tabcom Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 10 hours ago, sfcityduck said: * Maybe that's because there hasn't been any huge new developments on the GA front for a while (e.g. no major new pedigrees coming to market or unknown collections being posted), so a lot of the discussion seems to focus on a narrower range of topics. I’m still very much active in collecting. I haven’t seen any exciting new collections come to market in 3 years to get geeked on. I thought current cultural environment would release more quality product. I’m still lurking. buttock 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bronze johnny Posted October 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 19, 2020 Perhaps the slowing down here has to do with some of the fatigue people have with communicating via the internet? I for one am “zoomed out.” The last thing I want to look at is a computer and reading emails once my work day is completed. The Cons and shows for the most part are on hold. Local comic shops that are opened require limited time inside them. There’s very little direct human interaction for collectors. Let’s face it, direct human contact cannot be replaced by this medium. This hobby, like others, is centered around shared experiences and knowledge. Using cyberspace to connect with people has its place and it will always be secondary to direct human contact and has a significant role in connecting to people over great physical distances. The need to have direct human contact for interaction is tantamount for our very existence. This is also one of the lessons we can learn walking away from this worldwide pandemic. The current setup for us to interact is the safest but limited in so many ways. Fortunately for us, this isn’t a permanent situation in terms of our exclusive reliance on this form of communication. Larryw7, Pat Calhoun, SuperBird and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttock Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 11 hours ago, sfcityduck said: The Boards are slower and I'd say a few reasons may include: * Long-time posters with a lot of intellectual curiosity who loved to share their knowledge aren't around much (if any) now - a couple names spring to mind (Bangzoom, Esquirecomices, Moondog, Berk, we could all probably add more) - and other posters have just slowed down. * Perhaps as a result, it seems like there's less threads about sharing knowledge of old comics (sort of like CBM articles) and discussions seems to focus more on auctions. * Maybe that's because there hasn't been any huge new developments on the GA front for a while (e.g. no major new pedigrees coming to market or unknown collections being posted), so a lot of the discussion seems to focus on a narrower range of topics. There's still good discussion. Still a lot to learn here. Still discoveries made every once in a while. So I would never say this Board sucks (some of the others on the other hand ...), and I still try to share any stories or research I have that I think others might benefit from. This is what I see and feel. There’s only so many times I can talk about the same things. Not to mention that the number of places things can be discussed has expanded. Instagram and Facebook have grown notably. I would imagine if anything the volume of conversations has increased, its just spread out over many more platforms. jimjum12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GermanFan Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 20 hours ago, DanCooper said: Is there still some sentiment that the boards lost a decent portion of participants, who never returned, after CGC updated their boards in 2017? I still miss the old boards. Larryw7 and SuperBird 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GermanFan Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 19 hours ago, Robot Man said: I share your agitation. The past 8 months have been life changing. Mostly in a very negative way. I have lost a couple people very close to me. Lost a few “heroes”. A lot of people that I thought were my friends really aren’t. Realized how selfish and clueless people are in general. Had too much time to think. Doing as much positive thinking as possible. This has been my “happy place”. Nice to come here and talk junk with so many like minded people. Have learned to stay out of the Cooler. The GA thread is by far the best place here. Yeah, a little slow sometimes but always fun and educational. Still the best folks on the boards. Can’t wait to return to shows of all kinds. But until there is a reliable vaccine and/or people act responsibility, I’m out. There is no way back. It will never be the same like it was before march 2020. SuperBird, Point Five and Pat Calhoun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Zolnerowich Posted October 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 19, 2020 I think the reason is clear: Instagram. Many of the "newer" generation of comic book collectors are on IG, and as far as I can tell, very few of them ever post on the boards, let alone know about the boards, as far as I can tell. At Terry's show last January 2020 (how very long ago), I met a bunch of younger collectors, dealers, and "investment-focused" folks with a passion for GA comics, and they convinced me to join IG. Now as a user, I can see how a lot of the appeal of IG is simply that it is SO EASY to access and use. With one tap on your iPhone, you have direct access to all of the latest posts, without the nuisance involved with the CGC boards site of logging in, combing through the threads, scrolling through the threads. The simplicity of use, and the quick consumption of content on IG, holds a lot of appeal. Waiting for the microwave to finish warming up your food? Just click IG! Finding your Zoom meeting has gotten really monotonous, just click IG! A gratifying 20 seconds of distraction. Paradoxically, any given post on IG tends to elicit at least a couple interesting response comments, whereas on these boards, as soon as the "LIKE" button appeared following the CGC Boards upgrade, it seems most people are now just content to respond with a "LIKE" rather than engage in any discussion. It's nice to collect a lot of "LIKES" on the boards, but I think it has created a culture that's a bit less engaged. The good news is there really does seem to be a large community of newer (younger) collectors who will help keep the hobby afloat into our retirement years. The bad news is that IG and other online one-tap sites have diverted more and more of the comic book community away from the boards. There are a relatively small number of stalwart boardies who post here and on IG, and I tend to gravitate towards their posts on IG. Maybe other boardies here can pipe in on their experiences with IG. The-Collector, Point Five, Ricksneatstuff and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmehdy Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I would correlate the reduction in traffic to the lack of Comic book conventions and comic book store reduced hours. I think a number of posters attended these conventions and that would generate excitement in the GA section. I look forward to the conventions returns big and little and we see as we get progress in this virus that more traffic will return to the GA and all forms. Also there were flea markets, and garage sales etc ....it will come back. But this is excellent time to catch up on your back reading, going thru your collection and organize it. Point Five and sfcityduck 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjum12 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Zolnerowich said: following the CGC Boards upgrade, it seems most people are now just content to respond with a "LIKE" rather than engage in any discussion. It's nice to collect a lot of "LIKES" on the boards, but I think it has created a culture that's a bit less engaged. ... very astute observation. I'll never get tired of the CGC Forums, however. I've made some very good friends here. GOD BLESS.... -jimbo(a friend of jesus) Edited October 19, 2020 by jimjum12 X_Phile, Pat Calhoun, Zolnerowich and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 18 minutes ago, Zolnerowich said: most people are now just content to respond with a "LIKE" rather than engage in any discussion LIKE piper, batman_fan, jimjum12 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagii Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Zolnerowich said: I think the reason is clear: Instagram. Many of the "newer" generation of comic book collectors are on IG, and as far as I can tell, very few of them ever post on the boards, let alone know about the boards, as far as I can tell. At Terry's show last January 2020 (how very long ago), I met a bunch of younger collectors, dealers, and "investment-focused" folks with a passion for GA comics, and they convinced me to join IG. Now as a user, I can see how a lot of the appeal of IG is simply that it is SO EASY to access and use. With one tap on your iPhone, you have direct access to all of the latest posts, without the nuisance involved with the CGC boards site of logging in, combing through the threads, scrolling through the threads. The simplicity of use, and the quick consumption of content on IG, holds a lot of appeal. Waiting for the microwave to finish warming up your food? Just click IG! Finding your Zoom meeting has gotten really monotonous, just click IG! A gratifying 20 seconds of distraction. Paradoxically, any given post on IG tends to elicit at least a couple interesting response comments, whereas on these boards, as soon as the "LIKE" button appeared following the CGC Boards upgrade, it seems most people are now just content to respond with a "LIKE" rather than engage in any discussion. It's nice to collect a lot of "LIKES" on the boards, but I think it has created a culture that's a bit less engaged. The good news is there really does seem to be a large community of newer (younger) collectors who will help keep the hobby afloat into our retirement years. The bad news is that IG and other online one-tap sites have diverted more and more of the comic book community away from the boards. There are a relatively small number of stalwart boardies who post here and on IG, and I tend to gravitate towards their posts on IG. Maybe other boardies here can pipe in on their experiences with IG. This! Took me a while to post on IG, @gino2paulus2 convinced me. It is instantaneous AND as you pointed out a lot more interaction and comments on what you post, (which is just as fun as collecting them). I can tell you, the responses on a lot of what i post reminds me of the interaction i used to see on the Boards when i was just a lurker. Go back to any long running Thread and read the first 60 pages or so. Lots of talk about how cool, rare, common, classic, the chase, how much it cost them, artists, notable contents, etc, and from various posters. You hit on something that a lot of newer GA enthusiasts are there, maybe that's why the interaction is so much more like the past Board days. A lot of it is 'new' to them. Maybe all the longtime GA people here have seen it all and nothing 'impresses' them anymore. For me, there is always something cool to see (I was told by a Boardie once in a PM, you sure hit that 'Like' button a lot). For me, if everyone just went silent on any new content shared here, even though i love comic books and pop culture artifacts, i think i'd probably just stop collecting. This was (and should always be) the place where you can geek out and have people who know what a Gerber 9 is and 'oooh, and ahhhh' and discuss discuss discuss when all of your close friends and family members couldn't give a rats about these funny books you hoard. Edited October 19, 2020 by sagii gino2paulus2 and PopKulture 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zolnerowich Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 54 minutes ago, sagii said: This! Took me a while to post on IG, @gino2paulus2 convinced me. It is instantaneous AND as you pointed out a lot more interaction and comments on what you post, (which is just as fun as collecting them). I can tell you, the responses on a lot of what i post reminds me of the interaction i used to see on the Boards when i was just a lurker. Go back to any long running Thread and read the first 60 pages or so. Lots of talk about how cool, rare, common, classic, the chase, how much it cost them, artists, notable contents, etc, and from various posters. You hit on something that a lot of newer GA enthusiasts are there, maybe that's why the interaction is so much more like the past Board days. A lot of it is 'new' to them. Maybe all the longtime GA people here have seen it all and nothing 'impresses' them anymore. For me, there is always something cool to see (I was told by a Boardie once in a PM, you sure hit that 'Like' button a lot). For me, if everyone just went silent on any new content shared here, even though i love comic books and pop culture artifacts, i think i'd probably just stop collecting. This was (and should always be) the place where you can geek out and have people who know what a Gerber 9 is and 'oooh, and ahhhh' and discuss discuss discuss when all of your close friends and family members couldn't give a rats about these funny books you hoard. Great observations, my friend! Very true about the long running Threads. Of course, the sales threads here still drum up a lot of interest, though perhaps the pendulum has shifted too far away from good ol' fashioned comments about how cool, rare, common, classic, etc., as you point out. sagii 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gino2paulus2 Posted October 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 19, 2020 I totally agree to what both @Zolnerowich and @sagii have both stated and all of us follow eachother on IG now too!! I wish I had followed less folks over there just so my "Feed" would be less nonsense and more kewl books like you folks post but I feel bad unfollowing people as I am still newer over there. The "community" feel to IG is there but it is not and never will be as tight as the boards at least to me. While I don't post as many long winded posts as I used to or share quite as many books that is all part and partial to the fact that I now have a small herd of children now ncluding a baby so I have to wait for him to fall asleep to really engage and like @Zolnerowich said the speed at which you can zoom in and out of IG is miraculously fast if you just want to see a few neat things and be on with your daily business. The other reason is the fact that I just haven't been buying as much as stuff as I normally do. Don't judge me hahaha I have been doing lots and lots of upgrades around our home and putting together savings plans for the kids. I still buy and hunt things and will continue to do so and I for one will NEVER leave the boards as long as we are awarded the privilege of using them and in the upcoming years as the kids get older and older I am sure I will devote a little more time to these boards as they do indeed hold a very dear place in my heart. sagii, Jayman, Point Five and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstances Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I've been on IG forever. Where do you find the the golden age stuff? Just follow #goldenagecomics? Gotham Kid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zolnerowich Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) 4 minutes ago, circumstances said: I've been on IG forever. Where do you find the the golden age stuff? Just follow #goldenagecomics? Also: #igcomicfamily, #igcomics, #igcomicbooks, and other instantiations of same. Edited October 19, 2020 by Zolnerowich Forgot the # circumstances 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstances Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 36 minutes ago, Zolnerowich said: Also: #igcomicfamily, #igcomics, #igcomicbooks, and other instantiations of same. where are most of our boardies at over there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zolnerowich Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Not sure, but I just include all those hashtags and related variations, which seem to reel in the boardies and other sympathetic collectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Robot Man Posted October 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2020 I troll Instagram. Helps me keep track of what the local guys in comics and other collectibles find, and trade/sell. I never post there. I find it very unsatisfying. No dialog. It appears to be a place where people are 5 minute heroes. Showing off their stuff, getting a few likes and moving on to find more stuff to post. It is very quick and a bit shallow. I can't see who would would spend and money on a picture of a front cover of a book usually in front of a rear view mirror in their car. No description, no additional photos and most cases, no price. "Make an offer". I know it's the latest rage and all the kids are doing it. Must have very short attention spans. Yeah, I'm an "old guy". But I am VERY computer literate. I use complex applications like Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop and Illustrator and am very proficent with them. This is a tool for me not a toy. I know when to turn off my phone and live in the real world which up until about 7 months ago was much more preferred. I much prefer to come here for some dialogue and when I want to buy comics, the sales boards here. You know who you are dealing with, there are photos, descriptions, and a price. I don't do Facebook at all. Just don't wanted to be bugged by fake "friends" and people trying to find me. And yes, life will probably never be exactly the same as is was before. We have been damaged to some extent. I believe cons will be back in due time as well. Maybe not as many "mega media" shows as before. Don't bother me though. I just go to buy old paper and hang with my like minded individuals. Cat-Man_America, gino2paulus2, october and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
podboy66 Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 I spend probably 30 minutes a day reading new posts here, trolling IG and FB for golden age comics. It’s a nice relief from all of the problems in the real world. I agree that our current state of affairs has made me much less active here on the Boards and much less thrilled with any new acquisitions. Politics and the pandemic has made my job a real drag and that’s likely rubbing off on my view of funny books. While the traffic here is down, the Boards are still where i can learn something new about Golden Age comics and see new things that I wouldn’t normally run across. The only thing comparable is the FB Timely-Atlas group run by Doc V. My 2 cents! jimjum12 and Larryw7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tri-Color Brian Posted October 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2020 (edited) So, as a member here since early 2014, I too have noticed the slowdown since the newer board style was implemented. I think all of the answers given here are accurate. 1) Dislike for the "new" boards. I know I disliked them at first and had a few words to say about it, but now I can't remember what the old boards looked like. 2) Other Internet outlets like IG and FB. However, since I'm a dinosaur who doesn't have a smart phone I have never seen IG and probably never will. I don't even like texting... 3) I think a lot of people might be concerned about Covid and politics, but I fail to see why that would cause them to abandon a fun place like this. Perhaps it's just because more people are busy with other stuff right now. 4) Many probably think they've "seen it all" here and lost interest. What they don't realize is that most of the old photos from a few years ago are gone. I'm constantly re-posting stuff that has either gotten buried by 50 pages or doesn't exist anymore because I gave up on Photobucket and went to Flickr. Those old timers could come back and share their treasures all over again. We also have many new members from the last 3 years who never saw the old posts. One in particular is recreating them anew, and I appreciate his efforts. So, in conclusion, I think we still have a great place to show our stuff, talk about trends, meet like-minded people, and learn about books we've never seen before. I know I've been inspired by many posts in this forum, and each time it helped me have even less money for retirement... Edited October 20, 2020 by Tri-ColorBrian Pat Calhoun, Get Marwood & I, jimjum12 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatCaesarsGhost Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 3 hours ago, Tri-ColorBrian said: I know I've been inspired by many posts in this forum, and each time it helped me have even less money for retirement... jimjum12 and Tri-Color Brian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...