By saying "nothing else" you are suggesting that's the ONLY reason people have stopped using DS. I am merely pointing out that I have spoken to some posters who have pretty much stopped posting, and the forum redesign is nothing to do with why they rarely post now.
It was a big deal at the time, and I'm sure the re-design did lose a lot of posters. But it doesn't cross my mind any more, it just is what it is and doesn't affect the content which is the most important thing..in my opinion.
Well, I can sort of understand threads about that story being closed. It did become the same old arguments, over and over again, and always ended in some mud slinging.
But I'm more surprised at threads about the historical child abuse scandal being shut down, presumably there are numerous injunctions flying around and the media are running scared.
The funny thing I found was that you could quote something directly from the press that day and still fall foul of the moderators. I'm not complaining, it's their forum, but it seems strange. Perhaps DS has to be more cautious or don't consider their forum the place for contentious subjects ?
The answer lies in first class moderation,imo,there would only be a few topics to read carefully and delete if needed,maybe pre-moderation on those subjects would work.
Well, I can sort of understand threads about that story being closed. It did become the same old arguments, over and over again, and always ended in some mud slinging.
But I'm more surprised at threads about the historical child abuse scandal being shut down, presumably there are numerous injunctions flying around and the media are running scared.
The funny thing I found was that you could quote something directly from the press that day and still fall foul of the moderators. I'm not complaining, it's their forum, but it seems strange. Perhaps DS has to be more cautious or don't consider their forum the place for contentious subjects ?
Problem with that thread was that some went out of their way to get it shut down because they did not want any other possibilities being entertained. Mods should have dealt with those posters and left the thread open. Instead the troublemakers effectively "won".
Hot topics as such, as you say are a pain these days. I often don't post in such threads as I know they will be closed so what's the point? We have to abide by the rules but the same stuff is in the news and in the papers. If its hot news people want to talk about it. I do accept DS may get many legal threats and so on.
I prefer to lurk these days. I very rarely post because I don't see the point. You get the little cliques on here who only ever really respond to each other, take the thread off-topic or like to take the p*ss out of other forum members. Not my bag.
I am however interested in other peoples opinions which is why I'll always read the threads, if not contribute to them.
It's been pretty quiet on here lately. It seemed like less threads and less posts every time i come on here.
I went on Wayback machine and did a bit of a calculation. It's pretty accurate although I couldn't get the exact number of posts for all the months. I would say it's 95% accurate though.
So in 2012, there were an average of 513,318 posts per month
In 2013, there were an average of 561,478 posts per month (missing a big chunk of Jan here so this is a low estimate)
In 2014, up until end July, there have been 429,007 posts per month
Now you could say that there would be more posts in winter, however that is going to be a tough average to catch up.
Finally, I could only go up to July because they have removed the total posts box from the top of the forum!
Where has everyone gone?
These numbers aren't correct, but well done on the research! Must have taken a lot of time? Each month this year so far has passed the 'average' for 2014, several passing the average for the previous years too.
That's not to say people haven't stopped posting: they have. We browse these forums too and miss seeing some of the familiar names that used to always show up. Each persons circumstance and reason for no long posting is different, so putting it down to one thing alone is wrong.
Social media is just one example: as someone in this thread mentioned, isolated Facebook groups are becoming more popular and Twitter continues to expand - people are more attracted to sharing their toilet habits in 140 characters than a well phrased post on the same topic...
The 'On Digital Spy' box was removed with the latest maintenance a few weeks back as we're moving datacentres. There is likely to be some downtime coming in the near future (watch out for any announcements as we get confirmation) while this work continues.
You are correct. A lot who complained about it being too white and hurting their eyes are long gone.
I'm still here but still hate the format! DS is more than just a 'format' though. I like being on here and that's why I've stuck it out. I'll say it one more time, though. I STILL hate the format!
These numbers aren't correct, but well done on the research! Must have taken a lot of time? Each month this year so far has passed the 'average' for 2014, several passing the average for the previous years too.
It didn't take much time at all. All I did was look at the number of posts as early to the beginning of January and subtract that from the number of posts as close to the end of December (or July for 2014 because that is as far as it went). Just one simple calculation per year.
They are your figures from the 'number of posts' box, so not sure why they are wrong.
Of course you are right that there are a number of reasons for people to stop posting, I do appreciate that.
Most topics have been done to death. Hence the constant resurrection of old threads. Most of the older poster are just bored with the same old same old.
I think that sort of thing happens on most forums, people just get bored with them in the end.
Or their life style changes and they do more constructive things than reading and posting on forums.
I prefer to lurk these days. I very rarely post because I don't see the point. You get the little cliques on here who only ever really respond to each other, take the thread off-topic or like to take the p*ss out of other forum members. Not my bag.
I am however interested in other peoples opinions which is why I'll always read the threads, if not contribute to them.
BIB - I've noticed that. Contributing to some threads feels like walking into a remote village pub. All the locals stare and point at you, while they ignore what you say and continue with their frivolous banter between themselves.
I suppose it's difficult, the forums have certainly appeared quieter to me. But I'm more interested in subjects that are "in the news" and my chief sporting interest, which is football.
With X-Factor and Strictly starting again, I'm sure there will be thousand more posts every day in the run-up to Christmas, but I rarely visit those forums.
I'm still here but still hate the format! DS is more than just a 'format' though. I like being on here and that's why I've stuck it out. I'll say it one more time, though. I STILL hate the format!
I'm still here, I hate the format, but I've noticed that a high number of new topics opened on GD are not that interesting to me. Seemingly they are posted to almost incite some argument along the way. But I'm still here!
I have noticed many times that a decent thread topic is often ruined by it going completely off thread by just silly back and forth private chatter and "in" jokes among two or three posters, their posts having little to do with the original subject post.
If someone does complain with the thread going off topic they get descended upon by the clique accusing them of being self appointed moderators or forum police
BIB - I've noticed that. Contributing to some threads feels like walking into a remote village pub. All the locals stare and point at you, while they ignore what you say and continue with their frivolous banter between themselves.
You have been here since 2004 Do you not see familiar names that you have posted with over the decade and have a joke or "frivolous banter" with them? If you don't mind me saying I think it a bit odd that anyone can spend 10 years posting on a forum with people and not!
Comments
Big deal.
Crap forum design above anything else, then.
Just for you.
Name One & Maxxi Soundsystem 'One In Three'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FurrtMv0kjU
In the latest 'what are listening to right now' thread in the music forum I have made nearly 1300 posts.
Or you can see Marco Niemerski mix it in here at a Mixmag set at about 38 mins.
TENSNAKE deep disco house set @ Mixmag Live 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyq0w_qjTbM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHCkRtVaBWI
It was a big deal at the time, and I'm sure the re-design did lose a lot of posters. But it doesn't cross my mind any more, it just is what it is and doesn't affect the content which is the most important thing..in my opinion.
The answer lies in first class moderation,imo,there would only be a few topics to read carefully and delete if needed,maybe pre-moderation on those subjects would work.
Problem with that thread was that some went out of their way to get it shut down because they did not want any other possibilities being entertained. Mods should have dealt with those posters and left the thread open. Instead the troublemakers effectively "won".
Hot topics as such, as you say are a pain these days. I often don't post in such threads as I know they will be closed so what's the point? We have to abide by the rules but the same stuff is in the news and in the papers. If its hot news people want to talk about it. I do accept DS may get many legal threats and so on.
I can quite believe that - I post in that thread from time to time and have noticed you're one of the more frequent contributors!
I am however interested in other peoples opinions which is why I'll always read the threads, if not contribute to them.
I do wonder at times how fast digital spy's servers are.
😀😀😀....
These numbers aren't correct, but well done on the research! Must have taken a lot of time? Each month this year so far has passed the 'average' for 2014, several passing the average for the previous years too.
That's not to say people haven't stopped posting: they have. We browse these forums too and miss seeing some of the familiar names that used to always show up. Each persons circumstance and reason for no long posting is different, so putting it down to one thing alone is wrong.
Social media is just one example: as someone in this thread mentioned, isolated Facebook groups are becoming more popular and Twitter continues to expand - people are more attracted to sharing their toilet habits in 140 characters than a well phrased post on the same topic...
The 'On Digital Spy' box was removed with the latest maintenance a few weeks back as we're moving datacentres. There is likely to be some downtime coming in the near future (watch out for any announcements as we get confirmation) while this work continues.
I'm still here but still hate the format! DS is more than just a 'format' though. I like being on here and that's why I've stuck it out. I'll say it one more time, though. I STILL hate the format!
It didn't take much time at all. All I did was look at the number of posts as early to the beginning of January and subtract that from the number of posts as close to the end of December (or July for 2014 because that is as far as it went). Just one simple calculation per year.
They are your figures from the 'number of posts' box, so not sure why they are wrong.
Of course you are right that there are a number of reasons for people to stop posting, I do appreciate that.
That doesn't even make sense
I think that sort of thing happens on most forums, people just get bored with them in the end.
Or their life style changes and they do more constructive things than reading and posting on forums.
BIB - I've noticed that. Contributing to some threads feels like walking into a remote village pub. All the locals stare and point at you, while they ignore what you say and continue with their frivolous banter between themselves.
With X-Factor and Strictly starting again, I'm sure there will be thousand more posts every day in the run-up to Christmas, but I rarely visit those forums.
I'm still here, I hate the format, but I've noticed that a high number of new topics opened on GD are not that interesting to me. Seemingly they are posted to almost incite some argument along the way. But I'm still here!
If someone does complain with the thread going off topic they get descended upon by the clique accusing them of being self appointed moderators or forum police
You have been here since 2004 Do you not see familiar names that you have posted with over the decade and have a joke or "frivolous banter" with them? If you don't mind me saying I think it a bit odd that anyone can spend 10 years posting on a forum with people and not!