One of the answers I picked in the poll is that I have ideas on how to improve this forum...yeah, I'm that person.
I've been thinking on this for a couple of months, really...I've been noticing less and less participation from a lot of the regulars that used to be very active in here, and while I can totally understand busy lives and all of that, it's also been sad to see the state of the forum without them. A lot of us can remember far better times within the Single's Forum...and a lot of us seem to wish it was "better" now...but not a lot of us know how to change it, nor are there a lot who seem willing to bother with it. And that's all fine, too. I get it. There's like, real life and stuff happening out there.
But that's one of the main things I think would improve the forum- greater participation from regulars. Whether that's by starting threads, or by responding to existing ones more often...either way, it's difficult to discuss topics with people when not very many people are around to discuss topics. I don't mean to say that those who ARE active in here aren't contributing worthwhile posts and threads, it's just that it's a whoooole lot different around here than it used to be, a lot slower, and a lot less of the supportive and postive stuff that there used to be. Or am I just imagining that it used to be that way in here?
Obviously, we can't force our MIA regulars to get their behinds back in here and jumpstart the forum. So I have no solution to this particular problem.
Some of the ideas I've had to try and help in here...well, one of them has been implemented, but it's not really doing anything- the welcome thread for newbies. I had hoped that it would maybe draw in more new people and make them feel like they could stick around and actually join in threads, buuuuut....well, we know how well that's worked. I expect it to be slow, but...yowch.
I'm really hesitant to try any other ideas or even discuss them...I feel silly, now, sort of like...maybe I'm the only one around here who really feels strongly enough about this place to think up how to try and improve it (though this thread proves otherwise, so yay for not being the only one!). I guess it's just frustrating, a lot of people come here and get attached to the place and say it's like a safe haven or escape or whatever else for them, but then...they kinda scatter when the place needs a little TLC.