Where did all the BTers go? (Page 10)

That's very true. I think everyone in the mentor groups could stand to do a better job of sharing their experiences and what they have learned in TT. I will try to be more proactive about that. 

Actually, this thread has made me realize how much people do care about the personal story and even the more anecdotal part of the process. Granted it needs to be taken in context but it really can be valuable, so long as it is presented correctly. 

Been here for a long time--not as long as some who have posted in this thread.  I don't think the site will ever be what it was in the past.  But it would be nice if it could be more than it seems to be today.  Some (probably random) thoughts:

I have thought there were too many sub-forums for a long time.  I also thought the mentor groups were a good idea the way they were started.  But as 'dedicated chat rooms', I think they detract from the site as a whole.  Many of the people using those groups now may move to FB or another source and never come back.  But over time, BT won't cannibalize itself the way it has in recent years.  It will either develop the content/discussions to survive on its own or it will wither away like other discussion boards have done over time.  It's biggest challenge is that many of the issues mentioned by others in this thread pushed out many participants who helped create much of that content.  At best, it will take time to 're-grow' that capability as new members join and grow in the sport.  But there are just so many more options to get the information today than existed when I stumbled into this site looking for swim help and training advice as I began the journey to my first tri.  The capability may never grow back in the same way.  Don't really have any great advice but I think getting rid of some sub forums is a start.  I think the mentor groups need to go, but maybe there is a way to transition some of those people and discussions back to the main board in a way that is useful for more people.

Thank you for the reminder.

It all went downhill when the Girls of BT threads slowed down!

and here lies the answer!

Case closed!!! 

X2

I didn't lose anything in New Mexico.

Still think it's all LB's fault!

You sound like my kids. LOL

What's happened to "the bear" since he hasn't provided feedback in this thread?  He always had some sound feedback.

Just my 0.02 on some of the recent discussion.  I'm not too worried about the posters that post a lot, then basically fall of the map.  That probably happens with many sports or workout programs.  People get into it, it's new and exciting and they want to learn, then realize it takes work, money, commitment, and the rate of improvement is probably way too slow for them - they are not AG champions after 2 races..   LOL.

I'm currently doing a different thang to get my workout on, and talking to the coach, he said if he can get people to come in regularly for 6 months?  They are usually in for the long haul and they are hooked.  Most show excitement those first few months then fade away.

I'm sure triathlon or jogging or swimming or lifting?  All the same.  Most just have a personal resolution, then quit after they get bored.  That's always going to happen.

What I found is many of the long time members, many of which I know still race and live for triathlon, quit posting - and that's what I see is the issue.

Ron is it possible to get chat back? That was such great fun

Huge thanks to Ron for responding, taking responsibility, and everyone else who thoughtfully wrote in.

I bear some responsibility as well since Ron asked for help with some things, I responded positively but then dropped off the map.

My N=1 and thoughts (sorry for disorganization--I have been thinking and even recording these things for a long time but never get around to compiling/posting/communicating):

- I disappeared (except for the mentor group and even then my posting this last year has been sporadic at best) for many personal reasons--helped start tri/endurance sports in a country in a region where they are now booming, so the enormous chunk of my tri time goes to that. Additionally I have several jobs and some hefty family responsibilities. And yeah, as Hot Runner pointed out, I got hitched And--I've spent probably at least half of the last 6 years being seriously ill or injured and recovering.

- I also withdrew a great deal from BT for these reasons: I felt that LOGS and INSPIRES were the foundation of what created a sense of community, along with Tri Talk and COJ, but the logs/inspires are where all the PERSONAL connections were made and maintained which, I felt, were the heart & blood vessels of this place. After the BT re-do (which I absolutely supported and understand why it had to happen), however, inspiring and logging became so cumbersome as to make me quit them almost entirely. This issue was brought up repeatedly--by beta testers, moderators, and BT members--and I felt like it was ignored.

- The Challenge Forum, which used to draw and draw in hundreds of takers, was another huge community builder here. Due to cross-posting rules (which I understand why they exist) challenges couldn't also be posted in Tri Talk. It's true Ron said Challenges would be featured in the new BT--and is there still a header button for them?--but without being able to promote and maintain the sense of community and Challenges specifically (not just a button), Challenges died. 

- There were a number of issues (other than logs, inspires, challenges, and others mentioned) repeatedly brought up by members and moderators--there were several very good discussions amongst the mods--but then very little was done or changed. Considering the beta testers, respondents, and mods were doing this all for free, I think many felt their efforts were in vain and unappreciated. So ... attrition. Why bother?

Again, so many good people and good points. Thank you all for your input.

Yanti - I have thought about your post this morning, and about the posts on this thread from other long time BT'ers.....and how this topic seems to come up quarterly with the same posts and the same issues.  Here's my take, after reading all of these "where oh where has BT gone" posts in my 4 years here:

BT is not special, and it never was.  What WAS special is the internet. The world got smaller. I moderated, and then administrated, my first chat board in the late 90's, not too long after this whole format came into being.  It was a hunting and fishing board and we probably had 3000 members in it's heyday.  People came there to learn about hunting and fishing in our area, and many came just to up their learning curve.  Another member and I were the first to meet face to face for a fishing weekend.  My wife thought I was nuts.  I though it was cool as hell that I could meet other people who loved doing what I loved.  That meeting spawned meetings between other people, and then full blown parties, and eventually a new chapter of Delta Waterfowl, a conservation organization.  It was an unbelievable experience and I met lifelong friends through it.  And then it went sideways.  Without boring you with the details, it spiraled so out of control that we had members going to other member's homes to settle differences.  It was nuts.  Many of us left and, from our leaving, we started other boards.  For a time I became heavily involved in training retrievers and a board with that theme.  Again, the same situation, a great group of guys, and a few gals, with similar interests and a willingness to meet up and share a common love.  Once again, the board grew, new people showed up, the shine wore off, and pretty soon that board only had a few folks posting.  The story is the same from board to board.  Changes were made, new people arrived, new problems came up, people left in a huff, people got banned, blah, blah, blah. Game over.

It's hard to say what makes a board have that feeling of something special, if even for a short while, and even though it isn't.  I think it's the "brand" that brings people together, along with great/lucky timing.  BeginnerTriathlete is a great brand and it came at a time of great growth in the sport.  The fact that it is still hanging on is a testament to the brand.......I would be willing to bet that 8 out of 10 of these boards don't survive......or become a shell of what they were in their prime.  It's just the way of these boards.  And now, with the explosion of social media in different formats, and human nature being what it is, the majority of people find a very small group that they are comfortable with and stay right there in their comfort zone......it's just the easy way.  This is, after all, just recreation.  Probably the biggest reason that SlowTwitch keeps firing, since that board is often brought up as a foil to this one, is because for MANY of the people on that board, and certainly enough of them to sustain good traffic, it's not recreation......it's much more than that.  It's tied to their job, or their business, or they are so heavily invested in triathlon and endurance sport that it long ago stopped being just recreation.

BT is not special.  The community is/was not special.  The friendships formed were the same type of friendships and relationships that hundreds of other boards spawned.  There are no "problems"......it's just life.  This stuff comes and goes.  If you are lucky enough to be a part of an "institution" when it's really firing on all cylinders then the best thing you can do is enjoy the ride.......it's not going to last, and something else will come along. 

Looking back on the really good times, and good groups in my life is fun.....and I'm sure I'll catch a really good ride or two again. But I don't like to spend much time lamenting the "good ole days" of anything.  You end up missing what's in front of you.

I, for one, have no idea.  I'm just hopeful they don't all come back here whining at once.

I'm still here!  been hurt all yea r.  In triathlons since 1999 and on this site I believe summer 2007. I met many wonderful people from this site in the VA and MD area and in FLA.  Many have have moved on from triathlon.  It makes me sad that we don't have the same traffic coming in that we did back then.  I had to go to ST for my time waster during work, but I still log here for my workouts.

anyways, so good to see lots of the "old" folks. 

I had an opportunity to go through my mailbox and clean out some old messages.  I popped a few of them open, as they were "Goodbye notes" to some old posters.  All of them were equal in that the stated reason to leave was that they were ready to move on. 

These things are cyclical in nature for many people.  Part of the cycle is the new folks that come in and the knowledge growth in the "New" old folks.  It happens, none of us will be the same forever.  That would be a different type of sad.  The only constant in life is change.