Here’s a question for people who’ve been on these boards for a while (say 6-8 years)
I was reading through some very very old threads on GS and some other sites I used to post on here and reminiscing about how fun, witty and different it used to be…and how much a part of my life it was at the time.
On one of the boards, my friends and I were always out doing each other with coming up with fun entertaining threads…and it was just so hilarious…and each topic seemed so different.
I don’t feel the same about the boards anymore…can’t even get into the making fun threads…i thought it was me BUT then I see so many threads that are just re-hashes of the same ‘ol. Even when I check out some of the other sites, it seems the same, and even then there is not the same level of creativity or fun…so I wondered…
Do discussion board communities change and shift or is it rather the people themselves that change?
nb I’m not dissing boards…I think they offer people a lot at different times in their lives…and fulfill needs.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
You call 6 to 8 years “a while” It always surprises me when im told that,
I didnt know they existed until the end of last year!
and since I joined this one Ive noticed that every now and again people start threads reminiscing about the “olden days”
I reckon that its you that have changed… I mean 6 to 8 years is a huge amount of time especially in your formative years…
From what Ive noticed or have been told long term “posters” here started when they were in school or college and have gone through the stages of finishing education, starting jobs, getting married and having families… theyve gone through life changing experiences and therefore their mindsets and views have changed…theyve matured into different people from what they started out as.
it also appears that alot of them have left new entrants who write in pink or have atrocious spelling have enrolled … which means Amelie that your Gupshup of old has evolved and this is the result.
I also think there may be an element of looking back with rose tinted glasses
(having said that Ive gone back through the threads Culture forum and found them to be alot more informative and interesting than many of the newer topics!)
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
I think, people use to change over time and it is very natural phenomina...
With the change of date, age and people the thinking should also change if not then it is really a problem and should have in medical some name like "Aikjesanemonia" or something like this...
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
Both people change and the board changes.
GS is much more childish now than it was when I joined - back then almost all threads were serious, or at least were grown-ups (people at university or working).
Now, with more kids knowing how to use the net, GS has become accesible to a much younger audience, with a detrimental effect on the quality of discussion.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
So true. I remember back in the day people used to think twice before posting something, now its like you type the first thing that comes to mind - more like an informal chat. Most posts aren’t very intellectual I’m afraid, and I guess I’m as much to blame as anyone else.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
Part of it is that as GS grows, more people join it. Plus, I think moderation used to be a lot more strict before. Now people do write a lot of nonsense and they go off track from the thread's subject matter, and people write in a more offensive and classless way..., so definitely the moderators should be watching out for these things.
Also, the people who used to be here so many years ago have grown out of GS. Many moved on with careers, with their families, got married, etc. Or ...
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
I think often times, we tend to glamorize the past more than what its really warranted. Its because our memories, for the most part, retain the better bits and forget the rubbish. GS has had its fair share of morons in every period. With growing population, of course, the number of them must increase, but the percentage probably (and hopefully) has not.
Back when I joined GS in '99-2000, my main focus was Religion forum and there used to be long debates on various issues (shia-sunni-ahmadi-wahabi etc). After a while you realize that this is just a time pass for many and a fruitless exercise for the most part. For better or for worse I moved away to more benign stuff. The good thing is that this kind of interaction makes you aware of all different view points and you can at least appreciate the contrarian thoughts, even when you completely disagree with them. Even today, when I go and read Religion forum, I realize that a lot of people are still out to convert other people. It never fails to amuse me still. I salute them for their patience and perseverance.
Discussion boards are interesting because people come and go, and you can keep re-inventing your community. Unfortunately, most of us stay in our comfort zones and only interact with people we have known for a while. This may also be because as you grow up, your mind and your thoughts sync quicker with those in the same kind of age group.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
No to demean any one forum, but I don’t think Cafe should be taken as the sole yardstick. Cafe is a fun forum, and people’s expectations vary regarding how to have fun. You have to take GS as a whole to get a meaningful conclusion.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
Faisal, I would have thought the same as you but I did exactly as Mad scientist suggested and went back and read old posts..they were still different, witty, smart or funny and now more of it seems the same...i agree that much of it could be just having seen it all and changing myself..but i do think board personality does change.
PC
I personally believe that boards should not be moderated harshly...this is the only place for people to talk about whatever they want..and that freedom can be liberating but it can also end up being very stupid…but what is silly or stupid for me at 33 can be truly fund an enlightening at 18…such is the life of a place that ends up serving so many different people.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
I never said they should be moderated harshly. I just simply they should be better moderated. There is a lot of weeding work to do, and its not being done as well as it could be.
Kids will jump onto these forums and they’ll be immature (kids of all ages )
But the idea is that if something is being said that should not be said, like derogatory comments, etc - then they should be removed immediately.
But rather what happens is that these things become entertaining for everyone, so they’re left up.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
Agreed PC but then...sometimes there are characters that love getting the moderators riled up and power in that...sometimes cutting and editing and weeding those people just creates "rebels" who just cause more problems..if you ignore them...they are forgotten and lose half their spunk.
Re: Discussion Boards: Do we change or does the board?
Do you really Zakk?
Anyway I dont think its anything new. And folks do not forget that age doesnt (always) equate to maturity. We have all sorts of people here. Some act very silly online, and are very serious offline. Some come here to fool around, others come to hold serious discussions. And there are some who fall in the middle. I think its silly to geenralize so much.
It always surprises me when im told that,
