What bothers me about forums and online life...

I am a a total adopter of the interweb, and love being part of this (and other) online communities. One thing has always bothered me a little - I suspect for most of us, it is a solitary interest - i.e. we contribute on a solo basis and no one else is involved. But, suddenly (I've seen it happen, as I am sure you have too) someone disappears off the face of the (virtual) earth - did they get creamed in a car crash, had a massive coronary, got abducted by aliens, or simply got a bit bored? TGW's "from the grave" thread is mainly to blame for my maudlin thoughts, because there are often posts from people with 2 or 3 hundred to their name - who I haven't seen post since I've been a member - I can't believe they've all been banned! ;)

So, do I put it in my will that my Executors post on here of my (hopefully not untimely) demise, or do we have any other suggestion - or do I stop necking a bottle of red wine before posting! :lol:

I'm making light of it, but there is a serious point in there somewhere. I think.

Alex,
Oh dear, what have I done?
Sorry to be (even only partly) to blame for your current sad demeanor. I know what you mean though!
There are all sorts of reasons for folks not still being here. Many just find their time should be better spent doing something else. I know just a few months ago, I spent a lot more time here, because my family circumstances meant I had a lot of time alone in the evening. That ratcheted back a lot since then, closer to where I was before.

I guess other folks decide other fora or hobbies are more suited to them.

I don't think Marco & Steve are running a Sweeny Todd type operation!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Grand Wazoo

I don't think Marco & Steve are running a Sweeny Todd type operation!

---

OMG - I hadn't considered that - I bet they are! ;)

Hi Alex

Despite what some might think Exterminations are not that common, a few too many recently, but that's the way of it sometimes.

A lot of folks who join do vanish over time for many reasons, sadly we (the management) don't know most of the reasons. Chris is right in what he says above...and that covers a lot of them...but not all.

I do miss the contributions of many who have moved on. Such is life.


Regards D S D L

The vast majority of new members (I suspect) join because they have a specific goal - this might be to find the answer to a single question or to find some help in a stage in their system evolution. The ones who stay (without being too disingenuous to them or AoS) are only here through a happy accident!

Why don't you start a thread - 'Why Did You Join the Art of Sound?'

I suspect, I'd be proved correct.


P.S. - Don't eat the pies!

I reckon "Why didn't you leave the Art of Sound" would be more telling - I'm sure you are right as to why people join (in my case, a pointer from Stanley B because of the Caiman I was about to order) - I guess the crux is what makes people stick around - obviously the good company!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex_UK

I reckon "Why didn't you leave the Art of Sound" would be more telling - I'm sure you are right as to why people join (in my case, a pointer from Stanley B because of the Caiman I was about to order) - I guess the crux is what makes people stick around - obviously the good company!

---

Indeed....:)


Regards D S D L

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex_UK

I reckon "Why didn't you leave the Art of Sound" would be more telling - I'm sure you are right as to why people join (in my case, a pointer from Stanley B because of the Caiman I was about to order) - I guess the crux is what makes people stick around - obviously the good company!

---

So.................why did you stick around?

'cos I keep thinking maybe one day some good company might join the forum! ;)

I'd like to think there was more to it than just good company and banter etc. If you are looking for that, you'd be better picking up the phone...

The right atmosphere here should provide the kind of backdrop that facilitates stimulating discussions that are unhindered by the dogma of the measurement freaks, for example.

People come and go (and return) for all sorts of reasons:

1) Their initial enquiry has been answered either satisfactorily or not.

2)They have found other things to fill their time.

3) They have had a hissy fit over something.

4) They don't get or like the distinctive flavour of this place.

5) They are objectivists. ;)

6) They think Marco is really scary so they run away and hide :D :eek:

7) they follow someone else through the exit as a show of solidarity or something. :rolleyes:

8) Rarely they are a persistently negative influence and so get the push. Sometimes their departure is announced, on the odd occasion it isn't :eyebrows:

Alex, "why did you leave The Art of Sound" is unlikely to get any answers - they've left and are unlikely to put in a guest appearance to answer that one question.

Oh I love these navel gazing threads! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve Toy

Alex, "why did you leave The Art of Sound" is unlikely to get any answers - they've left and are unlikely to put in a guest appearance to answer that one question.

Oh I love these navel gazing threads! :)

---

:lolsign:

Since there's no AoS 'exit interview' there's no way of knowing why anyone leaves, unless they're hoofed, or they say why they're leaving.

Dogmatism (of any sort) is A Bad Thing IMO, but it's usually possible to work around it.

Plus announced exits are rarely constructive and usually intended to invite me-too shows of solidarity.

As far as I'm concerned everyone is free to come and go as they please. Private message exchanges are often good problem solvers.

Hi Chris.

This is a very interesting thread in itself.

Why do people suddenly disappear after contributing for such a long time? I mean yes, we all go through periods where posting on an audio forum, even one as AWESOME as AOS, isn't top of our priorities. For example I was very quiet for quite a while when I moved to a new house last year and then again this year after my Dad passed away, but in both cases I came back again.

I've been thinking about this and have a number of thoughts which I'll just cough out now for discussion.

1. People have got themselves banned. Not sure quite how common this has been on AOS, but I have noted that several members from old threads have been banished.

2. They joined for a specific purpose which has now been served. Possible but surely this only applies to 'junior' members rather than those who have been around long enough to make a significant contribution?

3. They got bored with hifi and moved on. Yeah right! Like that's going to happen! :) No seriously, I doubt that would happen if you were interested enough to register for an audio forum in the first place and actually start getting stuck in.

4. They didn't like the AOS 'experience'....

Now this is the interesting one... The thing is that because AOS does have a very specific feel, that means it's not always going to be for everyone. I like the fact that we insist on intros and knowing people's real names, but not everyone will. Some will see it as prying and rather different to the total anonymity of other forums. Also there are some among us who have very strong opinions are are happy to (politely) express them, which some may also not like. That said, I think that we're a fair bunch who are pretty good about pulling each other up (including our beloved moderators) if we get carried away.

Personally, the thing I'd like to see would be more of AOSers meeting up in 'The Real World'. I know that quite a few do, but I think it's still the exception rather than the rule and being an Audio Geek can be a bit of a lonely existence sometimes when even those nearest and dearest don't REALLY get the whole hifi obsession.

I'd love to see some kind of map graphic which could show where people are located.....

Yes,agree that meets are a good idea.That was started many years ago on the then WAD forum,now WD,and carried over onto Audio-Talk.Almost all of us there have known each other personally for years.It makes for a very harmonious forum on the whole,and any problems that do crop up from time to time can usually be quite easily sorted as we generally have a better handle on context because we know each other well.

I think you'd be surprised at the number of people who move on simply because 'life happens' - unless you know a number of people on a forum 'personally' - either face to face or through ongoing PM exchanges, or off-forum discussions - if you get out of the habit because of work or other stuff it's not so easy to get back into the habit.

I know that 'life' has got in the way of a few of the people I used to know and get on with from the early days.

I have met two really good "audio buddies" (to quote a Yank phrase) on Diyaudio. We meet up occasionally and one has helped me greatly with my DIY Pass Labs F2 (which is, by the way a stonking amp for £300!!!)

I think you have to treat fora as a bit of puff, an indulgence, that is a bit of a laugh and not to be taken too seriously. If someone has strong views, well.... they probably have a case of male PMT or something. Life is too short to get caught up in conflict. If you don't like what someone says, ignore it and move on.

It's like the Three Words Daily. However hard you try to move it off sex and bodily functions, it doesn't happen! Embrace it or go somewhere else.

My presence here is all Marco's fault........ Plus the fact that I got fed up with people regarding out of date naim preamps as the second coming or summat...........

To be frank (& i know departure anouncements arnt wise) it won't be long before i'll be gone.As a rule i hate audio & music forums with a passion.AOS is a good place to hang out (All others are horrible in comparison) but i feel it really isnt for me, most the members are easy to get on with but they don't have the same intrests personally i'm not intrested in hi-fi as others are, i find it a totally boring hobby tbh, i go for the nostaligic part of hifi components as with music i've found no one that looks into my music style the way i do, i put my values ino the late 60's/ early '70's i live for it so as you can understand it is a self created , self indulgent obsession i have..Possibily i'm one of a kind or even a nutter infact.

I also feel spending too much time on line is interfearing with my general obsessions already outlined, i find myself spending too much time listerning to computer based music just because i'm online most the time, i need to break away from computers & pick up where i left off in the Analogue world, i miss it & have wasted too much time digitalised.I am an all or nothing guy & can't moderate.

So this is not a goodbye broadcast, it's just when i go you know where i've gone.I didnt want to start a topic as a fresh to say this, so i took this topic as an opportunity which i hopefully doesnt come across as *o feel sorry for me*

I hope you will change your mind and come back from time to time Andr'e. How will I discover unknown-but-interesting Prog groups without you ? ;)

Oh crikey, what have I started! :eek:

Well, nothing, obviously, that wasn't already there from anyone who has contributed to the thread.

I think Beechwoods has probably hit the nail on the head, if your anally retentive like me, you'll want to read all of the New Posts, but actually, that is a hell of a lot of effort, and can be very difficult to keep up with. Life just is more pressing, sometimes.

Well said, Alex. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex_UK

you'll want to read all of the New Posts, but actually, that is a hell of a lot of effort, and can be very difficult to keep up with. Life just is more pressing, sometimes.

---

I must admit that i try to read all of the new posts in case i'm missing something, but of late i have waned and have lost some of my enthusiasm, this is not a reflection of the Forum but just me, i embrace a new hobby with a strong passion and usually compulsive type of buying, this has lead me into some bother in the past both financially and morally, but that is my personar, i share it with my father and one of my sisters.


At that the end of the day i come on here to loose myself for a few hours and get away from lifes little tribulations and meeting a few of you over the past few weeks has been a enjoyable experience and makes for a better place, bring on a few more bake offs and such likes, even if it is just to prove that you don't need to spend stupid amounts of money to achieve a good sounding system, so if some of us have gone a bit quiet it is not nessesary a bad thing or a sign of the forum getting stale just life goes on elsewhere as Nick and Alex also say

Enough of the morbid and rambling talk i'm off for another beer :cool: