What Happened to This Site?

WOW! It's been a while! Welcome back to Not-So-New-and-Not-So-Improved MMP.

I think that it's mainly we "regulars" and then a smattering of first-timers, trolls, and admin-created accounts to increase traffic. I miss the old MMP as well. Things really have slowed...though we do have an occasional busy day. :-)

Yay! L. P. Is back!!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊🎉🎉🎈😊😊😊😊
O. and Done!

Yeah...this site is now full of trolls and spam bots.

Yep it's slowed down. Probably so many mommy sites to choose from we've lost a chunk of the market. But welcome back, some of us are pretty faithful users here :-)

Omg, I've missed you L. P! (LEAP!).

And this site sucks cuz you haven't been here, duh.

<3

I'm somewhat of a regular bc I'm also at a desk all day for work but as Marda said, the tone has gotten bad enough I'm hesitant to ask questions. There are some regulars who reply to almost everything and seem to look for a way to put on a bad spin to be able to reply in a negative way. They say they're just being honest but it goes beyond that. Likely that discourages some other people from asking questions too.

Hey L.!! I wondered where you were. I hope you are ok and everything is going well for you.

You're right, site has changed and not as many postings daily. There are a lot more trolls, spam bots, etc. I think that has driven the usage down a bit. Sometimes there seems to be a legit post and then you find out it was someone trying to do research or its a troll.

Welcome back! Keep checking in... many of us from several years ago are still here, check in and see what is going on day to day.

Have a great Friday!

I also took a break and noticed a huge difference. Number one, yes, it is different. My opinion is this: its not the this site per say. Its the internet. People have learned not to ask personal questions or espouse their views because of the anonymous nature of the responses. People don't bother to be polite, gentle, or filter their thoughts, as though talking to a friend.

And yes, it seems to have been taken over by a bit of a bully squad. I have never voiced this opinion on here before, but I think of them as the post menopausal mean girls.

They maintain an attitude that if you put yourself out there on a public forum, they have a right to give their opinion and thats "all it is, just their opinion." But notice that the ones who really dish it, rarely ever ask questions. And if they do, they never ever ever ask questions of a remotely sensitive or personal nature. They know they don't want to subject themselves to the same treatment they give.
_______
I don't actually know the age of most posters so I'm sure that the "mean" ones come in all ages. Sorry if that comment was offensive, I retract it, but leave it as originally stated, because its too late to edit at this point. Though I stand by my initial statement that there is a group that tends to bully and those who pile on once it starts. And to be fair, I have been mean and have been the recipient of it as well. I think we were all social media virgins and all had to learn a few hard lessons about how much emotion is worth investing in total strangers who often assume the worse in you. So I think we all have learned to put less of ourselves out there for attack and that amounts to fewer questions.

well, howdy, L.! how nice to see you back!
yeah, i think the catwalk kerfuffle damaged this site more than MP was anticipating. but i suspect it's also just the changing nature of the webZ. i'm here because i've been here for so long and enjoy the ebb and flow, for the most part, and am old enough to find the learning curve on new sites discouraging.
and i think it's also a case of 'you get what you ask for.' i remember being super eye-rolly about the hair-trigger moderation we used to get around here. now there's almost none, and the bots and trolls abound.
but i still like it for the most part.
stick around, girlie!
:) khairete
S.

Hi L.!

Welcome back.

I am F. (formerly catwalk).

I am still here because this was the first mom's site I ever joined years ago when it was mamasource.

I think all sites probably wax and wane a bit. I do agree though that the 'newest' new administration seems less on top of things.

Still some good folks here.

Glad you are back!

I'll be honest, I didn't think mamasource was without nasty attitudes and occasional pile-ons, so I don't think that's it. I think it's the spam and trolls - and of course, you were gone.

Welcome back.

Yes, as others have said, the site has gone through many changes and some not for the good. There was a time when you could hardly get on the site to ask a question. Now, you can ask and they will be the same for several days. I do wish that the research button worked better for all the "am I pregnant or could I be pregnant" questions. The other one would be for all the "work at home jobs" that are asked. At least we are not get hit with "how do I get my child out of my bed after 4 years of sleeping with me?"

It sure would be nice to know what happened to a few of the old posters. There was one on here when my was ill in 2008 that had her twin boys in hospital. I sure hope that they came out all right.

Just goes to show you that there are a few of us still here.

Have a great day to all and a good Super Bowl Weekend!

the other S.

I've been on here since Mamasource first started up and I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it, but yes there are fewer posts! I guess it has tapered down slowly enough that I just didn't realize it.

I think Suz T hit the nail on the head - it's frustrating because while there used to be over-moderating in the early years, it seems like there is little to no moderating now.

But I'll keep coming back, reporting every spambot and rolling my eyes at trolls. Though I'm not brave enough to call out trolls because like Marda P I feel there are some legitimate posters getting slammed too.

Hi, L.! I remember you, and it's nice to see you again! I've been around since Mamasource, probably for 8 years or so.

It has changed and has certainly slowed down. Sometimes I go days or even a week without checking in, and it's still not too difficult to catch up.

I'm glad you're back and hope you're doing well! :)

Hi L., welcome back! I'm a lurker, though I've been around forever, since mamasource days too. I'm torn ... so often I feel like posting a question, but then I reconsider and can almost predict what the responses may be. I'm overly sensitive, so the "duh, you should know this" or "it's perfectly normal, why are you asking" expectations kick in. I think so much in my own head, that sometimes the responses are overwhelming. That said, I absolutely love reading the insightful replies which are very sincere. Also, there are so many books out there addressing our issues, that it's tempting to read those at my own pace instead.
So there you have it .... total blah blah blah, as my daughter would say. :) Keep checking in. I love that the "regulars" still hang out. Have a great weekend!

I too have been on this site for years and you're right, it has slowed down considerably. Now I can be away for several days and still only find a few questions have been posted when I return. It's sad.

Hi L.! I've been here since mamasource days too, but changed my info to be more anonymous when I realized posts were going to Facebook.

But it's nice to "see" you again.

I also think that some first timers get scared off by responses. I lurked for a long time before I asked first question (way way back when). So I knew what to expect. And I appreciate the variety of opinions on this board. But if a person doesn't read other posts to get a feel for the group, they might be surprised/defensive at some of the answers they get. And maybe those people don't stick around.

Hi L.!

I remember you! Glad to see you back on the board!

I've been here for many years dating back to the mamasource days, but I also take mamapedia breaks, most of the time because there's just too much going on in real life. Sometimes, I go away when the vibe is too negative.

I think there has definitely been an increase in bots and spam, and the moderators simply aren't on top of it enough to remove these posts quickly. Add to that the actual trolls and the much-maligned suspected trolls, and as Marda says, the whole point of being here often gets lost in that mix. Accusations fly; people on both sides get defensive; and it all results in a pattern of responses that is so predictable, it really does get tiring. Overall, though, even with the decrease in posts, there is still much more good here than there is negative.

I thought about changing my name after the FB episode, but I never did. I still think about changing it even now because there are so many Julies here (even another J. F., although she's from Tallahassee and hasn't been around lately).

Anyway, it's good to "see" you again. I do wonder about people when I haven't seen their names in a while. Hope all is well with you.

Still J. F.

I'm still here, but for me, there are days when the ads and the javascript errors keep me from posting or reading ANYTHING and that really affects how much time I spend here.

I don't think it's us vs them, but I do feel like if I've seen the 50th "could I be pregnant" post it is not worth my time. Especially if it's Spring Break.

Also, them focusing on FB (they take our posts to their FB page) and social media in general have had an impact.

Hello L.!! Welcome back!
I recently changed my name. It used to simply be "Katrina A.". Didn't change it too much "IamA.K." LOL
I still come here every day but the trolls are getting to just be too much. I don't get a ton of free time with the kids and everything going on around the house.
The site has it's good and it's bad days. I do my best to remember the good ones. It doesn't have as much traffic as I once remember it having. It keeps me coming back all the same so there's something good about it ;)

It's not just you, the posts have become fewer and further between.

I'm not sure what happened.

I remember you.

There was a point in time when a bunch of people changed their names due to fears of posts showing up on Facebook.

Yes, I remember you. I also went by Momof4. I only changed it because I was gone for a little while and couldn't remember my password so had to make a new account.

Welcome back, and hope baby is well

Welcome back!! It will be nice to have a "veteran" back! Congratulations on your daughter!

I've been here for a little over a year...so I don't know you!

I'm S.. Married to Tyler for a couple of decades...4 boys...waited to have kids so they are still "young". Tyler, retired from the USAF as an officer. We are now in Georgia. We were in California and moved several times in his career.

Been accused of being someone else. I guess some people don't change? :) I scrolled through people's profiles and questions and answers and learned a lot about people that way. Admittedly, not too fond of several. But that's life, right?

There have been a rash of trolls. Some people talk about a DandyLion and how much they miss her. Guess she was a hoot. Things have been slow lately, you are right.

Welcome back L. ! I've been around since Mamasource. I used to use my real name (D.) but changed it for a little anonymity... There does seem to be less questions asked but I just figured it was because we all get busy. I know I do ! I seem to have less time to be on here than I used to. I do try to check at least once a week if not every couple of days and see what's going on. Anyway - Glad your back !

Welcome back, L.! It's nice to see you on here. We seem to have lag periods where it's a bunch of robo-spam and strange posts, and then things go back to normal for a while. I think a lot of people get very busy too. However, I do think you are right that it is slower than previous years.

Hi L., Welcome back. I have been on since mamasource as well, I was Mz Kitty. I left around the same time as you but pop back on a couple times a week. It's just not the same. I left originally because of all the negative and drama. Then when a group started their own FB page, I was part of that too but it seemed like it was just a bunch of women bitching about everyone and everything and I couldn't take it. On here now, it seems like there isn't many questions that interest me so I spend my time doing other stuff. Hope all is well with you. =0)