Most of the forums' activity seems to be in spam/chat sections... why?

[baki]

Every time I come to AA, the first thing I see is that spam/chat section is the busiest. I don't see any fresh posts in FCs, or series discussions (even for series that are still being aired). It feels like AA is growing in size and complexity, and losing the sight of its purpose. When I first joined, it was almost geeky with anime-related talk, and good links, but now it feels like... new users come here because of the anime theme, but activity is anything but anime-related. Yeah, a bit of news here and there, posted by NewsBot, but real users just don''t talk about anime any more.

One of my favorite discussions was about the different art styles, genres and storylines in different series. I can't even find it any more.

Sorry for the rant... but it was a lead-up to the question I'd like to pose: What is it that prompts people to go to spam/chat and talk about stuff unrelated to anime? Is it the proliferation of rules (no gravedigging, use the search function, don't post one-liners, don't flame, etc.)? Or is it because you'd rather look elsewhere for real information or real discussions?

Please post and let me know!

[RighteousRob]

Baki! I remember some very in depth discussions about the ghost in the shell series with you. Different strokes for different folks..

On to point, with numbers much can get lost in the flow, and paying attention to details is difficult. Initiating a thread like this helps change direction

[Ame]

Baki, it's good to see you back and actively posting good threads. :) We're with you on this one. Unfortunately, I don't see the forum as being that active, so I tend to shy away from posting because no one else seems to be posting anything of interest or substance. By doing this, I'm not exactly helping with the contribution to the site. Also, I'm not that good at creating threads... and the ones I've created, haven't seemed to pick up the pace in the forum.

Not to mention, I haven't had my computer for three solid months. :D Now that it's back, I can contribute more. I've stuck to the debate section in the past because I find that the topics are more relative to what I have to say. I too however, wish that the actual Anime threads would pick up. I'd be glad to join you in a Ghost in the Shell thread any time. :) I'll try to post more, now that I have the free time and the resources. Hope to see you around! :D

[baki]

Baki! I remember some very in depth discussions about the ghost in the shell series with you. Different strokes for different folks..

On to point, with numbers much can get lost in the flow, and paying attention to details is difficult. Initiating a thread like this helps change direction

Yeah, RR, a lot happened in the last 5 years. Some ppl moved on. One thing I learned about initiating change - you do have to have enough ppl willing to go along with you, if your efforts are to bear any fruit. But, I'm glad to see you're still around. Maybe I should start a thread to prompt ppl to use references to the series that they've seen. One reason I enjoyed this site so much - I could discuss real-life situations and use anime as a reference point. You know how Shakespeare is sometimes quoted in the context of some love comedy? Sometimes the references are apt, sometimes they are hilariously out of context. And in these forums, I'm looking to do the same thing, but use anime instead of Shakespeare.

@Yoko: Yeah, I'm with you on restarting the GITS thread, but with the tight grave-digging rules, it would take awhile to create a new rules-compliant thread. And, as an aside - glad your computer is back XD!

And as for picking up the activity on a thread - it's kind of hard to make certain things sound attractive and simple enough for the current user base at AA. Younger users usually don't like too many rules, and when burdened with too many, they flock to where the situation is simple. Just the way I see it.

[Ame]

Well to my knowledge they've been a bit lenient on the gravedigging rules, with the exception of good conversation, ofc! Sometimes we re-open threads in the debate section. Some members check with DG or Skull first though, and from what I've seen they've given the OK at some points. But again... there can't be any spamming etc.

I agree with you on what type of members are attracted to different conversations. A lot of the time, my favourite 80's or 90's anime can only be chatted about with older users, because the new users aren't watching any of it, due to the age group (13-19). Most of them haven't even seen the classics, and most of them watch popular shows, not necessarily intellectual shows. It's hard to connect when people aren't interested in the same things. That's why the threads go untouched. >:

This is the slowest summer I've seen on the forum. Usually it's booming with Americans, because they don't have school right now and are on vacation. COME BACK, MEMBERS! >:

[baki]

After what you said, Yoko, I'm beginning to better understand the complaints from baby boomers and Gen-X'ers that "Young people just don't read!". Earlier generations spent a lot of time reading, and were exposed to stories that were hot shit to them. Those stories are the conversation material for them. People in our age group have a very different pile of conversation material (GITS, Kimagure Orange Road, GTO, etc.) than baby boomers/Gen-X'ers (Hemingway, Salinger, Conan Doyle) or the younger crowd (Naruto, Dragonball, and similar stuff). So, because different age groups have different piles of conversation material, it becomes difficult to have an intelligent conversation with someone who is much older or younger than you are.

[ljetibo]

or the younger crowd (Naruto, Dragonball, and similar stuff)

Dragon ball and young crowds? The thing was made like in 1985, which constitutes a population 19-27 :D.

While still at the same subject of population aged 19-27, which was when I started manga probably 14-21 years old, has now moved on with their lives. Now I don't mean they don't watch anime anymore but they have no time to post long intellectual nihon-review like posts.
Well just 2 years ago I could spend all afternoon on line ranting-provoking-watching-discussing-arguing-reading-learning anything from movies, music, anime, manga and books (well not books so much), I could spend days writing all about Pain (Naruto, btw started almost 15 years ago! feel old yet?), about different downloading techniques, different techniques for streaming (i.e. proxies) etc.....
This year I'll be lucky if I manage scrounge up 1 month free time so I can go home and I'm only in college.....

well now to that we can easily add couple more years and we have people that are getting their permanent jobs, finding long time g/b/f's, getting married, buying houses, getting kids etc etc.....
I doubt a lot of them has any more spare time to spend browsing the net looking where they could, full of energy and elan, write a review.

There still remains the question of how much new anime they get to watch, I'm still stuck somewhere in 2007 trying to watch all the good ones and not miss out on anything. 2007 was more then 5 years ago which means I still didn't catch GitS 3, Darker then Black 2 (and was there 3rd sequel in 2011? can't remember from the top of my head), Tengen topa gurren lagan the spiral king, and while we're at it sailor moon relieved a remake I still have on my to watch list (and shut up sailor moon is awesome :D).....
and these are just only the ones I know I want to see, what of new titles I don't even know of.....

there are so much of great new anime that spending time commenting on Nausicaa, Kikki's delivery service, Fist of the north star (well in manga form at least), Dragon ball [lol didn't watch too much '80 anime] or any other 1980-1990's anime albeit wonderfully nostalgic is a bit repetitive and/or boring?

[Ryoga]

In answer to your question about the forum, I don't think it's about people not liking the forum or rules, it's just the forum doesn't have as many people as it used to, and the ones that do come usually just post in the groups. Though you might be right about the gravedigging, since most of the threads newbies feel comfortable about posting to are off limits, and even when someone creates a new thread about the same topic, either few post to it, or many do, but it only last for a day or two. Personally I think the spam section is just a fall back place for us to go, because it's fun and relaxing.:)

[Stilzkin]

just to put this back to consideration I do as well think that the forum used to be more active. The only active parts really are spam, general discussion and the mother language threads. Not only the do I think that anime related discussions in general are nowhere to be seen but discussion about newer animes in paricular. we had some FCs going last year for Gosick, STeins Gate and some others, where you could talk a bit, but most of the time it was just one comment per episode...
Problem may be as I see it that the huge majority of the members are mainly watching/ reading the stuff like Naruto and bleach etc. (not that this would be bad, although I personally don`t like them) because it seems that the only discussion going on is on the manga discussion of these series. This "problem" of course can`t have a viable solution as it`s just the members preferences...
Maybe we just need one or two new threads to start anew?^^

[misu]

What would be your suggestions for us to get back our activity?