What Happened?

[aphantomvaper]

Summer

Yes Summer I agree. First real post pandemic Summer, and I know I'm doing more this season. Its mostly mornings I'm hanging here at this time.

 

[KyleG]

I'm new to this board and a little surprised at the lack of postings. I am on a few other boards that are much more active. Hopefully its just a little valley and it picks up soon.

 

[Gtrbldr]

There are some very active posters MIA

 

[GADonis]

I don't like guitars anymore. They are all for sale.

I'll give you $75 for anyone of your PRSi. You pay the shipping.

 

[Max Headroom]

I thought it was quiet, and this coming from a newbie.
Not sure why here, the Roon forum where I am a mod for my sins just recorded the heaviest amount of traffic for a single month ever.
So I don't think it's just people not going online to forums per se.
Yes we track that sh!t..lol.
I will get my anorak on the way out....

 

[RickP]

This ^ and it’s turned more to arguing than discussing. There’s all levels of participance here and from what I’ve seen lately it’s purely a communication issue. Not everyone here has English as there first language and what comes off as a rude post sometimes is purely in the translation. The other issue is social interaction as some posts start with a frustrated poster maybe with an issue that if communicated correctly can easily be solved but lack of skills ( because we just don’t communicate in person like we used to) cause the flame throwers to come out and it’s just a roller coaster ride from there. The written word is pretty strong and it’s tough to suck it up and admit error. Though this is not the complaint department as you should just contact the manufacturer direct it’s okay to post a dislike of something here I feel as long as it doesn’t get out of control. Constructive criticism is okay. It’s a sign of the times and a reflection on us. It doesn’t have to be this way.

This is, unfortunately, true of forums in general. When face to face was all we had, popping off like some do would get them a steep dental bill... or, at the least, a shunning from more civil folk. The facelessness of the net has made many a brave keyboard warrior, but has also taken the etiquette out of many people’s communication style. It hasn’t been an upgrade.

On the other hand, others display a heightened sensitivity and paper-thin barrier to being “offended.” That’s just worn everyone out and, tired of the silliness, many have taken to stepping directly on their toes to bring them back to reality. I’m not against pushing back on the excessive softness myself.

So, as it has always been, communication takes two. Sometimes, we as a forum have been too tough on newbies. Sometimes newbies walk into a PRS forum and start bashing PRS, and the result is predictable and is deserved. Walk into a Manchester United bar and start bashing the team with examples of how Liverpool does it better and the result would be worse! There’s a time and a place for everything.

We do need to be welcoming, and I think we are very much so with those who respect why the forum is here. Come in raging with your Yoda, and it’ll be bad. That’s not unreasonable. All the foregoing said, everyone needs to get back to speaking civilly, without unnecessary harshness, and remember that there is no body language to help your message get across.

Still, this is among the best forums on the net. Spend a day on TGP, and its easier to appreciate the comradely and sense of fun here. It’s a good place with a lot of good people.

 

[Drew]

Internet forums are dying. The forum for one of the online games I play just got the axe in favor of ushering us off to discord and other social media. World is changing in how we interact with one another.

 

[JasonE]

I think some of the loss in activity is that you can now just leave a "Like " and not have to post something.
Also Shawn from PRS was a great presence on this forum .
and sometimes a forum runs it course and or loses steam like BAM , The PRS Forums , Vintage Rocker

I really miss those forums. They were great in their day.

I am one that stopped participating on all forums for quite a while. It was a hassle to log into my home computer to check in after being on a computer all day at work. When we started working from home over 3 years ago, I went back to a few of the forums, including this one. It is much easier to pop up a browser window and see what is going on during meetings and breaks. I am glad I came back. I think a lot of the active folks on there now were not around or very active when I was on here years ago. If I had to go back to the office I could see me posting less. I would have to catch up after I get home from work and there would be days I wouldn't get to it due to commute and life.

 

[JasonE]

Internet forums are dying. The forum for one of the online games I play just got the axe in favor of ushering us off to discord and other social media. World is changing in how we interact with one another.

I think this is a big part of it. There are groups on other platforms where people have been migrating to. I saw a lot of activity in some facebook groups when I was on there. I finally got tired of all of the crap on there and stopped logging in. I haven't been in my account in well over a year and have no real desire to go back. That is also something that brought me back to the forums.

I hear that gen z has been ditching the smart phones and going back to flip phones. Maybe forums will be cool once again in the near future.

 

[andy474x]

Particular to this forum, I think the lack of a significant number of truly new products, specifically guitars and amps, has been contributing to less activity here.

Much of what PRS has been doing lately is bringing popular USA models into their more affordable product lines - 594, DGT, HB/HBII, SS coming to the SE guitars, HDRX and Archon to the import line, refresh of the Sonzera 20. The true new concept products have been few, in core guitars really just the T-styles, the ME V (and even that was coming down from private stock), the Studio is a re-hash of the old one, and the SSH is only “new” to the core line in the sense that it’s being offered on a non-limited basis.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these are bad business moves on the part of PRS, they just don’t give us a whole lot to talk about.

Fewer people playing out thanks to the virus, even just in a jam session scenario, has probably not helped either.

That said, personally, I’d prefer that we not turn into TGP and start having unrelated armchair quarterback discussions about health care and legal issues. We can be together quietly.

 

[Bogner]

I think some of the loss in activity is that you can now just leave a "Like " and not have to post something.
Also Shawn from PRS was a great presence on this forum .
and sometimes a forum runs it course and or loses steam like BAM , The PRS Forums , Vintage Rocker

Tragic

 

[Bogner]

You know, one thing I learned is that one doesn't always need to have to post his or her opinion, just smile, nod your head, and agree. The like button does help when one might not have time to post something else.

You Have To Be Online On The Forum To Post The Like Though...And I See Less And Less People Around. I Get The Time Of Year, Economy, Etc But Most People Still Have An Internet Connection. Other Forums Have Traffic So I Would Think All Forums Would Suffer And Not Just This One.

 

[Bogner]

This ^ and it’s turned more to arguing than discussing. There’s all levels of participance here and from what I’ve seen lately it’s purely a communication issue. Not everyone here has English as there first language and what comes off as a rude post sometimes is purely in the translation. The other issue is social interaction as some posts start with a frustrated poster maybe with an issue that if communicated correctly can easily be solved but lack of skills ( because we just don’t communicate in person like we used to) cause the flame throwers to come out and it’s just a roller coaster ride from there. The written word is pretty strong and it’s tough to suck it up and admit error. Though this is not the complaint department as you should just contact the manufacturer direct it’s okay to post a dislike of something here I feel as long as it doesn’t get out of control. Constructive criticism is okay. It’s a sign of the times and a reflection on us. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Iron Sharpens Iron And People Need To Stop Avoiding Differences And Start Communicating IMO. There Is Always A Solution, Discussions Always Help Bring That To Light. Communication Kills Assumption...People Need To Interact And Talk. It Is Healthy To Do So. That Is How We Grow And Learn. Everybody Has Something Valuable To Say And Contribute IMO.

Hopefully, It Turns Around.

 

[Bogner]

Particular to this forum, I think the lack of a significant number of truly new products, specifically guitars and amps, has been contributing to less activity here.

Much of what PRS has been doing lately is bringing popular USA models into their more affordable product lines - 594, DGT, HB/HBII, SS coming to the SE guitars, HDRX and Archon to the import line, refresh of the Sonzera 20. The true new concept products have been few, in core guitars really just the T-styles, the ME V (and even that was coming down from private stock), the Studio is a re-hash of the old one, and the SSH is only “new” to the core line in the sense that it’s being offered on a non-limited basis.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these are bad business moves on the part of PRS, they just don’t give us a whole lot to talk about.

Fewer people playing out thanks to the virus, even just in a jam session scenario, has probably not helped either.

That said, personally, I’d prefer that we not turn into TGP and start having unrelated armchair quarterback discussions about health care and legal issues. We can be together quietly.

TGP Is The LAST Thing I Want This Place To Be. We Have Forums Here Where We Can Talk About "Other" Musical And Gear Related Things And I See That Dwindling. We Used To Talk About All Kinds Of Products And So Forth.

You Mention The "Virus"...That Push Has Been Over For A Long Time. IMO, There Is Plenty Of Relevant Gear/Music Dialogue To Be Had In The World We Live In Right Now For People To Easily Participate And Interact With But It Just Isn't Happening Like It Once Was And I Guess That Is What Bums Me Out.

I Am Not Sure I Understand Your "We Can Be Together Quietly" Remark. If People Never Talk Or Speak Up How Can Anybody Know They Are With Them? (Or Even Not With Them For That Matter).

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

You Have To Be Online On The Forum To Post The Like Though...And I See Less And Less People Around. I Get The Time Of Year, Economy, Etc But Most People Still Have An Internet Connection. Other Forums Have Traffic So I Would Think All Forums Would Suffer And Not Just This One.

We've lost a couple members :-( and have a few long time members that haven't posted much at all lately do to life stuff, and a couple formerly VERY active members that are either "on break" or not posting nearly as much.

And season is a biggy for me. We've been camping 2 weeks out of the last 6 and I rarely post when we are. And other nights I'm working outside in the yard til dark and not on until after 11:00 or so when few are around.

That said, I see certain types of posts that seem to draw out some of the people who haven't posted much lately. I'm sure if Sergio came back and posted a couple things we'd see an uptick. This is the longest break I've ever heard of him taking

 

[Max Headroom]

I usually check in here at least twice a day if not more…but then again I don’t have a life so there is that….

 

[CandidPicker]

You Have To Be Online On The Forum To Post The Like Though...And I See Less And Less People Around. I Get The Time Of Year, Economy, Etc But Most People Still Have An Internet Connection. Other Forums Have Traffic So I Would Think All Forums Would Suffer And Not Just This One.

Your worries may be short-lived. I really believe that folks are just busy with other aspects of their lives currently and don't have as much time for forums. It might be that they've concluded that it's healthier to live in the real world than a virtual one. Likewise, some guitarists might be enjoying the summer gigging more often at venues. That requires practice and time away from posting on forums.

Because the seasons will change, one might expect people to move indoors once again with cooler weather. That will likely bring folks back to the forum.

 

[Bogner]

Your worries may be short-lived. I really believe that folks are just busy with other aspects of their lives currently and don't have as much time for forums. It might be that they've concluded that it's healthier to live in the real world than a virtual one. Likewise, some guitarists might be enjoying the summer gigging more often at venues. That requires practice and time away from posting on forums.

Because the seasons will change, one might expect people to move indoors once again with cooler weather. That will likely bring folks back to the forum.

I Am Not "Worried"...Just Curious.

You Make Some Great Points! Thank You For That!!

 

[Black Plaid]

We're all too busy playing Baldur's Gate 3.

 

[deepender]

This ^ and it’s turned more to arguing than discussing. There’s all levels of participance here and from what I’ve seen lately it’s purely a communication issue. Not everyone here has English as there first language and what comes off as a rude post sometimes is purely in the translation. The other issue is social interaction as some posts start with a frustrated poster maybe with an issue that if communicated correctly can easily be solved but lack of skills ( because we just don’t communicate in person like we used to) cause the flame throwers to come out and it’s just a roller coaster ride from there. The written word is pretty strong and it’s tough to suck it up and admit error. Though this is not the complaint department as you should just contact the manufacturer direct it’s okay to post a dislike of something here I feel as long as it doesn’t get out of control. Constructive criticism is okay. It’s a sign of the times and a reflection on us. It doesn’t have to be this way.

^this^