Just a thought from "lurking hybernation".
Is the "Open Forum" in decline?
In the early stages of the new format the "Open" outnumbered all the other forums combined by almost 40%. Today, but more recently, the "Open" is a shadow of itself. With 4245 posts versus 3800 for the others combined, it reflects only a 12% difference now. The biggest drop is in the "threads" department. Now the "Travel" Forum is catching up on the "Open".
Now, it is not that the others or the "Travel" are getting more popular. The problem is the "Open" has been "Hipolitized".
Just like Hipolito does, freedom of speech is being silenced to maintain the status quo. What was the "Open Forum for anyway?
Few threads get large number of viewers anymore, and even less people respond. The gossip attraction is gone. Gossip is a multimillion dollar worldwide business. The last important thread that broke viewing and posting records was banned. DR1 is asking for help to improve. Why? It is important to note that the other forums have large numbers of threads but few responses. People ask a question and most likely between two or three responses later the answer comes in and the thread is dead. The "Open" counts on excitement, gossip, friendly competition and other qualities.
In the effort to get rid of the "roudies" DR1 is killing "roudies" that also put on their "serious" hat in the other forums, which is really where people go for more serious information. People with vast knowledge of DR get swated. You don't have to be banned to disappear. All it takes is a Webmaster getting in the act of publicly attacking its posters. The "quiet" diplomacy of e-mailing warnings is gone. Now, since Hipolito gets away with insulting everyone and getting applauded, it is becoming infectious. The voters will decide later on if he is right after all.
Well, the master plan is working. It has created a boring DR1, which was not helped with the change of format. It is a boring strategy. Save bandwidth!!!
I still say lurking is more exciting than posting here. Back to my hybernating hole..............good night.
TW
Is the "Open Forum" in decline?
In the early stages of the new format the "Open" outnumbered all the other forums combined by almost 40%. Today, but more recently, the "Open" is a shadow of itself. With 4245 posts versus 3800 for the others combined, it reflects only a 12% difference now. The biggest drop is in the "threads" department. Now the "Travel" Forum is catching up on the "Open".
Now, it is not that the others or the "Travel" are getting more popular. The problem is the "Open" has been "Hipolitized".
Just like Hipolito does, freedom of speech is being silenced to maintain the status quo. What was the "Open Forum for anyway?
Few threads get large number of viewers anymore, and even less people respond. The gossip attraction is gone. Gossip is a multimillion dollar worldwide business. The last important thread that broke viewing and posting records was banned. DR1 is asking for help to improve. Why? It is important to note that the other forums have large numbers of threads but few responses. People ask a question and most likely between two or three responses later the answer comes in and the thread is dead. The "Open" counts on excitement, gossip, friendly competition and other qualities.
In the effort to get rid of the "roudies" DR1 is killing "roudies" that also put on their "serious" hat in the other forums, which is really where people go for more serious information. People with vast knowledge of DR get swated. You don't have to be banned to disappear. All it takes is a Webmaster getting in the act of publicly attacking its posters. The "quiet" diplomacy of e-mailing warnings is gone. Now, since Hipolito gets away with insulting everyone and getting applauded, it is becoming infectious. The voters will decide later on if he is right after all.
Well, the master plan is working. It has created a boring DR1, which was not helped with the change of format. It is a boring strategy. Save bandwidth!!!
I still say lurking is more exciting than posting here. Back to my hybernating hole..............good night.
TW