Time to let the zombie die

[tombogan03884]

After 10 years years this will most likely be my last post.
This forum has a lot in common with Ruth Bader Ginsberg, both have been dead for a long time, they just haven't fallen down yet.
There are barely a half dozen people keeping it going, even the moderators don't read it any more.
There are only a couple on here I will miss because everyone else is on FB.
Used to be a page of new posts every day, now there's one new post a week and they are seldom gun related.
Time to let the zombie go to it's deserved rest.

[billt]

Damn Tom, I wish you would reconsider. However I do agree with you, there is less and less interest around here lately. So many have moved on. Stay healthy, and the very best of luck to you.

[billt]

In all honesty, I'm seeing this with a lot of gun forums lately. When I first started on the Internet back in 1997, there were gun forums everywhere. 2 of the biggest back then were the old shooters.com, and Hunt America. Both used to have thousands of members, but are now long gone.

Another thing I've seen happen, is a lot of them have become overrun with young guys who love to argue. Or as John Wayne used to say, "Short on ears, and long on mouth!" ARFCOM is a perfect example of this. And to some degree, Glock Talk. They both manage to keep going, and maintain a large membership, albeit with a high turnover. Both places have a revolving door that is constantly spinning at high RPM.

What I always liked about this place is it's comprised of mostly older guys, who saw everything through the same "prism", so to speak. But lately they've been going away one by one. Hazcat, FQ, and TWyacht to name a few. And now Tom. There have been many others. Times change, and people move on.

I think in general the Internet is changing. People aren't spending as much time on it as before. Texting with Smart Phones, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, along with all of these other sites are pulling people away from forums in general. For me, like most older guys, the older I get, the less I like change. I guess it comes with old age, just like sore muscles and bad backs.

[alfsauve]

REMEMBER USENET?

I remember when rec.guns was "it".   600+ posts a day was the high water mark, 400/day more typical.

I haven't been there in a while, but just checked.  They had 3 New Topics in June with 2 replies.

Other forums are just so.o.o.o busy.  AR15, THR, etc.  I'm going to feel lost in the crowd.


But life moves on. 

[Rastus]

I guess Facebookey has killed most of these boards.  However, AR15 dot com is still up and running. 

So where are you moving off to Tom? 

[Sponsor]

[billt]

As much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn't even know how to navigate on Facebook. Let alone find gun guys.

[Rastus]

It's got to be easy to navigate with all the rank dumb kids using it.  Kids that can't tie a shoe do the Faceybook thing.

[MikeBjerum]

As much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn't even know how to navigate on Facebook. Let alone find gun guys.

Finding gun guys there is first, just like here:  Your own small group of friends that talk guns, but you do it in front of everyone else.  Second, you gain some new contacts through extended friendships of others.  From time to time you will find a group page, Long Range Shooters is my most recent find, but they can also drive you nuts with strange ideas - I don't mean differing opinions, but REALLY strange ideas.

[billt]

I have to admit the older I get, the less I am intrigued by electronic correspondence. Like most things, you grow tired of it after a while. I'll be glad to see it cool off around here. I'll be spending more time at the range. At least there I have face to face gun conversations. And it gets me out of the house for a while.

[MikeBjerum]

I agree Billt, but this type of game gives me the chance to exchange with others I wouldn't have ever "met" otherwise.  And, since my job keeps me cooped up and away from my hobby, I enjoy reading and interacting here.