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rdgrad15
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Default Apr 25, 2021 at 10:32 AM
  #21
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Originally Posted by AceRimmer View Post
I have never posted here much so I would not notice if this place is dying. But others are. I began posting in the MSN avoidant forum over a decade ago. It had to move twice and ended up on bigtent - that is dying at the end of this year. POOF! Gone. No one has been there is a year anyway. But I looked and have many old posts there. I tried to contact the mod - I nicknamed her Flipper. Nothing. Flipper, where are you?
Sadly they are dying. I used to be on Experience Project but that got banned for good. I'm also on Recover Your Life but I barely post there since no one really responds. It's also going under I believe. This forum is still going strong, but the name did change recently. It used to be called Psych Central but now it's My Support Forums. But I agree, online forums are dying. And those that are still around tend to be filled with hateful and judgmental people. That's my experience on RYL. Here, I can get some very good advice, on RYL, it is just people judging and saying hateful things.
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Default Apr 25, 2021 at 11:00 AM
  #22
yea lots of forums are gone now. speaking only from this past year many have closed or been sold and renamed due to financial struggles to keep them going. what we may see as a free online forum, isnt so free for forum creators. most have to pay for their "domain" servers and software, especially if they want to expand and keep the site free for their members theres also ads and the cost of running ads and promoting the sites.

covid has shut down many peoples abilities to have the finances needed to keep an online forum going. this past year alone has tested people to unimaginable lengths financially. some have had to make the hard choice to close or sell parts or all of their sites.

we here at psych central aka my support forums that doc john was able to work with the buyers of psych central so that the forums could be separated from the whole psych central website so that we still have this forum to come to.

many forums are not that lucky. i know of at least 15-20 online forums that got sold and or closed down completely this past year of covid (corona virus shut downs around the world)
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Default Apr 25, 2021 at 11:28 AM
  #23
It seems like, on this site, it was more active in the past than it is now. Around now it has ups and downs, but mostly downs (inactive). I guess the explanation I can come up with is because of the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, Tweeter, and social mobile apps. I would guess that the majority of people who use online forums now may be on the older spectrum.

There were two other sites I went on a few years ago or so and they have been long gone. One was called "No Kidding" which was for child-free people. It was pretty good at first but then certain ones had to push their controversial agendas. And they would get all mean if you disagreed with them. And then there was "Meet Christians". As you might guess, it was for Christians. But that one went down because of excessive arguing and lack of participation. Both those sites were pretty good, but went bad at the end.

Also there are some news outlets that let you comment. Lately, quite a few of those stopped having the comments. I guess it's because the writers couldn't take the heavy criticisms they got. Also there are articles online that have comments. But they don't get much participation.
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Default Apr 25, 2021 at 07:01 PM
  #24
I think Facebook groups are popular because so many of them have major drama going on, pretty frequently. Moderation is often absent or poor - or the mods are actively involved in the drama. This forum requires respect and little or no drama. How boring, right

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Default Apr 27, 2021 at 06:01 PM
  #25
I just noticed that the Yahoo forum will go out around May which is next month. I just found that out.
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Default Apr 30, 2021 at 01:55 AM
  #26
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Originally Posted by will19 View Post
It seems like, on this site, it was more active in the past than it is now. Around now it has ups and downs, but mostly downs (inactive). I guess the explanation I can come up with is because of the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, Tweeter, and social mobile apps. I would guess that the majority of people who use online forums now may be on the older spectrum.
I think the other factor is the name change from Psychcentral to Mysupportforums. I remember I found this forum when I googled for mental illness help and PC was the top on the search. Now if we tried it again, Mysupportforums is not even in the first page. That name is quite well known.

I still hope this forum would not die. I love this place...
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Default Apr 30, 2021 at 02:24 AM
  #27
I hope it won’t die, too, I’ve learned so much in the last few months.
I quit Facebook because of the drama (not to mention so many people have just plain entitled and abusive attitudes there...)
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Default Apr 30, 2021 at 03:33 PM
  #28
I too hope this place sticks around as I just came back from a long hiatus. So glad to see these forums are still here.

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Default Apr 30, 2021 at 04:33 PM
  #29
Yes, they need to advertise the new name!
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Default May 01, 2021 at 07:02 PM
  #30
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Originally Posted by Travelinglady View Post
Yes, they need to advertise the new name!

Definitely! I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't even know this site is online.

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Default May 02, 2021 at 01:32 PM
  #31
There are a couple of small forums I visit that target particular interests of mine. They are well run forums with supportive memberships. But they're privately owned. And there's a constant drumbeat for donations. Sometimes they achieve their monthly donation goals. But often it seems they don't. So I always wonder just how long they'll be able to keep going, although it does appear they seem to keep moving along... at least so far.

I used to be very active here when the forums were still a part of Psych Central. But, since the changeover, I seem to find less-&-less that is of interest or that I feel I have anything useful to contribute to. Occasionally I'll rip through the Games forum. But I can only do that once in a while. Otherwise it becomes simply a bore.

One thing I have noticed, with these other forums I mentioned, is that on each one there seems to be a core membership who've been on the forum for a long time & have gotten to know each other well. It can be very tough to break into that circle & become anything beyond "just another newbie".

Last edited by Skeezyks; May 02, 2021 at 01:47 PM..
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Default May 08, 2021 at 03:40 PM
  #32
I hope forums do continue to exist. I used to have an account with facebook but i only used it to post some pictures. I hardly used it.
What i like about the forums, is that it is a community.
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Default May 08, 2021 at 07:02 PM
  #33
This makes me so sad! I love forums and was hesitant to even join this one. But it still seems pretty active.
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Smile May 11, 2021 at 01:55 PM
  #34
@Insomnium Not to worry. We shall overcome...
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Default Jun 16, 2021 at 02:46 AM
  #35
Yes, I've seen some online mental health forums die (or become ghost towns) over the recent five years. I used to be a regular on one called MDJunction. Even a moderator there. That was quite busy and had a vibrant and supportive community on their bipolar forum. Then gradually "root" members started to leave. Yes, sometimes for reasons unrelated to the website, but more often for reasons because of it. Once "root" members leave, there is often a void which creates an avalanche effect. Or if the forum is not properly moderated, potential members never sign on fully. Yes, the moderation itself can be a big problem. It is complex to deal with personalities. Ones who have mood disorders may be especially so.

When an online forum has too few ACTIVE posters (or has perceived "cliques"), or ones who give little support, why would a potential member join in? You might see well over 100 people viewing a forum, but only maybe 10 members regularly post. And of the 10, some only seek support and rarely give it. And sometimes new members don't even get enough support. Again, mental health issues can make people sensitive. Feeling neglected is common. Once there is neglect, the acquisition success ends.

I know of a couple online forums where the website owner was a bit to blame. Of course they rarely think that. One example was CrazyMeds. Used to have a very popular forum, but that is gone. At least some of the useful info the owner created is still utilized.

Like everything in corporate America, there are fewer and fewer of certain categories of services. The big ones get bigger and bigger. I do sometimes go to Reddit. It's not bad and is fairly vibrant, but it's not the same kind of community that Psych Central and the former MDJunction were. There's no "family" or "friends" feel at those big forums. Things get colder and colder. That's not a healthy environment for people with mental health needs.

When I first saw this thread, I decided not to participate. But today I felt compelled to. I have cared about all of the forums I visited in the past, and many members in them.
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Default Jul 12, 2021 at 04:31 PM
  #36
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I think Facebook groups are popular because so many of them have major drama going on, pretty frequently. Moderation is often absent or poor - or the mods are actively involved in the drama. This forum requires respect and little or no drama. How boring, right

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Default Aug 12, 2021 at 09:33 PM
  #37
Let's be honest: The whole concept of an Online Forums where there are a thousand other people struggling with mental health issues can be a daunting thing. Feeling like opening up, and getting started on the forums, can take awhile.

There's the chance that vulnerable people can be hurt more deeply by some bad behaviours, and if they receive that on another (not this) forum, it's unlikely they'll take a chance on another site. Who wants to get hurt, over and over again? It happened to me, and I was exceedingly wary when I first arrived here, after experiencing some disturbing stuff (that was not handled well by the Mod team) on another site.

It left its mark.

Turtle Rider, you made a valid point about the name change from Psych Central to MySupportForums. It's good that they have at least kept many of the same features that make this a safe place to share.

I do drop in and out of here; sometimes I'm gone for months on end. But I am always relieved to see it's still active and functioning well, & still helping people, when I return. And happy to see some of the same old faces, and feel welcomed back.

And, Skeezyks; I am always a little hesitant taking on newbies because I've been burned a few times. But they do get a fair shake from older members here, if they're honest and willing to try and help themselves, I think. It takes awhile for many people to get over deep trust issues. I know it has, for me. It takes tremendous courage to bare your soul to people, and tenacity and a kind of strength that not everyone has, at first, or even consistently and predictably.

People leave or stop posting because much of what is shared is repetitive, by its very nature. That kind of goes along with the scene.

Just some thoughts on the topic.

Last edited by MuseumGhost; Aug 12, 2021 at 09:45 PM..
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Default Aug 16, 2021 at 10:47 AM
  #38
I noticed that too, I was a member of Webkinz Insider Forum and it used to be super active, but now it literally doesn't exist anymore. I love forums so I hope that at least this one doesn't die.
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Default Aug 18, 2021 at 01:59 PM
  #39
My Support Forums is pretty darned active! I don't think it will close down any time soon. Especially, since it was created out of another site being taken over.

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Default Aug 18, 2021 at 02:27 PM
  #40
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I hope it won’t die, too, I’ve learned so much in the last few months.
I quit Facebook because of the drama (not to mention so many people have just plain entitled and abusive attitudes there...)

THere are FORUMS on Facebook? Where????

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