Just a passing thought...

HRBaker · 05-21-2023, 10:05 PM

It's really sad how the forums have dwindled down to side street traffic. Yeah, I'm the old guy, but I remember when there were dozens of posts to read and follow every day. About the game, about baseball, about wishes and complaints. It was a very interesting place.

It wasn't always good. there were arguments and bullies and a lot of complaints - but it was different somehow. It seemed like everyone was enjoying the game and had fun sharing their experiences. Even the Dynasty thread was strong. Lots of bantering back and forth about the leagues folks had created.

I guess in today's world, short comments and reactions at 110mph are what drives platforms like Discord - and that's the environment most people like to follow.

I'm not sure what the future of these forums are, but they are just a ghost of what they use to be...

bigd51 · 05-21-2023, 11:41 PM

Not everyone likes to follow modern-day social media tech like Discord and Reddit. I certainly don't -- even though I've briefly used them before. At the same time, it just is what it is.

I have fond memories of the time I've spent in certain online forums/communities that are either completely abandoned or no longer what they used to be, but in the grand scheme of real life, it doesn't actually matter.

Don't waste your time in the past and just accept the things you can't change b/c change is inherently inevitable. That goes tenfold in today's online age and a hundredfold in tomorrow's age. This place may be a shell of its former self to you, but you still carry those memories fondly and you'll always have that. So just learn to accept it, move on, and go make some new memories somewhere else.

Scipio Africanus · 05-22-2023, 12:19 AM

I've been on various forums and sites going back to USENET user groups on the 90s. I can even remember Compuserve forums back before that. They all either dwindle to nothing or slowly become argumentative sewers. It's like some sort of iron law of online discussion sites.

Brad K · 05-22-2023, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scipio Africanus

I've been on various forums and sites going back to USENET user groups on the 90s. I can even remember Compuserve forums back before that. They all either dwindle to nothing or slowly become argumentative sewers. It's like some sort of iron law of online discussion sites.

Nice to see you mention Usenet was fun for a long time. AOL dropping it was the beginning of the end. At the time many rejoiced because AOL users weren't held in high regard from those who had a "real" ISP that required them to set up a dialer, browser, e mail client, and Usenet client while all AOL people had to do was stick a disc into the machine.

Scipio Africanus · 05-22-2023, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad K

AOL users weren't held in high regard from those who had a "real" ISP that required them to set up a dialer, browser, e mail client, and Usenet client while all AOL people had to do was stick a disc into the machine.

Heh. Gatekeeping and in-groups are not a new trend on the internet.

Comcast dumped USENET ages ago but it had been dead for years before that. I hung out on the board wargames forum but it eventually became a cesspool of hateful people arguing about everything. Then it died. RIP.

Leo_The_Lip · 05-22-2023, 09:53 AM

Auto manufacturers are no longer including AM radios in vehicles.

My 96-year old father-in-law complains he can't get USA Today delivered to his house any more (3 guesses on how long he has been moaining aoout this). And he overlookds he's lived in an Old Folks home for three years

Hammerpgh · 05-22-2023, 11:34 AM

New here but must admit that I miss the old forums like this one. As a virtual racer I have find that pretty much everything has moved over to Discord which can be a bit of a tangled web with limited structure. Glad to see that there is still a forum base community here though

LansdowneSt · 05-22-2023, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerpgh

New here but must admit that I miss the old forums like this one. As a virtual racer I have find that pretty much everything has moved over to Discord which can be a bit of a tangled web with limited structure. Glad to see that there is still a forum base community here though

I've tried (and continue to try) OOTP Discord but questions just recede into the background as the same memes just get posted over and over and push everything back. Makes it difficult to help people and get answers in return. Or to deep dive talk about something. It has its place in the world but it's not a replacement for the forum in what it can do.

As for the tempo and tenor of the board conversations, I think some of the old guard has just gotten older, so it's changed as the times have. The game can also do a lot of the things that used to be mods. Also, sometimes instead of posting a question, it's just as easy to search the forum as the answer hasn't changed in several editions. The tone of some of the back and forth, (esp. with some of the recent tumult) hasn't helped either.

But still plenty of folks seeking help and plenty trying to offer it in return. That's the thing that matters.

Leo_The_Lip · 05-22-2023, 12:29 PM

This thread prompted me to sign up and seek out Discord.

Complete disorganization. Finding an answer is futile. Plus the worst of the internet (well, not WORST) hangs out there, replete with ignorant boasting.

I'll continue to try and help out where I can here, but ...

Hammerpgh · 05-22-2023, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

I've tried (and continue to try) OOTP Discord but questions just recede into the background as the same memes just get posted over and over and push everything back. Makes it difficult to help people and get answers in return. Or to deep dive talk about something. It has its place in the world but it's not a replacement for the forum in what it can do.

As for the tempo and tenor of the board conversations, I think some of the old guard has just gotten older, so it's changed as the times have. The game can also do a lot of the things that used to be mods. Also, sometimes instead of posting a question, it's just as easy to search the forum as the answer hasn't changed in several editions. The tone of some of the back and forth, (esp. with some of the recent tumult) hasn't helped either.

But still plenty of folks seeking help and plenty trying to offer it in return. That's the thing that matters.

Totally agree with how things just get lost on Discord. Some of the ones I belong to if I don't visit for a couple of days have hundreds of posts to naviagte through to find relevant information. ImMuch prefer the nice and simple structure of a good forum

20_range · 05-22-2023, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerpgh

New here but must admit that I miss the old forums like this one. As a virtual racer I have find that pretty much everything has moved over to Discord which can be a bit of a tangled web with limited structure. Glad to see that there is still a forum base community here though

I agree. It's a wonderfully nostalgic experience. I feel like it's at least a decade since I interacted with a layout like this.

So a I supposed to learn about discord now?

Déjà Bru · 05-22-2023, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_The_Lip

This thread prompted me to sign up and seek out Discord.

Complete disorganization. Finding an answer is futile. Plus the worst of the internet (well, not WORST) hangs out there, replete with ignorant boasting.

I'll continue to try and help out where I can here, but ...

My impression as well.

Pelican · 05-22-2023, 03:00 PM

In my experience, these boards are like the game, in that you are free to use them your way, for your purposes.

No question the tone can quickly become degrading, insulting, childish, like trolls have taken over. I try to fight back (by steering things back to reality) or just abandon that thread. And through experience there are posters who are deserved pariahs, and, if ignored, they get bored and move on, so the damage is contained.

That said, I still get great ideas on how to play the game, support when I screw something up, encouragement, humor. And there are genuinely touching moments, like someone mentions having been sick, or losing a loved one, or the dreaded job getting in the way of playing the game, and others rush in to show support and kindness. I still have a sense of community, and it makes it seem less weird, to be playing this computer game.

But the big plus for me is the threads on historical seasons, and dynasties, and of course all of the modders. They can be rabbit holes, but filled with rabbits and not trolls. It’s a shame to have to curate my access and avoid certain threads and people; but to me a small price to pay for the genuine diamonds [pun intended] out there.

But I’m always the “glass half full” guy. YMMV.

Hammerpgh · 05-22-2023, 04:55 PM

Although I’ll be using these forums quite a lot I suspect for support and advice as I get started on what I hope will be a wonderful first step into the world of virtual baseball management I think I’ll also spend a good deal of time reading through the historical threads on the way the game has been enjoyed by so many here.

Having this reading material for the hobbies I enjoy has always been a big part of the whole experience for me and one of the reasons why my virtual racing has dwindled over recent months.

Looking forward to spending plenty of time here over the coming months and beyond ��

md40022 · 05-22-2023, 05:00 PM

Maybe I'm wrong, but in earlier versions of OOTP I would imagine there was more to discuss in regards to things people would like to see added or tweaked.

In present day, the game as been pretty well adjusted to play the way that we want it to. Therefore, I would think, making for less need to discuss and debate.

Yeah we all have our little wish lists and complaints here and there, but for the most part the game is what the game is at this point. That might not have been the case as much way back in the early days.

thehef · 05-25-2023, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md40022

Maybe I'm wrong, but in earlier versions of OOTP I would imagine there was more to discuss in regards to things people would like to see added or tweaked.

In present day, the game as been pretty well adjusted to play the way that we want it to. Therefore, I would think, making for less need to discuss and debate.

Yeah we all have our little wish lists and complaints here and there, but for the most part the game is what the game is at this point. That might not have been the case as much way back in the early days.

A lot of this ^^^

Back in the day, if you wanted - for example - historical rosters throughout your replay seasons, you had to go to retrosheet as the source and then manually make all of the trades, releases, signings, etc... If you wanted Negro Leaguers or minor leaguers, you had to use a external database (and I think at first the Negro Leaguers were a small number of (great) players who were actually little more than clones of major-league greats with their names changed)... Historical logos, uniforms, real player pics or facegens? All of that was through external mods and workarounds... Those are just a few of large-scale examples. Many smaller ones have been introduced over the years... And this is just from a hisorical-gamer perspective; I'm sure the fictional players can cite similar advances.

So in short: Better, more-robust game = less interesting forum

05-21-2023, 10:05 PM	#1
HRBaker Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,380	Just a passing thought... It's really sad how the forums have dwindled down to side street traffic. Yeah, I'm the old guy, but I remember when there were dozens of posts to read and follow every day. About the game, about baseball, about wishes and complaints. It was a very interesting place. It wasn't always good. there were arguments and bullies and a lot of complaints - but it was different somehow. It seemed like everyone was enjoying the game and had fun sharing their experiences. Even the Dynasty thread was strong. Lots of bantering back and forth about the leagues folks had created. I guess in today's world, short comments and reactions at 110mph are what drives platforms like Discord - and that's the environment most people like to follow. I'm not sure what the future of these forums are, but they are just a ghost of what they use to be... __________________ *HRB*

05-21-2023, 11:41 PM	#2
bigd51 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 278	Not everyone likes to follow modern-day social media tech like Discord and Reddit. I certainly don't -- even though I've briefly used them before. At the same time, it just is what it is. I have fond memories of the time I've spent in certain online forums/communities that are either completely abandoned or no longer what they used to be, but in the grand scheme of real life, it doesn't actually matter. Don't waste your time in the past and just accept the things you can't change b/c change is inherently inevitable. That goes tenfold in today's online age and a hundredfold in tomorrow's age. This place may be a shell of its former self to you, but you still carry those memories fondly and you'll always have that. So just learn to accept it, move on, and go make some new memories somewhere else. Last edited by bigd51; 05-21-2023 at 11:44 PM.

05-22-2023, 09:53 AM	#6
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,816 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Auto manufacturers are no longer including AM radios in vehicles. My 96-year old father-in-law complains he can't get USA Today delivered to his house any more (3 guesses on how long he has been moaining aoout this). And he overlookds he's lived in an Old Folks home for three years __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous

05-22-2023, 12:29 PM	#9
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,816 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	This thread prompted me to sign up and seek out Discord. Complete disorganization. Finding an answer is futile. Plus the worst of the internet (well, not WORST) hangs out there, replete with ignorant boasting. I'll continue to try and help out where I can here, but ... __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous

05-22-2023, 03:00 PM	#13
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,289	In my experience, these boards are like the game, in that you are free to use them your way, for your purposes. No question the tone can quickly become degrading, insulting, childish, like trolls have taken over. I try to fight back (by steering things back to reality) or just abandon that thread. And through experience there are posters who are deserved pariahs, and, if ignored, they get bored and move on, so the damage is contained. That said, I still get great ideas on how to play the game, support when I screw something up, encouragement, humor. And there are genuinely touching moments, like someone mentions having been sick, or losing a loved one, or the dreaded job getting in the way of playing the game, and others rush in to show support and kindness. I still have a sense of community, and it makes it seem less weird, to be playing this computer game. But the big plus for me is the threads on historical seasons, and dynasties, and of course all of the modders. They can be rabbit holes, but filled with rabbits and not trolls. It’s a shame to have to curate my access and avoid certain threads and people; but to me a small price to pay for the genuine diamonds [pun intended] out there. But I’m always the “glass half full” guy. YMMV. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.” Last edited by Pelican; 05-22-2023 at 03:02 PM.

05-22-2023, 12:19 AM	#3
Scipio Africanus Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 374	I've been on various forums and sites going back to USENET user groups on the 90s. I can even remember Compuserve forums back before that. They all either dwindle to nothing or slowly become argumentative sewers. It's like some sort of iron law of online discussion sites.

05-22-2023, 11:34 AM	#7
Hammerpgh Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: London, England Posts: 91	New here but must admit that I miss the old forums like this one. As a virtual racer I have find that pretty much everything has moved over to Discord which can be a bit of a tangled web with limited structure. Glad to see that there is still a forum base community here though

05-22-2023, 04:55 PM	#14
Hammerpgh Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: London, England Posts: 91	Although I’ll be using these forums quite a lot I suspect for support and advice as I get started on what I hope will be a wonderful first step into the world of virtual baseball management I think I’ll also spend a good deal of time reading through the historical threads on the way the game has been enjoyed by so many here. Having this reading material for the hobbies I enjoy has always been a big part of the whole experience for me and one of the reasons why my virtual racing has dwindled over recent months. Looking forward to spending plenty of time here over the coming months and beyond ��

05-22-2023, 05:00 PM	#15
md40022 All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 778 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Maybe I'm wrong, but in earlier versions of OOTP I would imagine there was more to discuss in regards to things people would like to see added or tweaked. In present day, the game as been pretty well adjusted to play the way that we want it to. Therefore, I would think, making for less need to discuss and debate. Yeah we all have our little wish lists and complaints here and there, but for the most part the game is what the game is at this point. That might not have been the case as much way back in the early days.