Smart phone friendlyness is a problem with all the boards I visit. Mostly, things are just too small with my iPhone, but I have posted from it! I haven't tried to do a picture yet, though. That would be a chore! :)
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Smart phone friendlyness is a problem with all the boards I visit. Mostly, things are just too small with my iPhone, but I have posted from it! I haven't tried to do a picture yet, though. That would be a chore! :)
I think there are many reasons why we lose suscribers here on FAOL. All the reasons stated so far are valid ones. I thiink the ones we have lost due to death are the ones that are the hardest for those of us left behind to deal with. FAOL is Family and when we lose family it hurts for a long time. I enjoy my time here and the friendship I've made here, I have a blast and enjoy the humor and knowledge shared here. I found this site by accident about six years ago, learned alot about tying flies and such but did not get into the BB until I retired. I just did not want another commitment involving a computer at the time. Now I really enjoy the time I spend here on the BB. Thanks for FAOL and the great folks here. Take care, John.
I think that in some cases, it is similar to the number of people who have mentioned that they don't subscribe to as many magazines as in the past. Repetition of articles/topics seemed to be one of the major reasons ( the internet probably being the biggest reason), so if I log on every day it gets a little repetitive on the topics so if I come back every couple of days there are a few more topics of interest to me. Not that there is anything wrong with repeating a topic, I know when I first logged on I am sure my questions had been asked before I became a member. I do know that unlike some of the other BB's I have been on, that FAOL forums usually have a new post every day in each forum, with the exception of the STOLEN forum (fortunately for all of us). That is what I like best about this site, there is a lot more participation than the others I have seen.
If I could, without offending anyone...
I have been around the board for a few years, and have found that FAOL is a lot like High School. There is a bit of cliqueishness that can be off-putting. Now, before the mega-posters hit me with the "you get back what you put in" stuff, let me tell you that I understand that. Like I said...like high school...you make friends when you try to make friends. I have more years in high school than I do on FAOL.
However, as with high schoool, new church, new neighborhood, etc. IT'S HARD TO MAKE FRIENDS AND BE PART OF THE IN-CLIQUE. People here try hard to be inclusive, but that is impossible with a group who has known each other for so long. Noobs don't get the inside jokes, heck, some of the newer ones don't even know who "HIMSELF" is. So they join, say hello, then lurk because they don't really feel as welcome as the old hands are with each other.
I know, that is the way I was. It took years for me to finally come out and post stuff, join swaps, etc. So many of you know so much, it can be kinda intimidating. Check my number of posts...see what I mean? I have been here a lot longer than some of the people who posted on this thread. I just didn't feel like I had anything to say...and now, even though I still feel that way, I say a little more. Some people don't. Some go to boards which are more local, where they can meet people outside the computer...sorry again for screwing that up MontanaMoose. I know, I know, there are fish-ins, and when I retire and have time off in September, I will go to one. But that is 25 years down the road.
Don't get me wrong, I have had great (and sucky) interactions with a lot of you. I have thouroughly enjoyed sharing stories, selling stuff, and trading with you all. I don't get offended by some of the offensive stuff which occasionally happens here...sometimes I agree with Nam AND Cold ;). J/K I have learned to take the small amount of bad with the tremendous good, and am happy to just float around the periphery, basking in the glow of the more enlightened and more senior posting members. I put my 2% in, as now, and then go back to lurking while logged in (if that isn't an oxymoron, I don't know what is.)
Back to your regularly scheduled thread postings
MAO
It's still a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist!!
I do quite a bit of reading but not a lot of posting. And I sometimes go a few weeks without logging in. Changes? Yes. A lot for the better. There's been a lot of talk about the technical part of the site, but I doubt that the tech stuff would discourage a visitor. And for that matter, it's not that hard to become a member of the site.
That being said, I can't imagine how difficult it is to keep this whole enterprise moving week after week after week. I remember looking forward to checking every week to see what new info Al Campbell had for me to read. I was always pleased when something new was in "Native Waters", later in "Hemlock Headwaters". Things come and things go. New ones aren't always better or worse, but they are different and many of us like to hang on to the old familiar stuff that we like, and are saddened when it's gone.
Sure there's a tendency to see "reruns" on the bulletin board after reading it for a number of years, and sporadically there are individuals who post comments or photos that tend to be redundant. (The rules say we need to be polite and respectful, being boring or a "newbie" is well within the guidelines.) But things come in cycles in that respect, and all seem to fix themselves. What I do appreciate, and have always liked about FAOL is that if you post an honest question, you'll undoubtedly recieve an honest, respectful answer, or an opinion that has been thought out. People on the BB always seem to be willing to share their experience with those of us who have less, and I've always been greatful for that. And I'll add that it's a place that I don't worry about my kids visiting....l
Thanks for everything, past and present.
Man, can ya feel the Wednesday love ppl ? To lurkers or ppl trying to make sense of it all and before turning away or to return to lurking, the best way to learn anything about anything is to ask questions, like: What do i do now that i have a flyrod?...or...Hello, my name is _________ and i think i want to become like you all....or...I tried casting but something is wrong and i was wondering....
To maodiver, man i gotta tell ya, i'm still on that trip and for what it's worth, i hope you don't wait 25 years because stuff happens. Yeah, i hear you about 'the clique'...they're terribly exclusive and selfish with their rhythm... :)
Cheers,
MontanaMoose