The Death of TDH... and other forums

[TR 4059]

I do not see forums going away. To me things like MySpace and Facebook are fads and just need to go away. For example, I don't care what you ate last night. I also don't want to spend my time filling out those dumb question emails to learn more about somebody. If I want to know about you, I will do the personal thing and contact you directly.

They have nothing to do with props. Why do I want to look at a page about a person where there are more ads and pop-ups than content the person put up? Please try to find me on one of those types of sites. You will not find me there.

A place like TDH is a great place to find info about a prop. I don't see finding anything useful on Facebook about how to put Boba together.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree 100%
I do not have a facebook, Myspace or Tweet (whatever the hell that means.) When it comes down to it, Myspace, Facebook, ect, are simply large marketing groups. Companys will keep producing more applications that will make it easier for you to know what your friend ate for lunch. And the more way's that you can see this, means more advertisments for everyone. Even if ad's start to get time consuming and are interfering with the purpose of these networking sites people will always return to them. I am amazed that so many people are entertained by what Oprah or any other celebrity's is doing, that will take the time and prescibe to one of their "channels".

These urban networking sites will not take down traditional forums. As long as forums remain forums and don't start to fade into a networking site. You can not go to myspace and have discussions about research on a topic. If anything people are getting more lazy in research and would rather look at some type of wiki then bother talking to others and finding out more,forums should be more concerned about that then networking sites.

 

[CMAnavy]

I dont have any numbers to back it it up but some forums have slowed down. the RPF seems to be doing just fine, this one has slowed, CE was mostly calm. I know TCF is closing but it it migrating to BSG Fleet, why I have no idea.

On the other hand the Firearm forums I am part of are absolutly hopping right now. XDTalk is very active, AR15 is going strong (EE is gangbusters).

Plus the economy is playing a role here too, I know at this point I would rather spend $1,000 on a Ar accessories, new handgun, ammo or even a Suppressor (high on my list) than replica props.

 

[Art Andrews]

Wow... I go to class for a couple of hours and look at the response we get! Note to self... talk about the sky falling and people respond in droves! I have to read through the responses again so I can respond appropriately.

 

[Art Andrews]

I do not see forums going away. To me things like MySpace and Facebook are fads and just need to go away. For example, I don't care what you ate last night. I also don't want to spend my time filling out those dumb question emails to learn more about somebody. If I want to know about you, I will do the personal thing and contact you directly.

They have nothing to do with props. Why do I want to look at a page about a person where there are more ads and pop-ups than content the person put up? Please try to find me on one of those types of sites. You will not find me there.

Bill, I have to respectfully disagree with you and those who think social networking (pick you poison of which one you like; Twitter, Facebook, Myspace) is a fad. In fact, I couldn't disagree more. I could be wrong, but I see it as an emerging trend that is just in the very early stages of spreading its wings. Now, you might not like how particular sites are setup and there may be fads within those sites (like the horrific and unreadable customization that a lot of people do to their Myspace pages) but I think social networking is a trend, not a fad and I don't think it is going anywhere for a long time. It still has a lot of maturing to do, but I think it is here to stay.

 

[Art Andrews]

The tool we use for trending won't let me go past 100 days... although I can do 100 months and graph that.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

Sidebar: TCF is closing down because the site owners didn't want to run it anymore / didn't want to hand it over to anyone else either.

 

[Art Andrews]

OK, here is a chart showing posts PER MONTH from the beginning until now. And before anyone mentions that we claimed to have 10,000 posts in Jan when the chart only shows a max of 8,000, that is because as posts are deleted (such as from the Cargo Hold) the count goes down.

While our overall trend is of course on the rise, I do keep an eye on the stats and while we go up and down it seems to me that we have been going down quite a bit lately. Perhaps there is no coloration to the social networking sites, but from my own experience, I feel like I am seeing a trend that I believe will continue.

 

[mrgr8ness]

I think the enocomy plays a role. Without as much money to spend, people aren't buying parts and working on costumes, therefore not active in the boards. I think another part is as you stated, the change of times. I am a member of many boards and mod a few. I belong to many types of boards too, and regardless are all suffering a drop in traffic that keeps falling. I don't think we are in danger of going away, and I think we will see at least some bounce back as the economy improves.

 

[LadySewforus]

Wow, I have not been able to read all of this, just skim through because I am at work.
My reasons are mostly time. Though, I can understand what Andy said about the polictical garbage. But, thankfully, that does not bleed over here, much.

I have been concerned about job stability. At work here I feel that it is very very important that I do not make any mistakes at all. Which transfers to "pay more attention to what I am doing at work"

I don't feel like I have as much freedom to be as carefree.

I am putting much more time into sewing. That keeps me off the computer when at home and on the weekends.

So, I would summarize to blame the economy. In my case anyway. I know many other people are also working OT and second jobs to get by.

I would hate to lose TDH! I can enjoy it here without fear of the politics or the "clicks". They are still here, but it does not affect me too much.

I love TDH!!!

I have to admit that I joined Facebook, but just to keep in the loop. I was starting to feel old and kind behind the times, "get off my lawn" I am
getting there.


anywhooooo....... :cheers

 

[MandalorFett]

Bad economy = job losses = personal depression = less interest in posting or other activities. Just a thought.

 

[DarthCarcinus]

I personally think that with the advent of social networking sites, people have a way to comiserate in ways that they didn't have before. For example. On a forum, you have moderators, the networking sites are virtually un-moderated. Do I see a shift in interests? yes rather it be the economy which is affecting people in ways that it never did to a loss of overall interest due to group politics (pick a group except the TDH which has no visible politics simply because the Mods won't tolerate that kind of thing... THANK GOD). As technology such as RubieOnRails/Ajax etc improve, we may see a shift to a different type of communication forum, but I don't think that the forums them selves will ever completely vanish.

 

[LadySewforus]

And, I can agree with the moderator idea. I feel that if I am posting here on TDH, it should probably be "Fett" related. I guess I kinda like the "random thought" aspect.

*shudder* yes, I admitted it.

 

[SharkForge]

This is kind of completely random... I read about TDH not getting it's name out there as much as it used to... What if we got back on that? Even if it is as simple as any Fetters/Zams/etc... carrying around a few TDH cards to give out to people who show interest. My Fett is almost done, I really would like to help host TDH booths at cons when I finish it...

As far as the activity of forums, I suppose sometimes people simply lose interest, may have a lot to do with work, may have personal problems that need taken care of, or need a break every now and then... Overall... of all the forums I go to... this is by far the most active. I love this forum! ha

To some, myspace...facebook...twitter may be a fad or what not... to others, it's simply a means to keep in contact with people. I use both facebook and myspace to keep in touch with people I meet at cons, or in other countries or even family. Lets people know generally how you are doing, share pictures and what not. I don't do the whole update every 25 seconds to let people know I am breathing and brushing my teeth, etc... If it weren't for facebook... I wouldn't be able to talk to my friends in other countries nearly as much. I am grateful to have them and at the same time I don't see them as a factor of declining participation on a forum devoted to a single topic.


El1te

 

[fettpride]

I refuse to conform and join sites like Facebook or Myspace
I'm too old school I guess.

If the those supplying parts only reside on the message board communities, it will surely keep people coming "home"

But this isn't recession proof by any means. At this point, I don't know what is :facepalm

FP

 

[NovallTalon]

Looks to me like it started really hitting the skids about the time the world economy died on itself (October/November 08).

Honestly, I would wait until after the summer to try to get any idea of where TDH stands as an active forum. There are just to many outside variables at this time that can be used to invalidate any comparisons to the same time in years prior. Sure, you can get an "idea", but it's a current idea that can be argued as contaminated by extreme external reasons unrelated to social networking sites.

 

[SharkForge]

I refuse to conform and join sites like Facebook or Myspace
I'm too old school I guess.

FP

What? lol... It seems people forget what the purpose of those sites really are... Not sure what you would be "conforming" too but I use it as a means to keep in touch with friends and share pictures...

El1te

 

[asok]

Bill, I have to respectfully disagree with you and those who think social networking (pick you poison of which one you like; Twitter, Facebook, Myspace) is a fad. In fact, I couldn't disagree more. I could be wrong, but I see it as an emerging trend that is just in the very early stages of spreading its wings. Now, you might not like how particular sites are setup and there may be fads within those sites (like the horrific and unreadable customization that a lot of people do to their Myspace pages) but I think social networking is a trend, not a fad and I don't think it is going anywhere for a long time. It still has a lot of maturing to do, but I think it is here to stay.

I agree that they are here to stay but, I see something like LinkedIn as something more meaning full. I know that I don't think it was meant to let the world know that I think the walls are closing in and I have tacos last night. I guess with me not being a very social person, I am not drawn to them.

 

[Hellhounds]

What? lol... It seems people forget what the purpose of those sites really are... Not sure what you would be "conforming" too but I use it as a means to keep in touch with friends and share pictures...

El1te

FP is fighting the man...

 

[Aden Kyramud]

Strange point! I don't think that an addition would account for the trend we see in Art's graph. I plan on being on the dented helmet when I'm 60....hopefully it is still here. If the dented helmet dies, my escape from reality dies. That is really what props are for me. A nice escape from the mundane existence that is life. I don't know what I would do without this place!

:cheers Exactly how I feel.

And another thing that makes TDH unique is the family aspect; i think this will be one of the reasons it stays alive. In the short time that ive been here, I've met people and made friendships I'm not just going to give up. This site isnt some impersonal info based site like wookieepedia; this is a community! we are the TDH family.

Long live TDH!!!
:cheers:cheers:cheers

 

[CGClone]

My personal point of view is several fold, it happens almost every year, but this time Im throwing in a few more other points:

- Economy, prop building is down some
- Slight, very small aggregate of FB and MS sites
- We are in the spring, taxes have just been filed by most - this happens every year on most prop boards I am on. If you paid, you aint spending. Others are waiting on the refund check to buy the prized purchase or motherload.
- It will pick up 2 months out before DragonCon.\
- The peeps my age (mid-30's) are often cuttnig back on costuming/props as they find their groove in life. I have scaled waaaaay back on costuming and props, my interests are still there, just not as gung-ho as before. Not as consumed. Happens as you get older. We make up the majority of the crowd, especially in the SW circles.

Its the spring trend, happens every year that I have been involved for the past 5 or 6 years now.

TDH isnt dying.