2

5/20/2015 9:28:50 PM

Quote :

"Of course, 19 year olds don't want to have anything to do with a bunch of late 30s men desperately grasping for their youth - you know, the "I could have made state, if only..." types. The environment becomes more and more hostile (or at the very least, unappealing) to NCSU students. This guarantees not only that there will be no growth, but there will be negative growth. There will be a churn rate for existing users that grows exponentially; for every person that leaves, the community becomes that much less interesting, which makes other users more likely to drop off."

Yeah, I remember when we were painting the tunnel one time and one of the people with us told me that two girls walked by and saw what we painted. The one girl said, "What is the wolf web" and the other girl said something along the lines of, "It's just a website where a bunch of old people in their 30s post."

Also, TWW is out of date because you have to pay to host more than 50 photos. Facebook, Myspace, twitter, photobucket, etc have been allowing people to host an unlimited numbers of photos for many years now. That made TWW obsolete around 2004.

[Edited on May 21, 2015 at 12:42 AM. Reason : .]

5/21/2015 12:40:03 AM

Its like the time someone was outside talking to my room mate in hunters creek (c 2010) and telling him who all lived on the street, the kid pointed at my house and was like "and an older couple live there".

We moved as soon as possible.

5/21/2015 12:46:57 AM

A (2) page TWW thread is something to behold this day and age.

5/21/2015 1:04:11 AM

- Better photo galleries on other sites -- photos have been a killer tech idea for several iterations -- TWW, Facebook, instagram, snapchat
- Facebook
- Mobile

It's not just TWW thats dying -- message boards everywhere are dying and all for the same reasons. It's a dead format (for non-old people). (Curiously, even the NCSU subreddit is dead).

It's not worth the resources to try to revive this place because even large companies are having a hard time reviving message boards.

All of this is without regard to the existing old demographics. Also, kids today are pussies so nothing they are doing is as interesting.

[Edited on May 21, 2015 at 1:25 AM. Reason : .]

5/21/2015 1:21:59 AM

Quote :

"lol, that's not even a TWW thing, is it? It's all over the fucking internet."

No clue, though this highlights what was, to me, one of the other big advantages of TWW: harsh as it is, it's still better than a lot of the other sites where memes like this get generated. Also -- and maybe I'm just old or technologically inept -- I can't fucking read reddit. The way that posts are set up gives me a headache. So TWW has always been the place where I can keep up on all the fun internet things without having to get into 4chan or reddit or whatever else people are doing. Chit Chat is like a fun internet aggregator.

Quote :

"What is the Facebook alternative going to become?"

It's not. Facebook will never allow for the sort of freewheeling talk we can get away with here. It ain't just your grandmother and preacher. It's not just old people paranoia when they tell you: employers will look at your facebook page before they hire you and after. And you can lose your job or opportunities for advancement based on what they see.

Now that everybody has their panties in a bunch over cyberbullying, I suspect even the message board bigshots like reddit will become less fun. One of the advantages TWW still has over sites like that is that we're small. The lunatic housewife who has decided to focus her life's frustration and outrage onto internet meanness doesn't know we exist and thus can't rail against us.

Quote :

"I would speculate that the percentage of users consisting of individuals that are not currently attending NCSU has only gone up with every passing year."

I'm sure you're right, but I don't know that this was inevitable. Had new people been coming in consistently the opposite would have happened -- the old farts would have started to feel unwelcome in a place dominated by kids talking about...whatever the fuck kids talk about these days, I'm the 30 year old we're all decrying.

5/21/2015 4:25:29 AM

GrumpyGOP, the voice of reason.

5/21/2015 6:42:14 AM

man... at this point... i really consider all of yall friends/family...

i mean you still have a couple asshole friends and a couple of those uncles you don't leave the kids alone with... but over all we share a somewhat odd since of humor and i feel like i know all of you.


/creepy sentimental foo1

5/21/2015 7:10:07 AM

Message boards all over have died. There are still some that are popular but I have seen quite a few that I used to frequent and were really popular completely die off. It would probably help if an account was free for non students but the way people use aliases I can see that being a pain.

5/21/2015 8:57:54 AM

Wait some of you joined TWW for the Photo Gallery? The only reason my photo gallery ever expanded beyond the limit was because of:



When I came back to Chit Chat I actually went in and deleted a lot of the photos that showed my face as a precaution for things to come, but now I know that was pointless.

Quote :

"It's not. Facebook will never allow for the sort of freewheeling talk we can get away with here."

I wasn't saying that another large site (compared to FB) could ever exist that allows what goes on here, but I do think hundreds of sites could offer what FB offered in 2004/2005. Basically a site that doesn't contain your parents/grandparents and caters to the young-ish adult crowd (20-35). One of the coolest things about FB during 2005 besides being able to find parties and drugs/alcohol was the fact you could look up who was in your classes to get help. That sort of community completely died on FB and now it really does remind me of a much slicker MySpace of 2005, except much larger. When I say MySpace of 2005, I am talking about the type of people who are on the site vs. FB in 2005.

To people who have been on FB now for over 10 years like I have, does it concern you the amount of pure data the site has on you? I have been waiting for the NSA to kick my door in for the last 5 years or more, haha. I have considered leaving FB multiple times because of the amount of data that dates back into years I am not proud of. However there is no real reason to do it because FB never actually deletes the data they hold on you nor do the applications (if you use any, I don't). Also in this day and age it is almost impossible to expand the amount of people you know without being on FB. Every time you meet someone new, especially hot women, they ask you if you are on FB. Well actually that is a lie. They used to ask you that, but now everyone just assumes unless you live in a dumpster you must be on FB and even then you COULD be on FB..

It really is sad when public perception of privacy is trumped by what is cool or really what is needed. I use script blockers and all sorts of shit so that I never see a single ad on FB, but that doesn't help my privacy in any way. The only real way my privacy is any better than the average Joe is by using "private" links vs. the FB links that track everywhere you go. I also block google-analytics, but I always feel like at the end of the day that really just cuts down on spam, not improves privacy.

So, has anyone actually left FB because of how much we have our asses out on that site?

5/21/2015 10:45:19 AM

It's just not mobile friendly.

5/21/2015 10:56:22 AM

Can each of you define what mobile friendly means to you? Because I've never had a problem with it on mobile.

Do you just want enormous text/menus?

5/21/2015 11:01:42 AM

Quote :

"It's not just TWW thats dying -- message boards everywhere are dying and all for the same reasons."

While recently trying to search the internet for solutions to issues I'm having with my truck truck (e.g. why does this particular fuse keep blowing in my car?), I keep finding forums discussing the issues from around 2010. i haven't found many recent forum posts.

5/21/2015 11:04:35 AM

Must be a shitty truck, my Third Gen forum is still as active as ever.

http://www.thirdgen.org/forums/

5/21/2015 11:26:29 AM

yeah because if people still dig 3rd gen camaros the latest and greatest isn't really one of their priorities.


Lets compare a demographic that can't hardly use the internet to one that is compelled to be on the cutting edge of technology all the time.

5/21/2015 11:35:43 AM

It's a Formula Firebird!!

Plus, their mobile site is excellent

5/21/2015 11:40:56 AM

Honestly I think facebook was the death of message boards.

5/21/2015 12:03:55 PM

I disagree. I have probably learned 2% or less on FB compared to what I have learned on various forums.

If you are trying to get help or give help, you can't replace a forum. The most obvious example of this would be for communities like computer hardware/software (OCN, Guru3D, XtremeSystems, etc) or HiFi communities (Head-Fi, AudioKarma, WhatHiFi, etc.). Facebook can never even get close to replacing examples like these.

Now a general use forum, sure.

5/21/2015 12:25:17 PM

^ car clubs too..

5/21/2015 1:05:51 PM

There are hundreds of categories that this applies to, I just threw out two examples of forums that I am on. I doubt the Furries community would flourish on FB, haha.

5/21/2015 1:12:54 PM

Quote :

"Can each of you define what mobile friendly means to you? Because I've never had a problem with it on mobile. Do you just want enormous text/menus?"

+1

The TWW mobile experience is not what's responsible for the lack of activity around here...

5/21/2015 1:27:57 PM

I learn most of my car stuff on message boards, but it seems like a lot of the younger people just go to the facebook groups and post questions instead of using the boards.

5/21/2015 1:42:49 PM

^Yeah I do the same thing with fishlore. We all share our aquarium experiences with each other and help solve problems.

5/21/2015 2:47:26 PM

mobile - i find I have to constantly zoom in and out just to be able to read the thread titles but then the page doesn't fit on my screen. I have no idea what goes into developing a mobile version of a website, but there could be lots of improvements. I definitely would check the site more often because i browse the internet with my phone about 80 percent of the time these days while i'm not at work. (and when I'm at work, i generally avoid tww in case there is inappropriate content that could be connected with my work computer)

5/21/2015 4:24:36 PM

I am not prepared to let TWW die

you sick fucks have been my internet bros for like 12 years

5/21/2015 4:56:33 PM

I'll be honest even though the user base has diminished and it seems that dedicated troll accounts are more prevalent (or at least more visible to me when i post) I do enjoy the quirky and diverse nature of the folks on here... and sometimes I act stubborn etc but i really do find the different viewpoints a source of contemplation.

5/21/2015 5:27:19 PM

reddit

5/21/2015 6:23:56 PM

I feel like this thread should have some type of music playing.

5/22/2015 10:02:19 AM

agreed with needing a mobile version, though im not sure if it will actually attract new users

i suppose if there is an actual app you can download, then maybe?

5/22/2015 10:21:28 AM

Facebook has all the photo storage that TWW was used for.

[Edited on May 22, 2015 at 11:24 AM. Reason : ds]

5/22/2015 11:23:23 AM

What is up with yall and photos? Do you think I could post this on FB?



The whole point of TWW was saying, showing and seeing things you can't elsewhere. If I want to see pictures of babies and food recipes I will look at FB. If I wanted to see something outside of the cookie cutter mold, I look on TWW.



[Edited on May 22, 2015 at 11:36 AM. Reason : _]

5/22/2015 11:34:16 AM

Now, TWW is just a place I go occasionally when I need to post something that I can't post anywhere else. Like weddings are fucking stupid and a waste of money. If i posted that on facebook, then people would be all offended and shit. Sometimes I come if I need to find a good tailor or something local. The content isn't what it used to be. It also seems really negative, but that might be just because stopped coming here as often. Grumpy is really the only reason I comeback for any real content and usually feel guilty because I don't have anything to add to his posts. I just enjoy reading them, which seems unfair to him.

5/22/2015 12:25:06 PM

You know how I know that BlackDog is back? I do my log on and search for my name and I have a new entry!

Now, I'll be back either tomorrow or in a couple of weeks to search again, and maybe post again!

5/27/2015 8:57:20 PM

i was suspended...a month ago? i was annoyed about 2 days in because i wanted to respond to something in tech talk...but when i couldn't, i quit coming here (and i know y'all missed me soooooooo much)

i remember tww existed today and logged in and discovered i was unsuspended...so that was a nice little surprise

but the fact that i could go a month and forget about this place speaks to its lack of usefulness...there's very little that tww offers that i can't find better somewhere else in communities with more knowledgeable people (ie. if i have a car question, i can go to mazda3revolution...phone/android questions i'll go to XDA, camping i can go to whiteblaze)

i didn't even bother to use my alias...it wasn't worth typing in a different user name and password

[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 9:13 PM. Reason : oh, and yeah...reddit...tww is dying slower than i expected, but dying nonetheless]

5/27/2015 9:12:41 PM

What a great thread, Blackdog.

I wonder the same thing- a lot. I try to post on here from time to time just to keep one foot in it. I've tried to hang on just for the sake of hanging on. This site used to be what I checked on before I got in to Facebook. I've always loved the people I've met on here, even the haters. I think I've really established my character on here, and even though I've got a lot of haters, it keeps me coming back to stir shit up from time to time.

I've met so many people on this website, and I'm still friends with a lot of them. Sawahash is one of my good friends to this day, in fact. Grace, a girl's name, escorted my mother down the isle at my wedding day for Pete's sake.

The internet catapults us in to an information age, no news there. However, with this in mind, websites much change, develop, and grow constantly to keep up with the change of interest and trends of internet interest. This website looks exactly like it did 10 years ago- certainly that has to be a part of it. Why would a freshman at NCSU want to join a website that looks like something from when they were 8 years old? Would you join a website that had an AOL interface?

Also, the assholes on here now are stupid and ignorant. At least the angry assholes that were active on this board 10 years ago were intelligent and had a future/career. These days, the assholes are druggies and have addictions to opiates. 10 years ago we had drug addicts active on the site, but they brought entertainment and information to the conversation. Granted, we've lost a couple of these characters along the way due to these addictions- but they weren't blindly angry at strangers. Now, the elders of the site roll their eyes at the ignorant comments the rookies drop when they are trying to be cool. Nobody in their 30s thinks someone in their early 20s is clever, funny, or cute. People in their 20s are young, green, and ignorant- for the most part. Atleast, that's what I've seen.

5/27/2015 9:47:21 PM

The old web design doesn't bother me. I get pissed off at my bank and espn.com every time they change their layout. I still use it for the same thing everytime it changes.

5/27/2015 10:21:12 PM

^^oh you know grace irl? I went to HS with him and have gone floating down the neuse with him and he plays kickball with one of my other friends (etc)

[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 11:01 PM. Reason : Mr Grace]

5/27/2015 11:01:00 PM

It might have been said but I'm going with Facebook, but only because it ties you to reality. Back when you could post pictures of parties and yourself naked and bikini contests online it didn't really matter, because even if people knew you they couldn't find you. Now if anybody did that their name would be out almost immediately and then they'd have tons of people who would know where they work, their mom, blah blah etc.

5/27/2015 11:10:15 PM

I like the old web design, maybe the young whipper snappers dont these days, but at least there are no fucking popover ads that autoplay videos and have extremely tiny X buttons.

5/28/2015 1:03:36 AM

^+infinity, seems like every major website has gotten prettier and prettier and more obnoxious and harder to use

hell has facebook really gotten better or worse? ten years ago it was a simple matter to look on someones profile and see what their interests are for instance, now everyones profile is so loaded with 1000 different likes and icons and shit it's impossible to even really tell

5/28/2015 1:16:56 AM

The old-school design is one of my favorite things about TWW. Reddit-style threads are impossible for me to follow. Facebook is a jumble of graphics and information I don't want.


The look is not enough to kill a site, and hell, in plenty of contexts a "retro feel" is an asset. The functionality of the site might have been expanded (or even just maintained) with time, and that might have made a difference.

5/28/2015 4:12:59 AM

Quote :

"How Did TWW Die?"

In short, the quality of the user.

Sure, the site is old, lacks new functionality, is not mobile friendly, has a strange layout, and occasionally causes page load errors, but those things are all negligible and have been around for a long time.

We have users with multiple names who pretend not to be the same person and talk to each other, users who troll others, users who upon finding out there is a new female user berate her when she spurns their advances via PM, the list goes on.

These types of users have existed since the beginning, but they were usually outed by the rest of the community and did not pose a threat, however now it seems that these types of users have grown and consequently caused TWW to go to shit.

There are still some good things about this site though such as tech talk, and I usually come here whenever there is breaking news as this site is generally faster to update than local news outlets.

/just me 2 cents from someone who has been on here a very very long time.

5/28/2015 4:17:42 AM

I really don't get the hate and dread over TWW. I just ignore the dumb fucks that have nothing to do but to troll people, and as Grumpy stated, I find that the format of the board makes it easy to skim, browse, and acquire up to date info. TWW is incredibly efficient at sorting out all of the dogmarific shit from the news that I don't care for, and I think that in part this is due to the fact that we are all like-minded people. Also, whereas FB is an incredibly "me-oriented" type of atmosphere, TWW is community-oriented so to speak. So, if you are having a bad day and looking for something to smile about, you could just make a thread and more than likely people will fill it up with funny shit just because they can.

Also, and on a side note here, one thing that I miss about college and grad school is writing. I don't have to write that much anymore aside from emails and a paper manuscript every once in a while, so it pleases me to think about topics and write about them argumentatively, even if it is just an internet board.

5/28/2015 5:29:58 AM

Quote :

"We have users with multiple names who pretend not to be the same person and talk to each other"

This is a myth created by people who stubbornly refuse to accept that multiple distinct individuals might disagree with their stupid ideas - a myth believed only by people who also believe all the email forwards they get from their grandmother.

5/28/2015 7:01:23 AM

I think it was when professors like GreatGazoo started becoming regulars on here and harassing their students

5/28/2015 8:44:43 AM

Quote :

"but the fact that i could go a month and forget about this place speaks to its lack of usefulness"

actin like ip logs don't exist

5/28/2015 8:50:27 AM

^^ somebody is holding a grudge.

that shit was hilarious.



[Edited on May 28, 2015 at 9:23 AM. Reason : ^ lol i just came back to post exactly that]

5/28/2015 9:00:13 AM

^ LOL

5/28/2015 10:38:56 AM

We all got more sucked into class and what not and didn't feel like reading threads that got substantially more drama based reading and less titty picture based.

Do your part, post more titties.

5/29/2015 9:55:14 AM

set em up

5/29/2015 10:47:14 AM