Missing moderator!

The way things are today, I think we ALL should!

J.

 

This post reminds me of a thread i read awhile back about the succession plan (or lack there of) for this forum.

I'm don't know who owns this forum, but always wonder when I see the 10 year anniversary banner on the home page.

It looks to me like this forum is slowing down from an activity point of view.

What's next for degreeinfo?

 

I think, at least for me, with Shawn's passing - that I'm a little extra concerned when a regular just disappears. When I leave, it will be with lots of rage and emojis. So, if you don't see any of that, assume I've driven off into a ditch.:drive:

 

In the old days when distance learning was unknown, the proponents at this forum pushed "the big three." However, today there are so many other opportunities that were previously only achieved by "the big three." It's a business and other colleges and universities have jumped on the lucrative bandwagon. "The big three" are no longer the only players in town. However, this forum remains an excellent place to learn how to achieve a distance learning degree which, by the way, is no longer "non-traditional." It's mainstream.

 

I am 55 years old.

 

I had not posted for a while... I just decided to jump back on and check on what is happening. Reason for my LOA: "Life".

 

It appears that the activity on the sister forum has picked up. It slowed down a little with the platform change, but it's much more active than this forum. That forum focuses on the Big 3 a lot more than this forum does, which is why it's more active.

Looking for a particular online program is a quick request, and most people can answer their own questions these days if they know how to use Google. Planning out a DIY degree is a longer process that requires more questions. The other forum is probably the most up to date of any forum on alternative sources of education. It has also expanded to cover competency-based degrees.


The main reasons why this forum has slowed down are that most of the members are not up to date on the Big 3 and alternative sources of credit, the most active posters are grumpy and make fun of newbies chasing them off, and threads are often thrown way off topic by joking about nonsense or discussing completely unrelated political issues. A musician died and some weirdo had to be disrespectful by bringing up communism; it had absolutely nothing to do with the person's death.

 

It's hard to believe that there are weirdos on the internet.

 

This forum specializes in how to get legitimate degrees. That's the created purpose for it. The other issue is that once people have achieved their degree(s), then what incentive is there to stick around discussing it? They set a goal and they achieved it. What more can this educational forum do for them? That may be one reason why the political forum (and the off-topic forum) has picked up for people who have achieved their academic goals. And maybe not because politics seems to have picked up steam nationwide -- and not just here.

 

There are always people looking for advice on online education. If this forum were more welcoming and focused on providing help rather than being goofy and grumpy, then more people would stick around. As of now, there aren't younger people coming here to replace the older people. Most of you will probably be dead in 5-15 years. On the other forum, many older posters have moved on, but many newer posters have come along to stick around for a year or more to help others.

Most people on the other forum are aware of this forum. Sometimes, when this forum is recommended for something, people flat out say that they don't want to come here. The most common complaint is that the people here are rude and unhelpful. When you have many people saying it, then maybe it's true.

 

I am in the camp with a 99% of kicking the bucket within 15 years. Anyway most of the people of DI has earned the privilege to be snooty. There are just more PhDs on DI - more blood,sweat and tears. Grumpy is good on DI. Big 3 stuff is boring, as a famous guy said, “they are the jv team”. Being humble is no virtue on DI!

 

This forum has gotten boring. There is hardly any activity in the education sections, and only the people here care to discuss unaccredited schools ad nauseum. This forum might have more PhDs, but it also has more people in retirement.

You all can continue to discuss unaccredited schools and communism and patting yourselves on the back for earning PhDs from unranked schools and writing a book 30 years ago, but don't wonder why activity is down. If this going to be an old, grumpy person forum rather than a distance education forum, then a title change might help attract more old, grumpy people.

People don't go to the other forum because discussing the Big 3 is fun. They go there because they have a goal to obtain, and that forum has the information they need. The PhDs here mean nothing to people trying to complete a degree if the people here are unable to provide valuable information.

 

Who, me? Couldn't be.

 

Sanantone, here is an even bigger newsflash and prediction:
- Sanantone is going to die.
- Everyone who is reading this message about Sanantone is going to die.
- Anyone who has merely surfed by this forum, even for just one second -- they too are going to die.
- No one is exempt, unless the Lord Jesus grants it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblt2EtFfC4

Sanantone, it seems that most internet chat forums are filled with rude and unhelpful people, along with kind and charitable people. They are everywhere and this forum is not exempt in this general internet trend.

 

Definitely not you ted! :smile:

 

I'm 51 now Ted. We are starting to turn in to fossils up in here! :smile: Still doing the karaoke? I used to love hearing about your adventures at the bar. Quite humorous. Hope you cats are doing well. All joking aside, you are a scholar and a gentleman! It's been a good run.

 

Hey Abner, you have to start musing about doing that Ph.D. Someone has to carry on the arrogance of DI. Sanantone does not want to do it but he will be more at ease once he loses that ABD from his title. DI has a culture/ a personality, like it or not; it has culture. I think once you embrace it then it's fun - even if you have to make fun of it. For that another nice forum, I can never be a member of it. Good people I guess, but green around the ears.

 

Sanantone is one of our distinguished lady members.

Johann (One of the oldest & grumpiest men here - also fair-to-middlin' arrogant, if that's what's wanted.) :smile:

 

I guess I get grumpy sometimes. :smile: I am an old fart now that i am 51 I guess! He he. Just kidding, ay dios mio, I find that laughter is good for the soul.

I would also like to once again remind everyone to enjoy the upcoming holiday with their friends and family. Enjoy every second, because life is short indeed!

Vayan todos con dios mis hermanos y hermanas. Que dios los cuide.

P.S. Phdtobe. I neither have the stamina or the intelligence to complete a doc degree. I contemplated it for many years, but I came to the realization that it was a pie in the sky dream, nothing more, and i am fine with it. Plus, I am kind of lazy. To those who seek such an endeavor, I will only say that I greatly admire your courage and fortitude in trying to achieve the highest educational goal possible. I know I will see the day when I can address you as Dr. Phdtobe. :smile:

 

The other forum has a mix of very young people and working professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, many of whom go on to earn master's degrees. Even the former homeschoolers are earning master's degrees in their early 20s along with starting professional careers, which I find quite impressive. It's still not a reason to be arrogant and snooty.

If anyone is interested in why more people don't post here, then here's a thread. Or, you can just stay in denial like Me Again.

Why do you not post on the other forum?