Why do so many younger members quickly leave SF?

dseag2 said:
I've now seen younger members in their 50's like Rah-Rah, Smiley Holly and MMinSocal go missing. I was pleased that they joined because they offered a different perspective. It is unfortunate that they left. I'm only guessing that one must have a thick skin to participate in this forum. Perhaps those in their 50's haven't developed the ability to let negative comments slide off their backs like we in our 60's, 70's and 80's have? Perhaps they are more altruistic than those of us who are more jaded.

Not sure what the answer is, but if this forum doesn't become more welcoming to younger members and their views it will quickly become stale. If you just want to spout the same old beliefs then good for you, but in my view we should do more to nurture and appreciate the views/posts of younger members.
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I don't think of people in their fifties as youngsters who need to be coddled. I also don't think of this forum as a harsh, negative place.

I post on several other forums where the average age seems to be early 30's, conversations there are far more argumentative and heated than anything I've ever seen here. If I had to guess why people in their fifties have left I would think ElCastor probably has the answer, that they are more interested in talking politics or looking for boards that cater to specific interests.

One of the "specific" forums I use regularly is Primetimer where we talk about TV. We average about 200 posts for every single episode of Survivor. No detail is too small to be argued to death. This forum is my easy going laid back happy place.
 
I have been banned from a couple of UK over 50's forums for no other reason than disagreeing with some of the "Little Englanders" (roughly equivalent to the U.S. Red Necks).

In some cases I was being goaded by some members with personal remarks, which were supposed to be against the rules, but as soon as I responded in kind I was banned.
 
The SF is a virtual Circus. All the different attractions to visit and play with words and pictures and videos...and see if others respond with likes and loves and wows and anger. It is a game...and some take it dead seriously. Others like to keep it light and fun. Some people like the circus atmosphere here, but others don't and they leave...and sometimes watch from afar...sometimes play a game or two.
 
Purwell said:
I have been banned from a couple of UK over 50's forums for no other reason than disagreeing with some of the "Little Englanders" (roughly equivalent to the U.S. Red Necks).

In some cases I was being goaded by some members with personal remarks, which were supposed to be against the rules, but as soon as I responded in kind I was banned.
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I got the same "personal remarks" treatment on a well-known quilting forum.......NASTY few hanging out there.
 
Alligatorob said:
So who do you think our ring master, lion tamers, clowns, etc are?
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Ring Master : Matrix...others given responsibility over certain threads.

Lion Tames /Animal Acts : Those who have the personality to deal with aggressive behavior, and also those who love animals

Clowns/arcades : People who like humor, jesters, irony, and rather not get to serious

Something for everyone. :)

premium-quality-circus-outline-icons-flat-collection-set-vector-id529995352
 
I'm not on here every day but I find it a great place to ask questions and get some wise answers! I'm a planner and because of that, we were able to retire comfortably in a place we hoped to find. I recently had a conversation with my, much younger, neighbor (with a husband and 3 children), about planning for college and retirement. She said that it has never really occurred to them to actually PLAN for that. If they want to buy something, they just do.

Being kind of an old fashioned gal anyway, I was appalled! Maybe it was my parents or a class in school but I always felt it prudent to save $$ and was always careful with what we spent money on. I suggested they talk to a financial person and make some plans - especially since I'm sure they hope their children will go to college. She was thoughtful but I'm not sure if it sunk in. Maybe the "youngers" just don't think the same way?? That said, I'd like to think that our collective experience (both good & bad) speaks for something.
 
What about the phrase "we are all actors on a stage?" Sometimes we get caught up in our supposed role and some fur is gonna fly. Sometimes it is a love scene that brings warm and fuzzy emotions, and sometimes someone in the audience walks up to us a slaps us in the face. We all have been through all these emotions, and we all handle our experience differently.

As I have said many times here to defuse arguments..."There is no accounting for taste." Including mine. :)
 
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Not sure about the younger members, but it seems that more and more new members left SF because of the harsh comments they received.

I was once accused of trolling on a trading forum, I was so upset. If you find someone suspicious, please report them and let me handle it, I can make a more informed judgment with information only available to admins.
 
It's just horrible in this forum. The crowd is so vicious, it makes Romans feeding Christians to the lions look like a love-in.
Anybody believe that nonsense??????
This forum is pretty tame. Thankfully, we can't fight about politics. It's a place to share what being a senior means, and sometimes it's being lonely. Anybody can join, but if you don't consider yourself a "senior", it's not your home. It's odd that you join a Senior Forum, and then wonder why younger people aren't joining.??????????

BTW, I found that if you don't pay attention to an irritating member, you find out that that stuff doesn't bother you. It is hard to do, the first time. You want to respond, but it pays off later. I thank the people, who told me how to handle it.
 
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fuzzybuddy said:
It's just horrible in this forum. The crowd is so vicious, it makes Romans feeding Christians to the lions look like a love-in.
Anybody believe that nonsense??????
This forum is pretty tame. Thankfully, we can't fight about politics. It's a place to share what being a senior means, and sometimes it's being lonely. Anybody can join, but if you don't consider yourself a "senior", it's not your home. It's odd that you join a Senior Forum, and then wonder why younger people aren't joining.??????????
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Maybe they expected high school seniors?
 
Matrix said:
Not sure about the younger members, but it seems that more and more new members left SF because of the harsh comments they received.

I was once accused of trolling on a trading forum, I was so upset. If you find someone suspicious, please report them and let me handle it, I can make a more informed judgment with information only available to admins.
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Matrix?I have felt at times that I was mildly insulted but did not report because I had a feeling that the insulter was a mod. We have no way of knowing who the mods are on this forum.

For this reason I stopped posting for a bit, felt like I had a sense of not "belonging"

My question is this.....if we contact you directly does it stay only with you?
 
dseag2 said:
I'm only guessing that one must have a thick skin to participate in this forum. Perhaps those in their 50's haven't developed the ability to let negative comments slide off their backs like we in our 60's, 70's and 80's have?
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Guess I'm too dense to see it all

My feathers have been ruffled a couple times, but normally I have to get hit over the head with a Louisville Slugger to get my attention.

Anyway
Over all, I think this is wunna the best sites on this planet
A wide range of characters
A good range of topics
Very active
No politics (that's huge)

As it's been said, 50 somethings are a bit young for here
 
Alligatorob said:
Hope so, you help make this place interesting! And you are one of the younger folks, just turning 60 a couple of weeks ago, I think.

I have not been on any of those sites, just this one. However I do appreciate your point, censorship here seems to be mostly limited to strongly political things and some words. Both without taking sides.

Now you have me interested in those sites, LOL!

I think you are right, it is good to be able to communicate without those "ulterior motives". I sometimes don't even know if a member here is male or female, it matters little.
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Don't want to get too graphic but there is a belief among younger men that an older woman is very experienced and able to entertain men with raunchy chat!
Some of us have lived like nuns...believe it or not!
 
Pepper said:
I never would have considered myself a senior in my fifties, no matter what AARP says! I never would have sought a forum such as this. Fifties is middle age, not senior, IMO.
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My life was in a very different place in my 50s. I had a very full household with three children (and then a couple of their sig others, too) until I was nearing 60, I was still working full-time, and life was generally very busy with activities common to middle-age life.

SF wouldn't have been relevant at that time, nor would most SF members have found my life relatable. By my mid sixties I was empty nested, semi-retired, and a grandparent - a life much more akin to others on SF.

Ages and stages...
 
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