The Inactive Funk

Apologies in advance if you find this thread depressing.

I've recently cut back a lot on my posts per day. I did this without realizing, and I'm beginning to question what has caused my lack of activity.
I haven't been here for very long at all, yet within the first month of my registration, my activity was at a good standard - more or less 25 posts per day. I enjoyed the forum a lot, and loved the interaction, debates, and overall vibe.

I still like ForumKorner, but more recently, I feel that the energy of the site has dulled, and it may be the reason that I find myself lurking 90% of the time. I feel that the only reason I am still here is to make money from my services, co-lead my groups, and to keep up with forum events - the social aspect is dimming. With the recent departure of a handful of veterans, Jason resigning, and the sale of some of the most prestigious user groups, the site has definitely taken a turn for the worst. People may argue that the activity statistics are unchanged, or higher, but those are just numbers to me, and I don't believe that they accurately reflect on the vibrance of our forum. In my eyes, the threads of late just aren't worth the effort. Two months ago, I'd be giving my input to almost everything that I clicked on, I guess times have changed.

You've barely been here for 5 months and yet you speak like you're a veteran.

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I'm definitely aware that I'm not an old timer on this forum, but I wouldn't say I'm fresh off the block either. I'm unsure of whether or not it is me, or the forum itself, but there is definitely a stale taste in the air compared to when I first joined.
If anybody feels the same, or can guide me out of this inactive funk, feel free to post your input. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this predicament.

It's been dead socially wise, even in the group sub-foruns which is why I decided to make a thread where we're just fucking around.

I am sort of in the same boat as you to be honest. I feel like some activity has changed, especially in sales. It's nearly impossible for me to sell a few of the things that I do have, whereas I used to mention something once, and have users on me like pirañas. But I would also like to be brought out of this haze as well man. I would suggest just making your own threads more often, rather than just answering questions and whatnot.

Lol, I just realized that you are 5 months old. Lol. I remember when you fit in my arms and had your first initiation thread.

Shift said:

It's been dead socially wise, even in the group sub-foruns which is why I decided to make a thread where we're just fucking around.

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You're right about the sub-forums. I think that there are too many groups for the amount of active users we have. If we cut back on the excess of groups, I think there would be more activity in the ones that remained. More activity in fewer groups is better than no activity in many.

On the topic of the social aspect, it is most definitely dying.
The threads of today are either market related, scam reports, or S&T in bad taste/not funny. There are very rarely any worthy discussions to post in.

Poison said:

I am sort of in the same boat as you to be honest. I feel like some activity has changed, especially in sales. It's nearly impossible for me to sell a few of the things that I do have, whereas I used to mention something once, and have users on me like pirañas. But I would also like to be brought out of this haze as well man. I would suggest just making your own threads more often, rather than just answering questions and whatnot.

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I can't quite relate to you in regard to sales threads. I have never really owned enough 'stock' to consider myself active in the marketplace. It's a little ironic considering I found this forum when looking for a Tumblr URL.
I do enjoy writing my own threads. It's quite a nice feeling to create a discussion, or to showcase something. I've written quite a lot to be honest, many of which are still stuck in my drafts folder.

Jamil said:

Lol, I just realized that you are 5 months old. Lol. I remember when you fit in my arms and had your first initiation thread.

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I remember it like it was yesterday. Time flies.

And, I would also like to add that A LOT of the forum now is all about popularity. I sometimes feel like a ghost on here even though I work my butt off to be as helpful as I can be, while other users like yourself (astro), Michael, shift, or even chill for that matter, get all the attention from basically doing nothing. I don't think the join date should matter about how people know you. And I'm not saying you do anything at all astro because you're known for something people look for, but I am just trying to make an example. Popularity runs high within the forums, and it's kind of an unfair advantage for users who try to be known as someone helpful or interesting.

I have to agree with you, OP. FK just seems so boring now. The feel of FK is not anywhere near the same as it was months back.

Dec 2013 was when fk was at its height tbh.

Poison said:

And, I would also like to add that A LOT of the forum now is all about popularity. I sometimes feel like a ghost on here even though I work my butt off to be as helpful as I can be, while other users like yourself (astro), Michael, shift, or even chill for that matter, get all the attention from basically doing nothing. I don't think the join date should matter about how people know you. And I'm not saying you do anything at all astro because you're known for something people look for, but I am just trying to make an example. Popularity runs high within the forums, and it's kind of an unfair advantage for users who try to be known as someone helpful or interesting.

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You are most certainly right. The forum has unfortunately succumbed to social hierarchy, where the popular are recognised, and those that aren't go under the radar. I am grateful to have a talent for graphics, as it propelled my social status above others, and helped me get a name for myself in such a short time. It's sad to see users like yourself, who are most definitely of no lesser quality to me, not get recognised to the same level that I do.

The majority of our modern society is in a similar situation, on a much larger scale. Some people have to work a lot harder than others to get noticed for their qualities. Whether it be due to financial status, family name, or the people you have connections with, a lot of people have an unfair advantage on the average person. It's a dog eat dog world.

JohnnyG said:

I have to agree with you, OP. FK just seems so boring now. The feel of FK is not anywhere near the same as it was months back.

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Completely agree with you. The motive to post/be active is diminishing. Perhaps it's time to take a break.

Lame123 said:

Dec 2013 was when fk was at its height tbh.

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I registered in in late December, so I must have missed out. I remember the first thread that I created, which was asking about username changes, had over 10 helpful replies within 15 minutes.
If a new user posted that now, you'd see them get neg repped for not searching past threads.

Poison said:

And, I would also like to add that A LOT of the forum now is all about popularity. I sometimes feel like a ghost on here even though I work my butt off to be as helpful as I can be, while other users like yourself (astro), Michael, shift, or even chill for that matter, get all the attention from basically doing nothing. I don't think the join date should matter about how people know you. And I'm not saying you do anything at all astro because you're known for something people look for, but I am just trying to make an example. Popularity runs high within the forums, and it's kind of an unfair advantage for users who try to be known as someone helpful or interesting.

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I help new members as long as they treat me with respect, you can't always see it since most of it is through PM or AIM, I guess that's one of the reasons I'm" popular". I'm not even close to being a veteran, I've only been here for 9 months, it's just that I'm active and I give back to the community a lot.