Anonymous poll, out of curiosity want to get a feel for the demographic. My prediction is older than most similar websites.
- Under 13
- 13-18
- 19-25
- 26-35
- 36-45
- 46-55
- 56-65
- 65-75
- 76+
0
voters
This place, we’re old. Every time a poll like this happens, we’re older still.
(I didn’t vote, because at 55 I’m at the oldest threshold of one category, and felt my vote would skew the results toward those 46 year old whippersnappers.)
Message boards are aging, just like Facebook, probably more so on Facebook. Reddit is the closest thing that runs younger. But Message board users are getting older. It is also a dying sub-media. There are far less message boards then 15 years ago.
~Max
These results are pretty in line with polls on other message boards I’ve frequented. I agree, message boards like this one are becoming less popular with people my age and younger, since we more often use social media or sites like Reddit.
I also feel like the generation gaps are also pushing Millennials and Gen Z away even further as outdated and/or bigoted beliefs cause us to leave. I have stopped posting on a few other message boards due to the moderators letting transphobia and other bigoted views slide all the time.
The Straight Dope is better than other sites on this front, but only because of relatively recent changes. I have almost left the board before because of transphobia left unchecked. But while this board has improved, this place still has it’s issues with being out of touch with younger generations in other respects.
I’m an older Millennial and this place is just about all I can stand. I’ve been off Facebook for years. I cut the cord on Reddit this year. In every instance it’s been more about my own problematic, compulsive behavior with social media, but certain platforms reward such behavior, making it that much harder to quit.
I still struggle with compulsive use here sometimes, but here I’m less likely to be confronted with outrageous, gross opinions that make me want to throw down.
Heh. Not only is this a message board, but it is the message board of a dead question-and-answer column from an alternative newspaper, presently owned by a radio station.
~Max
Long may it live. Why can’t we have nice things? I know there are focussed FB groups, but I just don’t want to go there…
Especially when it comes to music. 
A public radio station no less.
Even though I’m in my late 30’s, I have gotten to the point where I am out of touch with music as well. I’ve always loved older music, even back when I was younger, but I don’t listen to anything recent on the radio anymore.
When I joined in April of 1999 I was young (31).
I was 46 when I joined, and I knew nothing of message boards. Still hanging around 24 years later…
I was under 40 and had 2 young kids. Now later 50s and two adult kids living at home still.
You forgot a bit:
It’s the message board of a dead question-and-answer column from an alternative newspaper, which is presently owned by a tabloid newspaper which has been at death’s door for years, and which is, itself, now owned by a public radio station.
Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.
Tripler
Helmets are optional, unless required by company policy.
Too old to rock and roll and too young to die?
I was 27 when I joined the Dope; I’m 36 now.
I find it hilarious how I’m in the middle of the range, maybe slightly on the young side, on this message board but on Twitter I’m about double the average age.
“Too young to take over,
Too old to ignore,
Gee, I’m almost ready—
But what for?”
Of all the things I can be out of touch with, music has always seemed the least consequential. I’m 49 years old. Why should I care what 20-year-olds are listening to? Why should 20-year-olds care about the music I like? They have their tastes, I have mine. As along as everybody’s happy, what difference does it make?