Is it just me or is everything getting too quiet in this site?

Cantholdmyrage · Aug 09, 2024, 02:46 PM

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but during the past week or so, everything’s getting too quiet. Right now, there’s only about four people in this site.

It’s very confusing to me. When I first signed in, the place was buzzing. Now it’s like a deserted town. Does anyone else relate?

bluekoi · Aug 10, 2024, 11:03 AM

Personally, I find during summertime the site is slower. Same thing in real life, indoor places just seem less busy as people spend more time outside. Fall is right around the corner.

MuddyBoots · Aug 10, 2024, 12:22 PM

Yeah. I think there was a study saying mental health is poorest around the summer and winter solstices and we're kinda in between the two so maybe that has something to do with it (if people are experiencing less symptoms, they're less likely to look for support).

nonightowl · Aug 10, 2024, 12:48 PM

To me it isn’t seasonal. It’s not just you. I’ve been on here since 2008 and it has lost a LOT of activity. Hence I don’t spend as much time here or come as often. Certain forums like Current Events were busy as heck. There’s also less activity on the weekends. It’s really disheartening to me because this site used to sustain me well and I spent hours a week on it at one time.

———
Sent from my iPhone 📱

Travelinglady · Aug 10, 2024, 02:44 PM

There are definitely fewer people here since the name change, I think.

MuddyBoots · Aug 10, 2024, 02:55 PM

Overall, yeah, the site's died down over the years. There are shorter term ebbs and flows though (probably based on how many people are manic or not haha, bipolar check-in got crazy recently between at least 3 of us)

SquarePegGuy · Aug 10, 2024, 09:14 PM

Hi @Cantholdmyrage, I agree. I think it's what @bluekoi wrote about how the site is slower in summertime. I found this to be true on all the other message boards I've been on.

But I remember being overwhelmed by new posts when I first joined. It's not like that at all now, which I'm a bit grateful for because I tend to get obsessed with sites like these.

lizardlady · Aug 11, 2024, 08:23 AM

@Cantholdmyrage, it's not you. The site is a lot quieter than it used to be. I hope bluekoi is right and it's because it is summer time. This place was a powerful source of support when I really needed it. It hurts to see what's happening.

Does anyone have any ideas for solutions? I've tried posting topics I thought would stimulate discussion. For the most part I only got a few replies. I got discouraged and gave up.

Discombobulated · Aug 11, 2024, 09:01 AM

I think it’s been getting quieter for the last few years definitely. I think it coincided with becoming MSF from Psych Central. I wonder if it’s because there was a lot of traffic came through the Psych Central mental health articles.

I think forums in general have declined, whatever they are for.

MuddyBoots · Aug 11, 2024, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I think it’s been getting quieter for the last few years definitely. I think it coincided with becoming MSF from Psych Central. I wonder if it’s because there was a lot of traffic came through the Psych Central mental health articles.

I think forums in general have declined, whatever they are for.

unless you count reddit. I think every forum's traffic ultimately went to/is going to reddit.

LadyShadow · Aug 11, 2024, 02:10 PM

I have been to Reddit - and yes, it's kind of black hole of the internet, and they have interesting topics, but I find Reddit users infuriating and very triggering. They usually have nothing nice to say.

I understand it being slower in the summer, I think this site has been slow in general the past few years as others have said. I think someone hit an important point that PsychCentral had a lot of articles that used to bring people to this site. I miss the name "PsychCentral" in general, I am not too crazy about MSF.

But just want you to know, I do other things on this site than just look at the new posts. I look at old posts I had done or resurrect some old Game threads, or threads that I think would be nice to come back and be on the board again.

I am kind of saddened that posts/threads tend to disappear after just a few months - I think there is less on this site to choose from because a lot of things end up getting archived or taken off this site. It never used to be that way.

MuddyBoots · Aug 11, 2024, 02:26 PM

Yeah, depends on what sub forums you’re on on Reddit, and it depends on what kind of stupidity you’re willing to tolerate and know what forums are likely to be triggering/offensive. I stopped giving a f about a lot and then I just see crap and say “yup. Good thing I’m feeling the nihilism today.”

I don’t really do a lot of the game or coffeehouse threads, but some stuff in bipolar is game ish that are fun.

lizardlady · Aug 11, 2024, 04:33 PM

I am having a dim remembrance of Doc John saying something about MSF getting less traffic from Google than PC used to get. Something about algorithms.

MuddyBoots · Aug 11, 2024, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

I am having a dim remembrance of Doc John saying something about MSF getting less traffic from Google than PC used to get. Something about algorithms.

That actually makes sense. I think keywords are less likely to lead to this site than they used to. I'd get directed here to a lot of my mental health related searches and eventually made an account, but now if I search similar stuff MSF never comes up.

SquarePegGuy · Aug 11, 2024, 06:53 PM

I think some of the decline might be due to the convenience of modern social media for mobile users.

Folks can create their own support groups with Facebook, which is designed to feed users more and more of what they look at. Eventually each user is living in his or her own universe.

SquarePegGuy · Aug 11, 2024, 06:58 PM

I'm curious, how did all of you learn about PC / MSF and what encouraged you to sign up?

For me, it was because another message board was closing. One of the members was also a member here (at PC), so we came over. AFAIK, that brought two new members.

I like some of the subtopics on Reddit, but I do not participate.

MuddyBoots · Aug 12, 2024, 03:51 AM

I'm pretty sure I just kept looking up stuff when I was entering the "contemplation" stage of getting treatment, and PC and forums popped up. I lurked a bit and then shoved my loud-*** in here.

lizardlady · Aug 12, 2024, 08:25 AM

@SquarePegGuy many, many years ago (back in the 90s) DocJohn had another site. The name was something like Mental Health Net. I was a member there. From there I moved to another site (maybe also started by Doc John?) That site ended up being taken over by some people who let it turn into a toxic pit. I remembered DocJohn had started a new site (PC), checked it out and joined. Switched to MSF when he created it.

Sorry for sketchy details this dates back almost 30 years, plus I haven't had my first cup of coffee.

rjdb · Aug 12, 2024, 09:39 AM

I still like it here but a lot of people are moving to Facebook groups I think?

Mountaindewed · Aug 12, 2024, 01:27 PM

I tried asking a few questions on Yahoo Answers back in 2014 and 2015 and got ripped to shreds by other users. Then I was on another site but I forget the name. Then I found this site. I use it a lot and I pretty much stopped using Facebook because I don't feel like sharing whats going on with me on there.

Crazy Hitch · Aug 12, 2024, 11:52 PM

Definitely not just you. Sometimes I log in and it says right at the bottom it's only me and one other person on the entire site?!

I think most members are now well and truly inactive.

seesaw · Aug 13, 2024, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Definitely not just you. Sometimes I log in and it says right at the bottom it's only me and one other person on the entire site?!

I think most members are now well and truly inactive.

Hey Hitch, definitely doing better but still around for old friends.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

lizardlady · Aug 13, 2024, 08:29 AM

Seesaw! Have missed you!

seesaw · Aug 13, 2024, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Seesaw! Have missed you!

I log in and lurk just about every day. I have a thread in the Premier Poobah that I update regularly with what's going on. Newest/biggest development has been moving back East from California, and now preparing for new puppy!

Genoke · Aug 13, 2024, 09:40 AM

I had to ask for a hug and I haven't even gotten one yet.

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