changing trends

[Aberdeenplotter]

The Gardeners Rest has once again closed its doors. I have to confess I didn't visit very often this time around but it seems that total posts on the thread have been dropping quite dramatically since the highs of
2012 - 2804 posts
2013 - 1706
2014 - 1438
2015 - 1518
2016 - 676
2017 - 705
2018 - 307
2019 - 186

Has the increased popularity of Social Media cought up with the GR?

For me, I've maybe just grown out of it but I have to confess I do use Fb for a lot of things nowadays

[Can the Man]

I think it needs to open for special occasions like St. Patrick’s Day, or Easter, or midsummers solstice. Any thoughts from other grapes ?

[SarrissUK]

The name puts me off a bit - it makes me think it's some kind of gardeners graveyard lol

However, although I do know what it is for, I am away to see family at Christmas, and it's usually a busy schedule, and I've only just got home and got kinda back to normal so for me it's too late. I've not shared much on social media either, so it's definitely not that

[Small pumpkin]

I also think I’ve grown out of it. And there’s more important threads I can talk complete nonsense on

[veggiechicken]

I don't think social media has anything to do with less people in the GR. If few people drop in its a struggle for those that do to keep it going. I've grown out of it too because its too predictable
Maybe its time to lose the key?

[rary]

I also think I’ve grown out of it. And there’s more important threads I can talk complete nonsense on

A question sp you say there's more important threads, don't you mean there's all the other threads I can talk complete nonsense on after all you have a lot of conversations with you know who

[rary]

I don't think social media has anything to do with less people in the GR. If few people drop in its a struggle for those that do to keep it going. I've grown out of it too because its too predictable
Maybe its time to lose the key?

I think you are right VC it has become predictable therefore not as interesting, perhaps the escapism thread could take on a quiz type of format thereby it would be unpredictable

[Scarlet]

I've only posted on one once - maybe 3 or 4 years ago. I'm here for growing advice/ tips on how others grow and obviously the seed swaps! But most importantly my brain doesn't work like that how on earth do you lot come up with that stuff??

[burnie]

The mods did have a discussion on whether to open this season, I guess it's up to the grapes if they wish it to continue, it doesn't take any extra work to run it from a mods point of view.

[Bren In Pots]

It's not a thread that I post on but the way I see it is members will either post on the thread or the the will die out naturally.

[piskieinboots]

I don't recall ever posting in there, I can't remember what it was intended for. FB does take up a fair bit of my online time.

[Snoop Puss]

I posted a bit last year but not this. I'm guessing there was a downturn in the number of posts this year because Lumpy and Cadalot did not participate (as much if at all). But perhaps the people to say whether it should continue aren't those of us who didn't participate but those who did.

As a suggestion for change rather than closure, perhaps open it for a shorter period of time, say just a week around Christmas, when someone like me might feel more inclined to join in. By the time it gets closer to the big day, it seems a bit cheeky jumping in when others have been keeping it going for a while already and there's a dynamic to it that you don't want to interrupt.

Also quite like Can the Man's suggestion that it could open on other occasions too, if only just for the day.

[happyhumph]

Never been quite sure what it's for, although it has made me laugh

[Florence Fennel]

I'm with Snoop, maybe a shorter period of time? I used to contribute, but it's sometimes difficult to jump in and change the Flo Must try harder next year!

[rary]

Never been quite sure what it's for, although it has made me laugh

hh to me that's what it's for, a thread for grapes to have a bit of lighthearted fun, but as VC has said it was a bit predictable and that is what happens when it's the same people on all the time, threads like that need new people to drive it in different directions or as FF put it change the Flo (though I am happy with the Flo we have) though I don't do FB (there is too much nastiness on it for me) I didn't manage on to the GR as often as I have in the past, perhaps it is time to try Snoops suggestion and only have it on for a short time