# The elephant in the room. 4063 active members **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 4, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139 "2017-06-04T23:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/81 "2017-06-06T16:10:02Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Facebook has Groups, many of which have thousands of members. You post a question to a group and anyone who is a member can answer you. Groups can be open or closed, but they are much more interactive than most message boards. Much of the traffic from subject matter message boards has moved there. Which is great if you are discussing one or two topics that are related to each other, but how would it work if 100 to 200 unrelated topics were being discussed at the same time? Imagine this board if all the responses to all the threads where dumped into a single thread, posted in order of appearance. Now, you might consider separate Facebook pages for every forum, which might knock the number of different topics being discussed at the same time to 20 to 30. Still next to impossible to follow, and only an idiot would want to moderate that mess. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/82 "2017-06-06T16:17:55Z")
And just try to _find_ a post on Facebook! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/83 "2017-06-06T16:30:41Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And just try to _find_ a post on Facebook! How _does_ one Google a Facebook conversation? If a five page thread(100 responses per page) were transferred somehow into a Facebook conversation, how much would be accessible a year later, a month later or even the next day? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/84 "2017-06-06T16:49:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How _does_ one Google a Facebook conversation? If a five page thread(100 responses per page) were transferred somehow into a Facebook conversation, how much would be accessible a year later, a month later or even the next day? I can’t answer that, but this is what happens to me. I’ll see a post that looks interesting, but I accidentally click on something and go to another page. If I use the back button, the interesting post is no longer there. If I reload the page, the post is no longer there. So I have to scroll down – waiting for new content to load when I get to the bottom of the page – and _hope_ to find what I’m looking for. In the end, I usually wind up saying ‘Screw it. This is Facebook. I don’t need to find that post that urgently.’ It sucks though, when you saw a meme a few days or weeks ago that would be a perfect reply to someone’s post. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/85 "2017-06-06T16:53:37Z")
Another question or two about revenue and Facebooking the Straight Dope: Would TPTB be able to charge a member fee and, if so, what perks could they offer members that non-members wouldn’t get? I ask this because they own the name and (presumably) want to monetize it. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/86 "2017-06-06T16:55:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I just have this Board. I’m not on Facebook, or Instagram, or Reddit, or anything else you care to name. Who has the time? I agree. But it comes down to density… forums in general and this one in particular are extremely dense in their content. There’s a ton of stuff, almost too easily accessible. (It can be distracting.) Most social media is Cool Whip by comparison. You have to scan and scan and scroll and scroll and click and click to read a comparatively tiny amount of content. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/87 "2017-06-06T17:13:45Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > And lock up the plane and turn off the treadmill. And free the hamsters. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/88 "2017-06-06T17:20:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > And free the hamsters. Won’t somebody think of the goats? ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/89 "2017-06-06T17:33:29Z")
I think **Reddit** looks, upon first inspection, like a mass of tri-color spaghetti (is there such a thing?), but I’ve found it quite useful on specific topics. And finding those individual topics is fairly easy. For example, the forum on the game _Rimworld_ (and several other games) is quite well-moderated and focused, as well as the Game Deals forum. While I thought that the SDMB would live well there, I admit I hadn’t considered it’s “quality goes at the top” ordering versus our chronological; that would, indeed, make it seem much more like a bunch of individuals responding to the OP, rather than to each other (though as pointed out you can respond specifically to a post, and people often do, several layers deep). Traditionally, it seems subreddits are rather topic-specific, though I don’t see why you couldn’t have more general topics, like the “Explain Like I’m 5” one. There is at least one “straight dope”-named subreddit currently, though it gets little action. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/90 "2017-06-06T17:36:07Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > And lock up the plane and turn off the treadmill. I suggest reversing that and locking the plane after the treadmill comes to a stop. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/91 "2017-06-06T20:12:03Z")
I spend very little time here now that I’ve gotten into Reddit. You can focus on pretty much any topic - broad or very niche - and get a good conversation going with people on those topics. There’s bullshit to deal with in the bigger groups, of course, but I’ve found that the tenor and quality of discussion in some of the smaller subreddits blow this place out of the water. For one thing, there’s a distinct lack of pedants over there. You can make a minor mistake and not have the rest of the thread be distracted by it. The mods are pretty on the ball over there also - again, some better than others depending on the sub. Also the number of people over there dwarf this place by magnitudes. And on top of that there are many members/active posters that are either celebrities (Val Kilmer posts a lot, for example) or noted experts in their fields. The science sub has verified experts and they also delete any posts that are jokes or not on-topic. Anybody slagging on Reddit here has no idea what they’re missing. Seriously. Take some time to learn the ropes and you’ll find it to be a bottomless font of information and lively discussion. I mean, they even have a sub dedicated to[baby elephant gifs](https://www.reddit.com/r/babyelephantgifs/)… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/92 "2017-06-06T20:14:20Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > While I thought that the SDMB would live well there, I admit I hadn’t considered it’s “quality goes at the top” ordering versus our chronological; that would, indeed, make it seem much more like a bunch of individuals responding to the OP, rather than to each other (though as pointed out you can respond specifically to a post, and people often do, several layers deep). Subs can be set up to eliminate the up/down votes completely and sort by only New. The admins of each subreddit have WIDE latitude to customize the experience for their sub. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/93 "2017-06-06T20:18:37Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I agree. But it comes down to density… forums in general and this one in particular are extremely dense in their content. There’s a ton of stuff, almost too easily accessible. (It can be distracting.) > > Most social media is Cool Whip by comparison. You have to scan and scan and scroll and scroll and click and click to read a comparatively tiny amount of content. I also agree with you both (Siam Sam and the Barbarian, Amateur)…My activity on other forums and sites has really dropped off since I joined the Dope. So much fighting elsewhere, that even the Pit here seems refreshing. Im a lurker. It would be nice to post photos without using other sites…but…no complaints. I like the phbb format. Simple and functional. And hats off to the mods. Great job you guys do.😃 ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/94 "2017-06-06T21:52:20Z")
I don’t believe message boards will die any time soon. Twitter and Facebook are fine for short staccato comments made on the spur of the moment with as much thought given to them as a brief few seconds of composing them will allow (and that obviously isn’t much.) For more intelligent discussion, with time to express one’s own thoughts and to consider more fully those of others, we still need boards like this. If we ever reach the point when all we can do is jabber excitedly at each other using emojis and icons in short rapid bursts then I’ll forgo electronic communication completely. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/95 "2017-06-07T11:25:30Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I don’t believe message boards will die any time soon. Twitter and Facebook are fine for short staccato comments made on the spur of the moment with as much thought given to them as a brief few seconds of composing them will allow (and that obviously isn’t much.) > > For more intelligent discussion, with time to express one’s own thoughts and to consider more fully those of others, we still need boards like this. If we ever reach the point when all we can do is jabber excitedly at each other using emojis and icons in short rapid bursts then I’ll forgo electronic communication completely. Amen. I finally created a Facebook account because the social, as opposed to operational, aspect of a couple volunteer groups I am active with had moved there. Maybe it’s the learning curve involved but I have yet to get anything useful out of the goldfish attention span postings there. > [@kunilou](#): > > So the key to the Board’s survival is simple. Every month, the 100 or so active members get together and agree to make new posts on subjects that can be best described as clickbait. > > \ > > Of course, to optimize this, the heaviest posters will need to change their focus slightly. > > \ > > And instead of [Legality of owning counterfeit goods](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=827544), just rename it **One simple trick to save money on desighner clothes** Now, if you’re going to go the clickbait route, go whole hog. \*\* A mother in \ has found a weird old trick for saving on designer clothing.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/96 "2017-06-07T13:50:42Z")
So what constitutes an active member? Does it require posting or does merely logging in count? I’m logged in at least 5 days a week and spend more hours than I care to admit reading, but I rarely post. I guess my internal filter is too fine - inevitably, I think about posting and then decide - nah, someone else will post the same thing, only better. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/97 "2017-06-07T14:30:11Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Hmmm. I had assumed there were about 30 people and a lot of socks. Maybe it’s good! > > How does this compare to days of ol’? > > What does concern me about the elephant in the room is trying to scrub elephant porn from the hard drive. Nasty stuff. Who puts socks on elephants?😕 > [@JKellyMap](#): > > I love it – “Recreation, Humor, and Science.” That should go on our official seal, in Latin. (Maybe Sig could design it). > > RECREATIO HUMOR SCIENTIA I would buy this on a coffee mug. I’m mainly active in the [MMP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=827823), so I’m at least generating posts and page views, if not monetizable content. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/98 "2017-06-07T14:58:42Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I think there are only two of us and a lot of socks. Which of you am I? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/99 "2017-06-07T15:04:17Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I suggest reversing that and locking the plane after the treadmill comes to a stop. Can’t come to a stop, it’s frictionless, remember? Or is that the plane… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139/100 "2017-06-07T15:19:59Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I don’t believe message boards will die any time soon. Twitter and Facebook are fine for short staccato comments made on the spur of the moment with as much thought given to them as a brief few seconds of composing them will allow (and that obviously isn’t much.) > > For more intelligent discussion, with time to express one’s own thoughts and to consider more fully those of others, we still need boards like this. If we ever reach the point when all we can do is jabber excitedly at each other using emojis and icons in short rapid bursts then I’ll forgo electronic communication completely. Message boards will shrink slowly but certainly. The rate of drop off will be higher than the rate of new participants, because the younger generation doesn’t find message boards to be interesting enough. As the regular members slowly die off, or find other things to interest them, participation levels will decline and eventually, the board will stop being viable for whatever entity is sponsoring it. It’s not just here I notice the drop off. I participate on the Paradox Development Studios message boards because of my interest in _Europa Universalis_. You’d think that a board like that would not have issues, because after all, they are the go-to method for figuring out how the game works, or how to maximize the result. But even there, drop off occurs for much the same reason: people are now using new ways to figure out how to share tips and strategies. For example, if I want to know how to be more efficient at using a game mechanism, rather than looking through board threads, I would simply start looking on YouTube or Twitch or some similar video service for examples of people sharing how to make that strategy work. I can’t even fathom trying to make such a video, but for my kids and their friends, they do it by second nature. It’s sad, because I’m used to message boards. But, then, I was **very** used to AOL, and I haven’t logged into that site in almost a decade now, though I understand you can still use it to chat in rooms and such if you want. Time marches on, or some such thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elephant-in-the-room-4063-active-members/788139.md?page=6)