The decline of new memberships here on GMG cannot be attributed AFAIK to the political thread. Let’s face it, the golden age of Internet forums ended several years ago (at least from what I see in other forums here in Spain). On GMG, though, we have steady and healthy traffic of mostly very pleasant, entertaining and sometimes very informative views on music (and sometimes, from members who figure prominently in the politics thread). Let’s not change that.
Some good observations here, especially the
bold part. I often mention GMG to friends (positively) as an example of "old school social media," which at this point, it is. Many people, including me, spend time elsewhere on sites that simply didn't exist at the time GMG appeared. Given the now-intense competition for everyone's online attention (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and dozens of others), it is a bit of a credit to the denizens here that the board has actually lasted as long as it has. I have developed some close friendships as a result of this board.
And a reminder that this board is funded and maintained by a single person, who actually rarely even participates here. And it's not cheap, either: years ago Rob was shelling out around $1,000 annually to keep things going. And privately, Rob sets a great example, too, as a citizen: He participates in helicopter rescue efforts during fires and other calamities. Why he hasn't pulled the plug on GMG years ago is a mystery, but I don't ask, because I'm grateful. (Since it's Thanksgiving, after all.)
My two cents: It's all-too-easy to ignore any thread(s) one wishes. I personally roll my eyes at the threads devoted to a single word, two words, three words, posts in iambic pentameter (OK, that one's a joke), or others. But many people here find those entertaining.
We are moderating the new political thread more quickly, and with a little more liberal use of the "Delete" function. It's not a task anyone likes, and no one will be completely happy with the decisions. (And further, adults should be able to moderate themselves.) But I'd like to think that we're able to negotiate the sometimes tricky balance between tolerance and censorship. Our goal is to have a peaceful community.
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Enjoy Some Music Today™
--Bruce