Influx of New Members Lately

[Phil Lilley]

I'm not sure what's driving this move to join OAF but we've had a couple of dozen new members sign up the last couple of weeks.

Do you think people are getting a little tired of the FB groups and are coming back to forums?

[Ryan Miloshewski]

I personally have every hunting and fishing Facebook group I'm apart of muted nowadays or have just flat out left them. They're so toxic and negative with very, very little positivity. I think people are having the same thoughts/feelings I do and are looking for more positive places to interact with other like-minded folks. I'm probably one of the younger guys on here and I prefer it tenfold to any group on a social media site. 

[Seth]

4 hours ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

I personally have every hunting and fishing Facebook group I'm apart of muted nowadays or have just flat out left them. They're so toxic and negative with very, very little positivity. I think people are having the same thoughts/feelings I do and are looking for more positive places to interact with other like-minded folks. I'm probably one of the younger guys on here and I prefer it tenfold to any group on a social media site. 

I'm right there with you. I only follow a few outdoor groups on FB these days for the same reason. Too many idiots out there. Hunting groups seem to be worse than the fishing groups.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

15 minutes ago, Seth said:

I'm right there with you. I only follow a few outdoor groups on FB these days for the same reason. Too many idiots out there. Hunting groups seem to be worse than the fishing groups.

100%. Social media has done a lot of good but it has really pitted everyone against each other. 

[Phil Lilley]

There's 15k+ members here but only a fraction visit/post.  Lots of viewers.  And I know members don't like to post detailed info anywhere because of the lack of control to who sees the posts.

I'm not saying I would do it but it's tempting to make the forum membership only, forcing ppl to join to view. 

The other possibility is membership dues.  It would be a token amount.  $1/month?

 

[Flysmallie]

7 hours ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

100%. Social media has done a lot of good but it has really pitted everyone against each other. 

Not only that, and that is a huge, huge part of it. But it sucks to try and find anything. If you don't catch it the first time they feed it to you, you may never ever see it. I have trouble finding posts that I have made, in groups that I manage. Groups suck. 

Take my money Phil.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

1 hour ago, Phil Lilley said:

There's 15k+ members here but only a fraction visit/post.  Lots of viewers.  And I know members don't like to post detailed info anywhere because of the lack of control to who sees the posts.

I'm not saying I would do it but it's tempting to make the forum membership only, forcing ppl to join to view. 

The other possibility is membership dues.  It would be a token amount.  $1/month?

 

I would be happy to pay a couple bucks a month

[trythisonemv]

On 6/13/2023 at 8:51 AM, Ryan Miloshewski said:

I personally have every hunting and fishing Facebook group I'm apart of muted nowadays or have just flat out left them. They're so toxic and negative with very, very little positivity. I think people are having the same thoughts/feelings I do and are looking for more positive places to interact with other like-minded folks. I'm probably one of the younger guys on here and I prefer it tenfold to any group on a social media site. 

Nailed it Ryan. I would add that people who ideate towards outdoor life style are starting to move towards platforms that are apolitical... Call it what You will... political fatigue or wokeness fatigue or just plain exhaustion. I have found this environment to be centered around fishing and outdoors and any unruly discussions are quickly directed back to that. It is also probably due to the large number of folks who picked up hobbies during covid stupidity are now getting deeper in to said hobbies and are looking for more info and more ways to build their interests.  Friendliest bunch of dudes around on this site. I have learned what would've taken three lifetimes in just a decade . 

[PogeyBait]

Forum based is reality. It's "somewhat" slagged behind progression of data capturing.
In the capture of data one offered up. Intensional, or not. Modern social media outside of old school forums, seems to capture too much information for the purpose of advertising. 

The algorithm used on Facebook surely drives content and advertising. It gets that I served in the Marine Corps. It seems to get that I was stationed at Camp Lejeune. So I get a daily barrage of ads from attorneys looking to represent people that were exposed to the contaminated water on LeJeune (even though I wasn't stationed there during the window the water was contaminated). One morning just having coffee, I ended up with 7 ads by different law firms looking for clients on the Lejeune water on my FB feed. I get daily ads from attorneys looking for veterans to represent over faulty ear plugs, fire fighting foam, asbestos exposure, etc.  

 

 

[yowoodchuck]

I'd happily pay $12/year.  You might be able to buy a 6 pack with that!  This forum is well worth it.