On 22 Mar 2007 13:59:02 -0700, "salmobytes"
wrote:

On Mar 22, 3:02 pm, wrote:
Troll.

Perhaps my original post was a troll of sorts.
But I didn't see it that way.

I do think what I noticed is an interesting trend.
Usenet is less popular in general, partly due to
the relatively recent proliferation of interactive blogs
and website forums. So maybe that's the explanation.

I'd agree that it's a part of it, sure.

But I doubt it. Google statistics show various
newsgroups rise and fall in popularity, almost like
the weather. But the downward trend on roff is
at least 2 maybe 3 years old and steady, like
a blue run the ski hill, it's all downhill with very
few bumps.

And I'd offer it's what those who have "left" see as the bull****. But
here's the thing, IMO: picture, if you will, a fish camp. There are
30-40 folks sitting around shooting the breeze, and all of a sudden, two
folks decide to start boxing. Neither "jumped" the other, it's mutual
combat, entered into willingly by both parties. Why would anyone feel
"forced" to join in? Watch it if you wish, ignore it if that's more
your taste, and join in if you'd like, but no one is forcing anyone to
choose a option.

Same thing here. Heck, here, if one can't simply ignore the virtual
boxing match, they can literally keep their seat and with a few
keystrokes, put up an electronic wall so that the whole thing is all but
invisible to them.

And of course, there's really not all that much _strictly_ FFing related
that the same 50-100 folks can talk about for years on end, and really,
that'd be boring as hell. IMO, it's natural that everything under the
sun gets at least some coverage.

And I say this knowing full-well my own role in the overall nonsense of
this place - the downright humorless nastiness (and no, I don't mean
Mike) of, um, certain posters may well scare off those with too-thin
skins. Tough **** - wrong as he may or may not be, no one is or can
force anyone to read what they don't want to read, and if they can't
control themselves, that's on them, not ROFF or any poster(s) to it.

TC,
R