way, I'm single.

04-28-2005, 10:34 AM	#1
Lindolirian World's Tallest Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Where the view is long Posts: 2,117	First off, we're in our traditional spring slump of attendance. Most people have too much going on in the real world as compared to summer (students on break) or the holidays (which used to include the release of the movies). Secondly, as Formendacil brought up, a lot of the "Movie Members" who registered just to talk about the movies have run out of things to talk about and seem to be slowly dwindling out. Not to discount those who come for the movies and end up discussing the books; we have plenty of those. And lastly BW might be cleaning up old unused accounts, resulting in a lower number of registered posters. Like Ainasaid, the Barrow-Downs Birthday Party next month will wake things up a bit as will summer with people having more free time. __________________ 'They say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end."

04-28-2005, 07:44 PM	#3
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	Well I'm a long time Tolkien fan (pre-movie) and I have been frequenting this site for a couple of years now but I guess I always went to the quizes and didn't notice the forum. I guess I never looked that low on the page. I think it needs a bit more of a predominant spot on the site to attract new members. I am thouroughly loving the discussions I've been engaged in and hope to add some insightful comments on occasion as well. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

06-04-2005, 08:30 PM	#7
Carlas Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lost in the Fog of the Downs Posts: 359	I for one came here because of both the movies and the books, but stayed for the amazing book discussions (though I rarely took part) and RPGs. I have drifted away though, probably like many other people because I have just been so busy. Things like family, friends, highschool...boys , just seem to pile up and I found I spent less and less time on the Downs. I don't think it's a bad thing that there are less members however, because at one point (about a three year long point) the Downs seemed to be way too crowded. Im sure it'll be nice to have a bit more space, and less "Do Balrogs have wings?" type boards. __________________ 七転八起...

06-12-2005, 01:30 PM	#8
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	To be honest, one of the reasons I was driven off was because of the decidedly - erm - chatty nature this forum began to take. It also sometimes became painful to read other people's posts, in my case. I think I disappeared around the time the third movie came out, when that last wave of Legolasses popped up, ready for one more round in the ring with us fangirl fighters. I realize that was about a year and a half ago, but I just haven't had the motivation to come in and catch up. I do visit the chat every now and again, and sometimes I see people I know. Mostly it's just mindless banter, though. If I remember correctly, around the time that Return of the King was released in the theaters, there was a lot of hissy arguments being started on here between two or so posters. Fighting is the one thing that will undoubtedly drive me off of a board, no matter what. I just can't for the life of me discern the cause for board tiffs - even though they seem to be rampant in all forums. People that don't even know each other but who share a common love fighting over something as innocuous as a specific interpretation of a word just gets to me. I do frequent another board now - non-Tolkien related. I am still a Tolkien fan and reread his works in my off-time. That's another thing: "free time" was practically non-existent for me this year. Between academics, college essays, various theatrical endeavors, and sleeping, I really did not come online at all. I was spending fifteen or sixteen hours a day at my school, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was sleep, eat breakfast, and head out the next day. When I go to college next year, I hope to have more free time to return to the boards. Coming on here today - though granted nothing could upset me today - just feels so great, I want to make it more of a habit. When I'm not working this summer, I'll also try to come on. __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

06-12-2005, 08:23 PM	#9
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	Yes, I'm afraid I'm also one of those members that has sort of ghosted away. I do still drop by occasionally, but I generally read much more than I post. I am in constant fear of being repremanded for saying something that has already been said! So I try and keep my mouth closed and let people think I'm an idiot instead of opening it and leaving everyone with no doubt of my lack of intelligence. I am still deeply interested in Tolkien, and am currently still working my way through some of the HoME books. I have a lot to learn, but I have learned a lot reading the posts here. Personally, I like forums with few members. I think that this forum has staying power. Another forum that I used to be on had an administrator type who was easily swayed by the newest fads. The forum quickly switched from a purely LOTR forum, to one devoted to Harry Potter. That is one of the reasons that I left it. Now that I have left it, I hope to spend more time here, where people are truely devoted to Tolkien. This forum has been around since before the movies, and it will last long after the movies are considered out-of-date. By the way, I'm single. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."

04-28-2005, 06:59 PM	#2
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	Just out of curiousity, why do a lot of members have their last activity as being in the year 1969? For instance Arathlithiel, s/he was reportedly last on BD on Dec. 31, 1969. Is it because of the great switch?