what's going on now?!!

Nobody should assume they know why forum usage is declining, is all I'm saying. This looks like the worst kind of problem-solving method (guesswork).

I think the plain look of these forums puts off the lovers of pretty and colourful interfaces and they never stay to appreciate and enjoy the advantages in speed and versatility that the WebX forums have beneath this utilitarian surface.

> It isn't at all clear that the format has anything to do with any declining use - is there any evidence that this is so?

Well, there was the whole business of the Syntrillium forums being amalgamated with these - I think their howls of protest about being forcibly dragged away from a modern-looking forum (as was 5 years back) to this format may still be online somewhere, and I'll have a look tomorrow. Many didn't make the transition and they set up their own modern-style forum which still functions.

I've read through some posts in forums which have moved from other software to Clearspace and generally the issues discussed have related to function rather than form (eg lack of good method of viewing new posts).

I agree with all the fears and concerns stated here.

I am still hoping for a few comforting answers in the other thread: Jacob Bugge, "Just one question about basic performance" #77, 18 Feb 2009 12:58 am

By the way: since this forum design has always been so different from everything else, thanks to John, it should appear as a brand new far out future grown up hardcore clean no nonsense look to newcomers; as it still does to us.

Also, a large number of users of the ex-MM forums seem to prefer to use a newsreader. Has anyone considered why that might be so, before adopting some of the features we see 'over there' ?

No, Oz, sorry but I don't agree. It isn't at all clear that the format has anything to do with any declining use - is there any evidence that this is so? It seems to me to be be folly to try and fix a problem by twiddling with something that may or not be the cause.

If you have a problem, it's not sensible to take a wild stab at the possible cause and roll your sleeves up to change something that may have no bearing at all on the problem.

I do understand that this format/system can't cope with absorbing all the forums for newly-Adobe applications and may need to change. But what do you do if you change the appearance and functionality - and forum use goes on declining? Try something else?

I'd be interested in a digest of replies to the survey, which I vaguely remember filling in. I don't even remember if I thought the most important questions were being asked, it's a while back ;)

> I also take issue with the notion that if forum use is declining, the format of these forums is in any way to blame. They have been like this for years and years - why would the layout suddenly start discouraging people? There's no logic to that.

Well, you spelt out the logic yourself, Kath - "They have been like this for years and years". Meanwhile, forum software all across the net has been developing into a much more graphical interface (or graphic-full) and that's why this place is starting to look olde worlde - emphasis on "look" rather than "function", I admit.

A single day without at least a few posts would be unheard of, inconceivable in the Ps Macintosh forum.

Never mind, I had missed the reference to "page 2" in Freeagent's post. My bad.

I also take issue with the notion that if forum use is declining, the format of these forums is in any way to blame. They have been like this for years and years - why would the layout suddenly start discouraging people? There's no logic to that.

The answer to the search problem has been mentioned many times - just install Google search.

I'll judge the efficiency of the new forums by comparing it to the speeds of this place when it's running at its best.

2-3 second page loads, maximum, through a very stable & robust Comcast 6 Mbps connection perhaps faster if one's hardware has more horsepower than my stuff.