Eh, I can remember right-track and I having this same conversation when I stepped down. I can remember prior to that having the same conversation with other mods. Even back in early 06 when a lot of the 05 regulars left everyone was saying the site sucked. It's just change. Everyone needs to chill out though, because the important thing is I'm back.

I stepped down because I was showing up to do work, dragging myself here, and becoming more and more burned out so that when I did come, it was exhausting to approve journals and hunt spam, I didn't even think about posting.

The site could focus more on music, certainly, but its not declining because of the Mods. As a Mod you can't contribute as well. Otherwise, I'm fine.

I just made a huge post on what I consider to be the rights and wrongs of MusicBanter today.
When I'd finished and read it back, I couldn't even be bothered to hit the 'Submit Reply' button.
Not because I don't care, but because it won't make a blind bit of difference.
MusicBanter hasn't really changed in the five years I've been here.

Members come and go. The dynamics change. That's about it!

People leave this site for all kinds of different reasons, but when you see members who have been here for years start to become jaded and disinterested, then you know you have a problem.
I know some of the new members here won't particularly share, or even care about this point of view, but if they they stick around long enough, sooner or later they'll want to see changes for the better.
While we have an Admin that doesn't care about music, or the members here...it ain't ever gonna happen.

A previous Admin who I gave a rather hard time, once told me that these boards belonged to it's members and they make it what they want it to be by the threads and posts they create.
To a large extent this is true, but ultimately I believe this to be a cop out.
It's not until you've moderated this site do you realise what a thankless task it is.
Especially when your efforts to develop MB for the benefit of it's members are hindered by the very people you're working for.

I wonder how long it will be before another moderator and long standing member steps down for these very reasons?
I wonder how long it will take before the current Admin realises that by listening to the members that care about this site is actually in their own interest?
I wonder how long it will be before some of those long standing members set up their own site, taking most of the members here with it?

Y'know, it might just be me, but doesn't anyone else think that winter always seems to coincide with a lot of these types of conversations?

And secondly, I know all the mods recently have stepped down for their own reasons, but it does seem to be quite a lot of people switching places. Are we experiencing collective winter burnout because people are inside more, seeing more of the forum regulars and getting bored of each other, thus causing more arguments and more mod work, etc?

^^

Some great points there. Yes it is only a forum and yes there is a real world out there but MB is something special. I have searched the web for other forums and nothing comes close to what MB is and indeed could be.

It is a rare site that has really knowledgeable members whilst remaining relatively elitist free but as I and David have said, when this many mods step down and don't contribute as much then there has to be something in that.

Everything is about progress and when you see precious little of that, it's a shame.

Don't people realise that some of the bitching is because we DO actually care about the site and not a veiled swipe at the current members?

^ Behold! The end of days.

PREPARE FOR RAPTURE

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Listening to: Elemental and Tom Caruana - [Rebel Without Applause #06] Pay me a visit (with Count Bass D) [foobar2000 v1.0.3]

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Oh heeelll yes. I am sooo stoked you're back. You're like the man. I remember you being so welcoming to me when I first joined.