Why message boards go down hill.

TheBig3 · 03-08-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icastico

The short attention span in our culture plays a role, but whether a particular forum lasts or not has to do with the utility it provides its members. Most people, I think, use these kinds of forums to discover new music they haven't heard, or to filter the avalanche of new releases.

If it becomes about the poster rather than the music, the utility is severely reduced for the vast majority of people.

That said, some come for the arguments.

lol, I love how this points starts out about a lack of attention spans.

right-track · 03-08-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

lol, I love how this points starts out about a lack of attention spans.

Even funnier when you consider the members directly above and below his post have a combined attention span exceeding 10 years.

TheBig3 · 03-08-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Even funnier when you consider the members directly above and below his post have a combined attention span exceeding 10 years.

amen.

I blame any realized attention deficit on depression medication. You don't learn memory until you learn to hold a grudge.

icastico · 03-08-2010, 05:52 PM

So the fact that you've been a member for so long means what in terms of my point? These types of forums usually decline when they become insular...the same people talking about the same things in the same way. Without new people injecting new opinions, and bringing new information to the game, they decline. It is when the members can predict what a poster will say, which band they will laud, and how they will react to a new realease, because they've heard it before, that they move on. At least that has been my experience with on-line forums.

Haven't been around this particular place long enough to know how it applies here.

TheBig3 · 03-08-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icastico

So the fact that you've been a member for so long means what in terms of my point? These types of forums usually decline when they become insular...the same people talking about the same things in the same way. Without new people injecting new opinions, and bringing new information to the game, they decline. It is when the members can predict what a poster will say, which band they will laud, and how they will react to a new realease, because they've heard it before, that they move on. At least that has been my experience with on-line forums.

Haven't been around this particular place long enough to know how it applies here.

well, that was my point in the original post.

But I should point out that no one made mention of how long (or short) anyone's been a member here.

VEGANGELICA · 03-09-2010, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icastico

So the fact that you've been a member for so long means what in terms of my point? These types of forums usually decline when they become insular...the same people talking about the same things in the same way. Without new people injecting new opinions, and bringing new information to the game, they decline. It is when the members can predict what a poster will say, which band they will laud, and how they will react to a new realease, because they've heard it before, that they move on. At least that has been my experience with on-line forums.

Haven't been around this particular place long enough to know how it applies here.

I feel your point is valid, icastico, though maybe some people who have been on the site a long time feel more like family and so simply enjoy being together because they *do* know how they will react and enjoy that. It is always fun to meet new members, though! Whether they stay a short or a long time, I hope the site meets their needs and adds something positive to their lives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

well, that was my point in the original post.

But I should point out that no one made mention of how long (or short) anyone's been a member here.

Oh! Right-track did say that your years (6), Big3, plus his years (5) are more than 10 years (much longer than icastico's membership time so far), showing that some members have long attention spans for MB:

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Even funnier when you consider the members directly above and below his post have a combined attention span exceeding 10 years.

About why major change in the site structure is unlikely:

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

My guess is they can't be bothered to have any additional input into this site than they already have.
The owners have other sites that are more important to them than this one.
So long as the money keeps on rolling in I doubt the status quo will change.
Don't expect any changes other than cosmetic ones. Superficial ones at that.

What I wonder is if there are ways to make small changes from within the site that make it closer to what you envision. I don't know how much power mods (or former mods

) have over site structure. None? If none, then could moderators change the "Editor's Pick" forum in the MB Reader into a forum that discusses much of what Tore and you wanted to have in the wordpress blog...the content, if not the structure? It would still be an Editor's Pick forum...but moderators would be picking threads that discuss music as they want, controlling the content as they wish, to simulate the blog.

Right-track...did you just convert the rest of my post you quoted into a polite "etc. etc. etc." instead of the usual "blah blah blah"?! What the hell is going on?!

right-track · 03-09-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Right-track...did you just convert the rest of my post you quoted into a polite "etc. etc. etc." instead of the usual "blah blah blah"?! What the hell is going on?!

I know! Must have had an off day. :/

I'd respond to the rest of that post, but I couldn't be bothered reading it.

VEGANGELICA · 03-09-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

I know! Must have had an off day. :/

I'd respond to the rest of that post, but I couldn't be bothered reading it.

Phew! That sounds like the you I know. I thought maybe you were getting sick or something.

Neapolitan · 03-08-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

lol, I love how this points starts out about a lack of attention spans.

Know what is even funnier? He joined a music forum and already lost interest in talking music and started posting in the Lounge - shortest attention span ever!

03-08-2010, 05:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
icastico Groupie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 19	So the fact that you've been a member for so long means what in terms of my point? These types of forums usually decline when they become insular...the same people talking about the same things in the same way. Without new people injecting new opinions, and bringing new information to the game, they decline. It is when the members can predict what a poster will say, which band they will laud, and how they will react to a new realease, because they've heard it before, that they move on. At least that has been my experience with on-line forums. Haven't been around this particular place long enough to know how it applies here.