How was it?

[Dawg]

Just curious about something here. If the mods think this is something that shouldn't be talked about then by all means delete this thread.

I've seen a few comments over the few years I've been a member here about how the forums aren't what they used to be. So it's got me curious, what was the forum like in its "heyday"?

It had to be really really good because right now this is the best forum on the WWW that I have ever seen and been a part of.

So "ol timers" (forum age, not physical age) what was it like back then?

[Ohiobucks]

Well, back in the heyday, bread only cost a nickel. Toothpaste was a luxury, and if you got to go to McDonald's for dinner it was a treat! Ahhhhh, the good old days.....

:group:

---> <---

[Alisha]

While I haven't been here as long as a lot of people on here, I must say that when I first joined the forum it seemed to be more of a "family", like everyone had known each other their entire life. It was a huge support system more or less.

There were a LOT more posts and in those posts people were typically supportive and positive, not shooting you down or making fun of you. People just seemed to have better manners and common sense. Things change, people change, mods change - and you get a lot less people willing or wanting to post - me included.

[Tominator]

I'm certainly not the oldest, but back when I first started we were allowed to cuss a little, argue a little more, and I think the general mood was not as serious as it is now.

Basically, the new moderators have ruined it all.

[wtnhunt]

Don't know Corey. Agree this is the best forum, have noticed differences over the years, not necessarily for the worse.

[Strut10]

I'm certainly not the oldest, but back when I first started we were allowed to cuss a little, argue a little more, and I think the general mood was not as serious as it is now.

Pretty much, spot on.

Back in the old days there was a little more understanding/acceptance of "tounge-in-cheekism". Skins were a bit thicker and water rolled more easily off of ducks' backs. :shifty:

[RangerClay]

I believe the key word here is family. And when when a family member leaves the forums, it leaves a hole. There are slow days when I'm sitting here at the computer wishing I could read one of JB's bigfoot reports, Andrea defending the edibility of suckers, AJ's amazing knowledge of firearms, SRA well....being SRA, and a few others that I could rattle off. And what makes it worse, is that sometimes these people take their friends with them to another forum. Seems like there more drama and a lot less laughing lately. It's probably just cabin fever.

If I had my way, Chris and Tom would have their own room to jab at each other. :chair::hammer1::hammer2:

[Dawg]

Starting to make a little more sense now.

Was there less people back then compared to nowadays?

[buckee]

Starting to make a little more sense now.

Was there less people back then compared to nowadays?

Yes, but they all participated and were pretty much steady-eddies. Now it seems we have more members, but less participation and tight lips ..LOL

We've lost a lot of good members too, but life's like that.

Plus, it's always slow this time of the year, but I've never seen it this slow, except on weekends.

This has always been a friendly place. More so than most other forums and we always tried to keep it smut free for the younger crowd too, which should never change.

I think I'll take my nap now.

[Trigger]

I can sure agree with buckee on that one, i know i havn't been the most consistant on here in the past few years and it's little different coming back on and not knowing everyone and whats been going on lately, there are alot more members than before. The forum has become alot more diverse with the expansion ex. there only used to be a deer hunting forum, now there's deer hunting, Archery, ext. Not to say the forum doesn't benifit from that, all the forums get used, but it used a be smaller and a tighter nit group of people. I guess you can kinda compare it to living in a small town before to movin to the city. Before there was not as many forums so everyone usually crossed paths one way or another.

Edited April 5, 2010 by Trigger

[buckee]

I'm certainly not the oldest, but back when I first started we were allowed to cuss a little, argue a little more, and I think the general mood was not as serious as it is now.

I disagree. It was just the opposite of that, and most folks respected the young people in here, not to post dirty jokes, fowl language, and the like.

This has always been the rules here

[GWSmith]

It used to be more conservative here...It used to be understood that a members respect for this place was expected and nobody was exempt from that.

Anyone could come here and have no worries about bringing their children right along with them. This place served a void in the Internet by being one of the "Safe" places and you came to respect the people who kept it that way....

Thats why this was considered as home to many of the people who used to come here more often than they do now. They did not want this to become an "Archery Talk" type of forum...but in many peoples eyes it has.

Personally I got tired of fielding PM's from people who kept asking me why things were being allowed that never were before...I did not have an answer then and I dont have an answer for them now.

If people stopped treating this place like a Bar they stopped at on their way home from work...and treated it like a home they respected...then it would be what it once was.

[Tominator]

I disagree. It was just the opposite of that, and most folks respected the young people in here, not to post dirty jokes, fowl language, and the like.

This has always been the rules here

I distinctly remember posting a few cuss words and they were commonly used and they were not edited. I'm not saying foul language was used all the time, but the occasional A** d*** and h*** were used, I could probably do some digging around and prove it, but a lot of those earlier posts were lost with the forum change overs. Some jokes posted back in the day would be zapped now too.

Have to disagree with Gary too. If anything this place is more conservative than it was before, and it's not nearly what AT is. I think some people don't stick around or post too much because their posts are edited all the time.

JMHO

[Turkeygirl]

I believe the key word here is family. And when when a family member leaves the forums, it leaves a hole. There are slow days when I'm sitting here at the computer wishing I could read one of JB's bigfoot reports, Andrea defending the edibility of suckers, AJ's amazing knowledge of firearms, SRA well....being SRA, and a few others that I could rattle off. And what makes it worse, is that sometimes these people take their friends with them to another forum. Seems like there more drama and a lot less laughing lately. It's probably just cabin fever.

/QUOTE]

Agreed...I'll keep my opinion at that. As someone once told me, "The only constant thing about change is it keeps changing".

It's still the better forum out there....lots of others there is so much arguing, swearing, etc....RT is not like it was, but it still rocks....mostly:shifty:

[redkneck]

Andrea defending the edibility of suckers

do tell...... Sounds interesting!

[RangerClay]

Now it seems we have more members, but less participation and tight lips ..LOL.

there are alot more members than before. The forum has become alot more diverse .

Well when you put a direct link on the Camospace home page to our forum you are going to see a lot of new people joining. Scott just cleaned house so all of these new people can join. I'm not against new blood but I believe you will see more newb's just lurk and leave. Hopefully they will participate.

[woolybear]

I find this site to be rather therapeutic to me compared to others out there I USED to visit.

:chat:

[Dawg]

I'm on here quit a bit but really don't see what some folks are talking about? Of course I've seen some here leave for unknown (to the public anyway) reasons. Then there are those who have gotten banned for various reasons. And there are those who seem to have thin skin, but for the most part from what I see the forum is still made of good down home folks.

Guess I'm just blind to the rest of it??????

[Tominator]

but for the most part from what I see the forum is still made of good down home folks.

Guess I'm just blind to the rest of it??????

No, I would agree to that. It's just different is all, not better, not worse, just different.

I don't know how many other forums will get together as a group and send a guy to Illinois to bowhunt with 2 buddies, or raise funds to send a kid on an elk hunt, or get together again and send folks to Wyoming on an antelope hunt and then again, as the latest example, to send folks to Alaska on a moose hunt. I think those accomplishments are truly the hallmark of who we are as a family here on RT.

How many other forums do you know of that send folks syrup, knives, turkey calls, honey, jerky, wine, arrows, broadheads, hats, stickers, rests, old clothes, and on and on.....???? Not many I would guess.

I always tell my kids and students, it's easy to tear down, it's easy to rip someone asunder, so strive to build up, make someone better and in the end you are better.

There's a lot of giving folks in here that truly enjoy seeing other people happy about getting more out of life, I know I do. I'm happy to say I've been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end and hopefully I can continue to be on the giving end.

[Shaun_300]

Well I've been here since 2004, I've noticed some change in the forums from when I joined til now, but not much. You certainly see a lot more spammers on here now, oh well, that just keeps us mods on our toes. It seemed like back then I knew every member by their first name, knew what everyone looked like, everyone was like family. It's still that way now for a lot of members, but I do notice a lot of new people coming and going a lot sooner. We've lost some really good members over the years. AJ like someone said before, he knew guns like Pythagoras knew angles. Was also a good member outside of the firearms rooms. We've also lost a couple good members who unfortunately lost their lives like Nick and Exturkinator.

All in all I must say these are the best forums on the internet. I do visit a couple other forums for trucks and automotive related things. These are by far the best ones!

[ruttinbuc]

Alisha pretty much nails it. It was a lot more family like and much more supportive. There certainly is a lot of change. The numbers have increased which is expected as the technology has made it more affordable for people to have a computer. The marketing concepts used to get people to the websites. The media itself and how we view it is all change.

What changed the most to me are the attitudes of today's world. Seems like its about me and only my opinions matter and my way or no way thing.

Although it is impossible to keep up with every thread here I try to keep up and maintain rapport with all who post on many subjects. From newborns, to puppies, to birthdays, to get well wishes, to success in the field or stream; any topic regardless. At one time the whole forum was like that. Now it seems there are many who are only interested in ringing the bell with their own agenda. The friendship and camaraderie is there, but not like it was. I have made many friends on this site and hope to make many more. In the spirit of giving there is no other website that even comes close in that regard.

[The_Kat]

The forums been stricken with thinskinitus over the last year or two. One thing that remains...I'm still a jerk . RT is definitely not like is used to be...everyone can't wait to point a finger at someone. Oh well ya can't please everyone....I have my core group of folks that I talk with, the rest I just ignore or ban

[dbHunterNY]

I'm somewhat of a new guy to the forums. I haven't gotten to meet many people on the forums, but I'm hoping to still make it happen eventually. Heck I find myself hanging out in archery shops and sporting goods stores talking to strangers. At least I know a little bit about some of you on here. If anything, I'd think it makes the time more enjoyable.

[pointing_dogs_rule]

Holy Cow!!!! My join date is August 2000!!!!! I think that I'm a grandpa on this site..... anyone older???? LOL!!!!

good luck to all

the dog

[Ashley]

I've been a member since 2002, and when I first joined, I have to agree that this place was a lot more inviting, open, and more family-ish. Lately, it seems there's a lot of drama and there has NEVER been as much spam on here as there is now. I used to want to come on and post a lot when I first joined, but now I do as much as skim the forums, log in to see if there's any messages, and that's about it. I don't know if anyone can pinpoint exactly what it was that changed, but there's no denying that it has. By all means, I'm not saying it's become a horrible place, but it just feels like something is missing.