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Original poster

Have you been part of an online group or forum that just died?

210 replies

Chicchicchicchiclana · 04/01/2021 19:42

I was just looking at my neighbourhood forum this evening (not on FB) and it used to be really lively, lots of posts, sometimes quite amusing. It was started in something like 2007 so quite early in the timeline of these things.

Sadly now I think it's about to go to that great Forum in the sky. I can't put my finger on why it has become so deathly dull. Combination of some people posting too much (so it makes you roll your eyes that old so and so is dominating every thread), and I guess WhatsApp and FB groups for those who prefer them. Also a marked lack of interest from the Admin, who I think is a one man band, to doing anything other than the bare minimum with the Forum.

I remember Friends Reuinited and how popular it was and then ... pffft!

OP posts:
Alfaix · 05/01/2021 07:58

Another ex hitcher / DWer here.

twilightcafe · 05/01/2021 08:04

Wasted many hours on Popbitch. A few posters have resurfaced on totp Twitter threads.

BogRollBOGOF · 05/01/2021 08:06

Prior to MN, I used a couple attached to magazines. FB pages and groups killed them off. One more rapidly after a redesign that was a massive backwards step in functionality.

DownUdderer · 05/01/2021 08:37

YNAB had a great forum, then they completely changed it and I couldn't figure it out. It was supportive and friendly and kind. People had diaries you could read and comment on. People were drowning in debt and struggling to overcome it and I just loved it. It was so helpful and changed how I viewed money and finances for life. It's changed our lives for the better. It was just fascinating as well. I could happily read on there for a couple of hours!

Cliqued · 05/01/2021 09:00

@Mmpher

I bet you’re talking about the EDF!
My first thought too.

Waves to OP! Louisa is that you? Wink

Soutiner · 05/01/2021 09:52

I’ve just remembered Chavscum. That was the funniest forum but it got taken down. It came back in a very watered down version which was rubbish.

Skade · 05/01/2021 10:01

I used to love Bad Mothers Club and UKParents - still in touch with some of the people I met on there. DS1 is 22 and DS2 20 now so it must have been around 1999-early 2000s - amazing to think the internet has been around that long now!

FireUnderpants · 05/01/2021 10:33

I used to be on Bounty far too much. From there I was in a Facebook 'due in' group. The support was invaluable during pregnancy. Once we had all had our babies it quickly become apparent that was all most of us had in common. Then there was bullying towards a group from the original Bounty group and a few were vile so I left in a flounce.

I was almost an admin on a pet forum. The person that was given it over me ruined it. Instead of chat with different and new ideas thrown about, she drew up files and her way was the only way. If anyone asked anything they were directed to the specific file. We couldn't contradict the file. If anyone new joined with a question they were directed to the file.

DennisTMenace · 05/01/2021 10:52

Facebook are actively trying to kill off some of my groups due to language. Gardening group can't say weed or hoe. Dogs group can't say bitch. Cooking group can't say fat or fatty. It's getting ridiculous! Bind weed is not a euphemism for cannabis, it's just strangling my flowers.

sweetleftfoot · 05/01/2021 11:18

I spent hours on a Brixton based forum called Urban75 I think, it was brilliant. I especially remember the London bombings 2005 and getting live updates from people caught up in it. Had some excellent posters on there. Haven't even checked if it's still around

6demandingchildren · 05/01/2021 11:21

eBay community forums for me mainly the nags head, had many laughs there, loads of trolling but you sort of knew who was doing it most of the time, I still have a few of the greats on Facebook and they still brighten my day.
I see some names on here sometimes that make me think that they were also in the nags.

EmmaStone · 05/01/2021 11:34

Also a Hitcher/DWer here. I've got a few members as FB friends, but didn't want to join the FB spin off as value my anonymity. But I miss it, I do wonder what's happening now to some of them.

user1471565182 · 05/01/2021 11:52

I got a month long ban on facebook for posting a photo of stalin on a history group.

user1471565182 · 05/01/2021 11:52

well it was near a month, cant remember exactly how long

notafanoftheman · 05/01/2021 11:57

@SwedishEdith the Guardian chat forums migrated to justthetalk.com and are still going strong

KatnissNeverdone · 05/01/2021 12:03

I was on the forum for Mother and Baby magazine when DS was born (2005). I think it amalgamated with Pregnancy & Birth and became Askamum. Can't remember what happened, think it was a big fall out between some members and a mass exodus to a group someone set up.

Soutiner · 05/01/2021 12:16

@6demandingchildren

eBay community forums for me mainly the nags head, had many laughs there, loads of trolling but you sort of knew who was doing it most of the time, I still have a few of the greats on Facebook and they still brighten my day. I see some names on here sometimes that make me think that they were also in the nags.
Did you know Gemma? She was scatty and VERY sown to earth and was hilarious!

My memory is a bit misty but there was a huge falling out over some woman who lost a massive amount of weight and then died? Then it turned out she hadn’t died or had a fake name or something terrible that a lot were up in arms about?!

DarlingWithoutYou · 05/01/2021 12:25

Oh this thread! Made for me, since message boards shaped my life.

First up - gingerbeer. It was a forum for lesbians and was outrageously busy from 2001-2010. The vast majority of my friends are from there. We all migrated to Facebook and the site died a sad death not long after.

Next - BabyAndBump - 2009-2011. It was a HUGE site at the time and so busy, it filled a gap left by Gingerbeer and I loved it. I was also on the natural parenting section, cloth nappies etc. Me and my chums moved over to a secret Facebook group and never went back- there's 7 of us who had our babies at the same time and we're still in contact, though not as much these days.

Finally, - Hitched! I was only on there for about 6 months in 2015 (that's how long I was engaged for!) but I made some cracking friends. We switched over to a Facebook secret group too and I never went back! We all still chat pretty much daily and despite living all over the UK we've met up a few times too.

Original poster
Chicchicchicchiclana · 05/01/2021 14:06

HaHa! @Cliqued and Mpher. Amazing that it should be so recognisable Grin. And, no, I promise I'm not Louisa.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chicchicchicchiclana · 05/01/2021 14:07

Don't you agree though?

OP posts:
RosieLemonade · 05/01/2021 14:48

This reply has been deleted

This post has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

RosieLemonade · 05/01/2021 14:48

Oops didn’t realise we weren’t allowed to mention a certain site. My apologies.

icelollycraving · 05/01/2021 15:00

Oooh I missed what you wrote! Was it scandalous?!

SwedishEdith · 05/01/2021 15:05

[quote notafanoftheman]@SwedishEdith the Guardian chat forums migrated to justthetalk.com and are still going strong[/quote]
Oh. Didn't know that - thanks

TotorosFurryBehind · 05/01/2021 15:09

I'd guess that people have moved to a WhatsApp group and you were not in the in crowd that was invited.

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