# Why is the SDMB membership declining, and what's the best way to add younger members? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 14, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208 "2021-06-14T02:28:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/364 "2021-06-17T16:58:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > my promotional efforts for my Nahployment thread got it on the Alexa rankings, with well over 1,000 people from outside the SDMB I know someone who can tweet that thread to 500,000 followers. The Chicago Sun Times It’s also, literally, their own product they would be promoting. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/365 "2021-06-17T17:00:30Z")
You’re right. Because if somebody isn’t doing something, I shouldn’t do it either. I mean, if that’s the attitude even among Charter Members, maybe the place should be closed. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/366 "2021-06-17T17:01:28Z")
? That’s… not what was said even a little? ETA: I mean, it’s a criticism of the S-T, not of you. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/367 "2021-06-17T17:03:07Z")
I can’t help what the STM does. This thread is about what _can_ be done to improve membership. Responding to “We can do this” with “well, the owners don’t” isn’t really to the point of this thread. _Of course the STM doesn’t do this shit_, that’s why this thread is here. Again. After all, this isn’t our first rodeo of this nature. Hell, [TubaDiva had a thread just like this a few years ago.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049) ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/368 "2021-06-17T17:07:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > My God, people, Facebook and Twitter have like buttons and they’re not exactly bastions of groupthink. You can form bubbles, of course, but the multiplicity of opinions on both sites show that “likes” and “oddball” can co-exist. > [@JohnT](#): > > Yes, those are the bubbles I referred to. Ok, I guess if your point was that FB/Twitter are so large and contain multitudes, then sure, that’s true. But that’s just observing that they have multiple, largely non-overlapping spheres of groupthink, not that they’re somehow immune from the problem. Groupthink is a huge problem with any groups of people, and it seems to be especially pronounced in online communities. Like buttons aren’t the sole cause - I mean, we have it here to a degree, and we don’t have like buttons - but I think it’s inherently true that if like buttons create “selective pressure”, then they also encourage groupthink. I don’t think you get the former without the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/369 "2021-06-17T17:08:29Z")
Can I suggest a new joiners forum? A forum where newbies can post an introduction to themselves, ask questions about the board and for us to welcome them …and where the tone is designed super-friendly, helpful and welcoming. A lot of boards have this but we don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/370 "2021-06-17T17:09:40Z")
[Good idea!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/343) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/371 "2021-06-17T17:16:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > That’s my case for the LIKE button. Please at least give it a try. > > PS I’m not in favor of thumbs down or any sort of downvoting , though. fyi, for many of the reasons you mention, Discourse supports "like"s but has no “dislike” functionaltiy. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/372 "2021-06-17T17:17:26Z")
Great minds and all that ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/373 "2021-06-17T17:46:24Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > You’re right. Because if somebody isn’t doing something, I shouldn’t do it either. No, it’s more of this > [@JohnT](#): > > Given the SDMB does not have a marketing or advertising budget, the only way to get the membership to increase is for current members to evangelize on behalf of this Board. That’s not the only way, it’s at best a modestly effective high effort way to get the word out. I imagine you had to work to get the response you did, and I honestly think it’s awesome that you did, and I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it, it’s just not the only way, or the most effective way. My social network reach is to about 100 people, and I don’t know that ANY of them would want to post here. I don’t even know where to begin to personally encourage people to join. The media company that owns this product can have an intern write a tweet and hit 5,000x as many people as I can. They could put a link on their website. I think I’d have more luck promoting the boards by sending a Sun Times IT guy a fruit basket, than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/374 "2021-06-17T19:39:37Z")
The “Gypsy cab” thread is a good way to get new members. Joined 2 days ago. Asks question while acknowledging the term “Gypsy cab” is offensive. Gets jumped on by a fucking idiot. Thread gets closed. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/375 "2021-06-17T19:52:38Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Are the admins able to provide stats like: “How many new members are we currently adding every month?” Not sure if this is new users or new active users, but [here’s a stat](https://boards.straightdope.com/about). My guess would be new active users (which means they don’t have to be new to the Dope, just not having posted in the last 30 days, but that encompasses people who are new as well) last 24 hours - 3 last 7 days - 21 last 30 days - 82 For all the people talking about the ‘like’ feature, there was also this discussion with pretty much the same sides as [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-thanks-on-the-dope/937912). (It wasn’t actually a thread on the ‘like’ function.) It got closed with this note (not complaining about the closure or the note, just posting it here for information). > [@Showing thanks on the Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-thanks-on-the-dope/937912/155): > > There are those that want a like button and those who don’t. Clearly this is never going to come to any sort of consensus. And since many posts are getting too snippy for ATMB, I think it’s best to close this. Thread closed. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/376 "2021-06-17T20:00:07Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I subscribe to a page for owners of Border Collies, which you would think would be about as mild as can be, and it’s become a waste of time because of all the fighting and virtue signalling I was briefly in a Facebook page for owners of duck tollers. Same fucking problem. It’s an absolute nightmare. People just cannot be civil online. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/377 "2021-06-17T20:03:03Z")
Yep. There is not reason to allow that in any civilized group. Rants? Those can be great. Leave the rants, get rid of the insults. I have seen new members hounded off within a week. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/378 "2021-06-17T20:12:58Z")
This sounds … surprisingly plausible. Good analogy with the lizard, by the way. I at least find your logic more compelling than the specious arguments made by a typical run-of-the-mill conspiracy theory. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/379 "2021-06-17T20:33:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I was briefly in a Facebook page for owners of duck tollers. Same fucking problem. It’s an absolute nightmare. People just cannot be civil online. I love Tollers! Great dogs. The BC forum usually goes something like this: “Any recommendations for a good dog food? I don’t want to feed my dog raw meat.” “You are an idiot if you feed your dog anything cooked or processed.” " -I- only feed my dog pure raw meat processed organically." “You moron! All meat is organic. Besides, you should do what I do and prepare all food for your dogs yourself. I use only the best meat for my dogs, not that processed crap raw meat from the store.” … “I sometimes run out of dog food, so I have to buy some dog food at the grocery store. Is there a decent dog food you can get at a grocery store? Like Dr. Ballard’s or something? This is just when I’m out of the good stuff.” \ God help you if you say you occasionally give your dog a pig’s ear, or a cooked bone, or certain toys… These problems are not unique to the SDMB. The outliers are the places that manage to remain civil. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/380 "2021-06-17T20:38:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I love Tollers! Great dogs. I did not know if was possible for a dog to be this awesome. Benny is a ludicrously good boy. Also very handsome. Aren’t you, Benny? Who’s a good boy who does good boy things? You are! I’ll certainly take him over the people who scream about how to take care of dogs. And yeah, I agree this is fairly normal to internet conversations. We do have power over this place though. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/381 "2021-06-17T21:02:25Z")
That may be the best CT I’ve ever read, and probably even true. It may be in our best interests to go unnoticed as much as we can. We’ve survived this long because the higher-ups never noticed that we were a financial liability to them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/382 "2021-06-17T23:13:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ed knows it exists and knows it loses buttloads of money and has for years; the accumulated hole is truly huge. Even the current operating expenses are more than can reasonably be recovered without an unrealistically big per capita fee given our current small numbers or massive growth in headcount that will take a long time to manifest. I do not think we _lose_ money. The costs are small, no one is paid, and there is ad revenue. There were a couple of offhand posts from TPTB on the order of “We don’t make any real profit for them, so if someone sued and they had to pay out big bux for lawyer fees, we’d be gone in a jiffy”. If we do lose, it is like a rounding error amount of loss- but so is our “profit” if there is any. This is purely my opinion, based upon a couple of comments made once upon a time. I may be totally wrong here. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > In other words, we’re like a lizard hiding under a rock from a circling bird overhead. We’re 100% safe until noticed then 100% screwed. Meanwhile we’re starving under here. The difference with the lizard is that birds eventually fly elsewhere. Sun-Times management is up there circling all day every day. But this part is certainly correct. We do not want to be noticed. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208/383 "2021-06-17T23:34:13Z")
As I said in another thread, the fact that tubadiva was not replaced as an administrator strongly hints that ‘straight dope admin’ is not on anybodies STM job description. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-sdmb-membership-declining-and-whats-the-best-way-to-add-younger-members/944208.md?page=20)