5 pages and no solution. I say we treat it like a Rubic's cube, peel the colored stickers off and put them where they need to be. Cheat. Let's all just keep posting and until everyone else catches on.
I went back and read -after changing the thread range, thanks Jazz- 20 pages of threads on TFpolitics. I don't recommend it. I may have a permanent twitch as a result. However it did shed some light on some of my own misconceptions. Jazz is absolutely right, comparing TFpolitics to the rest of the forum is unfair. And try as I might I could not find a single thread that even slightly resembled my 'frog' example. What I did discover is how I came about that idea and it has nothing to do with inappropriate interaction and everything to do with the relative IQ of this group. If you don't know what you're talking about going in, you will coming out. Like it or not. Basically the 'frog' was what was running through my mind each time I made a post in that forum without due diligence. I have not found any other area of the forum to be that way.
I know everyone hates the emoticons, but I have to say
to Cyn for the 30 in 30 idea. I'm in.
Another realization occurred in reading this thread through several times. I think Cateyes mentioned it earlier. Most forums have a specialty that binds the members. Be it hunting, tech, crafts, etc.... It's a single thing enjoyed by the membership. In rereading this thread I felt a sense of community I've not felt in another thread. I'm not saying it doesn't exist in other threads, I just haven't felt it. I think I felt it here, because we all really enjoy TFP and don't want to see it go away. We all have our own reasons and that diversity is what makes it great. That diversity is our specialty.
Logically, diversity itself should drive the numbers. Like Wally World opening a store and devastating the surrounding competitors. Why go 6 places, when you can get it all in one. Did I just call TFP the Wally World of the internet??
Anyway, having that to offer, it comes down to making everyone feel welcome. What we need is a 70 yo greater at the door with a smile and a sales flier. I think a 'welcome' email to new members could fill that position. Nothing big, just a simple "Hello, welcome to the forum. Come in, sit down, relax and join the show. Maybe drop a nOOb post to tell us something about you, and while you're at it read something about us." Easy.
This too was mentioned earlier and I've seen it on other forums as well. It, in fact, prompted me to sign up on one forum I frequent. Limit which sub forums can be viewed by non-members. The forum that got me is a Fishing forum. I could only see General discussion, classifieds and sticky threads until I signed up. I wanted catch reports and hot spots, so I signed up. Fuckin' tight lipped pricks still didn't give up any good holes, but I met a lot of cool people, learned a lot of techniques I didn't know, caught my first Steelhead after 5 years of fishing for 'em, started posting my experiences with the techniques and even hooked up with some killer fish folk in the RW. So dangling the carrot worked on me, maybe it will with others. I would have joined TFP just to read the Sexuality sub if I couldn't see it otherwise. I still haven't figured out how to get into the rumored 'post yourself' section of the forum and have almost given up on it. But I'm still here.
I'd also like to give a little stretch of the imagination and offer an opinion on the decline. Several have talked about it being a tread on the web, but I think it's more of a societal real world mood affecting the majority right now. The world and life in general is pretty fucked-up for a lot of people right now. I think everyone is feeling it in their own way, but the world climate is causing a mass withdrawal from greater social interaction. Retreating into home and family, safety.
That's how I see it anyway.
Brock