Have news and chat forums had their day?

[Syl]

Seems to me that forums, like this one and other similar sized ones, which once were a busy online meeting place to discuss news topics serious and trivial, have been overtaken by other social media.

Shame really....I don't go on Twitter, Facebook and the like, because they seem pretty shallow in comparison.

Are the days of the smaller more intelligent (to me) online chat forums numbered, and if so, what have you replaced them with?

[Maddog]

I do Facebook. Basically there are groups like forums within Facebook.

If you want to be sorta anonymous you could post in a group that discusses Himalayan basket weaving.

Then there is your own page. I have at least 500 people on it and discuss all manner if things daily. The difference is it's a bit more civilized than a forum or group pages on social media because you sorta know those folks or are related to them,

[gelico]

Seems to me that forums, like this one and other similar sized ones, which once were a busy online meeting place to discuss news topics serious and trivial, have been overtaken by other social media.

Shame really....I don't go on Twitter, Facebook and the like, because they seem pretty shallow in comparison.

Are the days of the smaller more intelligent (to me) online chat  forums numbered, and if so, what have you replaced them with?

hi syl

i havewn't been around for a while but it does seem awfully quiet

wheres ben and eddie?

[Didgee]

Seems to me that forums, like this one and other similar sized ones, which once were a busy online meeting place to discuss news topics serious and trivial, have been overtaken by other social media.

Shame really....I don't go on Twitter, Facebook and the like, because they seem pretty shallow in comparison.

Are the days of the smaller more intelligent (to me) online chat  forums numbered, and if so, what have you replaced them with?

hi syl

i havewn't been around for a while but it does seem awfully quiet

wheres ben and eddie?

They have been on less of late, bust so have we all I guess Gelico

Hope they are okay

Maybe they have loads on at the moment

[Syl]

Seems to me that forums, like this one and other similar sized ones, which once were a busy online meeting place to discuss news topics serious and trivial, have been overtaken by other social media.

Shame really....I don't go on Twitter, Facebook and the like, because they seem pretty shallow in comparison.

Are the days of the smaller more intelligent (to me) online chat  forums numbered, and if so, what have you replaced them with?

hi syl

i havewn't been around for a while but it does seem awfully quiet

wheres ben and eddie?

Hi Gels, hope you are doing OK. x

Ben and eddie were both on the other night, not seen much of them though, not seen much of anyone on here lately.
Didge still starts threads though, bless him.

[Syl]

I do Facebook. Basically there are groups like forums within Facebook.  

If you want to be sorta anonymous you could post in a group that discusses Himalayan basket weaving.

Then there is your own page. I have at least 500 people on it and discuss all manner if things daily.  The difference is it's a bit more civilized than a forum or group pages on social media because you sorta know those folks or are related to them,  

I always liked forums because I didn't know anyone on them, it's an opportunity to talk to people from anywhere, people you would never normally meet in real life.
 Friends and relatives i can ring up or visit.

[Syl]

hi syl

i havewn't been around for a while but it does seem awfully quiet

wheres ben and eddie?

They have been on less of late, bust so have we all I guess Gelico

Hope they are okay

Maybe they have loads on at the moment

I was surprised forums didn't have a surge in popularity when the lockdown began, people had more time on their hands.
I guess many have just moved on to doing other things.
Personally i still like chatting on forums, just here and CM, no other social media, though i do enjoy the Twitter  links you sometimes post.

[Didgee]

They have been on less of late, bust so have we all I guess Gelico

Hope they are okay

Maybe they have loads on at the moment

I was surprised forums didn't have a surge in popularity when the lockdown began, people had more time on their hands.
I guess many have just moved on to doing other things.
Personally i still like chatting on forums, just here and CM, no other social media, though i do enjoy the Twitter  links you sometimes post.

Fair points, but to me its more about the fact there is simple loads of small forums. Where people have fallen out and created their own or moved to others

I just think times change and its sad, but at least a small core will continue to chat and debate and you never know they may thrive again

I never lose hope in that

[Maddog]

I do Facebook. Basically there are groups like forums within Facebook.  

If you want to be sorta anonymous you could post in a group that discusses Himalayan basket weaving.

Then there is your own page. I have at least 500 people on it and discuss all manner if things daily.  The difference is it's a bit more civilized than a forum or group pages on social media because you sorta know those folks or are related to them,  

I always liked forums because I didn't know anyone on them, it's an opportunity to talk to people from anywhere, people you would never normally meet in real life.
 Friends and relatives i can ring up or visit.

I talk to people I don't know every day on Facebook. If Al Jazeera puts up a news story, tens of thousands of people read it on Facebook. A few thousand may post on it. You can speak to any of them.

Have you aver seen anyone actually operate Facebook?

Used properly, it can inform you, and help with all of your social activities and unite you with like minded people wanting the same things in life.

It can be a little addictive and a waste of time, but so can forums.

Take my bike riding. Every single event that is organized, goes on Facebook. I'm doing a ride tomorrow organized by a Hispanic bike group out of Dallas. Me and their leader coordinated everything through Facebook. We have invited hundreds of local cyclists through Facebook. Most won't show, but people without Facebook won't even know about it.

Bands, artists, restaurants, everyone has a page and the only way to stay informed anymore is through Facebook.

[Syl]

I always liked forums because I didn't know anyone on them, it's an opportunity to talk to people from anywhere, people you would never normally meet in real life.
 Friends and relatives i can ring up or visit.

I talk to people I don't know every day on Facebook. If Al Jazeera puts up a news story, tens of thousands of people read it on Facebook. A few thousand may post on it. You can speak to any of them.

Have you aver seen anyone actually operate Facebook?

Used properly, it can inform you, and help with all of your social activities and unite you with like minded people wanting the same things in life.

It can be a little addictive and a waste of time, but so can forums.  

Take my bike riding. Every single event that is organized, goes on Facebook.  I'm doing a ride tomorrow organized by a Hispanic bike group out of Dallas. Me and their leader coordinated everything through Facebook. We have invited hundreds of local cyclists through Facebook. Most won't show, but people without Facebook won't even know about it.

Bands, artists, restaurants, everyone has a page and the only way to stay informed anymore is through Facebook.  

Yes i can see the advantages when you put it like that.
I just never got into Facebook. I did join twitter ages ago but didn't post or read, weeks later i thought i would give it a go, and got a message to say I was banned.
I never bothered again.

[Syl]

I was surprised forums didn't have a surge in popularity when the lockdown began, people had more time on their hands.
I guess many have just moved on to doing other things.
Personally i still like chatting on forums, just here and CM, no other social media, though i do enjoy the Twitter  links you sometimes post.

Fair points, but to me its more about the fact there is simple loads of small forums. Where people have fallen out and created their own or moved to others

I just think times change and its sad, but at least a small core will continue to chat and debate and you never know they may thrive again

I never lose hope in that

Times do change, I know lots of once avid posters who just tired of posting and eventually faded away alltogether.

It would be nice if people regained interest again......but I think once you get out of the habit you just move on to pastures new.

We dont seem to though.

[gelico]

I talk to people I don't know every day on Facebook. If Al Jazeera puts up a news story, tens of thousands of people read it on Facebook. A few thousand may post on it. You can speak to any of them.

Have you aver seen anyone actually operate Facebook?

Used properly, it can inform you, and help with all of your social activities and unite you with like minded people wanting the same things in life.

It can be a little addictive and a waste of time, but so can forums.  

Take my bike riding. Every single event that is organized, goes on Facebook.  I'm doing a ride tomorrow organized by a Hispanic bike group out of Dallas. Me and their leader coordinated everything through Facebook. We have invited hundreds of local cyclists through Facebook. Most won't show, but people without Facebook won't even know about it.

Bands, artists, restaurants, everyone has a page and the only way to stay informed anymore is through Facebook.  

Yes i can see the advantages when you put it like that.
I just never got into Facebook. I did join twitter ages ago but didn't post or read, weeks later i thought i would give it a go, and got a message to say I was banned.
I never bothered again.

Bwah, banned from twitter

sorry but,,,,,



tbh, i don't do facebook much either

looking at maddogs post made me feel like i'm actually quite isolated.  i still like the old fashioned way. meeting and chatting face to face but nowadays folk are all masky and scared

[Syl]

I know, but it wont last.
We have started going out to eat again, only in the daytime, and only if there is a nice sitting out area, but it's a start to getting back to some sort of normality.

[Maddog]

Yes i can see the advantages when you put it like that.
I just never got into Facebook. I did join twitter ages ago but didn't post or read, weeks later i thought i would give it a go, and got a message to say I was banned.
I never bothered again.

Bwah, banned from twitter

sorry but,,,,,



tbh, i don't do facebook much either

looking at maddogs post made me feel like i'm actually quite isolated.  i still like the old fashioned way.  meeting and chatting face to face but nowadays folk are all masky and scared

Yeah, I'm extroverted and I stay busy. I get invited to a dozen or so events every week and only do a few because of time. But my "friends" list is close to 600, so that makes sense. Many of those friends share the same hobbies and interests as me (that's why we are Facebook friends), so they post about things happening around town. Like I said above, without Facebook, I wouldn't know about them.

Then there is politics. The media only covers so much. I follow my mayor's page and a host of other politicians like city council people. I can post directly on their page if I want to communicate with them. Plus I am far more informed about what is going on around me.

I read a lot of news articles from all over the planet. Facebook allows me to do that, because I follow those outlets.

My kids don't use Facebook as much, but they use it enough that I sort of keep up with them.

I remember the pre Facebook days. I would sit around a lot, watch TV or hit bars. None of which are really good for you.

[Maddog]

And how do you get banned from Twitter?

[Syl]

And how do you get banned from Twitter?  

It must have been a case of mistaken identity.

[eddie]

I’m still here!!!!

I guess I post mostly at weekends now as I’m back at work and after having dinner, Ben and I usually watch a film or two then head for bed. We seem get into spells of doing certain things for a while and at the moment, we are film boffins who double as critics who double as voiceovers....and because we just can’t shut up we have to keep pausing the film, so a two hour film takes four days to watch.

In answer to the OP, I think, perhaps, when one first joins a forum one posts a lot. After a while one tends to post on and off and apparently then posts like the Queen by calling oneself “one”.

[Syl]

One is giggling /\

[eddie]

One is giggling /\

Awfully glad one has created merriment.

[Syl]

One often does, sometimes even unintentionally.

[Maddog]

Sorta unrelated, sorta not. This was the after party of our bike ride, that we promoted entirely on social media. This is less than half that showed up.

I think the picture shows that while the US has problems, we are doing OK, even down here in Redneck Land, much to the chagrin of the forum hate preacher.

[Syl]

Nice happy  pic Maddog, it shows the positive side of social media.

[Maddog]

Nice happy  pic Maddog, it shows the positive side of social media.

Yeah, and it shows a world not often portrayed in the news but is actually the reality most of the time. Were out riding bikes, drinking beers and getting along great. All the races are represented. All of the political ideologies are. But good, honest people can get along just fine. It's the not so good and honest that can't do that. Its refreshing in a time where hate and divisiveness gets so much attention.

[Syl]

Nice happy  pic Maddog, it shows the positive side of social media.

Yeah, and it shows a world not often portrayed in the news but is actually the reality most of the time. Were out riding bikes, drinking beers and getting along great. All the races are represented. All of the political ideologies are.  But good, honest people can get along just fine. It's the not so good and honest that can't do that.  Its refreshing in a time where hate and divisiveness gets so much attention.  

Couldn't agree more.
I found when I was staying in, not only being deprived from seeing friends and family, which I still am to some extent, but being cut off from society apart from seeing it through the eyes and ears of the media, that the world seemed a much darker place, because obviously 99.9% of news reported is bad news about bad things and bad people.
That's not real life, but I could see after a few months of being almost brainwashed it could seem so.
It just takes a few outings, albeit  limited ones, to get back into the swing of things.....people may be more restrained now, but they are still the same people, the overwhelming majority .....just like you and me.

[Syl]

Talk of a second lockdown on the way in England....seems we may have more time on our hands for foruming, especially with no long summer days to look forwards to now.

[Maddog]

Talk of a second lockdown on the way in England....seems we may have more time on our hands for foruming, especially with no long summer days to look forwards to now.  

You should go ride a bike. Its better for your mental and physical health than a forum anyway.

[Syl]

Talk of a second lockdown on the way in England....seems we may have more time on our hands for foruming, especially with no long summer days to look forwards to now.  

You should go ride a bike. Its better for your mental and physical health than a forum anyway.  

I used to ride a lot, then had knee trouble so stopped. I had the one knee replaced so I probably could ride again....oddly enough OH was looking at my bike in the garage this morning, apart from tyres and a few bits and bobs needed doing it still looks in good shape, marginally better than me now I think.

[Vintage]

I quite like staying in, I used to walk a lot but everywhere has now got so crowded its no pleasure anymore and my knees aren't so keen these days. I really don't like crowds, can't handle a lot of people in one place, especially if its noisy which it usually is these days and there's usually pushing and shoving to get past anywhere. I know I'm a miserable so and so - but I like it that way.

[Maddog]

You should go ride a bike. Its better for your mental and physical health than a forum anyway.  

I used to ride a lot, then had knee trouble so stopped. I had the one knee replaced so I probably could ride again....oddly enough OH was looking at my bike in the garage this morning, apart from tyres and a few bits and bobs needed doing it still looks in good shape, marginally better than me now I think.

It would probably do your knee some good.

Like I tell my mother, "use it or lose it".

[Ben Reilly]

I think forums are on their way out. Think of people under the age of 30; you think most of them have ever even heard of forums?

I actually miss the old internet, before Facebook and other social media took over. There used to be a number of quirky websites I visited often, and overall there was just much more of a Wild West feel than there is now. Other than this site, I never venture much further than Google, Amazon, Facebook and Wikipedia, outside of news organizations.

[eddie]

I like debate forums. People on Facebook are generally unwilling or unable to debate without getting upset.

[Syl]

I think forums are on their way out. Think of people under the age of 30; you think most of them have ever even heard of forums?

I actually miss the old internet, before Facebook and other social media took over. There used to be a number of quirky websites I visited often, and overall there was just much more of a Wild West feel than there is now. Other than this site, I never venture much further than Google, Amazon, Facebook and Wikipedia, outside of news organizations.

I hope forums will have a resurgence some day, they are a good place to debate with people from all walks of life, then, unlike real life, you can just unplug when people get on your nerves.

[Syl]

I used to ride a lot, then had knee trouble so stopped. I had the one knee replaced so I probably could ride again....oddly enough OH was looking at my bike in the garage this morning, apart from tyres and a few bits and bobs needed doing it still looks in good shape, marginally better than me now I think.

It would probably do your knee some good.

Like I tell my mother, "use it or lose it".

Lol......but maybe your mum has used it all up.

[Maddog]

It would probably do your knee some good.

Like I tell my mother, "use it or lose it".

Lol......but maybe your mum has used it all up.

Possible.

She's old school. Women don't sweat, work out and do stuff that hurts.

[Ben Reilly]

It would probably do your knee some good.

Like I tell my mother, "use it or lose it".

Lol......but maybe your mum has used it all up.

Possible.

She's old school. Women don't sweat, work out and do stuff that hurts.

Except, you know, doing stuff like giving birth to your fat ass.

I think you're talking shit, actually. In my experience, women tend to be more active than men. Or at least just as active.

[Syl]

Possible.

She's old school. Women don't sweat, work out and do stuff that hurts.

Except, you know, doing stuff like giving birth to your fat ass.

I think you're talking shit, actually. In my experience, women tend to be more active than men. Or at least just as active.

I agree that generally women are more active, they may not all actively do sports outside of the house, but when you think of bringing up babies, children, then parents, housework, gardening, cooking, cleaning, ironing, shopping, tending to others....maybe they don't have time to get the bike out.

[Maddog]

Possible.

She's old school. Women don't sweat, work out and do stuff that hurts.

Except, you know, doing stuff like giving birth to your fat ass.

I think you're talking shit, actually. In my experience, women tend to be more active than men. Or at least just as active.

Actually she adopted my fat ass.

My mother broke her hip a few years ago. She quit trying to walk and resigned herself to living in a wheelchair. The doctors told her it would require a great deal of repetitive work to walk, but it was possible. Hence the "move it or lose it" phrase.

Now, because she is in a wheelchair her body is atrophying. Age is in obviously a factor. But lack of movement is a bigger one. She is losing the use of her right arm. Lack of use is a factor.

And when I said women dont sweat and the like, I'm talking about her beliefs, not mine. She never exercised a day in her life, unless it was to make or do something. So when it came time for physical therapy, it was a foreign concept to her.

[Syl]

Except, you know, doing stuff like giving birth to your fat ass.

I think you're talking shit, actually. In my experience, women tend to be more active than men. Or at least just as active.

Actually she adopted my fat ass.

My mother broke her hip a few years ago. She quit trying to walk and resigned herself to living in a wheelchair.  The doctors told her it would require a great deal of repetitive work to walk, but it was possible. Hence the "move it or lose it" phrase.  

Now, because she is in a wheelchair her body is atrophying. Age is in obviously a factor. But lack of movement is a bigger one. She is losing the use of her right arm. Lack of use is a factor.  

And when I said women dont sweat and the like, I'm talking about her beliefs, not mine.  She  never exercised a day in her life, unless it was to make or do something. So when it came time for physical therapy, it was a foreign concept to her.

Oh I feel mean for laughing now.

[Maddog]

Actually she adopted my fat ass.

My mother broke her hip a few years ago. She quit trying to walk and resigned herself to living in a wheelchair.  The doctors told her it would require a great deal of repetitive work to walk, but it was possible. Hence the "move it or lose it" phrase.  

Now, because she is in a wheelchair her body is atrophying. Age is in obviously a factor. But lack of movement is a bigger one. She is losing the use of her right arm. Lack of use is a factor.  

And when I said women dont sweat and the like, I'm talking about her beliefs, not mine.  She  never exercised a day in her life, unless it was to make or do something. So when it came time for physical therapy, it was a foreign concept to her.

Oh I feel mean for laughing now.

Dont you remember my DNA thread on your forum?

You should try Ginko.

[Syl]

Oh I feel mean for laughing now.

Dont you remember my DNA thread on your forum?  

You should try Ginko.  

I do remember, I just forgot momentarily......and I dont need Ginko thank you.

[Maddog]

Dont you remember my DNA thread on your forum?  

You should try Ginko.  

I do remember, I just forgot momentarily......and I dont need Ginko thank you.

What's Ginko?

No harm, no foul.

Now go ride your bike.

[Syl]

I do remember, I just forgot momentarily......and I dont need Ginko thank you.

What's Ginko?

No harm, no foul.

Now go ride your bike.

I googled....my memory is OK.
My bike has flat tyres, I told you that,  did you forget?

[Maddog]

What's Ginko?

No harm, no foul.

Now go ride your bike.

I googled....my memory is OK.
My bike has flat tyres, I told you that,  did you forget?

I remembered. Tires go flat after about a month or two. You need to invest in a pump. Send your old man down to the store to get you one.

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