"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...

If the non-boaters posting to rec.boats as a political sounding board
disappeared, there would be three or four new threads per day. Maybe, most
days.


Is it really about quantity? I think not, but either way, your memory
appears to be failing you, Chuck. Think back 5-6 years ago, and you will
recall that there were dozens of interesting on topic (or at least
entertaining) threads here daily, posted by an experientially and
geographically diverse group of people. It was a fun and interesting place
to visit and participate for those that had more than a passing interest in
boating. Sadly, the vast majority of people who offered informative content
or terrific entertainment have found other places to spend their leisure
keyboard time, probably where they are more appreciated. What's left is,
for the most part, a huge crashing bore. Christ, even a return by Skip
might be an improvement, and I never thought I'd say that.

The truth is that each of us individually has the opportunity to be part of
the problem or part of the solution. Each can choose to initiate and/or
respond the to the rote, mechanical, polarizing, and unbelievably dull
political horse****, or choose not to. For those that find politics so
interesting (I really haven't the stomach for it), there are certainly
places to find those of like interests.

I'm not exactly sure how this newsgroup became the outstanding community it
was back in it's hey day. I only go back 6-7 years here. But it is quite
obvious how it got to its current decrepit state. A very small handful of
prolific posters have the ability to change the course and tenor of the
group with ease, and mold it to their desires. The rest of us will have
much less impact, but are potential contributors to the well-being or malady
of the group, nonetheless.

We get the newsgroup we deserve, and it would seem that there are a number
of members (for lack of a better word) that like things just as they are.
But to my mind, the group has become very small and oh, so very stagnant.
The cure for that is growth and diversity of posters, hopefully ones with a
genuine interest in boating. But I can see that anybody who stumbles into
rec.boats for the first time, looking for an interesting boating-related
internet experience, would take a quick look and say thanks, but no thanks.
Sort of hard to grow your membership when the vast majority of your content
is completely unrelated to the title of the group. Add to that the number
of interesting former posters that have moved on (for the same reason), and
it's no wonder the group has suffered so.