Evolution of online communities - the future?

[Privateer]

Some background.  I've been using online communities since the early 80's.  Back in the old BBS days, Usenet, LISTSERV, IRC, all that archaic stuff.  Then came the rise of the internet as we know it.

A friend and I were talking the other day about the future of an online community that we both belong to.  It's just a basic forum set up, just like this one, fewer members of course as it's just a local group. 

My belief is people use online communities differently than they did 5 years ago.  Five years ago, it was much more of a sit-at-your-computer type of thing where now it's much more of a mobile (smart phone) thing.   Seems like damn near everyone has some flavor of smart phone and, in general, spends every non-busy moment staring at it.

As a consequence, I believe the traditional online forum-based communities will evolve in some fashion, more towards ubiquity (by that I mean access to it anywhere) and more of a means to interact quickly than long thought out responses.  As evidence I point to the rise of Facebook and the 'like' method of interaction, or something like reddit where posts are thumbed up or down.  Additionally I point to how many times a thread may be viewed yet there are few responses.  Either people don't have an opinion, don't want to share it, are afraid to share it, or they don't want to bother replying based on the technology solution they're using to read.

My friend contends I'm wrong, and as evidence points out the rise of traffic on the site we're using, and its lack of traffic on its associated facebook page.


I'm not an expert in these things by any means, but when I do some simple number crunching on our site stats I see a decrease in the number of threads/posts average per month, a flat new user rate per month, and a page view rate that's pretty flat month to month.  My only concern with the numbers is how SMF handles tapatalk usage, I don't know if that counts as a page view or not.

I'm curious what others think?

[Scoober1103]

 

[Monsterlover]

Since I'm anti Facebook but still want to play this game. . .

[Raux]

I think a community like this needs to be different than the ADHD style of modern SM.

The technical aspect and indepth discussions cannot be replicated on FB or its ilk.

but in that respect, I do see some seepage of SM, maybe a +1 button instead of an actual post with a +1 taking screen space, especially when viewing on mobile devices with smaller screens.

[MendoDave]

I think the flatness or slowdown on this site is due to the Monster being so "last year".  Most of the people on here have been here for years. I bet Monster sales are flat or diminishing too.

But of course this board is about much more than Monsters.

[stopintime]

The DMF is slow food for my moto brain.

FB ++ is noise, disturbing the sub conscious brain work (I'm old and can't/won't handle both)


Maybe it's because the Monster could and should be played with vs. the more evolved out of the box 696-1100?
The new bikes don't seem to inspire mod fever as much...

[ducpainter]

I think the differences between the online forums and the SM sites should be maintained.

If I wanted to click a like button I would join fb.

Not all change is good.

[Speedbag]

I hate FB.... 

[herm]

I only like FB because it is more reliable in reminding me when peeps birthdays are than my memory.

[RAT900]

great post!

FB and the rest are like reading bumper stickers on a busy roadway...all sound bites and snippets

I do think that more traditional sites such as this one are "too involved" for the SM crowd

self-expression appears to have taken a backseat to "self-disclosure" which seems to be the fad these days

with falling literacy I don't see things changing, seems people are communicating more than ever, unfortunately where "quality content" once mattered, quantity has taken its place

SM is a way for people with limited literacy and people who are self-conscious of their literacy limits can duck the whole issue and communicate without fear of derision

so as for this site quieting down........ it probably has something to do with the Monster being a mature product to an extent and the preferred methods of staying in touch in the current era

as someone who enjoys writing and reading I find it all rather disheartening and sad

[Speedbag]

as someone who enjoys writing and reading I find it all rather disheartening and sad

This.

[duccarlos]

Ok, I'll bite. Even though I have made many long lasting friendships on this forum and the DML, this format is more geared to be informative. As many have already said, the Monster is a mature product and just about every topic has been discussed and in many cases rehashed. The bonds I've been able to build on the DMF continue past the fact that I no longer own a Monster, or even any other Ducati model. I stay precisely because of the friendships and general camaraderie, which is very different to that of FB.

FB for me is more of a way to stay in contact with my "real world" friends and family. Twitter is a completely selfish form of SM where "normal" people can shout out what they are currently doing or thinking and feel important for it.

[MendoDave]

Ok, I'll bite. Even though I have made many long lasting friendships on this forum and the DML, this format is more geared to be informative. As many have already said, the Monster is a mature product and just about every topic has been discussed and in many cases rehashed. The bonds I've been able to build on the DMF continue past the fact that I no longer own a Monster, or even any other Ducati model. I stay precisely because of the friendships and general camaraderie, which is very different to that of FB.

FB for me is more of a way to stay in contact with my "real world" friends and family. Twitter is a completely selfish form of SM where "normal" people can shout out what they are currently doing or thinking and feel important for it.

And how is this different from TOSAT 

That's a rhetorical. No need to answer.

[duccarlos]

TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.

[ducpainter]

TOSAT is inhabited by none normal people.

Thank you for that accurate assessment.

I never wanted to be normal.