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Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 9:46 pm
by Mrjones2004x
As a member for a very long time in my opinion, maybe 9 years I’d guess not 100% sure on that but what happened here?

I haven’t really been on many forums over the last few years but I have kept popping in from time to time to see what’s happening.

When I use to frequent the most it was when I had a tiny terror and it was super busy then maybe back 2013 I think. Then I was interested in the or15 but never got one and stuck with my Marshall 900 mk3 for many years and I came back and posted again as I just acquired a tt combo and see it’s near it’s end.

Interest in orange amps at a low? Nothing new to interest people? All forums dying?

Any reasons you believe?

Sorry if this has been asked before

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 11:10 pm
by Les Paul Lover
Forums in general don't get the same following they used too. People use groups on Facebook a lot more these days.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:35 am
by bclaire
Facebook groups and Instagram have basically become a modern version of forums. Facebook groups in particular are very good at answering questions and providing help. The downside is, they're not very searchable, but they can host lots of photos...

Visitors to this forum have been dwindling for quite some time, and we have been inundated with spammers joining/posting, etc. It seemed time but there are a core of us who keep coming back. :mrgreen:

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:33 am
by Mrjones2004x
Ah right fair enough points made.
I don’t use Facebook so never thought about that option

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:53 pm
by Jondog
Personally don't like FB for group discussions. It's not just group members that see your posts. I never have anything to hide, but it's a bit weird when someone you know starts asking about your discussions in a FB group you're part of and they know nothing about it. Everybody and their mother is invited in to see what you'd generally feel is a closed discussion. If I post here I know it'll only be read by people who share a common interest.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 4:36 pm
by Sooner
Jondog wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:53 pm
Personally don't like FB for group discussions. It's not just group members that see your posts. I never have anything to hide, but it's a bit weird when someone you know starts asking about your discussions in a FB group you're part of and they know nothing about it. Everybody and their mother is invited in to see what you'd generally feel is a closed discussion. If I post here I know it'll only be read by people who share a common interest.
Facebook groups can be set to "private" so only members can see posts but unfortunately many of the Orange groups are public.
There are a couple however that are private:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/369947780302017/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/331897577479370/

But as Billy says they're hard to search and I find it difficult to keep track of topics of interested in. They're like a big mumbo jumbo of comments.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 5:41 pm
by Jondog
Sooner wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 4:36 pm
Jondog wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:53 pm
Personally don't like FB for group discussions. It's not just group members that see your posts. I never have anything to hide, but it's a bit weird when someone you know starts asking about your discussions in a FB group you're part of and they know nothing about it. Everybody and their mother is invited in to see what you'd generally feel is a closed discussion. If I post here I know it'll only be read by people who share a common interest.
Facebook groups can be set to "private" so only members can see posts but unfortunately many of the Orange groups are public.
There are a couple however that are private:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/369947780302017/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/331897577479370/

But as Billy says they're hard to search and I find it difficult to keep track of topics of interested in. They're like a big mumbo jumbo of comments.
I know, but the Orange group that is popular and contains many members from here is public.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:20 am
by Norrin Radd
Fućk Facebook. If/when this forum goes tits up, I’ll just play my RV50 more... :wink:

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:59 am
by adkguy07
It's a shame that this Orange Amp Forum has lost some popularity. I never contributed all that much here, but the knowledge base is extensive here and I have gain'd lots of insight into Orange amp’s in general and any questions I needed to ask had answers and help readily forthcoming. The Facebook Orange group is good in one sense that viewers will get a feel for what current sentiments are concerning Orange amps and the speaker cabinets that amp owners prefer and use. Lots of videos posted as to how the amp’s are being used; photos and some diagrams which are a help to many.

Today's forums were an outgrowth of the prior early net's “Newsgroups” which used some arcane technology to gather liked minded individuals together about all kinds of subjects. Then advent of “Forums” and “Bulletin Boards” was a step up because they were more structured and rules were set in place. Today with everyone on Facebook, any subject can easily reach a worldwide audience, but I don't view it as a major step forward. My wife says Facebook is great for viewing your friends grandkids' photos.


adkguy07

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:48 am
by StratusX
I hope to be around to see a revival for this forum. Been a member for over a decade and a lurker since 04 I believe. While there’s nothing at all wrong with the smaller Orange amps or the Crush line, it seems rare to see anything in the Facebook group that isn’t someone posting their CR120 or Micro Terror. Here there was an abundance of knowledge of everything not only Orange, but about amps and music in general.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:06 am
by megalithic
It wasn't that popular to begin with. O.k., maybe a bit more popular than now, but not in the sense that people would answer the threads a day later, more like a couple of days later, so it wasn't really worth checking up daily.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:21 am
by bclaire
megalithic wrote:
Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:06 am
It wasn't that popular to begin with. O.k., maybe a bit more popular than now, but not in the sense that people would answer the threads a day later, more like a couple of days later, so it wasn't really worth checking up daily.
In its heyday, it was very popular. Easily in the tens or twenties as for new replies or topics.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:25 am
by a.hun
bclaire wrote:
Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:21 am
In its heyday, it was very popular. Easily in the tens or twenties as for new replies or topics.
Totally. I used to be here almost every day, sometimes for hours. Plenty of active discussions.

Then I started playing out more again. When that dropped off I'd kind of lost the habit... :lol:


Andy.

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 4:44 pm
by bclaire
I still check every morning... it would be cool if the regulars started new threads again...

Re: Why/how did the forum lose its popularity?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 12:40 am
by bfitz
Literally only found this out today! This is the only gear forum that was welcoming that I found. Some serious characters and some really knowledgeable folks. I learned nearly everything I know about valves and valve amps here. Like if your on a tone quest just search here and you will find direction

Knowing its on the way out I'll be back tomorrow for a look. Who knows!?! Might survive yet 😉