Facebook and the decline of the Ning that I loved

[Just Gus]

I loved this Ning and still do.  But the groups are like ghost towns.  I'm at facebook and interact with many Netflix friends over there.   I find the facebook format far less satisfying than the Ning format.  Is there anything that can be done to resurrect the Ning (IYO)?

Peace, Matt aka Just Gus

[eviltimes]

Facebook will fade and die just like it's previous incarnations.  Get your friends to come back here where they belong!  We're not going anywhere.  Stability is our strength.

[thatboy]

Facebook will fade and die

It already is, at least here in the U.S.:

Most prominently, the United States lost nearly 6 million users, falling from 155.2 million at the start of May to 149.4 million at the end of it. This is the first time the country has lost users in the past year. Canada also fell significantly, by 1.52 million down to 16.6 million, although it has been fluctuating around that number for the past year. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, Norway and Russia all posted losses of more than 100,000.

[Julie]

Maybe you could start some groups with your Facebook friends here on NING that you would be interested in maintaining and staying involved in. Or, possibly join some other groups here on NING that you're interested in. As for me, the groups I belong to and contribute the most to are going strong.

[thatboy]

About a year ago, I started a private Ning group for about a dozen close friends so that we could chat on a daily basis, much as we do here.  They all said the same thing: "Why can't you just join Facebook like everybody else?"  I started a couple of threads, but nobody posted in them.  They are bright people, but they just didn't get it and instead of using the threads they only used the comment walls on individual's pages or sent PMs.  I eventually gave up and deleted the group.

[Just Gus]

I can relate to that story.

[Just Gus]

Some are here--Isis/Iris (see comment below).  There were other issues with the Ning for some of them. 

 

Starting a group sounds like a good idea but I doubt they'll come back.  Facebook is there one stop shopping and the Ning is just yesterday for so many of them.

[Just Gus]

True that.  And if a person does get going and have solid conversation for a while it doesn't mean there going to be around tomorrow.  Beez and Scone are always around and Phineas and a few others, but people like the Professor are gone.  I really miss when you could start a thread in Western Roundup or the Game Room and come back a few hours later and find all different and interesting comments.

[eviltimes]

Prof's here every day.  A lot of us are here every day, we just hardly ever go on the main board.  We're all groveeting in our little private groups.

[Knaldskalle]

We're all groveeting in our little private groups.

True, this site isn't dead, only all activity nowadays is in private groups. If you aren't a member of those groups, you're almost an outcast, because nothing happens elsewhere, in the public groups or the main board (MB).

I think Just Gus raises a good point, but I also think that the answers so far have skirted around the truth: The MB has become a deserted battlefield. The various "factions" (or "groupings" or "sides" or whatever you want to call them) that used to roam here have withdrawn into their own private groups where they can express their opinion without fear of contradiction. Even the most combative people get tired of fighting, so there's nothing strange about that development.

I don't know if it's even possible to revive the MB without reviving the old gripes and enmities as well. If it isn't, perhaps it is better after all to just let the MB remain a wasteland?

Can we reboot this place? Do we want to?

[eviltimes]

With the mortal enemies safely ensconced in their corners it's a happy and fun place here.  An armistice has been achieved.  We do come out and help newbys most of the time.  And the Ninjas are dominated by one faction, loyal to Droid, so peace is assured.

Plus we do have a few great standalone public offerings, like Baff's Sci-Fi shows times and channels listing (which he maintains like a wonderful religion).

[Just Gus]

Guess I've been outed as an outcast!  Oh well, it wasn't the first time and it won't be the last.

[eviltimes]

Knalds is right.  You remember the fighting here.  You, me, the Colonel.  I think the Col has left us.  But you and I are still here.  We've lost Mr. C and Bubba to cancer.  A lot of the anime people went over to New Type Zone, but it's pretty slow over there, altho Orion's done a very good job with the site.