"Sacha" wrote...

I'm concerned for the future of this group which I've enjoyed hugely for 16
years. Some have been here longer than that. But given the number of
those who used to post and who lurk (I know of a few, not many now) the
response to the suggestion that we widen our horizons, look at a blog and
consider looking at others and discussing their content, were - forgive the
pun - seeds on stony ground. I don't know if this is because of
disinterest, complacence or a belief that urg will continue into the mists
of time. It won't. Compare it now to what it was just 3 or 4 years ago.
Facebook and Twitter are taking over in a big way and while I do understand
the resistance so many urglers have to that and had it myself, those are
the facts. Newsgroups are dying as a result. Today, I have seen maybe 2
or 3 posts. The weather is filthy, few people are out there gardening,
nonetheless what has happened here. Almost nothing. And, depressingly,
I've received an email from someone who says they rarely look at urg now,
see fewer and fewer posts that interest them and will not be renewing their
NIN sub. After all, people, we can't go on discussing when to harvest
onions or plant potatoes, or lily beetle for ever but that is, indeed, what
is happening.

So, I suppose that what I'm saying is that urg has two choices, either look
at fresh material, such as blogs or posts on Twitter from some very expert
gardeners, nurserymen, seedsmen, journalists and discuss them here, or
simply fade quietly into oblivion. If what the majority choose is the
latter, that's fine. It's happening right now, imo and I'm very sorry to
see it. But if the majority want urg to survive, we do have to think about
the big wide world that has overtaken newsgroups. Really, we do. Before
I'm attacked by the usual suspects, I'd like to say that, either way, it
won't affect me that much, personally. I'll be sorry to see urg go but as
long as I can keep in touch with the friends I've made here, it won't be
the wrench it would have been a very few years ago. If the majority is
determined to turn its head away from gardening blogs, for example, so that
we have fresh material to discuss, so be it. How many more years can we
discuss when to harvest runner beans or plant garlic?


I agree that Newsgroups appear to be fading away quite quickly now, I posted
to another Ng a few days ago a technical question that 3 or 4 years ago
would have had probably more than 10 knowledgeable replies by now, but I've
had nothing at all.
My understanding is that the old hands have gone to Forums instead but they
don't appear to be my sort of thing from those that I've seen and tried, too
disjointed somehow. I tried one again yesterday to try to get an answer to
my question but didn't like it at all. What they see better there than on
Newsgroups beats me.
I came off Facebook because I saw nothing in it only dire security defaults
which most don't seem to understand or even care about, even parents with
children don't seem to concern themselves. Having friends might have helped.
:-(
As for Twitter it sounds like a Tower of Babel which would not be my cup of
tea but I suppose I'll have to try it sometime. Perhaps I'll get into it,
millions seem to.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK