Does anybody from the "old days" still visit this forum?

[otherego]

Although I haven't posted anything for ages, I still look in from time to time. It's quite sad - the board is a mere shadow of its former self.

I don't know if anyone else remembers when, some years ago, a reshuffle of the boards seemed likely to lead to this one's demise. A few of us, working with the Community Manager of the time (James? - sorry, I'm not certain) discussed its functions, and it was moved safely to the "Cafe" area. One of the main reasons for this was that it was used a great deal for non eBay-specific stuff - and indeed, at the time, I think there was strong agreement that a tech site benefited from a board where general tech stuff and problems/solutions could be discussed.

eBay-specific stuff was adequately catered for elsewhere, and this was something of a haven for those who wanted to chat about tech stuff - computers, software and so on. Between us, we seemed to resolve quite a few problems.

Now I see most of the few posts here are really nothing to do with the board - rather, they would have been answered more quickly under other eBay forums.

Perhaps the good thing about all this is that the lack of participation/interest here shows that gadgets and their software have become more reliable and therefore more boring. (I suspect that in computing/smartphone/gadgetty matters, as in aviation, Boring Is Good.) A shame, really.

I still have a lot of fun tinkering with old computers in my untutored and frankly somewhat inept way. I'm not sure my hobby would ever have taken off without all the gen I acquired here - not sure I would ever have had the courage to try Linux operating systems, for instance.

Still - time moves on. Let me open a beer, and I'll try to post something ...

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

I'm still here,at least i think i am 😋

[cee-dee]

Well hello OE, long, long time no see? Wocher been up to? There's a few old threads on here that would've welcomed your input. Come back regularly, I miss your posts.

[otherego]

Hi, cee-dee.

Thanks. It's nice to know there are still a few folk around.

I must admit I've been put off a little by all the posts which really belong elsewhere. Not the posters' fault, I suppose, although I would have thought the eBay "Technical Issues" ("Issues" - ugh) board would have been a more logical choice for the sort of eBay specific questions which seem to dominate here now.

I suppose times change. It's funny - I used to spend far too much on the site (over fifty quid for a laptop, even), and need to be more careful now. However, there used to be a real sense of "community," with the cafe boards providing a distinctly clubbable feel to the site. I can't help wondering whether this is falling away, and whether this is bad move from a business standpoint. I suppose people wanting to feel part of a community were considered to be a tiny minority, and the social aspect of eBay has been "de-emphasised" - certainly, people seem to have moved away from the community aspect. Interesting to speculate why. (Alas, I didn't do Sociology.)

Even The Round Table seems to attract fewer social and more eBay-question type threads. Very sad.

Good to know you're still around, cee-dee - thanks for the response!

[otherego]

And hello to Roger, too - a new user name? Apologies if I haven't "recognised" you!

[cee-dee]

Hiya again, the RT has changed vastly. Long gone are the "discussion-type" threads and the good natured argumentative ones where entrenched opposing posters put their points over. Some threads now get loads of views but few if any posts.

[cee-dee]

Now, where's that OE gone? How about a suggestion?

How about writing on here a couple of "How to do its" in simple language?

By simple, I mean SIMPLE. 😀 For simpletons? (Like me?)

How about explaining passkeys? How to use them on a "normal" desktop?

OR, how to use QR codes?

Then, how to install and use your favourite, Linux?

Just a few to be going on with? That'll keep your interest?