What's happened to the boards?

[Rare Pink Leech]

Over the past couple of days, there have been a few posts where a board member has decided to leave the forums, citing a change in atmosphere as the reason. As a relatively new member who's only recently starting posting relatively seriously, I'd love it if some veteran members could shed some light as to how the atmosphere has shifted. Thanks.

[Lucky]

More people joined.

[Rawhide]

More people joined.

Best three word response ever.

[AtomicKitKat]

Mainly that the comic has gotten more popular, more people join the forums, leading to more site traffic, which results in more server load. This gives the place a little less "cosiness"(fewer people=more recognisable). We've also had to make a few changes(ported to a different forum format, signature/avatar restrictions: see above), so it feels a little less "freeform" than it was before.

[Sean92k]

More people joined.

And I was one of them. Im slowly killing you all
With my grammer bad and nonsensical posts

[Lucky]

Best three word response ever.

I probably could have gotten away with "People joined," thus shortening it even further, but hindsight's always 20-20.

And yes. Damn you Sean92K38SNAK2N29DKAJS, whoever you are. Damn you for changing the atmosphere.

[Zar Peter]

I'm feeling guilty, too.

On the other hand it's too much fun to post here than to stop it.

[banjo1985]

Same here, I'm one of the newly joined, and the increased flow of people has led to lack of recognition and general site problems, which is driving some of the long-standing board members away by the looks of things.

I've only been posting for 3 months but even in that time I've felt a difference, not for the worse exactly, but its changing a bit, that's for sure.

[Lucky]

I'm feeling guilty, too.

Right, because when we signed up here, we were completely not expecting anyone else to join. We were, in fact, thinking that once we joined, the boards would lock out anyone else from signing up.

Shame on you.

[ChronicLunacy]

Over the past couple of days, there have been a few posts where a board member has decided to leave the forums, citing a change in atmosphere as the reason. As a relatively new member who's only recently starting posting relatively seriously, I'd love it if some veteran members could shed some light as to how the atmosphere has shifted. Thanks.

Something's changed?

I've noticed a couple "veteran" members of the boards bawling like little girls and running away for some reason. Apparently something is different and therefore unbearable to them. Change = kryptonite. Either that or there are more people here than before so the celebrity status they enjoy is slowly dissolving since the new people don't know about X and Y that happened years ago and they miss the attention. I haven't been here as long as some, but I've noticed nothing, nor do I care much as long as I can keep playing my games in the IC section. So, I ask, who really cares?

[Ranis]

*feels cozy amidst the chaos*

What? Someone had to do it.

[Miraqariftsky]

Maybe things got too complicated for them? Truth be told, I only became an active member back in May... but even then, the "atmosphere" back then was... less rules-ridden...

...just

maybe...

But then, it might have also been the recent influx of "l33t" speakers... or whatever.

For me, this place, these boards, they are a haven, a sanctuary for me from the daily grind at work, in college and at home. Not that I am ungrateful or ill-disposed towards the above institutions, but still, the GitPForums are where I get my daily dose of flights of fancy and where files of fantasy fly.

Ahem, also, this is where I have forged many friendships and bonds with the international online society at large.

[Charity]

I don't know what the big fuss is about.
Why was I not told what the big fuss was about?
Right thats it I'm off!

[Lord Herman]

I haven't really noticed any change. Sure, some new people joined, but most of them are really nice folks who fit right in. The only significant change I've noticed is that some board veterans have left.

[Atreyu the Masked LLama]

How can you not notice the big changes?? Our leprachaun became a naga, our astronomer became a bathtub, our crazy anime fan girl now thinks Sasuke is cute instead of some whiny emo kid. These are huge changes.

Its even got the mods. Alarra is swinging a huge sword and our resident warrior has a sweater now. Its not right!! Madness!!

[Zar Peter]

You mean in the older days there were less madness?

[Lord Herman]

You mean the good ole days, when people started randomly changing into llamas?

[Serpentine]

What I don't get is why everyone makes a deliberate, final decision to leave and feels the need to announce it. I assume that eventually I'll get over the forums and start posting less, maybe even eventually stop posting at all. There's some people I've met here who I consider friends and would like to keep in contact with if they were willing (speaking of which: Jibar, would you consider trading contact details of some description with me? I'd quite like to catch up with you when/if I ever go over to the UK, if that's alright with you when it happens...), but other than that... It's sort of just a place to hang out, you know? I doubt I'll ever make some profound concious decision to stop coming here, and if I ever do, I won't announce it publicly unless it's for a reason that I think should be made known. Hm. I've gotten rather rambly, and I have a feeling there was something specific I wanted to say... oh well.

Dammit Llama, I'm not a bloody naga

[Lucky]

Dammit Llama, I'm not a bloody naga

No, you're a Leprechaun.

[Azrael]

Do remember that when you have a large contingent of teenage posters that lives and interest shift VERY quickly.

Some of these long time posters started when they were 12 or 14. And by 16, priorities can shift, massively.

[Jibar]

How can you not notice the big changes?? Our leprachaun became a naga, our astronomer became a bathtub, our crazy anime fan girl now thinks Sasuke is cute instead of some whiny emo kid. These are huge changes.

Its even got the mods. Alarra is swinging a huge sword and our resident warrior has a sweater now. Its not right!! Madness!!

Madness?

This, is, Koalate Kingdom!

( to all you who did the joke when the movie came out.)

Yes, there is a change in the boards, and unlike ChronicLunacy, we're not happy about it. Simply put, we liked it before. Smaller numbers is all the better.
It's not the wave of new posters that bothers me though. New people is good. It's just some of what they bring with them.
1. Site downtime
2. A forum.

Before this place was a home away from home, but on the internet. It wasn't like other places, it was a centre of learning and sophistication. Now, with more people it sort of loses that shine as we are proudly told that their colour is Blue and they're a satyr from every corner, as long as we're not online at 9:05am to 9:22am GMT when the site goes down.

Sorry, I'm whinging a little. I quit Random Banter a while ago when I first really sensed the changes, and I don't want to quit the whole forum when the changes get bigger.

Edit: Heh, funny you ask Serpy. I was considering asking you about it, in case I ever end up in Australia.

[Ikkitosen]

The question is, are people openly stating that they're leaving in order to express their disapproval of recent board changes (image limitations, less recently post counts/Town/SMBG) or is it just the atmosphere change due to a sclae increase?

I'm just asking, so don't shoot the messenger please ;)

[Lucky]

The question is, are people openly stating that they're leaving in order to express their disapproval of recent board changes (image limitations, less recently post counts/Town/SMBG) or is it just the atmosphere change due to a scale increase?

While it's not solely due to a scale increase, I'm sure it's just the atmosphere change causes them to lose interest.

[Serpentine]

Edit: Heh, funny you ask Serpy. I was considering asking you about it, in case I ever end up in Australia.

It's a date

[Charity]

Cutting to the chase once more Ikkitosen?

The boards have changed a lot since I first arrived, but one thing hasn't changed, and thats folk going on about how much it's changed.. see now I'm at it.

Folk left back then too, As you well know you aged old duffer you. Some of them left quite publicly .. Where are you Beastie?
Some of them not so much, I'm looking at you Mal.
Thing is there is not a lot to be done about all this, things change, people change, accept it and move on.

[Lord Herman]

I still like the boards. Can I stay? Please?

[Castaras]

The boards are changing.

So what? They're changing as all boards change. People leave, people come. That's the nature of these boards.

So what? I'm seeing changes, and I only really started posting in January. Some are for the better, some might be for the worse. All that really matters is the fact that these boards are all active, you've got intelligent conversations, and everyone here on the whole is a kind, clever bunch who come here because of a common interest.

I'm enjoying my time here, even though there are changes, and you're almost certainly not gonna get rid of me that easily.

[Rawhide]

I still like the boards. Can I stay? Please?

Your application to remain has been filed and will get a response in 7-10 working days, assuming there are no issues with your application.

[DraPrime]

It might just be coincidence. These people might be leaving for different reasons, but it just so happens at similar times. It's not really that improbable. They might just be getting bored. Eventually threads begin to repeat themselves. Forums can only get so entertaining. That's when they leave.

[Om]

Anyone know to what degree old posters are more virtuous than newbies? I ask because I'm seeing a lot of 07s around here and I want to know just how superior my Oct 06 compares to them. Its a matter of knowing just how much I should lash out at newcomers for spoiling my internet paradise.