Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 6,236
- 291
But yeah, forums require a bit of thought. A well-worded question, and then responders must actually think about a response, then type it.
Agree, it is a medium designed to share detailed information. Not only can you format longer responses, but even the ability to arrange threads into different topic categories is something you'd never find on another social platform outside of maybe Reddit. Not been on Discord to see what it looks like. Another huge advantage is forums are searchable from Google. On platforms like FB there is no way for Google to index a page.
Social media platforms are fine from an entertainment standpoint and keeping up with friends/family, IMO, but not someplace I'd go for a serious discussion about any given topic. Whether it's lawn care, smoking meat, or a range of automotive things from detailing to racing, I'll always hunt down a forum first.
I believe this is becoming "too complicated" for this Twitter/Tic-Tok/IG generation. I saw a story recently where not ONE of these kids that were interviewed could actually write a letter, put it in an envelope, purchase a stamp, and find a mailbox to mail it. They had ZERO clue what the interviewer was even talking about..... "What's a Letter??"
And God help us when that skill is lost............
I can't say it's only younger people...I'm a middle-aged, empty nester and I don't use stamps/mail/letters anymore either. I don't think I've actually written a letter which was sent in the mail in 20+ years. I can't remember the last time I bought stamps. My wife buys a book at the grocery store about once/twice a year. 90% of our bill paying is electronic these days. Even those that mail an invoice get paid electronically. The only out-bound mail from our house these days is my wife's invoices for her side-work. We use other things in the place of greeting cards. Mail just doesn't have a purpose like it used too. Heck, checks are the same way. I go so long between writing them these days, I have to think about it as I fill one out. It is usually for something very specific.
In the defense of younger folks, I have a good number of employees who are Millenial and Gen Z. They can write just fine, as can both of my daughters. The writing may be e-mail, a Teams chat, or a PowerPoint briefing. The ability to write is still there, the medium has just moved on from what we knew in our younger years.