We've changed in the 6 years I've been here. However, it hasn't been in the good way.

- Forum was booming with new members, active and interesting topics and almost chat-like response times.

- Forum started to slow down to a comfortable pace. For a year or two, the subforums were active and the regulars were familiar enough to form a little e-family.

- Many of the regulars grew up/moved on, so the e-family started to dwindle.

- Not enough newbies (read: regulars-to-be) have joined to replace the guys (and girl) that have already left. The e-family has become an e-household.

- The spambots have invaded. Like buzzards circling a corpse, this is always a sure sign that the forum is dying...

It's a dern shame, as you guys were always pretty awesome. I've been through a lot in those 6 years since I've joined, and it seems a bunch of anonymous names on the internet were just what I needed to help me out. Through y'all, I've learned and laughed. I just wanted to say "goodbye" while there were still people to say "goodbye" to...

When I'm done with my 'cocker build, I'm gonna post it up, just to get some fresh meat in the Gallery.

Did you people even read the OP? :p

It's more of a social commentary post, not one of my angst-driven "I NEED TO GET AWAY" posts. 

And you're a member from 2005. 

I can remember the summer of 2003, the first summer since converting from old blue to big red (Where I switched my old blue username of Robotman1288 to Agentwhale), being at my dad's house for the summer and being bored out of my mind at night. I'd hop on to the computers at night during prime forum time, and there would be so many people it would time out. 

The system could handle 100 active users, and we would regularly max it out in the evenings. 

Responses were instant for almost every topic. It kept me sane during that boring summer. 

That was back when the star system was brand new (And worked) and people took it seriously. 

The forum was (And still is to some extent) a way to kill off boredom in a constructive way - with dialogue, discussion, etc. I learned how to express myself better, form better arguments, etc. I never liked being at my dad's house for the summers, and with all the angst of early high school (Especially in 2002), having people online to talk to was always awesome.

Fun times. 

Also, Nobody's "Do not post" thread with about 6 million posts. 

I remember seeing my first "the forum is going downhill!!!" post around 04, and taking it seriously. I think I've seen a hundred since, and they aren't wrong, but, I don't think I've even seen this place anywhere near its peak.

PS - Still rocking the same sig and avatar since I came here too

Hell, I'm taking a class next quarter whose professor is facebook friends with WHALE, i think the forum can affect my real life now.

Just got a friend request from a certain Mr. Rustle. Not sure who you are on here. :)

Wait. Who? Dr. Wagner? 

I don't really come on as much now and it is mostly because of the gun/political threads dominating these days and although these topics are fine just simply don't have much to say on them.  - will aways stop by ery so often ad don't see that changing too soon so it will be interesting to see going on in another 10 years.

Anyway man up ladies, lets not get all interior design about it.

Furrow

Ah, Ms. Furrow. She's good people. One of the best master's theses I've ever read. 

What's the class? 

That said, mother will always be on my bookmarks as long as she's in existence. 

It really does seem that social networking and crap is slowly killing forums. I dunno. Progress, I guess.