This forum dead or dying?

[Chauncey Gardener]

I’d love to have a No AI option for watching YouTube videos.

Seeing is no longer believing, nor is hearing. I don't like it.

GET OFF MY LAWN!

 

[dc38]

GET OFF MY LAWN!

If I have been consuming only leafy vegetables, fruits, and other such natural vegetation such that I have a balanced nutrition profile, would you mind terribly if I provided fertilizer for your flower bed?

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

If I have been consuming only leafy vegetables, fruits, and other such natural vegetation such that I have a balanced nutrition profile, would you mind terribly if I provided fertilizer for your flower bed?

That's a hard yes. Yes, I would mind. The 12-gauge is loaded with rock salt. Don't make me Forrest Gump yer buttocks. Trust me when I advise you, there won't be any ice cream.

 

[dc38]

That's a hard yes. Yes, I would mind. The 12-gauge is loaded with rock salt. Don't make me Forrest Gump yer buttocks. Trust me when I advise you, there won't be any ice cream.

a followup philosophical question...If the fertilizer had already been laid, would you go out of your way to remove it?

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

So well said. Thank you.
We are so hyper-politicized right now that everything has to be blamed on one side or the other. Very sad really as we all aren’t that different except in our minds. Our minds are influenced by anything. It can lead us down a path that’s divisive and leads to the mess we are currently in.
I also agree that, most of the time, people who make these decisions are well intentioned. They are not evil or stupidity, they are attempting to improve an outcome. Sometimes it may not work. Attacking them is just our way of making ourselves seem smarter, which often isn’t the case.

Nevertheless, shouldn't people that inact change that produces positive results be given credit, regardless of the letter that represents their political party? Can we at least be that honest?

 

[Candleometry]

Nevertheless, shouldn't people that inact change that produces positive results be given credit, regardless of the letter that represents their political party? Can we at least be that honest?

Why? Is it a contest? Again, why can’t “we” improve things together?

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

Why?

Oh, gee. I don't know. / Perhaps to inform people so they can vote for the politicians who are making changes they want to support.

Is it a contest?

Yes.

Again, why can’t “we” improve things together?

Because there are diametrically opposing views on how best to do so.

 

[jtr1962]

Nevertheless, shouldn't people that inact change that produces positive results be given credit, regardless of the letter that represents their political party? Can we at least be that honest?

We should get rid of political parties so we're back to voting for the individual. That will at least get more people to learn about what each candidate is about, instead of reflexively pulling the R or D lever.

And why do we need to give credit at all? It's the job of our leaders to produce positive results. You don't need to get rewarded for doing your job beyond your paycheck. Too much self-aggrandizement among so-called leaders these days, starting with the guy on top.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

We should get rid of political parties so we're back to voting for the individual. That will at least get more people to learn about what each candidate is about, instead of reflexively pulling the R or D lever.

And why do we need to give credit at all? It's the job of our leaders to produce positive results. You don't need to get rewarded for doing your job beyond your paycheck. Too much self-aggrandizement among so-called leaders these days, starting with the guy on top.

I already answered that question. See post #327

 

[jtr1962]

I already answered that question. See post #327

You did and you didn't. Political parties are the reason we have diametrically opposed views in the first place, not the solution to that problem. Also, in order to solve a problem you first need to acknowledge that it exists. Both parties are guilty of not acknowledging certain problems.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

To avoid further politicizing this thread, I will refrain from making additional political comments.

 

[Toulouse42]

You did and you didn't. Political parties are the reason we have diametrically opposed views in the first place, not the solution to that problem. Also, in order to solve a problem you first need to acknowledge that it exists. Both parties are guilty of not acknowledging certain problems.

Yes. Political parties everywhere have removed nuance from conversations. Often even context.

In the UK right now we have party A making a mess. Party B is criticizing them for it despite the fact that party B made many of the same mistakes whilst they were in office. And Vice Versa. I've seen this happening for the 50 years or so that I have been paying attention. I no longer trust any politician.

 

[Monocrom]

You did and you didn't. Political parties are the reason we have diametrically opposed views in the first place, not the solution to that problem. Also, in order to solve a problem you first need to acknowledge that it exists. Both parties are guilty of not acknowledging certain problems.

George Washington himself said that the two-party system would destroy America.
He was in favor of getting rid of it.

 

[mcbrat]

there's still modders around, but mostly in the Fb groups. I think the mods these days seem to have less of an impact/smaller incremental shift if you will.
the electronics shift has been great in the different ways to program, and auxiliary color options, etc... but I tend to prefer simple UIs and lights as tool usage....
and recently seems to have shifted away from triples, and back to singles, and searching for the next wonderful emitter...

and for Custom makers like myself, its easier to manage their own groups there for newer offerings.
I think there's more people in the hobby now, but fractured into smaller groups. the forums are much better for searching, and when it used to be paired with subforums by maker on the customs side, it was even better. now, depending on your platform, you have to be a member of so many different groups that it almost becomes too much.

 

[Candleometry]

Oh, gee. I don't know. / Perhaps to inform people so they can vote for the politicians who are making changes they want to support.


Yes.


Because there are diametrically opposing views on how best to do so.

I’m glad I don’t carry around such baggage.

 

[Candleometry]

George Washington himself said that the two-party system would destroy America.
He was in favor of getting rid of it.

If the founding fathers could see our politics today I believe they would be sickened.

 

[fuyume]

17 pages in, this forum would seem to not be "dying".

I just purchased two new lights this week, and haven't purchased anything since 2024, other than a few packs of Energizer L91 batteries, so there really hasn't been any reason for me to think about flashlights much in at least a year, and in fact , before yesterday, I hadn't so much as commented since March 2025, 14 months ago.

Flashlights aren't a "hobby" for me, they are just tools that I use, and so I only really think about them when I'm in the market for a new tool, despite the fact that I have very strong opinions on what makes a good tool. The next light on my list, the Fenix CL27R, costs about $90 USD, and being as I am poor, it will be sometime before I can afford it. So, unless something amaxing happens in the industry that causes me to stop by, once I get my excitement over my two new lights out of my system, I probably won't be back for a long time.

I might come back to talk about photographic lighting. I have some questions about that which don't seem to have easy to find answers in other places.

 

[Robocop]

I have the luxury of having the income to spend way too much on this hobby. Many of my purchases are simply for the "cool" factor or many times out of nostalgia. I spend much more on older classic stuff as the excitement of hunting something down is just fun to me. I do miss having hundreds of people to talk about it with as honestly it seems many today just do not use forums any longer.

The largest change I see in this forum is the buy/sell section. In the past the marketplace was always crazy busy and had several posts daily. I still cruise the buy/sell section however find it can go weeks without any activity. You could always find someone with something you wanted. You could post a wanted to buy and within an hour or two someone would respond. It has dropped off greatly and it appears the older heavy hitters just are not active any longer.

I have said this here before and still believe it is not just this forum that is dying as pretty much all forums are slowly becoming a less popular way to share information. I know I am a grumpy old member who hates change and just have to understand the world has changed. I still get enough from this forum and even with the changes can still find many things here to keep me in this hobby.

 

[Lightman2]

And I thought this site was about flashlights.
Isn’t that what will get it all back on track? IMHO. No bad language or comments or arguing because one man’s trash is another’s treasure, just go buy a light and post some stuff on it or let others learn of your knowledge with some other part of a light like the LEd’s, mods, dislikes and likes etc. Post some pictures or beam shots. That’s why I came here. Always great to see someone’s post about a new light.

 

[PaladinNO]

I have the luxury of having the income to spend way too much on this hobby. Many of my purchases are simply for the "cool" factor or many times out of nostalgia. I spend much more on older classic stuff as the excitement of hunting something down is just fun to me.

I stand firmly by my opinion that everyone should have a hobby. Doesn't matter it is, so long as they enjoy it. And every hobby I can think of, once it gets serious enough, is expensive. Whether it's stamps, pieces of art, cars or flashlights.

And that is fine, because if they can afford it, it suddenly becomes - I would say - an investment in personal health. A hobby is supposed to to give joy, and where there is joy, there is also relaxtion and reduced stress, and that is nothing but good for both the mind and body.

...Also, flashlights are more useful than stamps - they provide a much more reliable source of illumination than setting fire to a stack of tiny pieces of paper.