Is S-B.com losing popularity???

[Mr. Sandman]

I don't track anything but it seems to me that that are alot less active members these days. Is the whole social networking world eclipsing the classic web-site.com world ?

Frankly I am not a fan of face book or any of the social stuff, I find that much to distracting and unnecessary to broadcast my every thought to every friend and friend of friends...it's silly. My kids are into it but I find it a waste of time .

I like sites like this because it is focused.

[The Dad Fisherman]

It is fishing season.....tends to trend busier in the off season

[JFigliuolo]

Yeah, I think it is. I've been using internet groups since usenet back in the day. As web groups came into being usenet mostly died (except for Pr0n). I think that web groups unfortunately will see the same, but not as severe decline. I agree w/ you though about FB/twitter/etc. I've got not interest in them at all.

[BigFish]

I have been losing interest! My daily post count is down from 9 to 8 a day! Seriously it is fishing season and most folks are out fishing or on vacation! Its busy all winter! This place is the best! Made many friends here and continue to make more every day! I love getting together with S-B guys in fact we have a Kayak Peddle/Paddle Fest happening this weekend and I am looking so forward to yak fishing with 6-8 fellow S-Ber's for the first time and the weather looks amazing!! Those other "social networks" are almost strictly online.....where as S-B people actually get together all the time for one function or another many times thru-out the year!!

[Swimmer]

No, just busy .

[JohnR]

Fishing, busy, arguments, facebook, economy (lots of people have lost work or had inconsistant work), families, etc.

From a statistical perspective, we're down 20% in traffic from 3 years ago but we're up 5-10% since this time last year.

[luds]

I don't think so. This site has always been streaky. I'm hiding out so I don't spew to much negativity. This weather bummed me out.

[Mr. Sandman]

John, sounds like SB has some correlation to the stock market... you might be able to make a buck on this

[Thumper]

Nah, guys on here are all reel fisherman. They go out and put their time in. Other sites guys spend more time on them then they do fishing. I spend most of my time on here while I'm sopposed to be working, like right now for example....oopsss
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[stcroixman]

it's fishing season and vacation season

[redlite]

Originally Posted by luds

I don't think so. This site has always been streaky. I'm hiding out so I don't spew to much negativity. This weather bummed me out.

Been wonderin what happened to you.
You refilled the nearly empty gas tank here with your great post a few weeks ago, then disappeared.....at least you put up a fish though.....


People come, people go.
Definately lacking "new blood". been good to see a few new names posting and chatting.

I monitor all the sites, mostly only post here, and the thing I have always appreciated about this site:
1- it isn't convoluted with questions about "what rod/ what reel" questions over and over. There aren't 10 pages of drivle to sort through to every post within 10 minutes.
2- it isn't split up into a million different little board sections. less to weed through.
3- its more local than say NJ, MD, etc...
4- we talk about other things than just fishing/ catching/ "spot burning"
5- we don't crucify people with 10 pages of hate responses to posts.(well, most of the time)
6- we have a wide range of people, from people new to fishin, to people that slam supa cows all the time (Kenny) that are all willing to openly contribute.
7 - easy to navigate
8- most are pretty thick skinned, so you can bust chops with people
9- we have a striper cup team
10- John is wicked cool.
(just had to make up the last 2 with something so my list could be 10 items long.

I have been posting a lot more since I got this crappy job. Helps pass the time. USed to not be able to spend as much time on here as I get to now.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by redlite

9- we have a striper cup team
10- John is wicked cool.
(just had to make up the last 2 with something so my list could be 10 items long.

Originally Posted by redlite

I have been posting a lot more since I got this crappy job. Helps pass the time. USed to not be able to spend as much time on here as I get to now.

Working sucks, dontit?

[spinncognito]

In my six+ years since joining I have not noticed the site losing popularity. Despite my low post-count I still visit just about every day, in season or not. Of course my job has me in front of this puter enough of the day to freely slip in and out of here.

I have met and fished with several of you guys and appreciate the knowledge gained for everything S-B.

Shi ttt... here comes the boss... gotta go...

[DeadlyRichard]

Hey! I'm a new guy that posts a bit and is really enjoying the site. I absolutely hate facebook and twitter etc. I just want to hear/learn/post about fishing. This site works for me because it is helpful and friendly(to a point!) which is how it should be- I'm a grumpy, sarcastic, evil guy and I can appreciate the same in others but I enjoy that this site is more about building a community of like minded people, keeping the sport going, informing everyone about issues that effect our sport AND just goofin' around and ribbin' each other. It's a good mix. I also like that there are get-togethers in the real world based on meeting on this site. Since I missed the last one, I suggest we try a few more(maybe one in RI before it gets too cold to hang out in a parking lot drinkin' beer and shootin' the s#*t. (is it ever too cold for that?!) Or maybe a meet the new guys at a local watering hole night... My goal in life is to be an olde-thyme surfcaster sharpie-salt, a throwback to a more civilized era and I feel that I'm on my way with the help of this site!(if I can keep the cursing to myself.) Cheers and keep up the good work John, et al!

[bassballer]

I lurk and post while at work. Gives me something to do. Usually pop it up on the screen every 45 mins just to see whats going on. I sit at a deskat least 4-5 hours a day. This site and others keep me sane. I enjoy this site because theres actually discussion on here about fishing, tactics, experiences, ect, and usually some decent fish porn.

[bigbuck28]

Im new hear kinda, i lurk in the shadows and just take everything in. I think sites like sol are to blaim for guys not posting anymore. Someone posts a picture of fish there prowd of and everyone craps on them about size or how many they keep. I am going to post more here bc you guys seem like your alright group of guys..

[Raven]

good assessment Bigbuck

[Joe]

Increased competition typically leads to less market share. Like when you and four other people are selling lures online, then later, several hundred other people enter the market.

[MrHunters]

i wonder how much $ has been lost in productivity due to s-b.com

this was the first fishing forum I joined after becoming more serious about fishing and is the one I frequent the most.

[Clammer]

bring back the ledge ///&&&&&&&&&& watch the numbers climb ;;;;;;

or even hooter nights with 10 to 20 guys ,,..., just kep Zac away

[JohnnyD]

I lurked on SOL for about a week. Couldn't stand sifting through pages of crap for any kind of intelligent response.

Came over to here and signed up within a couple of days. Lots of helpful gents, I appreciate that most of the focus is on regions I fish and I've met some pretty good folks through the site.

[ivanputski]

I used to check some of the other sites from down south, and I noticed that the other sites, as mentioned, are jam packed with dummies, asking questions that could be easily answered with a search, lousy attitudes, etc... if sheer numbers and traffic = popularity of a site, I'll take this anyday. And besides, I dont fish in jersey, I dont plan on fishing in jersey, so why the hell would I want to read about jersey and argue with jersey guys? I'd rather have 40 knowledgeable, active fishermen respond to my question than 300 dummies

[bigbuck28]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I used to check some of the other sites from down south, and I noticed that the other sites, as mentioned, are jam packed with dummies, asking questions that could be easily answered with a search, lousy attitudes, etc... if sheer numbers and traffic = popularity of a site, I'll take this anyday. And besides, I dont fish in jersey, I dont plan on fishing in jersey, so why the hell would I want to read about jersey and argue with jersey guys? I'd rather have 40 knowledgeable, active fishermen respond to my question than 300 dummies

Absolutly

[JackK]

I joined up a few years ago, before really going on message boards, just to view a pic of a big bass.

Was active on a few other sites before just getting tired of all of the constant know-it-all attitudes. The people who were arguing that an oceanic whitetip was caught from shore was the last straw for me.

I now really just go on this forum and one other. Very little posturing (although a little isn't a bad thing), helpful people, and hoards of great advice. I especially like how the site promotes get-togethers, makes it much more of a community when you know the person behind the name. SB gets in my book.

[johnny ducketts]

wait, you can't catch oceanic white tips from shore?

[Jimbo]

I'm pretty sure I fit in the previously identified category of argumentative dummies from NJ with lousy attitudes, but that really isn't the reason I joined here. I immediately liked the ease of navigating the forums, I like the knowledge and humor imparted here, many of the contacts I've made, and I like that the site overall is well managed and not overwhelming. I mostly lurk here and am on all day, every day I'm at work. It's like a form of therapy being able to step away during the day.

[tattoobob]

I come to this site because John doesn't give out infractions

[Zeno]

to be honest, I suck at fishing, no forum will help me there. What I do like here is different mentality of people. Its almost like a clubhouse, friendly ribbing with a lot of respectful conversations. Some forums are so vicious ,you feel they would criticize Mother Teresa if she came back from the grave.
Is popularity down? Possibly. I don’t think we are looking at this the right way though
Originally every striper nut joined the forums, it was a way to converse, to bull%$%$%$%$ and talk fish. But that was a LOT of people. Now people drop off and are replaced by fresh faces. I don’t think there will ever be enough new fresh faces to make the same type of impact initial surge has created.
I like coming here, its like coming home after dealing with strangers.....plus not too many Yankee fans helps

[Zeno]

Originally Posted by tattoobob

I come to this site because John doesn't give out infractions

you are a walking infraction

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by Zeno

you are a walking infraction

Yeah But