The Board

I noticed a few days ago that I almost never had any urges to bring up the RCB and read it. Or respond, obviously. In fact, I think it's been a week or more since I reviewed the recent posts, and initially I was puzzled. Why the lack of interest? A couple of days ago I received an email from a long time poster, and someone with whom I've had communication over the many years we've been 'hanging around' together. He also commented that the activity level was down, and wondered why. I'd like to comment on this subject, although I'm sure that most of you have thought about it a bit, and come to similar conclusions.

First of all, I don't like the 'new' board format. I don't really know why, other than the reality that it seems to be too busy for an old man like me, who was so accustomed to the familiar, more simple format.

Two, there aren't enough posts to actually get interested. We simply aren't here in decent numbers, or at least not posting in decent numbers. There is no controversy, no 'opinions' that always stimulate discussion. Odd, considering the team we've got this season.

Even today, there is really nothing to discuss. Corpus is brilliant, as always, and Asteroid is too. But that's it. I thought about responding to either or both, but why? What can I add? I can't insult Kong, because I'm getting too mellow, and he almost never posts. I have gone to the 'other' board, just to check out what is going on there, and again, empty space. The discussions are vacuous and often immature, with an occasional bout of interesting stuff, but basically not much of anything. So I'm wondering if we are in the 'end times' of this kind of forum. Are we? If not, how about somebody actually posting something interesting that elicits conversation and debate? I will start, but I've got a bad feeling about our future, but I'm an optimist and maybe we can re-light the fire we've had going for all these many years.

Thanks for posting -- I was missing you. Allow me to offer another perspective:

I was devastated when we lost the last board. Thanks to Don's RCC giant email list we kept in touch about the possibility of Dave establishing a new board. When I heard the news a temporary board was up until a new permanent board could be established I felt very relieved. I raced to the temp. board and tried to contribute.

Then the new board launched (thanks again Dave). Yes, there was a little down time learning the "ins and outs" of this new format, but I was appreciative of the opportunity to register as Bayhawk (sans the "er") and customize my profile (although I do miss my John Brown avatar). Seeing "old friends" post on the new board was, for me, similar to a reunion at the Red Cross shelter after a 7.5 magnitude destroys a little northern California town. It will take a while to get back up to speed, but we are on our way . . . .

Which brings me to your point Peter, as one of the "cheerleaders" on the sidelines of KU hoops (unsurpassed in school spirit but little real basketball acumen) on this board I learn a GREAT deal here. The game is so much better for me because of posters such as Corpus, Asteroid, HE, Hairy, Kong, and you.* This board however, also serves as a social hang-out to keep in touch with people I'll probably never meet (excepting LKF and Mom) but touch base with weekly. My posts are almost exclusively for "social lubrication" and humor. I like to think of myself as the garlic in our Rock Chalk Board salad; certainly not a main ingredient, but missed when it's not there. For me the board is the Jayhawk community I can not find in "real life." Also, I get more KU news from this site than everywhere else combined (thanks to posters such as Dave, HE, et. al.*).

Hang in there Peter, if I'm the garlic, I think you might well be the anchovy in the Cesar dressing,

--RC

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*There are others to be sure.

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Hey Peter, so glad you posted. You echoed some similar thoughts I have had. I am a bit perplexed why the posts and traffic are down. I know the amount of time and effort Dave has put in to getting this board up and running in such a fine fashion. I felt somewhat compelled to contribute as a way of showing my appreciation for his efforts, and I do have tremendous appreciation for his efforts. When the traffic level was obviously lower than seasons past I found myself very curious as to why. I assumed in some part it was momentum and the normal resistance to adapt to change. But as time went on that did not seem to adequately explain the lower traffic. I have grown accustomed to the new format with the exception I liked having the cascading title of all posts on the screen. It seems like many of the stalwarts like Konza, HE and others have largely abandoned the board and that is a bit sad for me. Between the RCC, the DPPI and maintaining my database of Jayhawk stats, I spend a significant amount of time and money on this hobby. I do it simply because it is my hobby and I enjoy it. But part of the joy of this particular hobby is sharing it with others. This season the sharing is pretty close to non-existent. As you mentioned, the traffic on this board is exceedingly low and I have gotten a record few emails relating to the RCC this season. I am feeling much like I did back before the internet when I was stranded down in Corpus Christi, TX about 1 million miles from things Jayhawk. You may be right about the waning of this type of forum. If true, that is depressing, at least for me. Maybe it is just that people's lives are more hectic these days. Heck, I don't know but I agree with you completely that this board is at a low ebb.

I know what you mean, I can hardly build up enough interest to reply.

I'm not a big fan of the format either, but understand that Dave has his own priorities and time crunches. Part of the problem may be that I've been using an old laptop for the last 10 days and it takes a while to load the pages. Dave has posted so much lately, I'm guessing the format really helps him.

As for me, my life has been rotten for several months now so it's hard to get worked up over basketball. I've got at least 3 games DVR'd at my "home" that I haven't had time to even watch. I watched the last game from my (other) home on a tablet. Life has conspired to lessen my interest and activity in Jayhawk basketball-related stuff. Maybe that will change with the advent of the league season.

RC

Senex -Happy 2016 and great to see your post

I agree, the board does seem very quiet. I wasn't on the giant email list, so had to track it down after the old one died.
I preferred the old format too. Am puzzled at the lack of posts, general housekeeping by a couple of the former stalwarts.
Maybe the posts will pick up starting tomorrow, when the games actually matter. IMHO, the non-conference schedule lacked a lot to be desired (except MSU, which we lost).
Thanks to Dave for getting the board back in operation. I have looked at other boards and they are mostly juvenile at best.

Some may still be lost, some may have seen the board disappear and never looked again.

But I think most are upset and silent because blowing a second half lead to Sparty ruined our perfect season. And make NO mistake about it, the Jayhawks are running the table. So it is written, so it will be done.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU.

I am hoping for some wisdom from Eyehawk or NWGreybeard to make this really great. In the mean time I will keep hoping the hawks play well. Our mix of inside an outside scoring along with the 2 point system of Frank and Devonte makes this team strong against pressure. Hopefully we can continue to play well. Unfortunately, I have found entering text directly in the web site is tough.

RC

I was but a mere "lurker" when Eye and NWG, HawkExile, VAJayhawk....I know there are lots more former RCBers and now their "handles" escape me....were regularly posting. Regardless, I still enjoy reading everyone's posts. I don't mind spirited discourse; but I am grateful that this is a place to chat and voice an opinion and hateful nastiness doesn't exist and would not be tolerated.

AND if I want some "heat" I can saunter over to the politics board.

Even the trolls just fade away after a couple of attempts to raise the Board's ire.

As someone mentioned it may be that the non-conference season hasn't "grabbed" us. Even Wheaty's mom isn't rabid yet! And that woman BLEEDS Crimson and Blue! Of course, she's missing a number of games because her cable provider doesn't carry all the games. Quote: I don't care about Wichita state! Why do I have all these Wichita State games on my tv? Nobody up here cares about Wichita State girls or boys!"). Well she's not yet rabid about her Jayhawks.

Once again, many thanks Dave and moderators for providing a place to hang out "where everybody knows your name." And those of us who aren't good at the X's and O's enjoy learning; and I continue to be grateful that I am allowed to play in this sandbox, too!

WSG

I am with Senex in the format is more than I want to deal with , I think. For whatever reason it doesn't seem as easy to use and I have to wade thru ads interspersed in the threads. Plus I am working more hours and working more horses so finding time to wade through it all just isn't there.
I am home sick today so am excited about watching the game instead of listening

The ad in the very middle of the page sure is annoying . . .

RC

I suspect that is the point. And we can't ignore it. If we see it more than 100 times, it will make it's impact. You're the psychologist, and you know exactly what they are doing. I imagine that the middle of the page ad costs more, too.

This might be unrelated to this topic, but as a 3-year season ticket holder, I've felt a certain amount of "downness" even in the barn this season. For example, at several games, there was barely an effort at the traditional Rock...Chalk...Jay...Hawk...KU chant in the final couple of minutes. It even prompted my son and me to wonder if the ritual is dying out. Maybe we're feeling ho-hum with all the "easy" wins...

I have to say that even here in New England, there is little excitement about college basketball. UConn normally sucks up all the 'air' but they get a lot of love in most years. This year there is almost nothing. I think that the confluence of all of the major sports except baseball is beginning to wear away at the basketball situation. We've got the NFL coming to a conclusion, college football with one huge game left, the NBA and NHL in their early stages, and the national election on the horizon. Add in Isis, etc., and at this point college fans may be simply distracted.

Whatever the reason(s), great topic with nice participation in the thread. Thanks for raising the topic,

RC

1. I hunted for the board when it went down.
2. I pay the Slant and just about given up.
3. I belong to one other pay to belong financial investor board that I spend hours on. It has lost members even though like this one I find value.
4. I signed up for Twitter this last year and by following certain people and groups get a lot of Jayhawk info very rapidly.

My guess is that Twitter etal., are biting into the this and other boards.
And the now board takes getting use to and I still have not figured it out on my cell phone.

Any way I am here and will be and thanks to Dave.

We just don't handle change well.

Tho I will admit the ad is a bit tilting and the post numbering drives me nuts. Would rather it be the number of the post in the thread and not the total number of posts.

As long as I have the recent topics option so I can get to new posts easily....I'm good.

I get tickled at some of the ads I get...... "The board" seems to know I spend a LOT of time shopping and window shopping!

Once I knew how to keep scrolling past the ads to more postings......

I come here to relax, and to get insight on the games; and I'd miss you all if I didn't check in.

Rock Chalk!