Seems like most reptile forums are dying - Page 2

Starbuck · 05-19-13, 06:34 AM

i agree with Donnie, I think lots of people are getting into herpetology. The banal fear of snakes is much less prevalent (i find), and many folks are more educated about herps and their ecological role. Snakes and geckos are becoming much ore popular pets, and there are more and more products, vets, shops, etc all targeted towards reptiles (whether those products are good or bad is another thread lol). All of my local expos have expanded in the last few years, gotten bigger, more vendors, more selection...
I think our hobby is growing.

KORBIN5895 · 05-19-13, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

So do you guys think the hobby is slowly fading away? I know not everyone who owns reptiles posts on forums but if it's true there could be a relation.

I sell frozen rodents and not one of my customers is on a forum unless I pointed them to one. There are hundreds of keepers for everyone that is on a forum.

Lankyrob · 05-19-13, 07:54 AM

I know of at least five keepers in my area that i speak to face to face but none of them would dream of joining a forum.

DragonsEye · 05-19-13, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie

I think forums will be a bit slower presently as summer is only around the corner (in the northern hemisphere anyway) people are spending a bit more time away from their computers in general and getting outside.

I agree. The summer slow down is typical for many if not most forums. About the only ones I notice may have a surge of activity this time of year are some of the gardening forums -- for the obvious reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

So do you guys think the hobby is slowly fading away? I know not everyone who owns reptiles posts on forums but if it's true there could be a relation.

While there is always that possibility, I don't think so. Rather I suspect a multitude of reasons for disappearing forums or declining activity:
1) Some forums were/are run or owned by a hobbyist. If finances or other life factors make running a forum too unmanageable, then that hobbyist may simply shut down their site.
2) New forums with new formats often attract a crowd simply by virtue of being the "new kid on the block". As many folks only have so much time to surf, older sites may see a decline.
3) Related to #2, forums with more user friendly formats may permanently pull people from other sites, which can in turn eventually lead to an older site's demise. For example, while Kingsnake is obviously still around, I can't remember the last time I visited there -- I simply don't care for its format. If too many folks were to make the same decision, Kingsnake would -- at some point -- go the way of the dodo.
4) If one belongs to several related forums, often one will run into many of the same folks. When this is the case, rather than have the same conversations with the same people on different forums, folks may eventually decide to "scale back" and stick to which ever site(s) they find the most appealing. Again, if enough members quit using a site, it generally dies away.

StudentoReptile · 05-19-13, 10:28 AM

#4 is the case for me most of the time. Between Facebook and here, I encounter most of the same folks I've seen on other forums. I only have time for so many. I have 1-2 other places specifically for my fav species (tortoises & turtles).

For me, it often gets exhaustive to post the exact same post in different forums. Like Wayne, I have opted to post where my message will be seen by the most eyes.

Jules1618 · 05-19-13, 10:49 AM

I'm in 4 forums and all are dead but this one. You guys are always full of info and always answer questions. I love this forum

**Aaron_S** · 05-19-13, 01:55 PM

There's a few reasons for this feeling.

1. There's many more forums out there then there once was. This site used to be the only Canadian forum in it's first incarnation and now there's another along with at least one or two others that are for Western Canadians. There's people just spread out more.

2. Facebook and other social media has also taken a foothold in this part of the internet.

3. I don't really think the summer is a slow down. It's cyclical depending on the species being bred. Ball python hatching season is pretty much upon us so we'll see those sections on other forums really boom. This forum rather has an opposite affect considering it's not dominated by ball python people.

KORBIN5895 · 05-19-13, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

There's a few reasons for this feeling.

1. There's many more forums out there then there once was. This site used to be the only Canadian forum in it's first incarnation and now there's another along with at least one or two others that are for Western Canadians. There's people just spread out more.

2. Facebook and other social media has also taken a foothold in this part of the internet.

3. I don't really think the summer is a slow down. It's cyclical depending on the species being bred. Ball python hatching season is pretty much upon us so we'll see those sections on other forums really boom. This forum rather has an opposite affect considering it's not dominated by ball python people.

There are also two forums specifically for maritimers unfortunately I find most of the people I know on there to be scumbags or disillusioned so I avoid it.

Sherman · 05-20-13, 10:51 PM

Why would this question ever be deemed inappropriate... we should be looking to help each other and connect as a hobby, not boast and brag and divide ourselves on an internet forum vs internet forum basis...

Freebody · 05-20-13, 11:48 PM

this is the only forum I post on, in the past I was a member of a bc forum that is next to nonexistent now, and I am a member of reptile Canada for the classified section only lol IMHO this is the best forum on the net bar none, from time to time we get some trolls here, but they are called out and leave, or even better drop the attitude and provide some good experienced info for us all, most other forums I have looked into get trolls, they that take over, have troll friends that recruit trolls and convert good people into trolls to fit the norm, then an honest question comes along and BAM its attack of the trolls lol Ssnakess #1!

possum · 05-21-13, 11:00 PM

Well, I hope it's not true that "most reptile forums are dying" because I think it's a great opportunity for keepers to ask questions & connect with others, but to be honest, I've been a part of another forum for some years and yup, sadly I think it's dying. Mostly I think the owner no longer wishes to maintain it, and frequent technical problems have made it hard to even log on...so ppl leave. Otherwise, I think most forums go in cycles just by chance...some members mesh better than others etc.

LadyWraith · 05-22-13, 08:39 AM

I think all the reasons suggested are good answers. From what I've seen, the frequented sites are just more active because there are more members. But with the larger quantity sometimes there is a lack of quality. And of course the sites geared toward the more popular pet choices like BPs, etc are by nature going to be more active.