Wow!

[smarty2]

First time I have EVER been on these forums when there has been no registered users and only 1 guest (which is me) on-line since I joined way back in 05! Are we seeing a decline in the sites use since workshop? Or is that wild speculation or is everybody still in bed!?

[lenfish]

Or is that wild speculation..........

Correct(hopefully).

Regards,

Len

[Easilyconfused]

Some of us had been on for the first visit of the day and left to do other things by that time. There are not usually many members online when I come in and approve any posts needing approving about 8:30 on a Sunday.

[stephenholmes]

Good afternoon everyone
I have been aware for some time now that the members of UKTS who post on the forum have been in steady decline
I don't post as often as I used to do
Perhaps the reason is because there are other outlets now Facebook Twitter etc etc both of which I dont use
I think quite a number of forums are struggling including trainsim.com
Kind regards Stephen

[smarty2]

That may be the case John, but it was the first time I had noticed this in 8 years.

[gavo01]

Perhaps the reason is because there are other outlets now Facebook ,Twitter, etc.

Add the countless amounts of new websites that are popping up everyday as well.

The internet is an ever expanding virtual shopping outlet. Whilst I'm still present on here I'm not as frequent on other sites and I guess I can only visit a certain amount of vitual shops and bars in my spare time.

[TransportSteve]

First time I have EVER been on these forums when there has been no registered users and only 1 guest (which is me) on-line since I joined way back in 05! Are we seeing a decline in the sites use since workshop? Or is that wild speculation or is everybody still in bed!?

Correct, seeing as though I didn't climb into mine until 4.00 am.......

Have a nice day everybody.

Cheerz. Transport Steve.

[Retro]

Good afternoon everyone
I have been aware for some time now that the members of UKTS who post on the forum have been in steady decline
I don't post as often as I used to do
Perhaps the reason is because there are other outlets now Facebook Twitter etc etc both of which I dont use
I think quite a number of forums are struggling including trainsim.com
Kind regards Stephen

I agree with Stephen on this one. Many members just seem to have gone silent.
Kind regards James.

[smarty2]

Its a shame and no mistake, this place used to be very vibrant, RW's section any road, wonder exactly what the reason is? Don't think it's this do you? http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 1&t=112647

[ashgray]

No, I don't think the libel stuff has anything to do with it (it's been in force for over two years anyway). These things tend to go in swings and roundabouts fashion.

Anyhow, since I've been off work (hip replacement), my "natural day" has shifted so far back, I've almost become nocturnal. I've logged on many times at around 03.00 to find that the only other creatures onlines are a group of bots - and that's spooky!

Ash

[stephenholmes]

Good evening everyone
i agree with Ash ref the so called libel thread not being the cause of forum members dwindling in number
There has been a general malaise for some time now and it also affects the American site
It is difficult to pin point an actual reason hopefully it doesn't mean people losing interest in the hobby
Kind regards Stephen

[TransportSteve]

Yeah, Ash is right, that infamous posting is yonks old, I don't think anybody would stop coming on the forum now because of that, anyway, this forum is also open to lots of other simulator fans, FlightSim, Shipsim, Trucksim, MSTS, OR, etc, etc, I'm sure everyone is busy doing other things, it's now Spring and time to get out into the garden, oooooh, better hold those thoughts otherwise the grass will start to grow again and the lawnmower is still in hibernation.....

Cheerz. Steve.

[martinhodgson]

The nature of simming has changed. I joined here a long long time ago (longer then my stats say, as I was here before the PhpBB forum) ~~~~~ (wavy lines); whilst a few of the people who joined around the same time are still here there are a large number who are not. A lot of newer members have got involved of course, but the dynamic of both the forum and simming has altered and evolved. Back then UKTS was the only real option following the demise of UKTrainSim, since then other sites have sprung up, some members have gone on to work commercially and others have simply lost interest and dropped out. Some are yet to transition to RS/RW. I personally have lost the level of interest I once had so visit less often.

I don't think you could pinpoint the changes on any one thing. The rise of social media seems to be having an effect on a lot of forums like this as people don't need them in the same way; things change and alter and nothing will last forever.

[smarty2]

Well I did put a question mark, yes I guess the methods of communication are evolving and since RSC and Steam have their own methods most people will migrate to those, pity; will I be the only one posting to myself in a few years? Steve I wish you wouldn't use such foul language!!! lawnmowers, indeed!

[rufuskins]

It's now just over 5 years since I joined UKTS and up until January of this year I was a regular visitor and contributor, as I saw this forum as a means of not only sharing my MSTS interest with others but also as an alternative social media that allowed virtual friendship to develop with other like minded individuals.

In the first years this was exactly how my experience panned out with interesting topics - both rail and non-rail related - being experienced. However with the demise of MSTS2, the rise of the other sim and the advent of Open Rails the basic tenet of UKTS started to change. During 2012 my perception of the culture and style of the UKTS operation suggested that it had significantly changed, including the loss of many of the well known and respected moderators.

Personally I did not feel comfortable in that changed culture and style and hence my reduced contribution here, and my increased interest in TSSH.

I am grateful for the help and advice that I received from UKTS in the early years, for without it I may have moved on to an alternative leisure pursuit, and it still provides one of the best repositories for MSTS UK related downloads.

I will continue to look in on UKTS but mainly I will only show up as a "guest".

Alec