I can't help but notice that activity in our lovely OC community is fucking crawling. Serious Business specifically, which is probably my most frequented section. What you watch on TV is probably the most discussed topics (sad!)

Politics is booming though. That's when you know the end is nigh, but I hope I'm wrong.

So how much longer do we have left, or do we make effort to actually post topics worth talking about? Bump old posts? Start new? 

HELP US HELP YOU JUSTIN :)

Wednesday

I'll be honest, I've been thinking about shutting it down recently due to the low activity and the fact I'm losing money or barely breaking even each month on hosting vs ad revenue. I know I haven't been around much lately, mostly due to work being busy. But, yeah, it's pretty quiet around here as no one has picked up my slack, really.

It would be great if folks posted new topics that were worthy of discussion. I tried it for a while but ran out of ideas/steam. That's really the key. Discussion worthy topics. Without them, there's really no point to posting.

posted by justincredible

I'll be honest, I've been thinking about shutting it down recently due to the low activity and the fact I'm losing money or barely breaking even each month on hosting vs ad revenue. I know I haven't been around much lately, mostly due to work being busy. But, yeah, it's pretty quiet around here as no one has picked up my slack, really.

It would be great if folks posted new topics that were worthy of discussion. I tried it for a while but ran out of ideas/steam. That's really the key. Discussion worthy topics. Without them, there's really no point to posting.

I suggest a $12 membership. 

posted by justincredible

I'll be honest, I've been thinking about shutting it down recently due to the low activity and the fact I'm losing money or barely breaking even each month on hosting vs ad revenue. I know I haven't been around much lately, mostly due to work being busy. But, yeah, it's pretty quiet around here as no one has picked up my slack, really.

It would be great if folks posted new topics that were worthy of discussion. I tried it for a while but ran out of ideas/steam. That's really the key. Discussion worthy topics. Without them, there's really no point to posting.

Not to rain on your (idea) parade but I've noticed this quite a bit with this type of message board. Seems like the "heyday" of message boards has gone away. A lot of the group that kept it thriving has grown up and moved on to other things. Not a lot of new blood coming on to these sites either. Just my observation.

EDIT: And I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. Frankly, it sucks and was fun while it lasted. Got to connect with a bunch of new people, whether civil or in debate, that I never would have.

Yes these types of forums are ancient. I used to be on several, now only two. Reddit has taken over.

posted by BR1986FB

.... Seems like the "heyday" of message boards has gone away.

Ugh.....at the opposite end of the spectrum, like Reddit or even comments on popular articles, there's just too many people to really even be able to follow a conversation.  A couple of times I waded over to Reddit to read some GoT commentary.  It was just overwhelming. 

posted by BR1986FB

Not to rain on your (idea) parade but I've noticed this quite a bit with this type of message board. Seems like the "heyday" of message boards has gone away. A lot of the group that kept it thriving has grown up and moved on to other things. Not a lot of new blood coming on to these sites either. Just my observation.

EDIT: And I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. Frankly, it sucks and was fun while it lasted. Got to connect with a bunch of new people, whether civil or in debate, that I never would have.

I don't disagree with any of this.

I'm pretty sure we've either passed 10 years, or are pretty close to it. The old software started in Nov 2009, but that was the second board software we used, so I'm pretty sure the site started several months before that. I believe in the summer, but I'm not 100% sure.

posted by gut

Ugh.....at the opposite end of the spectrum, like Reddit or even comments on popular articles, there's just too many people to really even be able to follow a conversation.  A couple of times I waded over to Reddit to read some GoT commentary.  It was just overwhelming. 

I don't think message boards are dead but a lot of these type boards, that got their origin from high schools sports, are dying or on life support. Just not as many joining these types of sites and, frankly, with some of the stupidity I see posted on sites like FB, I'm not sure we'd want many of them joining. Like trying to have a conversation with a potato.

For me, football and basketball season are when I come here most. I still swing by serious business and politics (mainly for memes) now.  I get that things are slow here and I hope it continues on but l understand how things go. 

Well I thought this thread was going to be about global warming.

posted by Automatik

Yes these types of forums are ancient. I used to be on several, now only two. Reddit has taken over.

r/gibwok

i suggested awhile ago that we migrate this place to reddit as it's own sub. granted if we did that the serious business forum is the only one that continues, but it's something.

and yeah, it bums me way the fuck out that this place is dying, mainly because its like one more piece of my youth that is going away. growing up sucks balls.

posted by BR1986FB

Not to rain on your (idea) parade but I've noticed this quite a bit with this type of message board. Seems like the "heyday" of message boards has gone away. A lot of the group that kept it thriving has grown up and moved on to other things. Not a lot of new blood coming on to these sites either. Just my observation.

 

posted by Automatik

Yes these types of forums are ancient. I used to be on several, now only two.

yeah, I have to agree, but IMO Twitter had a lot to do with it as well...you can still bitch and moan, agree and disagree, and basically argue about pretty much anything and everything--and with an infinite amount of people to boot

posted by j_crazy

i suggested awhile ago that we migrate this place to reddit as it's own sub. granted if we did that the serious business forum is the only one that continues, but it's something.

That's actually a great idea.  Otherwise, I'd have to start reading Drudge myself without QO providing links daily.

I'll be bummed when this place is finally gone, but it's to be expected these days. I don't use Reddit, but could probably figure it out if we move there. I am on Twitter a lot and interact with some OCers there. 

i think this place picks up during football season doesn't it? Browns threads are usually pretty active.

posted by kizer permanente

i think this place picks up during football season doesn't it? Browns threads are usually pretty active.

It probably will.

If it's still around, that is. When I pull the plug there will be no warning. It'll just be this gif on the homepage and nothing more:

posted by justincredible

It probably will.

If it's still around, that is. When I pull the plug there will be no warning. It'll just be this gif on the homepage and nothing more:

ender will use his scripts to bypass and take over

posted by kizer permanente

ender will use his scripts to bypass and take over

lol, probably.

posted by justincredible

It probably will.

If it's still around, that is. When I pull the plug there will be no warning. It'll just be this gif on the homepage and nothing more:

Give us somewhat of a heads up. I'd give the subreddit forum a shot.

We're safe for a couple more months at least, as I have to hit the minimum payout threshold on adsense before I get some money I've already accrued.

I love this place, despite not having nearly the time I once did. I’m still on here daily, and some days have a lot more free time to post. 

Part nostalgia from joining in HS around age 16, and now being 33. I mean, this shit has been in over half my life, and a solid 70% of what I actually have memories of!

Im not on reddit, but I’d head there to continue interacting with you all. Would really miss the pro sports forum though. 

I'm going to start one of those thermometer fundraising charts that resets each month, and as long as enough people chip in through paypal the site will keep going.