RYL less popular?

[Dataunit]

Although my profile says I've been registered since 2016, I've actually been around since 2008. My overall impression is that the forum has become less popular over time. This isn't necessarily RYL's fault: Internet forums in general have been in decline because Facebook groups have taken over (which I see as a shame, because it's not good for everyone to depend on just one website).

When I was active around 2008 - 2009, I seem to recall there having been many more posts made per day. But maybe this is all just my impression: after all, I am talking about 9 - 10 years ago.

[nonperson]

I wasn't around here then but I can guarantee there were more posts made daily.

Forums are on the decline. The forum I was on 10 years ago has vanished completely now... and RYL will disappear eventually as well.

It's sad but.. what can really be done?

[Isoverity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dataunit

Although my profile says I've been registered since 2016, I've actually been around since 2008. My overall impression is that the forum has become less popular over time. This isn't necessarily RYL's fault: Internet forums in general have been in decline because Facebook groups have taken over (which I see as a shame, because it's not good for everyone to depend on just one website).

When I was active around 2008 - 2009, I seem to recall there having been many more posts made per day. But maybe this is all just my impression: after all, I am talking about 9 - 10 years ago.

Its true the forum format was crushed by web 2.0. That's too bad because Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. are only good for a couple of small comments. For communication web 2.0 is mostly junky.

For RYL, there was also a cycle of demise specific to the site. As owner and webmaster, Harley was the key figure in keeping RYL on the beam. He was smart and always reached for new horizons. RYL was always in media. New people were constantly refreshing. Younger and newer members were generally more searching and energetic.

When Harley moved on (and it was no doubt time to do other things) there was a disconnect from "the vision thing". At the same time, the core of UK members (I wasn't in that group) who were very social on and off site went to uni, got jobs and families etc. and they too drifted away. The offsite/onsite social dynamic was unique at RYL. Its hard to duplicate something like that. As the dynamics declines, RYL became a legacy site - an artifact.

In some ways that probably kept it alive. As a small site that's easier to manage and fund, RYL is more preservable. If there were still hordes of new members and hundreds of posts a day. The costs, risks and administrative demands might make a site impractical. Inching along as a whisper in the corners of the web might be ok all things considered.

[Dataunit]

Yeah, the web was so much more passionate back in the 90s - 2010ish before forums became largely obsolete. Forums meant people had proper, well-substantiated discussions. Now it's reduced to some short comments, emojis and gifs. I was active on this forum and Queer Youth Network before but both have declined drastically. Everyone has moved on to Facebook, which is problematic for people like me who don't have (and refuse to get) FB accounts.

I didn't know the background story with the UK core members drifting away. I only figured something was up when I saw that the first aid forum had been archived.

Maybe you're right that RYL is preservable like this with few posts per day, but surely new administrators would take over if it returned to its former glory?

[Isoverity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dataunit

Yeah, the web was so much more passionate back in the 90s - 2010ish before forums became largely obsolete. Forums meant people had proper, well-substantiated discussions. Now it's reduced to some short comments, emojis and gifs. I was active on this forum and Queer Youth Network before but both have declined drastically. Everyone has moved on to Facebook, which is problematic for people like me who don't have (and refuse to get) FB accounts.

I didn't know the background story with the UK core members drifting away. I only figured something was up when I saw that the first aid forum had been archived.

Maybe you're right that RYL is preservable like this with few posts per day, but surely new administrators would take over if it returned to its former glory?

I can't see it tbh. There was no mechanism for financial support for a thriving forum. At one time there were ads for things like mortgages that kids clicked to help out but that didn't last. Not many people would be passionate enough to spend a lot of money on something that just becomes more of a burden the more successful it becomes.

Then there was the psychic toll. Running a site with 1000s of people with emotional/psychological idiosyncrasies isn't great for acquiring a bliss state. The love/hate thing was always strong and unavoidable. One person is very grateful while another person is very bitter. Its hard to stay in the center of that and I've seen other forum founders also back away after so many years.

Another thing about early forums was that members didn't grow-up with iPhones and broadband. Ruin hardly had any graphics - including avatars. Many people were limited to dial-up. People were excited by the newness of the expanding web and that's over. Kids have tablets as toddlers. More people are increasingly weary of Web 2.0. Even gaming is wearing people out with the micro transactions and formulaic knockoffs.

So many things had to fall into place for a forum to take-off. I don't think its something that can just be conjured-up. But who knows for sure? I suppose the right people with the right idea could rehabilitate some things. However the social thing would be hard. RYL had young leaders and members that sparked online and offline. Its really hard to duplicate something like that

[EyelinerAndCigarettes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dataunit

Although my profile says I've been registered since 2016, I've actually been around since 2008. My overall impression is that the forum has become less popular over time. This isn't necessarily RYL's fault: Internet forums in general have been in decline because Facebook groups have taken over (which I see as a shame, because it's not good for everyone to depend on just one website).

When I was active around 2008 - 2009, I seem to recall there having been many more posts made per day. But maybe this is all just my impression: after all, I am talking about 9 - 10 years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isoverity

I can't see it tbh. There was no mechanism for financial support for a thriving forum. At one time there were ads for things like mortgages that kids clicked to help out but that didn't last. Not many people would be passionate enough to spend a lot of money on something that just becomes more of a burden the more successful it becomes.

Then there was the psychic toll. Running a site with 1000s of people with emotional/psychological idiosyncrasies isn't great for acquiring a bliss state. The love/hate thing was always strong and unavoidable. One person is very grateful while another person is very bitter. Its hard to stay in the center of that and I've seen other forum founders also back away after so many years.

Another thing about early forums was that members didn't grow-up with iPhones and broadband. Ruin hardly had any graphics - including avatars. Many people were limited to dial-up. People were excited by the newness of the expanding web and that's over. Kids have tablets as toddlers. More people are increasingly weary of Web 2.0. Even gaming is wearing people out with the micro transactions and formulaic knockoffs.

So many things had to fall into place for a forum to take-off. I don't think its something that can just be conjured-up. But who knows for sure? I suppose the right people with the right idea could rehabilitate some things. However the social thing would be hard. RYL had young leaders and members that sparked online and offline. Its really hard to duplicate something like that

Couldn't agree more.