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

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 07-02-2009, 08:44 PM

As was said before, life goes in cycles.
I've found that the same people who were very active when I died (almost two years ago now) are not so active anymore (Such as SPM, Lal, and Eomer) but there are newer Downers that have come in, or older Downers that have had a sudden spark, and started to post more often (Mnemosyne, Morsul, and Squatter) and then there's people who have been pretty much constanty posting for a long time (Hookbill, Lommy, and Eönwë). I guess that for some, the Barrow-Downs has constantly been a source of amusement and a way to spend their time, but there are others that are genuinely busy...

Brinniel · 07-03-2009, 12:22 AM

Yeah, the Barrow Downs does run in its own cycles. When I joined the Downs, the forum was a very different place. The FotR film had been recently released and there was a flood of members joining. Some were long time Tolkien fans, some read the books and fell in love after they heard about the movie (like me), some were plain movie fans who hadn't read the books at all, and some were just Leggy-boppers. It was an interesting mix which kept things interesting, but while the forum was very active it did get tiring to have the same questions asked, members who couldn't write in complete sentences, the girls gawing over Legolas, and the RPGs that rarely went anywhere (back when there was a Freestyle RPG forum). A lot of this was due to the movie bringing in a younger generation of members who were perhaps not as mature. I wasn't quite 14 when I joined and a large percentage of BDers were around the same age or somewhere in their teens. I appreciated that at the time since having peers made it more comfortable to be on the forum without the pressure to be excessively intelligent. But now that I'm much older, I can see how a bunch of 13-year-olds taking over the Downs could be a bit of a nuisance for the older and more mature members.

Over the years, the movie hype died out, fewer members joined and many left, and the ones who did join later on were part of a different generation; they joined because they love Tolkien, not the movies. And today it seems the average age of BDers is somewhere in the early 20s'; part of it is because some of us earlier members have grown up to reach that age and also people in this age group tend to frequent the internet much more than other age groups. Also, the BD is much more worldly than it once was; there were always some members from other countries, but there were a lot more Americans around. Now it is more evenly spread out and I love that there's so much more diversity. The Downs is much quieter than it once was, but I prefer having it that way. Because the members here are dedicated and insightful. This forum is more intelligent than other forums I've seen. For one thing, over here our non-native English speakers can write better English than most Americans on the other forums. What I love about the BD is that with fewer members, we are more of a community than I've ever seen on any forum, which has enabled me to make many close friends who have influenced my life for the better.

It's always sad to see members disappear and there are many that I miss. But people move on with life and not everyone can stay attached to a forum forever. And once you disappear, it can be difficult to return after a long period of time. I left the Downs for two years and it took a lot of effort to bring myself back because it wasn't easy to return to a place that was while familiar, completely different that how I remembered. The entire forum had gone through a makeover (new server, I think), most members I knew were gone, and there were many members I never met who had already been around long enough to become quite reputable, plus there was this strange sensation going around called WW which took me an extra year to figure out. This is most likely why some old members who try to return will disappear again; they realise the forum moved on without them and suddenly a place where they were once comfortable feels so foreign. I'm glad I stuck it out since I've become even closer to members than I did before I disappeared, and I do love it when I see old members return to stay awhile. While it is sad to see members that everyone once loved slowly fade from existence, at the same time there are always new members who join and become part of the community. Old inactive members become memories, newbies become the experienced members who welcome in more new members who will in time develop their own reputation. So the torch gets passed on.

I must say that what I love about Facebook is that I'm able to connect with BDers and get to know them better than I ever would on the forum alone. It has allowed me to develop close friendships and also keep in touch with BDers who are no longer active...such as Amanaduial, Encaitare, tgwbs, Roa, Orominuialwen...the list goes on. I am closer to some Downer friends than I am with friends in RL...many of which I have now actually met in person.

Hakon · 07-03-2009, 01:43 AM

I am fairly new to this site considering I have not even been here for two months. I still can see how the forum has changed somewhat and I have memories of lurking in the past. I do know what it is like when members leave a forum, I have been part of various forums since 2006. I have to say that the small community forums like the way BD is now, is always much nicer than the larger ones. It seems like the majority of members are in their early 20's as Brinniel said, but it seems like a lot of them were about 16 or 17 when they joined. I am one of the younger members now, being only 15.

Nessa Telrunya · 07-03-2009, 07:24 AM

I am also one of the younger members, but I think it's wonderful that there are older, more mature members, as they have shown nothing but kindness, quite unlike many my age. They don't seem to know how to treat people, with a few exceptions.

Morsul the Dark · 07-03-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nessa Telrunya

I am also one of the younger members, but I think it's wonderful that there are older, more mature members, as they have shown nothing but kindness, quite unlike many my age. They don't seem to know how to treat people, with a few exceptions.

I'll tend to agree but I can say Many of us were Youngin's when we joined up I was 15, Fea was at least 16(Based on thread she posted regarding Tolkien classes.) I know Enca was younger as well, Gil-Galad another younger member. Hookbill is definately a younger member...

Wow I just realized knowing all this is kind of creepy....

Nessa Telrunya · 07-03-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

I'll tend to agree but I can say Many of us were Youngin's when we joined up I was 15, Fea was at least 16(Based on thread she posted regarding Tolkien classes.) I know Enca was younger as well, Gil-Galad another younger member. Hookbill is definately a younger member...

Wow I just realized knowing all this is kind of creepy....

Haha, it's not that creepy.

***Mithadan*** · 07-03-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinniel

But now that I'm much older, I can see how a bunch of 13-year-olds taking over the Downs could be a bit of a nuisance for the older and more mature members.

And once you disappear, it can be difficult to return after a long period of time. I left the Downs for two years and it took a lot of effort to bring myself back because it wasn't easy to return to a place that was while familiar, completely different that how I remembered. This is most likely why some old members who try to return will disappear again; they realise the forum moved on without them and suddenly a place where they were once comfortable feels so foreign. I'm glad I stuck it out since I've become even closer to members than I did before I disappeared, and I do love it when I see old members return to stay awhile.

Hi Brinniel! Your post is very thoughtful and insightful. The first paragraph that I quote above, frankly and with all respect, makes me laugh. The second paragraph is, unfortunately, true. Even I am trying to find a comfort zone here. By the time I began my sabbatical a couple of years back, the phenomonon you describe had already begun. Many of my friends were gone and more became treeish and distant. I tried to return about a year ago and found that the place felt almost foreign to me. This time, in part because at least a few old-timers have returned, it's a bit easier but it still takes some effort.

Good to see you're still here, Brinniel! Please give my fond regards to Amanaduial. She is one I miss.

Tinuviel of Twilight · 07-03-2009, 08:02 AM

I just joined today! I remember coming across this forum many years ago. I started to delve into the LOTR series (I have only read them once) and now I am becoming steadily obsessed again.

alatar · 07-03-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinuviel of Twilight

I just joined today! I remember coming across this forum many years ago. I started to delve into the LOTR series (I have only read them once) and now I am becoming steadily obsessed again.

Welcome, Tinuviel of Twilight. May you enjoy your stay. The circle of (online) life continues.

And the posts above regarding the purported average age of the Downers makes me feel old all the way to my bones...

Feanor of the Peredhil · 07-03-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

And the posts above regarding the purported average age of the Downers makes me feel old all the way to my bones...

Well when you have articles of clothing older than me, it's no wonder.

As I always say, you're only as old as the fashion you wear.

Mithalwen · 07-03-2009, 11:31 AM

But Fea...what about vintage? I used to wear my the evening dresses my mother and even grandmother saved from even the thirties in Grannie's case... even I am not that old!!!

But I think I have a band tshirt about as old as you so maybe I am in the same boat as Alatar...or maybe that should be retirement community

Tinuviel of Twilight · 07-03-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alatar

Welcome, Tinuviel of Twilight. May you enjoy your stay. The circle of (online) life continues.

Thank you! I am very excited to be here, and look forward to roleplaying.

Eönwë · 07-03-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

there's people who have been pretty much constanty posting for a long time (Hookbill, Lommy, and Eönwë).

Let me first say that I am honoured to be put in such a list, especially since I have been on the Downs for less time than you.

Yes, I think it's true that Downsing comes and goes, and it really depends on how busy you are.

Also, I think that though most new "serious" Downers (And by that I mean those that stay for more than just a few posts- not Downers with humour) are adults, but we I think we young 'uns have lately made a comeback- for example, TGEW, Hakon and I are all 15, and I have a feeling that there are more new Downers of a similar age (Ok, maybe TGEW and I aren't exactly new members, but the point is, I think that that the younger generation of Downers is making a comeback).

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 07-08-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Let me first say that I am honoured to be put in such a list, especially since I have been on the Downs for less time than you.

Well, you post often, what can I say?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Also by Eönwë

Also, I think that though most new "serious" Downers (And by that I mean those that stay for more than just a few posts- not Downers with humour) are adults, but we I think we young 'uns have lately made a comeback- for example, TGEW, Hakon and I are all 15, and I have a feeling that there are more new Downers of a similar age (Ok, maybe TGEW and I aren't exactly new members, but the point is, I think that that the younger generation of Downers is making a comeback).

There are a few Downers that have a GREAT sense of humour, but can make a GREAT discussion, Hookbill is who I notice most out of these, though.
Also, I think that you are right, there are a lot of newer members that are young, I joined when I was 13. (The funny thing is, I still consider myself a "new" member, dispite the fact that I have been a Downer for nearly two years) There are many younger members who post gems.

Pitchwife · 07-09-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

There are many younger members who post gems.

Indeed! I'm still rather new myself, but rather on the upper end of the age spectrum, and in the half year or so of my Downsian afterlife I've had several eye-openers when I clicked on the profiles of members whose posts had impressed me and saw what age they were. You boys 'n' girls make the future of the world look a lot brighter!

07-02-2009, 08:44 PM	#1
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	As was said before, life goes in cycles. I've found that the same people who were very active when I died (almost two years ago now) are not so active anymore (Such as SPM, Lal, and Eomer) but there are newer Downers that have come in, or older Downers that have had a sudden spark, and started to post more often (Mnemosyne, Morsul, and Squatter) and then there's people who have been pretty much constanty posting for a long time (Hookbill, Lommy, and Eönwë). I guess that for some, the Barrow-Downs has constantly been a source of amusement and a way to spend their time, but there are others that are genuinely busy... __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

07-03-2009, 12:22 AM	#2
Brinniel Reflection of Darkness Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Polishing the stars. Well, somebody has to do it; they're looking a little bit dull. Posts: 2,983	Yeah, the Barrow Downs does run in its own cycles. When I joined the Downs, the forum was a very different place. The FotR film had been recently released and there was a flood of members joining. Some were long time Tolkien fans, some read the books and fell in love after they heard about the movie (like me), some were plain movie fans who hadn't read the books at all, and some were just Leggy-boppers. It was an interesting mix which kept things interesting, but while the forum was very active it did get tiring to have the same questions asked, members who couldn't write in complete sentences, the girls gawing over Legolas, and the RPGs that rarely went anywhere (back when there was a Freestyle RPG forum). A lot of this was due to the movie bringing in a younger generation of members who were perhaps not as mature. I wasn't quite 14 when I joined and a large percentage of BDers were around the same age or somewhere in their teens. I appreciated that at the time since having peers made it more comfortable to be on the forum without the pressure to be excessively intelligent. But now that I'm much older, I can see how a bunch of 13-year-olds taking over the Downs could be a bit of a nuisance for the older and more mature members. Over the years, the movie hype died out, fewer members joined and many left, and the ones who did join later on were part of a different generation; they joined because they love Tolkien, not the movies. And today it seems the average age of BDers is somewhere in the early 20s'; part of it is because some of us earlier members have grown up to reach that age and also people in this age group tend to frequent the internet much more than other age groups. Also, the BD is much more worldly than it once was; there were always some members from other countries, but there were a lot more Americans around. Now it is more evenly spread out and I love that there's so much more diversity. The Downs is much quieter than it once was, but I prefer having it that way. Because the members here are dedicated and insightful. This forum is more intelligent than other forums I've seen. For one thing, over here our non-native English speakers can write better English than most Americans on the other forums. What I love about the BD is that with fewer members, we are more of a community than I've ever seen on any forum, which has enabled me to make many close friends who have influenced my life for the better. It's always sad to see members disappear and there are many that I miss. But people move on with life and not everyone can stay attached to a forum forever. And once you disappear, it can be difficult to return after a long period of time. I left the Downs for two years and it took a lot of effort to bring myself back because it wasn't easy to return to a place that was while familiar, completely different that how I remembered. The entire forum had gone through a makeover (new server, I think), most members I knew were gone, and there were many members I never met who had already been around long enough to become quite reputable, plus there was this strange sensation going around called WW which took me an extra year to figure out. This is most likely why some old members who try to return will disappear again; they realise the forum moved on without them and suddenly a place where they were once comfortable feels so foreign. I'm glad I stuck it out since I've become even closer to members than I did before I disappeared, and I do love it when I see old members return to stay awhile. While it is sad to see members that everyone once loved slowly fade from existence, at the same time there are always new members who join and become part of the community. Old inactive members become memories, newbies become the experienced members who welcome in more new members who will in time develop their own reputation. So the torch gets passed on. I must say that what I love about Facebook is that I'm able to connect with BDers and get to know them better than I ever would on the forum alone. It has allowed me to develop close friendships and also keep in touch with BDers who are no longer active...such as Amanaduial, Encaitare, tgwbs, Roa, Orominuialwen...the list goes on. I am closer to some Downer friends than I am with friends in RL...many of which I have now actually met in person. __________________ Nolite te bastardes carborundorum

07-03-2009, 01:43 AM	#3
Hakon Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 736	I am fairly new to this site considering I have not even been here for two months. I still can see how the forum has changed somewhat and I have memories of lurking in the past. I do know what it is like when members leave a forum, I have been part of various forums since 2006. I have to say that the small community forums like the way BD is now, is always much nicer than the larger ones. It seems like the majority of members are in their early 20's as Brinniel said, but it seems like a lot of them were about 16 or 17 when they joined. I am one of the younger members now, being only 15. __________________ Medicine for the soul. ~Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes

07-03-2009, 07:24 AM	#4
Nessa Telrunya Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In a paper bag Posts: 396	I am also one of the younger members, but I think it's wonderful that there are older, more mature members, as they have shown nothing but kindness, quite unlike many my age. They don't seem to know how to treat people, with a few exceptions. __________________ Joined together wrote our names upon the page Seven times alliance our loyalties we gave

07-03-2009, 08:02 AM	#8
Tinuviel of Twilight Newly Deceased Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Forest Posts: 4	I just joined today! I remember coming across this forum many years ago. I started to delve into the LOTR series (I have only read them once) and now I am becoming steadily obsessed again. __________________ And he lived happy ever afterwards to the end of his days...

07-03-2009, 11:31 AM	#11
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	But Fea...what about vintage? I used to wear my the evening dresses my mother and even grandmother saved from even the thirties in Grannie's case... even I am not that old!!! But I think I have a band tshirt about as old as you so maybe I am in the same boat as Alatar...or maybe that should be retirement community __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace