Your current thoughts on the destiny of Q/A sites? (Blurtit shut-down)

Question

We have discussed the fate of Q&A sites before, here on SOLVED -- but yesterday on Quora, Kninjanin was requesting people's opinion of Blurtit compared to Quora. And in researching that, I learned Blurt has shut down! I don't care for Quora, too much oppressiveness from the Artificial Intelligence bots. But Quora draws lots of participants. 

Blurt had a great set-up going, I loved that site for a year or two -- then some internal upset they lost Rooster -- the aftermath was so awful I ended up leaving.

When I first found Ask.com Q/A site, I was so delighted, a way for human connections the world over, world peace, yay! Has not worked out like that. Now Blurt is gone...your thoughts? Here is the link from Quora: https://www.quora.com/How-does-Quora-compare-to-BlurtIt/answer/Virginia-Hanlon?__filter__=all&__nsrc__=1&__sncid__=6951056036&__snid3__=10563142417

Again -- SOLVED is such a good very fine site, why why why doesn't it draw more participants?

Answer 1

I am on several of these sites..Mainly over fifties ones but also Similar Worlds and Reddit.Some are busier than others but in this year of all years they all(well, not reddit)seem less busy.Which is surprising because you might think they would have got busier.

I think there is a future for these sites.I have ‘met’ several folk i get on with and have some great conversations and banter with them.But i think there will be a gradual thinning out as they all have server fees to pay and to attract advertisers they need users..

Why isn’t this one busier?No idea-it was recommended to me when amirites owners decided to wreck their site and alienate all the regulars.It was clearly once busier but i wonder if it pops up in google searches for Q+A sites/forums?I had never come across it.

And most of the handful of regulars here i know from elsewhere.

But l like sites like these that are not too busy...the question is how long can less busy sites survive?

I have been on two that were abandoned by their owners and suddenly disappeared when the server fee was not paid...

Not sure that ramble had addressed the question at all...

Comments

Yes your post is helpful SFA -- I tried similar worlds for a while, Rooster mentioned it once, half-heartedly...I didn't stay very long though...

Answer 2

Actually, blurtit was down about 10 days or so for a server change but it's a lame site. Few people and it doesn't even let anyone else sign in. Odd. I use Similar Worlds some as I have some long time friends there but recently joined Discord but haven't had much time to explore it yet. Trying to get a new DLC up for beta testing. Not many sites left out there that are worth the trouble.

Comments

I have always regretted they did not take up your offer, but it probably worked out best for you in the long run...

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Actually? I'm glad it didn't work out. That owner is a total crook.

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You were the one who suggested SOLVED to me, Rooster, and I will always appreciate that.

Answer 3

Eh, they come and they go... SodaHead taught me that.

At this point, the only one I would really miss is SOLVED.

Comments

Probably a good point Tink "they come and they go" -- doesn't appear now any of them will ever live up anywhere near the potential. I remember looking into SodaHead, what happened, and that was just truly bizarre...some kind of cave to profit/monetary max.

Answer 4

Yahoo sold (Flickr and Tumblr) or shut down (Yahoo Groups and Messenger) some good services so maybe yahoo answers will be shut down. I do not know when Dan will shut down this website. Quora will exist. Blurtit was much more popular in 2016 but owners made some problems with medarators and we left.

Comments

I hope Dan keeps this one going for a long time!

Answer 5

Simply put, I need very little of it really.  Not like an urbanite.  Without the bells and whistles, an urbanite will probably hang them self from a closet pole  should something on-line fail .  I suspect they have no life and depend on an artificial one. Not so with those of us who live in the country.   I invested wisely, and decided to end my work life.  I now have a small insignificant woodshop at the end of a long, dirt, dead end country road that I call my own along with a small lumber mill to mill out my own dimensional lumber.  I create all sorts of things in my studio.  Aside from that, I read, listen to classics, I hunt and wander through the country.  I make frequent trips to the Atlantic Ocean and sit on a bench where I dream dreams regarding what once was, and what lies ahead.  I embrace vintage clothes....particularly Fedoras and tweed coats.  I value the Wyeths, and appreciate long, slow conversation with friends over food and drink.  I actually don't need an internet....at least, I don't think I do.  I lead a decent, vibrant life in reality where, a noisy voice mail on a phone is regarded as an intrusion.  

Not sure I answered the question.  Oh well

Comments

Very beautifully expressed, Freeranger...your comment about the Wyeths brought memories of the time in 1965 when I gifted my instructor with a print of CHRISTINA'S WORLD...cost a whole $7, I still remember. Your life sounds delightful and full, glad you show up on SOLVED from time to time!