How do we get more participation?

I think we've all asked that question at some time. There is definitely less activity than a couple years ago. Our active members are active, posting in threads that interest them. Maybe it's just a matter of not having as many active members. I do appreciate your efforts with starting a number of pipe smoking-related threads.

I know we're slow right now, but I know a couple of other forums that are even less busy.

There doesn't seem to be a lack of topics to discuss. I know that olbluesmoke started good threads that brought up some good participation.

I agree with Plainsman and the others here.
Part of it is a good portion of the active posters are retired. So more time.
Sadly, members pass, or health issues prevent pipe smoking.
Regarding the recent post asking about those who have quit and comeback.
Life gets in the way.
Fears of inflation may be keeping some people away from hobbies that they may be interested in starting. But just don’t want to use that money now.

But like with most hobbies. They have their highs and lows over time and I’m sure we will see this come back again.

I think it starts with ourselves and radiates outwardly. I try to be polite to everyone and take the high road on controversy. I hit thumbs up for everyone if they participate in my threads. Basically, live and let live. Others will see this, I hope, and feel more inclined to be active in the forum. Lastly, when a new person arrives we should encourage them to participate as much as possible...then we just provide a nice/polite atmosphere in which they may thrive.

Yep. sparks set only 2 subjects as off-limits. Everything else is game.

I didn't even know they were still around. I was never a member, but I thought I had heard mention of their demise. Surprise. 😊

I know that a lot of people are on Facebook and Instagram and such. No interest for me. Hopefully, this format will outlive me.

As the pretty much 'last in the door' guy, I'll just add that all you regular posters on here have been very welcoming and encouraging, especially when it comes to active participation on the forum here.
My two cents fwiw, I think we live in very strange times, where the reality of a fast paced, ultra connected, yet desensitised, world where many seek instant gratification in their life experiences, has caused a paradoxical effect, where many yearn for more simpler times, with simpler values/pursuits. I know that I could feel that 'pull' when first considering smoking a pipe. My grandfather smoked one, he was a simple, humble, hard working man, like most of your's probably was, I felt that somehow the pipe might connect me to him, and the more simple life that he enjoyed. A familiar story perhaps?
Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is,, the world has changed,, a lot.
and all communities, real or virtual, take time and commitment to build and nurture, you gotta put the work in, take the time, just like pipe smoking ( and matrimony, I'll add). I think that's the big difference these days in general, folks want all the rewards and benefits of everything, but few want to really work at anything.
But I personally aim to buck the trend lol!
Again, good to meet you all, looking forward to getting to know you.😉

You could hit the social media sites and tell everyone that joins, there is a free 8oz. bag of Stonehaven coming their way.

After they private message you their address and conclude three weeks later the package is not coming...well we will look like we are in a bear market.

I gave up long ago wondering why some great prolific posters disappear, some leave after a seemingly slight offense, some are hit and run posters...I give up figuring it out.

I think that this is the best forum going on so many levels, there are some that are much bigger and attract some great articles by Pease, Chuck Stanion, etc... by virtue of the traffic, but I do not miss the attitude of "well I have tenure here"...I think that when people take that attitude, they are generally a bag O' Turds.


But I digress in my rambling.


I wish that I could post more valuable content, but I have too many irons in the fire at any one thing, so I am mediocre at all.

I think you described a hit and run member that has tenure.

I can only give my opinion of why I do not frequent here much. For me, it's all about the format. I frequent another forum and the user friendliness of it is much better...but I know that costs money. This forum I cannot just 1 click and drop a picture in from my phone (I know that probably eats bandwidth and probably costs money). This forum I cannot "turn on" or "turn off" specific thread notifications. I'm either signed up for email notifications 100% or 0%. I hate getting 1000 emails for threads I've replied to, and since I cannot hen peck, I just do not post unless the thread is of the highest interest to me. For me it has nothing to do with personnel or topics, it's purely mechanical.

Because I have email notifications set to "on". I do want to know when a thread I'm active in has replies, however, if I'm active on 10 different threads, every time someone posts a response, even a smiley face, I will get an email. So if a thread has 50 responses and I'm on 10 active threads, that's literally 500 emails.

Yeah, I just click "recent threads" and see what threads might be of interest.

Some weeks I participate more than others. Sometimes I just don't have a lot to say, but I do read. My smoking habits a pretty boring. I have a habit of smoking the same tobacco for a long time, and just keep reusing the same old pipes over and over again, so, it's not particularly interesting, at least to me to say what I am smoking. Especially since it's usually only a couple of times a week since I don't smoke when I am working as I don't really have the time. Another thing I've been bummed about is you see new people join, especially someone just down the road from me, they post once, and I don't see them again. I did send a private message in hopes maybe they'll return at some point. I've tried other pipe smoking forums and whatnot, but I like it here, just something about this place I enjoy. May not be the busiest or the fanciest, but I don't care.