Where did all the BTers go? (Page 3)

You'll never go Pro.

Interesting thread...  I usually don't go backwards much in a thread but got through all three pages of posts...

• I don't think it was the redesign - or at least I'm so used to the new one that I'm fine with it.  Maybe it initially drove people away, but I don't think it's still making a difference.  you are used to it and stayed, hated it or left, and the new people don't know any different.
• I don't think it was the loss of chat.  I didn't get used THAT much.
• I think social groups are fluid.  You get that perfect storm of personalities and it booms.  A few people leave and it's not the same so others leave.  Other way happens as well.  A couple fresh people come and people are drawn in and it picks up again.
• I personally got burned out of triathlon after years of it.  If I'm not doing it, I don't really feel the need to talk about it.  I do CROSSFIT now (I'm obligated to mention that - it's part of the crossfit bylaws to talk about it if you  join a "box" - they copied the IM bylaws that says you have to talk about IM if you have done one or are training for one).  I feel like a bit of a fraud talking about triathlon when I don't do it anymore.  Not that I forgot what I still think is reasonable advice base on experience - still valid.
• I didn't realize until I left, but I was tired of meaningless arguments with people that just want to argue.  I realize they could walk away and not think about it but I would stew about it.  My fault, of course.  But once I took myself out of all the negativity/argumentative environment?  It's been awesome.  I don't need people bashing me or the group I "belonged" to.  Man, I'm just trying to enjoy life and let people enjoys theirs.  Conversations online end up being WAY more uncivilized (even with TAN rules) than face to face.  COJ and even TT just stressed me out on some level when it got into a debate.
• I pretty much got out of social media in general.  I love watching my FB page and seeing pictures and people's general goings-ons (and Tom's airplane, military, and kitty pictures - which pretty much dominates my wall - he's prolific with the plane and kitty pics) but I don't post much or get into arguments or political issues.
• There has been a huge loss of a lot of wisdom on the site.  Part of Item 2 above.  Good people draw good/more people - when they leave, so do others.
• Things just get played out.  I used to meet every Sunday with the same group of guys to watch football.  As people's lives changed, or had other obligations, it just died out - circle of life I suppose.  Things can't stay popular forever.
• I realized that no one wants to listen the ramblings of an old man (me) anyway.  I also realize MYSELF that most of what I say isn't important  - it's just chatter to be social.  No real significance.

I hope that the people that are still here get as much out of BT as I did.  It was amazing during MY glory days/golden age.  I hope others feel the same now.

I also hope that Ron and the other mentors still get the joy and pride they once did for starting this site and continuing it.

SO, carry on BT.  As you were.

Very interesting thread- I've been noticing the decline over the last few years and it does make me a little sad.  I joined May of 2004 so I've been on a long time.  I never was a huge poster (as you can tell by my thread count) but really enjoyed the advice.  I did lose a bit of taste for COJ (and then political COJ) when things really started getting nasty, but don't think that's the whole story.  I also haven't done tris this year because of injury and busy-ness, but I really like the log and I also like to be able to look back, so I stay .

My snarkiness, really wants to post a popcorn eating animated smiley right now.  lol

I've been dinged up and didn't race at all this season.  I check in on Political COJ every now and then.  I'm gonna start posting more.  I kinda miss BT.

Meh...Not impressed...Poop on your bike, though, and you'll be immortalized.  

i still laugh every time I think about that thread.   haha

It's kind of a combo of all of those reasons why I don't post much - except the site change. That really did not bother me at all. The mentor group I was in moved to FB so we all chat and cheer for one another there. I miss the advice of the veterans that left from tritalk- Scout, Kathy, Fred, Newbz, Bryan. My kids are getting to the age where they are involved in lots of activities and I don't have the time (or motivation to make the time I guess) to train to race. Like right now - instead of blabbering about why I don't have time to train I could actually be doing it .

Still love BT and use the logs everyday.

Why did your group move to FB ?

I seem to remember a thread much like this a little while back.  And a little while before that.  Like all communities, BT has it's ups and downs and is ever evolving.  I think it's ironic that you mention that you have been away for a while, yet are wondering where everyone went.  Lots of folks come and go, some don't come back, some do.  The changing people keep it fresh and diverse.  

I'm not really sure. I tried to drop out of the group all together because I wasn't into racing at the intensity of a lot of the other members but they found me and pulled me back in .

Been here since '04, and use the logs and check the forums.  BT was one of the 1st social media sites, it was pretty cool back then.  I remember Spokes saying "BT is my Facebook", that guy was a trip!  I remember when he and some others were kicked off, you could tell things were changing.

I have neutral feeling about the Mentor groups. I did the Mentor thing in the beginning and passed it on for others beginners when I was expanding my own training for longer events and learning a lot.  I signed up again a few years back after I took a break and the group fell apart.  Did another last year to learn more about bike power training and that was great. 

Some things on the new site are discombobulated, for instance why hide the HR zone calc.  I wrote to Ron a while back with an idea to combine all the calculators on this site (HR, Critical Power) and maybe add another like Critical Swim Speed, where people can easily get to them (like off the Training Log drop down tab), never got a reply.

BTW, whatever happen to Mike (IIRC) that was a programmer for the new site and was active on BT?  Is Bear still here? I see his name as a moderator but not sure the moderator names ever change!  Anyway I hope the site doesn't ever die...

BTW, today was the 1st time I've been on COJ in a loooooong time

Just how many people have been banned from BT?  I guess I don't pay attention, but I can't think of anyone that has been banned in the 4 years I've been here except Bryan.....and I don't know if he was banned permanently or just didn't come back or what.

I missed that story I guess! I had no idea he cheated.

Depends on where they are posting. I chat quite a bit in my mentor group, but have been mostly absent of TriTalk for quite some time.  I wandered through the mentor groups late last year and saw names I'd never seen before. 

I was banned for a week once

Scout for Overlord!