Missing Members

[Iota]

Don't worry...I've returned as well, but I probably won't post as frequently as have in the past.

If this is indeed MI back again, welcome back. Good to see you around.

[Harry]

When I see all the Birthdays coming up on GMG, so many members haven't been online for years, and so many registered but never became participants. And those that I know, disappeared in the mists of the past, never to return. It keeps me wondering how many active members GMG really has. And the age issue is also a thing to worry about, many oldtimers, but the young generation are in the minority. I hope Rob stays committed to this site!
Just December thoughts, that's all.

[Vox Maris]

I won't lie (why would I?), but @Harry brings up a good point: the membership here on GMG has really dwindled down through the years. It's starting to share some characteristics with a forum I was a member of more than a decade ago called Bright Cecilia. It would be at least a week or even longer before someone responded to one of your questions on that forum. As a result of members not responding or leaving altogether, that forum became nothing more than a distant memory. If GMG does not bring in new membership, then it's going to suffer the same fate. This isn't just an opinion, but rather an observation based on experience.

[Karl Henning]

I won't lie (why would I?), the membership here on GMG has really dwindled down through the years. It's starting to share some characteristics with a forum I was a member of more than a decade ago called Bright Cecilia. It would be at least a week or even longer before someone responded to one of your questions on that forum. As a result of non-committal members, this forum became nothing more than a distant memory. If GMG does not bring in new membership, then it's going to suffer the same fate. This isn't opinion just an opinion, but rather an observation based on experience.

The more missing members there are, the more forum hangs on by a thread.

The predictions of GMG's demise (complete with the pontific "This isn't opinion" by one who suggests he himself will participate less, at a time when the board does not lack for activity is, shall we say, peculiar. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they only one disgruntled fellow's fantasies?

[hopefullytrusting]

The predictions of GMG's demise (complete with the pontific "This isn't opinion" by one who suggests he himself will participate less, at a time when the board does not lack for activity is, shall we say, peculiar. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they only one disgruntled fellow's fantasies?

I think GMG should be a case study of forum persistence. Essentially every other forum I have been a part of exists only in the wayback machine, or is a paltry shell of itself. GMG, from my perspective, is still fairly vibrant.

[Vox Maris]

The predictions of GMG's demise (complete with the pontific "This isn't opinion" by one who suggests he himself will participate less, at a time when the board does not lack for activity is, shall we say, peculiar. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they only one disgruntled fellow's fantasies?

My decision to contribute less has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made, because I'm still contributing and so are you and several others, but for how long? This is the crux of what I'm saying. I haven't seen any new membership and the ones that I have seen over the years that have weighed in on some discussions are mostly gone with a few of them still hanging around. I see so many introductory threads that don't go beyond those threads. What can you, myself and others do to get more people involved?

I'm certainly not wanting to see GMG go anywhere, but the facts are the facts in this instant and difficult to ignore. Anyway, I read @Harry's post and it got me to thinking. Sorry for relying my thoughts here, I guess I should tread more carefully in the future.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

In order to study a relationship/causation, we need to see more than 100 cases, including 50 music sites with decreased membership and other 50 sites with increased membership. Possibly there maybe a relationship if and only if more than 80 percent of the former group closed AND more than 80 percent of the latter group remain active. 90 percent, better criterion.

[Karl Henning]

I think GMG should be a case study of forum persistence. Essentially every other forum I have been a part of exists only in the wayback machine, or is a paltry shell of itself. GMG, from my perspective, is still fairly vibrant.

Indeed. Is the membership less than it was? Sure. Is the level of activity less than earlier peaks? also true. These, we stipulate, are not opinion. Another datum which is not opinion: GMG is a place to which people wish and elect to return, including @Vox Maris by the way.

[Harry]

I was just venting some thoughts, that came up. Remember that I have been on this site for a long time, and have seen more than a few things, passing by. No need to get all in feathers about this. I am just worried about the future in regards to GMG.

[Brian]

The day before @Harry's excellent post, I received a very nice letter from an old friend on another discussion forum where I was a regular. I have 19,000 posts there. That forum is about baseball. It is dying so literally, there is now a whole "In Memoriam" subforum for all the regulars who have died.

I think that speaks to the most important point. Discussion forums are an old-fashioned way of communicating. Younger people may be having these same conversations on Reddit, Bluesky, Facebook, maybe there is a classical music Tiktok scene, I don't know    But it is just true that the "forum" software specifically skews older. I grew up with them and was a regular at many, and GMG is still the most active.

Luckily I'm OK with ignoring trends and being uncool, because this means of communication has been so valuable to my life  but we are seeing the bigger effects of changes in how people communicate, not a trend that is limited to us only.

[Spotted Horses]

My decision to contribute less has absolutely nothing to do with the point I made, because I'm still contributing and so are you and several others, but for how long? This is the crux of what I'm saying. I haven't seen any new membership and the ones that I have seen over the years that have weighed in on some discussions are mostly gone with a few of them still hanging around. I see so many introductory threads only that simply don't go beyond those threads. What can you, myself and others do to get more people involved?

I'm certainly not wanting to see GMG go anywhere, but the facts are the facts in this instant and difficult to ignore. Anyway, I read @Harry's post and it got me to thinking. Sorry for relying my thoughts here, I guess I should tread more carefully in the future.

I don't think there is any factual basis for the forum's supposed decline. When this came up a few months ago I looked at a typical day in the "listening" thread at the current time and as far back as I could pull the "listening" thread up, five years ago. Current time: 55 posts were made by 23 distinct members during 24 hours. Five years ago: 66 posts by 21 distinct member. The amount of activity and number of posters contributing has not changed substantially over 5 years. If I could pull up a really old listening thread that would be another interesting comparison.

I was concerned for the forum future a few months ago when the registration process was broken. It appears to be fixed now and I have noticed the usual trickle of new members.

The forum continues to be about 1/3 of the size of the big alternative. I find there is some benefit to that. I get more "likes" there but it is more anonymous in my experience, I get more conversation here.

[Karl Henning]

I don't think there is any factual basis for the forum's supposed decline. When this came up a few months ago I looked at a typical day in the "listening" thread at the current time and as far back as I could pull the "listening" thread up, five years ago. Current time: 55 posts were made by 23 distinct members during 24 hours. Five years ago: 66 posts by 21 distinct member. The amount of activity and number of posters contributing has not changed substantially over 5 years. If I could pull up a really old listening thread that would be another interesting comparison.

I was concerned for the forum future a few months ago when the registration process was broken. It appears to be fixed now and I have noticed the usual trickle of new members.

The forum continues to be about 1/3 of the size of the big alternative. I find there is some benefit to that. I get more "likes" there but it is more anonymous in my experience, I get more conversation here.

And indeed the conversation/fellowship is for me very much the point. Well, also things like @Que reminding me of the Telemann Grand Concerti.

[Que]

And indeed the conversation/fellowship is for me very much the point. Well, also things like @Que reminding me of the Telemann Grand Concerti.

And people returning the favour! 

The diversity in musical tastes and inspiring choices is the main benefit of participating here.

And you meet some realy nice people!    And a few that are not so nice...  

[André]

The conversation (even when it's short comments) is a big plus. Also, most of the time it is on the positive side. A couple of snarky comments pop up here and there, but people mostly get along while acknowledging differences of tastes and opinions.

I'm always curious and grateful to learn about new music, new discs, new interpretations and GMG delivers in spades !

[Madiel]

Quantity of members is only one metric.

Besides, we do get new contributors from time to time. Some of them stay. Some of them even come BACK.

[Vox Maris]

The conversation (even when it's short comments) is a big plus. Also, most of the time it is on the positive side. A couple of snarky comments pop up here and there, but people mostly get along while acknowledging differences of tastes and opinions.

I'm always curious and grateful to learn about new music, new discs, new interpretations and GMG delivers in spades !

Some of us here don't get along too well with some members, but this is because there isn't an effort to want to get along, but instead veiled insults at my expense. I've tried to extend an olive branch and so often it gets chopped off.

But I do agree with you for the most part, @André. I've had many wonderful conversations with you, Jeffrey, Kyle, Cesar et. al. over the years and this is one reason as to why I returned.

[Vox Maris]

I do hope that @Symphonic Addict returns and @North Star as well. It is rather lovely to see @Luke posting again. Such a lovely chap and someone I used to enjoy arguing with about Martinů recordings.

[Luke]

...maybe there is a classical music Tiktok scene, I don't know 

TikToch?

Or Le Tic-Toc-Choc, named after Couperin's fingertwister?