To wonder why some forums sort of ... grind to a halt?

[mytartanscarf]

I used to be a member of a very busy forum. It was pretty nice as although it was busy there was a sense of community as well.

It isn't dead but dying.

Then about 10 years ago when I did a PGCE I was a member of the TES forums and they used to be so busy; I've had a look for the first time in ages and ages and it's really quiet.

Will Mumsnet ever die? And what causes a forum death?

I'm another TES user who couldn't get to grips with the 'new improved format'. It was unusable and so user-unfriendly. I tried and tried, but eventually just stopped bothering. Such a shame.

I was on handbag then moved to talking point then Damsels got bored of that as it is so quiet amongst other reasons and now here

I used to love TES Opinion, there's nothing like it for debate on MN, although it could be a lot like the Monty Python argument sketch.

I think it was a bit of an embarrassment to TES though, especially with all the trolling and took a lot of work to moderate (especially with the no swearing policy, god it was great to come in MN and write fuck without having to fanny about with html codes or umlauts), so I think they were probably happy that the ridiculous refurbishment killed the forums off.

I only go on TES for resources now.

I loved I village . The child free by choice section was bonkers.

I stopped when I found mumsnet .

What basic facilities does MN lack, skylark?

I used to think it needed a quote function, but having got used to it, I think it's far better without one. TES used to be dreadful for massive posts that were quotes of quotes of quotes, with one line of new comment at the bottom. Definitely don't miss that.

I used to be a regular for years on minimins, a dieting forum. Stopped when I realised that dieting was just making me fat and obsessed. Dip into the kindle forum from time to time, it can be useful but is full of trolls. I used to post on a crusing forum but haven't been back for ages, no cruises booked and none planned.

I met DH 15 years ago on the old msn forums .... Joined confetti for a while for wedding planning (circa 2005) but felt it was dominated by one or two posters mainly lurked.

Been here ever since!

another ex BMC'er here - I loved that place

I used to be a Bounty girl - got banned sooooo many times for swearing that place is dead now - it's awful - because of a rubbish change in forums and bad heavy handed moderation

I was a bounty debates regular for year and years, loved it. Used to be so busy but it went downhill, lots of bullying then it died a death not sure what happened.

Another almost-ex Tesser here. I miss TES.

I was a prolific user of TES forums about 10 years ago too. They were great. I too think they ruined it on purpose.

I loved Bounty and ivillage. Got banned for posting a link to a breastfeeding leaflet produced by the Royal College of Midwives. The mod told me the leaflet was scaremongering and banned me.

I was also a member of a forum called 'toddler feeding weirdos'. Don't know what happened to that.

Ah it's nice to see so many DWers here. I think it's just become a bit difficult over there due to the technical issues although I truly hope it keeps going. It's still such a lovely community but probably not enough barneys due to the retirement of Nick several prolific posters and people just getting a bit more mellow in their old age.

I'm still there most days and can't imagine I'd find another forum where so many people are so kind and supportive when things go wrong. I guess it's because most people have been there since it started way back.

TracyBarlow I really hope it continues - it's been a pretty big part of my online life since 2003 (sad git that I am), and for may others a lot longer.

I do go on there most days, I have to admit I'm rarely a poster any more.

Another DW-er here...

I think forums change over time, personalities come and go and people's priorities change and that has an impact on readership and content. Also some forums are very 'of the time' and wouldn't be able to sustain long-term membership.

Another ex Tesser here. I do remember a huge spat Chesterton but there might have been more than one. The one I'm thinking of had something to do with names.

Hesterton - bloody autocorrect.

I went to the US I village site when they swallowed up women.com but never got into the uk one. It was totally decimated when prospero got hold of it and made it really unusable unless you paid a sub.

I used to be a frequent VIP poster on a shop linked forum, but they changed the format and it became so user unfriendly that users dropped like flies. Then the forum just vanished. I contacted admin to be told they had moved to twitter instead of having a chat forum - so they lost me as a member and a customer - and I wasn't the only one.

I also used to be a Bounty debates regular, but after the likes of ghostyslovesheep (If you are who I think you are ) left it got rather dull.

I was a super user of BnB, posted regularly for three years. Then they changed the format and I just couldn't any more. It was awful and the people I chatted to had all set up a Facebook group anyway (six years and still going) so I speak to them there and we have the odd meet up. Much better. I feel a bit sad though, as there are important years of my life on there. But all things pass.

My dad was conceived thanks to a sperm donations forum which has now gone due to dodgy donors and recipients.

Not dad DD!!