Comments on: Why VegOpt Really Closed

By: Kaylee

Kaylee — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:58:00 +0000

I hung out there for a while and didn’t go back because there weren’t any threads there that I couldn’t find on Snark, and although everyone at VegOpt was super nice and welcoming, it was just easier to stick with Snark where I was already “established”… Well, as they say, all good things come to an end :( I admire you and Alice for being so dedicated and putting so much work into VegOpt; I could see that even in the short time I was there.

By: Manda

Manda — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:47:22 +0000

The bit about the introduction thread is because in the later months, we instigated a policy where new members had to post an intro thread before they could see the rest of the boards after they registered. After much discussion, this policy was put in place for privacy reasons and to let the rest of the community know the new members better.

By: Haley

Haley — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:50:58 +0000

The thing I noticed the most about VegOpt toward the end was that all the newly registered members would post introduction threads, but then would never post again after that. :( I don’t really understand all that because if I was going to register for a message board and then actually introduce myself formally, I intend on posting again! :P

I understand why some people would be turned off by the fact that the majority of the members found out about VegOpt from TFL. It’s like we were a community within another community. However, I think the greater majority of the VegOpt members were always very welcoming to completely new people regardless of how they discovered the site.

I do feel bad for kind of “bowing out” early. I was always way more interested in making ginormous new posts or replies that were 2 pages long; when people started only putting effort into the “What was the last thing you ate?” and such threads, I was disappointed because it seemed that no one else was interested in reading the longer posts. I loved that we had a debate subforum, but people didn’t seem to get into the concept of debating versus just telling their own opinion. I didn’t want to post what the last song I listened to was over and over, but at the same time I didn’t think anyone would even read or reply to an entry that I put a lot of effort into. :(

I think we all really had issues with lack of time. Most of the semi-regular members were around the same age, which means most of us were/are in high school or college. That really killed my free time, at least.

I admire the fact that both you and Alice kept trying to spark interest in various things on the board. Modding a forum is a tedious job, especially when it comes to keeping it active. I definitely agree with Aisling on the fact that 3 years is a pretty darn good run for that kind of forum. You guys should be really proud of the dedication you put into it! :)

By: Manda

Manda — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:09:18 +0000

VegOpt hit its peak around December 2007/January 2008. So, halfway through its “life” so to speak. I think by the time more non-TFL members joined, like you, it had already started declining in activity slowly but surely. Which is a shame, as you and other newer members brought a lot to the community but others had already bowed out by then. But as you said, there are other ways to keep in touch with everyone that was part of the community :)

By: Manda

Manda — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:48:53 +0000

I think the “clique factor” was a deterrent to some people for VegOpt, as most of us were from TFL and knew each other from there (at least in the beginning) and those that weren’t familiar or part of TFL may have been wary of this fact. But I think that eventually faded away. However, as that faded, inactivity grew because everyone became so busy with real life. *shrugs*

I was hesitant of joining Snark at first for the reasons you mentioned – its “reputation” and the fact that everyone there seemed to know each other so well that I wasn’t quite sure if I’d even be noticed there. I was proven wrong, though :D I know I haven’t been active in the last half of 2009 or so, but I’m trying to change that this year.

By: Clem

Clem — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:32:38 +0000

Like Ashley, I’ve noticed recently that Snark has become more active. But there have been discussions about how it’s dying for ages now, and that’s always a worry in the back of my mind.

As for VegOpt, even when I joined a lot of the active topics were the less substantial ones. Browsing through the archives, I noticed that there used to be more in the way of discussion. I really liked the people in the communinty, and it was a fun board, so I stuck around. But, yes – I can understand why closing it was the best option. Luckily we still have Twitter/LJ. :)

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:15:17 +0000

It’s too bad that so many forums have to go lately :( I had joined at VegOpt a couple months before you guys closed, but there you go, real life gets you in the face and I couldn’t keep up with anything.

I hope the same doesn’t happen to Snark, although I must say, I have seen a decided upswing in activity lately. I’ve been there a year and I hope it sticks around at least a little longer. I was part of Neonglow beforehand, and that community was really wonderful as well but fell to the same problem.

Maybe people will eventually get over there fear of trying to break into a “clique.” I was a little intimidated by Snark at first, but I kept at it, and it was so worth it. If more people were willing to do that, I think we’d have much less of a problem.

By: Aisling

Aisling — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:51:26 +0000

It sucks when good communities close. I think one of the problems is that with really old established boards, it’s harder for new members to mesh. This is happened in two of my favourite boards, the now dead Toxic Passion Message Boards, and the now nearly-dying Snark Forums. In the first case, the board was founded based off a group of bloggers which I was a part of and I was there from day 1. We were so cliquey that new members didn’t stick around for long, and when the “TPMB Originals,” such as myself, became busy, there was nobody left. :( Snark is sort of becoming the same way. We’ve lost a lot of really great active members since I joined about 5 months after it opened, and sometimes the reputation of the board, or the cliqueness, prevents new members from sticking around and adding something to it.

3 years was a pretty good run for VegOpt, I’d say. In terms of attention span on the Internet, it doesn’t beat much else of it’s kind! :D

By: Sophie

Sophie — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:21:08 +0000

People never realise what’s there, until it’s no longer there. It’s unfortunate VegOpt had to prove that point too :(
When it was around, VegOpt was amazing. And I will miss it. But everything in your post = agreed.

By: Krissy

Krissy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:37:12 +0000

A lot of forums, I find, are experiencing a huge decline in activity. TFL used to be so action, and I remember coming home at the end of the day to pages and pages of new posts. Now it’s lucky if there’s even a full page. I like to blame Twitter for this. :P While I love it to death – I love being able to instantly be in contact with the people I care about – I find most people have migrated over there, and conversations that would once have taken place on the boards (both TFL and VegOpt alike) appear there instead.

VegOpt was a great place for it’s run though. I met and became closer to a lot of great people there. We’ll always have the fond memories and the friendships. :)