Anyone else notice that the forums seem dead lately?

chrstrbrts

Senior member
Aug 12, 2014
522
3
81
I'm a newcomer to computer science and ask questions on a regular basis, usually in the programming forum.

Though, lately, I've noticed that I'm not getting the responses that I used to.

In fact, some of my questions go entirely unanswered.

Maybe its me; that is, maybe my questions are just silly or stupid.

Have any of you noticed a drop in participation here?
 

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Or maybe they don't want to do homework... ;)

There are too many forum sections to keep track of, and for programming, I don't think AT has a big enough community for that.
 

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
Moderator
Dec 11, 1999
16,648
4,590
75
Or maybe your questions are getting more esoteric and harder to answer.
 

madoka

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2004
4,344
712
121
I know what's causing a lot of people to leave, but even mentioning it causes a ban to happen.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Have any of you noticed a drop in participation here?

Yes. Drop-offs in both participation and expertise. This forum began dying years ago and there's very little that can save it now. The whole fiasco with the forums software and the morons who are charged with maintaining the site now is a testament to just how much this is NOT a tech site.

But ATOT is still fun. I imagine a little like hanging out with your retired buddies drinking coffee down at McDonalds or Perkins every morning. You talk about everything and about nothing. But you don't talk much about work, because it just doesn't interest you any more.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Yes... That's probably why I just spent half an hour reading about Katie Ledecky on another forum. And it didn't really have anything to do with her swimming...
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
I think the revamp in forum software may steer more people away.

Yeah, new format is too busy. WAAAY too much stuff going on and too little actual information. Posts are spread out far too tall and there's too much space between responses. It's also too bright and is hard on the eyes after a few minutes.

And mobile is practically unusable. The ads take up half the screen and resize 3-4 times before you can actually click anything. It's pathetic.
 

Linux23

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
11,371
741
126
Yep noticed big time. It was great here years ago. OT is pretty dead when I can see the same thread at the top for days at a time.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
What TF happened to the forum software? Are we still on vB? I miss the Fusetalk days.