Concern or Just Natural Progression

**Carver** · 02-10-2015, 12:30

I was surprised at the number of former donating members that were at the second MN winter hang that have dropped their donating status and have become more or less inactive. Even those that still maintain their donating status seldom post anymore. Shug and one other member are the only ones that contribute on a regular basis. There is a lot of winter hammock background that has gone missing. Is this just a natural progression that once you have your system dialed in, that you then move on to an inactive status and follow other interests?

**Nodust** · 02-10-2015, 12:32

Natural progression of online forums IMO. I used to post a ton in another forum, but rarely post now.

**mudsocks** · 02-10-2015, 12:35

I think it depends on the person. A lot of people seem to come to find answers then move on. Some stay for the community.

**Becks** · 02-21-2015, 19:08

I am a new member. I also belong to a couple of unrelated forums. For me, I generally read a lot at first and the add to the forums once I am familiar with the category of interest, knowledge or banter. IMO (like myself) once you reach a certain saturation level of some kind, some folks remain interested and active in viewing but there posting drops off. Or as boulder stated, folks pick up another interest and get caught up it that, while still being active in reading the forums.

Depending on the Forum purpose, I notice that certain times of the year are more active than others.

**hk2001** · 02-21-2015, 20:37

There's a lot of groups and discussion on facebook. A lot of "inactive" people post there rather than here.

**Shug** · 02-22-2015, 10:42

Maybe a case of Familiarality Breeds Contempt. If you are here long enough you start to see a repetitive cycle of questions and info. Sometimes though something new and brilliant.
I try to focus on this site as a way to keep me interested in taking backpacking trips and playing with my gear. As a man of many interests.....I know that at times I too wane.
Shug

**nothermark** · 02-22-2015, 10:45

There was also a significant shakeout about the time of the mod change.

**Rat** · 02-22-2015, 11:04

Originally Posted by Shug

Maybe a case of Familiarality Breeds Contempt. If you are here long enough you start to see a repetitive cycle of questions and info. Sometimes though something new and brilliant.
I try to focus on this site as a way to keep me interested in taking backpacking trips and playing with my gear. As a man of many interests.....I know that at times I too wane.
Shug

I think this is it largely; old timers get tired of seeing the same question posted nine thousand times when a simple search would give the answer. Or seeing the same image from facebook posted three hundred times here on the forums. For those of us who have been around it is not worth the time and energy to comment.

I understand the newbie enthusiasm and many of them will mature into the spots that the old timers have vacated; that's kinda the natural growth of a forum like this.

We are still here though, to set you newbies right when you get off track!

**Nodust** · 02-22-2015, 13:48

Originally Posted by Shug

Maybe a case of Familiarality Breeds Contempt. If you are here long enough you start to see a repetitive cycle of questions and info. Sometimes though something new and brilliant.
I try to focus on this site as a way to keep me interested in taking backpacking trips and playing with my gear. As a man of many interests.....I know that at times I too wane.
Shug

Very true. I focus more on the trip report and outings/planning sections than the gear now. Not that my gear is perfect but I am happy enough with it. I want to see cool trails to explore.

Or I read more of the cold weather camping tips and ideas, even though we don't get extreme cold weather here. It's something I want to do one day.

Evolution as a hanger/backpacker I guess.

**Dutch** · 02-22-2015, 13:49

It is great there are fresh blood coming in. I miss some of the old timers but it is growing and not shrinking. I'm not worried a bit. Actually a bigger concern for me is it is too big and hard to keep up and see through all the chatter. I saw a 1200 post thread just about a hang. If everybody came here and never left it would be really full. If you try, you can keep in contact with old friends that don't post often.