Just saw this thread and skimmed through it. I'm not particularly attached to AF, having joined relatively recently and not even being that active, but I do think that a lot of the very active members who frequented this place when I first joined in 2018 are no longer here (for a variety of reason, I know), and I think I feel the effects of that.
It seems like forums, overall, are on the decline and have been for years now, due to a combination of social media, increasing smartphone usage, and mega-forums like reddit.
A different forum I've been a regular at for years has declined dramatically, having less than a half of the traffic it did when I joined in 2012, and not gaining any new regulars since 2018, I believe. It makes this place seem like a hub of activity, lol, and the mods and admins post approximately once a year. Yet somehow the few regulars who still pop in now and again manage to keep it a welcoming and interesting place. I donate there and until I stop, I don't think I will be able to donate here while not earning. I wish forums still flourished, because I feel like their user model and experience is far different than social media or reddit. Forums create communities of users you recognize.
I can see that the future of AF is no longer in immediate jeopardy as of now, so these are more like some random thoughts I had related to this. I do hope I can start donating sometime soon, which seems fairly likely if normal life resumes by fall.
It seems like forums, overall, are on the decline and have been for years now, due to a combination of social media, increasing smartphone usage, and mega-forums like reddit.
A different forum I've been a regular at for years has declined dramatically, having less than a half of the traffic it did when I joined in 2012, and not gaining any new regulars since 2018, I believe. It makes this place seem like a hub of activity, lol, and the mods and admins post approximately once a year. Yet somehow the few regulars who still pop in now and again manage to keep it a welcoming and interesting place. I donate there and until I stop, I don't think I will be able to donate here while not earning. I wish forums still flourished, because I feel like their user model and experience is far different than social media or reddit. Forums create communities of users you recognize.
I can see that the future of AF is no longer in immediate jeopardy as of now, so these are more like some random thoughts I had related to this. I do hope I can start donating sometime soon, which seems fairly likely if normal life resumes by fall.
The word bed actually looks like a bed.
