33 votes

How is site growth? I have joined a year ago, looks like comment and upvote activity has died down a bit

Additionally, is there a roadmap? Interesting if site is open to everyone

50 comments

  1. [11]
    Deimos
    (edited )
    Link
    Other people have already said a lot, but I want to add a few quick thoughts of my own (I created and run Tildes): Overall, activity is quite steady. There hasn't really been significant growth or...
    • Exemplary

    Other people have already said a lot, but I want to add a few quick thoughts of my own (I created and run Tildes):

    • Overall, activity is quite steady. There hasn't really been significant growth or decline for a long time now. There are days of higher or lower activity based on events and/or which topics get posted, but longer-term averages haven't changed much.

    • The goal with Tildes isn't really to be an exceptionally high-activity site. I'd definitely eventually like it to be more active than it is now, but there's no hurry to get to that point. The objective isn't "public square", it's a lot closer to "neighborhood pub/coffee-shop".

    • Activity for its own sake isn't really a good thing. I'd much rather have a slower, higher-quality site than one that's constantly active but where only a small portion of the content has any substance.

      Something I did a while back that really got this message across to me: take a thread on a site like Reddit or HN that's fairly active, and then actually read every single comment and decide whether you're glad you read the comment or if the thread wouldn't have been any better or worse for you if that comment didn't exist. To keep track, do something like only upvote the comments that had value to you and leave all the rest alone, then afterwards check how many comments you upvoted.

      When I did this, I found that in most threads/subreddits, often 90% (or even more) of the comments were effectively useless. Sure, the threads are active, but a lot of it's just basically clutter that's a waste of time to read. People having pedantic arguments about details that don't matter, reciting pop-culture references at each other, chains of people insulting and trying to "one-up" each other, and so on. So much time is wasted picking through garbage to find the few comments that are actually worth reading. I like that it rarely feels like that here. Yes, there's less to read, but I get more out of it.

    • It's not necessary to check Tildes repeatedly and constantly. Check it once a day and read the topics/discussions you're interested in, then go do other things (or read other sites) and come back tomorrow (or the day after, or whenever). A lot of other sites are built around making you visit constantly and try to make you feel like you're missing out on something whenever you're not visiting, because they make money through advertising, and that's how they'll be able to show you the most ads. But there's nothing wrong with visiting less frequently, you don't need to have most of your online activity centered around Tildes (or any other single site).

    • I'm honestly extremely hesitant to make any major changes to Tildes right now, including pushing for significant growth. We're in the middle of an unprecendented situation in the world that's causing massive upheaval in people's lives and a ton of uncertainty in all sorts of aspects. Even though it's not a massive group of people, there are still well over a thousand people hanging out on Tildes regularly, and I like that it can be a dependable place for them to go during this crisis.

    Okay, I guess that ended up being more than just a few quick thoughts.

    58 votes
    1. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      This is Tildes' big drawcard for me. On Reddit, 90% of comments aren't worth reading. On Tildes, 90% of comments are worth reading. The quality on Tildes doesn't necessarily come from the content...

      Something I did a while back that really got this message across to me: take a thread on a site like Reddit or HN that's fairly active, and then actually read every single comment and decide whether you're glad you read the comment or if the thread wouldn't have been any better or worse for you if that comment didn't exist.

      This is Tildes' big drawcard for me. On Reddit, 90% of comments aren't worth reading. On Tildes, 90% of comments are worth reading.

      The quality on Tildes doesn't necessarily come from the content that gets posted, it comes from the discussion about that content. On Tildes, that discussion is (usually) thoughtful, relevant, and worthwhile. On Reddit, it's usually just noise.

      That said, Tildes does need to be more active.

      26 votes
    2. Adys
      Link Parent
      Dude, I mean it, thank you for that. There's very few things keeping my sanity together right now: One streamer, my work, one friend of mine, my girlfriend, and Tildes. I massively appreciate that...

      Even though it's not a massive group of people, there are still well over a thousand people hanging out on Tildes regularly, and I like that it can be a dependable place for them to go during this crisis.

      Dude, I mean it, thank you for that. There's very few things keeping my sanity together right now: One streamer, my work, one friend of mine, my girlfriend, and Tildes. I massively appreciate that this dependability for some people is something you're aware of.

      11 votes
    3. [6]
      weystrom
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      So I was thinking, if we're striving to be a smaller community, like an old school forum, why not let people personalize. A good example would be an ability to set and display a profile pic, and...

      So I was thinking, if we're striving to be a smaller community, like an old school forum, why not let people personalize. A good example would be an ability to set and display a profile pic, and have a signature.

      I honestly miss the times when people were identifiable on forums like that, now I rarely even look at names online, I just look at content, and that kind of takes away from the "coffee shop/pub" experience.

      Have you considered these options? The obvious downside is clutter, but the profile pics don't have to be too big and can be optional.

      10 votes
      1. [2]
        Deimos
        Link Parent
        I don't intend to add anything like that. There's not really a profound reason behind it or anything, I just don't like profile pics and signatures for various reasons and don't want to have them...

        I don't intend to add anything like that. There's not really a profound reason behind it or anything, I just don't like profile pics and signatures for various reasons and don't want to have them here.

        13 votes
        1. cfabbro
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          Instead of traditional profile pics, what about profile favicons (i.e. tiny images)? That would still help people be more easily recognizable to each other at a glance, let everyone get a bit...

          Instead of traditional profile pics, what about profile favicons (i.e. tiny images)? That would still help people be more easily recognizable to each other at a glance, let everyone get a bit creative if they want to (without much room for abuse), and they would also not take up a ton of room or clutter things up too much either (which is my biggest gripe with traditional profile pics TBH).

          p.s. I already basically add favicons to other users here myself using Tildes ReExtended's User Labels feature. E.g. This is how your username shows up to me. ;)

          7 votes
      2. Wes
        Link Parent
        I still frequent old forums, and I turn off signatures. There's really no reason to read the same quote over and over again. They rarely change, and most are not nearly as clever as people think...

        I still frequent old forums, and I turn off signatures. There's really no reason to read the same quote over and over again. They rarely change, and most are not nearly as clever as people think they are. The bio on the profile page is a much better implementation, in my opinion.

        I could maybe see the argument for avatars but I still think it adds too much visual noise, which drowns out the signal.

        7 votes
      3. [2]
        unknown user
        Link Parent
        That's a really awesome idea. I haven't seen the Reddit nested comments structure and group organisation structure combined with the linear, avatar-based approach of old-school forums, and all of...

        That's a really awesome idea. I haven't seen the Reddit nested comments structure and group organisation structure combined with the linear, avatar-based approach of old-school forums, and all of a sudden, I want this. Hell, that brings back a ton of great nostalgia.

        This is definitely worth considering!

        4 votes
        1. Deimos
          Link Parent
          You could check Lobsters or visit Reddit through a phone browser while logged-out (to get the mobile web version) to see what nested comments + small avatars is like, they both do it.

          You could check Lobsters or visit Reddit through a phone browser while logged-out (to get the mobile web version) to see what nested comments + small avatars is like, they both do it.

          8 votes
    4. tomf
      Link Parent
      This is what I love most about tildes. It feels like more like usenet in this regard. There's no subconscious fear of missing out. And with activity being bumped, that really has me reassess if my...

      It's not necessary to check Tildes repeatedly and constantly.

      This is what I love most about tildes. It feels like more like usenet in this regard. There's no subconscious fear of missing out. And with activity being bumped, that really has me reassess if my response is worth bumping that topic to the top of the site for a time.

      I love it.

      8 votes
    5. Kuromantis
      Link Parent
      Offtopic but ironically since this is the only site I know that seriously has this discussion this other point is hard to follow: The only thing that stops me just using this site for multiple...

      So much time is wasted picking through garbage to find the few comments that are actually worth reading. I like that it rarely feels like that here. Yes, there's less to read, but I get more out of it.

      Offtopic but ironically since this is the only site I know that seriously has this discussion this other point is hard to follow:

      There's nothing wrong with visiting less frequently, you don't need to have most of your online activity centered around Tildes (or any other single site).

      The only thing that stops me just using this site for multiple hours at a time is (yet again) the lack of activity. There's probably a sociological term for whatever the tipping point is.

      6 votes
  2. [12]
    weystrom
    (edited )
    Link
    Recommending Tildes to a friend feels like a privacy-talk (which I have already given up on long time ago) for some reason: I like Tildes, but we're in a niche between Hacker News (and Lobsters)...

    Recommending Tildes to a friend feels like a privacy-talk (which I have already given up on long time ago) for some reason:

    - Hey, I found this neat website, people post interesting topics, there's a voting system and comments!
    - Sooo, you've found Reddit?
    - No, it's called tildes and it's pretty cool, there are no ads, no personalization, everything is open-source, it's less crowded and very low-key. Do you want an invite?
    - Yeah, no, I think I'll just keep using Reddit.

    I like Tildes, but we're in a niche between Hacker News (and Lobsters) and Reddit, and I'm not sure how big it is.

    23 votes
    1. [9]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [6]
        Adys
        Link Parent
        Boy do I love having tildes to go to especially in these times right now. Being able to talk about different topics with essentially the same community, feels a lot better than reddit which I …...

        Boy do I love having tildes to go to especially in these times right now. Being able to talk about different topics with essentially the same community, feels a lot better than reddit which I … actually, I don't think I even get anything informative out of reddit anymore. If it's important enough to be informative AND on the homepage, I'll likely have caught it off twitter anyway. And the new UI has made it very unenjoyable to use the site, so I don't bother going to the small, higher-quality subs anymore.

        Reddit's probably only useful for porn nowadays.

        13 votes
        1. [4]
          NoblePath
          Link Parent
          Reddit can still be useful for at least a couple of reasons: local connections and a more informative access to real experts (e.g. some kf the ama’s on Coronavirus and covid19 subs).

          Reddit can still be useful for at least a couple of reasons: local connections and a more informative access to real experts (e.g. some kf the ama’s on Coronavirus and covid19 subs).

          10 votes
          1. [3]
            hamstergeddon
            Link Parent
            I've tried to block reddit in PiHole a few times now and the one thing that always leads me to unblocking it is that it's really useful for gauging honest opinion on stuff. For example, I was...

            I've tried to block reddit in PiHole a few times now and the one thing that always leads me to unblocking it is that it's really useful for gauging honest opinion on stuff. For example, I was trying to figure out if I should get a 2019 Macbook Pro for work or not and when searching around all I could find was blogspam. I wanted insight from actual people who use the device full-time. So I just appended "reddit" to the search and suddenly I had a dozen discussions about the laptop, each offering a ton of information on what Apple had changed for the 2019 model and lots of pros/cons.

            Also really useful for getting into obscure hobbies. Like every single website on shortwave radio looks dated and is hard to navigate. But the subreddit? Tons of beginner info easily searched through and a sidebar with guides.

            8 votes
            1. DougM
              Link Parent
              That has become muscle memory at this point when I'm searching for information. Other than that, the only thing I really venture over there for now is for r/cscareerquestions.

              So I just appended "reddit" to the search and suddenly I had a dozen discussions about the laptop, each offering a ton of information on what Apple had changed for the 2019 model and lots of pros/cons.

              That has become muscle memory at this point when I'm searching for information.

              Other than that, the only thing I really venture over there for now is for r/cscareerquestions.

              2 votes
            2. [2]
              Comment deleted by author
              Link Parent
              1. unknown user
                Link Parent
                I like the "off-topic" heading you made.

                I like the "off-topic" heading you made.

                5 votes
        2. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Adys
            Link Parent
            My reddit account is nearly 12 years old at this point, I'm well aware of how to use reddit "right". But exactly like you said: How about that. Do you think Reddit is pushing in any way its own...

            My reddit account is nearly 12 years old at this point, I'm well aware of how to use reddit "right". But exactly like you said:

            When it’s the users choice (though, I admit, probably pushed in a certain way by the site) how they curate what they see.

            How about that. Do you think Reddit is pushing in any way its own "good" parts (the smaller/more specialized communities)? Fuck no. They've made it harder to do your own curation, and have pushed the mainstream stuff pretty hard.

            Reddit has been a clusterfuck of mistakes and bad decisions for the past years, and its overall quality is on the exact same level as facebook. You can say Facebook "creates strife and disinformation" when it's by far the most impact it has overall. Even if there are good parts to it, the bad parts are overwhelmingly bad, and the majority of users don't get to even see the good stuff.

            I'm glad you can still find use out of reddit but personally, the only way I use it nowadays is a largely empty glance at a filtered r/all once a day and moving on. Twitter is easier to curate nowadays; I use that more, coupled with more niche communities (Tildes and HN). And sometimes, some interesting articles Google pushes down my throat with the Chrome mobile homepage.

            5 votes
      2. weystrom
        Link Parent
        Problem is that we won't get content diversity this way. It will be just a bunch HN-type articles all the way down.

        Problem is that we won't get content diversity this way. It will be just a bunch HN-type articles all the way down.

        3 votes
      3. culturedleftfoot
        Link Parent
        The curmudgeon in me would say that you're tired of people in general, at least online... and accordingly, I wouldn't blame you. I'm sure this has been covered ad infinitum in other threads, but...

        I'm tired of the assholes, trolls, and general toxicity of the wider Reddit.

        The curmudgeon in me would say that you're tired of people in general, at least online... and accordingly, I wouldn't blame you. I'm sure this has been covered ad infinitum in other threads, but is there any real way to have a user base that large, with those demographics, that doesn't make you hang your head in shame or disbelief? That's the equivalent of curing Internet cancer.

        1 vote
    2. Wes
      Link Parent
      Someone asked me recently what Tildes offers that reddit doesn't, and the first thing that came to mind was "reasonable people". I actually enjoy participating here. Browsing random threads...

      Someone asked me recently what Tildes offers that reddit doesn't, and the first thing that came to mind was "reasonable people". I actually enjoy participating here. Browsing random threads doesn't get my dander up like reddit does.

      So maybe it's best not to focus on features of the site, but qualities of the community.

      17 votes
    3. [2]
      Adys
      Link Parent
      Tildes has appeal as a niche community. If it grows, it grows, but I don't think selling the way you're describing would ever work.

      Tildes has appeal as a niche community. If it grows, it grows, but I don't think selling the way you're describing would ever work.

      6 votes
      1. streblo
        Link Parent
        I agree. I think the appeal of places like Tildes is just the relentless Eternal September that creeps across the internet.

        I agree. I think the appeal of places like Tildes is just the relentless Eternal September that creeps across the internet.

        7 votes
  3. [2]
    Whom
    Link
    If you'd like to compare activity, @Bauke did a lot of statistics work that'll be interesting to you.

    If you'd like to compare activity, @Bauke did a lot of statistics work that'll be interesting to you.

    13 votes
    1. metal
      Link Parent
      Interesting, thanks

      Interesting, thanks

      2 votes
  4. pseudolobster
    Link
    Just popping in to say "I aten't dead!" I've always been primarily a lurker. Though I do sometimes try and post content and comments just for the sake of keeping the site lively, there's long...

    Just popping in to say "I aten't dead!"

    I've always been primarily a lurker. Though I do sometimes try and post content and comments just for the sake of keeping the site lively, there's long periods when I don't. I just need to remind myself more often when I see good content elsewhere, "Tildes might like this!"

    That said, the site has never lost my attention. I don't think there's been a whole week over the past two years where I haven't at least checked the front page. I normally refresh the front page a few times a day, and when it's set to activity sort you do see the same topics popping back up, but there's still enough new content further down the page where I never feel like the site is dull or lacking content. If I was refreshing it multiple times an hour like reddit, expecting new content each time I'd probably be disappointed.

    13 votes
  5. asoftbird
    Link
    l'm here, just mostly lurking / fixing tags if someone else hasn't already. The amount of lurkers often far outweighs the amount of active commenters, at least for other sites.

    l'm here, just mostly lurking / fixing tags if someone else hasn't already. The amount of lurkers often far outweighs the amount of active commenters, at least for other sites.

    10 votes
  6. drawkcab
    Link
    After reaching out for an invite it took me a while to register an account. Even after doing so it was still months before I even participated as I've tried to find an interest in the various sub...

    After reaching out for an invite it took me a while to register an account. Even after doing so it was still months before I even participated as I've tried to find an interest in the various sub topics. Perhaps like many here, I'm trying to find my place in a new group. I wonder why should I contribute, how am I adding value.

    Much like what @weystrom said, I've described to other people that Tildes feels to me as an in-between to Hacker news and reddit. Which is an interesting place to be described as. When I think of my circle of close friends and family, there are many who are tech savvy as well as in IT or some kind of high tech. When I've spoken about and recommended Tildes, there were very few who were interested to try and/or register. To be fair, the same is true with their interest to Hacker News so it isn't just here.

    I sense anecdotally that what interests the masses is what I'll describe as a version of trash TV and how Reddit appeals to that level of attention. Now that isn't entirely fair to Reddit because there are many good subreddits with niche content if one is looking for it. The difference I find is that there is such a critical mass that it's easy to jump into a headline and get out in seconds and feel entertained. In sites like HN and Tildes, more effort may be required and I'm ok with that. I'd rather have a higher signal to noise ratio than have an enormous community. That said, having a smaller community is a bit of a double edge sword. I do like new and challenging view points so that I'm not in some kind of feedback loop.

    9 votes
  7. sharpstick
    Link
    Given the fact that this site holds its users to a higher standard when it come to interacting with the content its level of participation in the comments is going to be lower and that is a good...

    Given the fact that this site holds its users to a higher standard when it come to interacting with the content its level of participation in the comments is going to be lower and that is a good thing. There have been several times when I started to make a comment on a thread only to realize that I was not really adding anything other than "I agree." So while the comments may be fewer I have found them of a higher quality and more informative which I appreciate.

    To me this site occupies a different space than Reddit. If I want the vast trivial entertainment of Reddit I'll go there, but it doesn't fit here as well.

    8 votes
  8. [3]
    Kuromantis
    (edited )
    Link
    Given /Bauke's data, neither has happened, in fact, nothing has happened. I wonder why. How many people are asking for invites on the threads? When I asked for mine no one else was in line.

    Given /Bauke's data, neither has happened, in fact, nothing has happened. I wonder why. How many people are asking for invites on the threads? When I asked for mine no one else was in line.

    4 votes
    1. Amarok
      Link Parent
      There are two primary invite streams - Deimos' email, and /r/tildes. I can't speak to the email, however /r/tildes has been pretty dormant. We get between 3-10 people a week over there. We haven't...

      There are two primary invite streams - Deimos' email, and /r/tildes. I can't speak to the email, however /r/tildes has been pretty dormant. We get between 3-10 people a week over there. We haven't had a major spike in invites/requests because reddit hasn't been pissing anyone off that much lately.

      I think mentions of Tildes primarily generates replies asking for invites on reddit. Mentions on hackernews are more likely to generate email I'll wager. Outside of those two places, Tildes is rarely mentioned, no search results. Next highest is probably /g/ on 4chan, I've seen maybe a half dozen threads there where people give away invites over the last two years.

      Tildes is still a well kept secret. You'll only find it if you intentionally go looking for social media alternatives.

      Usually your best bet that there's a wave of invite activity is looking for introduction threads. When there's a spike someone always posts one of those (and if they don't I will). It's been months, and with everyone focused on the coming apocalypse right now I don't expect there will be another wave for a while.

      5 votes
    2. gpl
      Link Parent
      I think those requests get answered pretty quickly, so there's almost never a 'line' so to speak. That being said I'm also not sure how often its asked. I know the general idea is to keep growth...

      I think those requests get answered pretty quickly, so there's almost never a 'line' so to speak. That being said I'm also not sure how often its asked. I know the general idea is to keep growth slow until more features are in place, but I can't help but think we're not even seeing slow growth. It sure would be nice to get a small influx to boost things a bit.

      4 votes
  9. [8]
    user2
    Link
    It certainly seems to have died quite a bit. Sadly, tildes seems "dead".

    It certainly seems to have died quite a bit. Sadly, tildes seems "dead".

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. kfwyre
        Link Parent
        Thanks, as always, for running the numbers for us, Bauke! For a while I found myself frustrated by Tildes' lack of growth and relatively low volume of posts and comments. Like many others are...

        Thanks, as always, for running the numbers for us, Bauke!

        For a while I found myself frustrated by Tildes' lack of growth and relatively low volume of posts and comments. Like many others are experiencing, it gave me the impression that Tildes was a "dead" site. Prior to joining Tildes I actually passed on joining several other similar communities just because they didn't seem to have enough activity to make participating in them worthwhile. Why bother stopping to chat if you're passing through a ghost town?

        I found that I had to rewire my expectations. Where I used to see the "low" volume of posts on Tildes as a negative, I now very much appreciate it. I love that there isn't a flood of content here. I love that I can step away from the site for hours or even a day or two and not feel like I'm missing out. Where people see "dead" I instead see "cozy". This is a calm, chill place to be.

        Also, what the numbers don't capture are the intangibles that we have built-in to our community interactions. People here are kind, respectful, and thoughtful in their responses. Constantly. I don't see bickering; I don't see hate speech; I rarely see pessimistic "hot takes". Sure it can make things a little stuffy here, but I also think there's a lot more value-per-comment in the little activity we do have.

        So many other parts of the internet put novelty and activity in the driver's seat, providing users with constant new stimulus. It's engaging, sure, but it's also noisy. I very much like that Tildes is not noisy. I have too much attentional clutter in my life already. Some people want a noisy coffee shop to hang out in. I prefer a quiet library.

        17 votes
      2. user2
        Link Parent
        That graphic is interesting.. Back when I joined, it seemed like tildes was much more active.. Guess I am not looking at this objectively.

        That graphic is interesting.. Back when I joined, it seemed like tildes was much more active.. Guess I am not looking at this objectively.

        7 votes
    2. [3]
      patience_limited
      Link Parent
      I suspect many Tildes users are bunkering down psychologically as well as physically right now. It's hard to maintain enthusiasm for commenting about daily news or other topics when it's all bad.

      I suspect many Tildes users are bunkering down psychologically as well as physically right now. It's hard to maintain enthusiasm for commenting about daily news or other topics when it's all bad.

      12 votes
      1. NaraVara
        Link Parent
        For me it's almost the opposite of bunkering down. I feel like all my group chats and discords and 1on1 messages are doing CRAZY these days since everyone is working from home and, presumably,...

        For me it's almost the opposite of bunkering down. I feel like all my group chats and discords and 1on1 messages are doing CRAZY these days since everyone is working from home and, presumably, feel less self conscious about goofing off during the work day. So I feel less compelled to check out Tildes since I'm getting so much content elsewhere.

        Also a lot of my friends work in SCIFs, so this is the first time many of them have actually been able to chat and instant message during the work day. They're really taking advantage of it. haha

        15 votes
      2. metal
        Link Parent
        To the contrary, popular networks like reddit feel a bit daunting. You are locked inside browsing same memes and low effort content every day. I checked Tildes to see if I can find some serious...

        To the contrary, popular networks like reddit feel a bit daunting. You are locked inside browsing same memes and low effort content every day. I checked Tildes to see if I can find some serious discussion, and while it is here, I expected more variety in topics.

        At the very least it seems like user engagement is very high on the front page

        8 votes
    3. Pistos
      Link Parent
      I only joined a few months ago, so I have no experience with any "golden age" from the past. Tildes seems alive enough to me. I appreciate that the population is relatively low compared to Hacker...

      I only joined a few months ago, so I have no experience with any "golden age" from the past. Tildes seems alive enough to me. I appreciate that the population is relatively low compared to Hacker News, and I like the wider breadth of topics compared to Lobsters.

      6 votes
    4. Joshua
      Link Parent
      FWIW, I keep forgetting Tildes exists. I only remember to come to it when there's a controversy on reddit and people are looking for alternatives. I'll usually check it out for a few days and then...

      FWIW, I keep forgetting Tildes exists. I only remember to come to it when there's a controversy on reddit and people are looking for alternatives. I'll usually check it out for a few days and then forget about it the next time I reboot and lose my open tabs.

      2 votes
  10. [6]
    Five
    Link
    I joined probably 6 months ago and I’m always browsing nearly everyday but only Log In When I have something to say sometimes I go probably over a month without logging on, but I have definitely...

    I joined probably 6 months ago and I’m always browsing nearly everyday but only Log In When I have something to say sometimes I go probably over a month without logging on, but I have definitely noticed things quieting down less posts and comments and some groups seem very quiet. I wouldn’t say it’s dead still lots of people on here but less than 6 months ago. As it’s still invite only we could have thousands of visitors but they aren’t taking part because they can’t

    3 votes
    1. [6]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Five
        Link Parent
        I like it as it is not saying anything needs changing, I’m just saying just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t here

        I like it as it is not saying anything needs changing, I’m just saying just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t here

        2 votes
      2. [4]
        Kuromantis
        Link Parent
        /suspended asked that question and his answer was this.

        /suspended asked that question and his answer was this.

        2 votes
        1. [3]
          Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          Just so you know... There are two way to tag users on Tildes: "@" and "/u/". For example: @Kuromantis or /u/Kuromantis would both tag you. (If this wasn't already a reply to your comment.) I only...

          Just so you know...

          There are two way to tag users on Tildes: "@" and "/u/". For example: @Kuromantis or /u/Kuromantis would both tag you. (If this wasn't already a reply to your comment.)

          I only mention this because you've used the "/Kuromantis" format twice in this thread, and that doesn't work (assuming your intention is to tag those users).

          5 votes
          1. [2]
            Kuromantis
            Link Parent
            I'm already replying to him so a mention is pointless. One of the cool features of this site only having like 400 people total is that you rarely need to do that, at least in my opinion.

            (Assuming your intention is to tag those users).

            @ and /u/ or u/ (If this wasn't already a reply to your comment.)

            I'm already replying to him so a mention is pointless.

            I'm mentioning this because you've used the "/[ ]" format twice in this thread.

            One of the cool features of this site only having like 400 people total is that you rarely need to do that, at least in my opinion.

            1 vote
            1. Algernon_Asimov
              Link Parent
              You weren't replying to Bauke in this comment. But it seems I wasted your time explaining something you didn't need to know. Sorry.

              You weren't replying to Bauke in this comment.

              But it seems I wasted your time explaining something you didn't need to know. Sorry.

              3 votes
  11. [4]
    DanBC
    Link
    Have a look at a group like TV. Order it by votes, from all time. We see on the front page only 6 posts from this year, 18 from 2019, and 26 from 2018. Order it by comments, from all time. Just 5...

    Have a look at a group like TV.

    Order it by votes, from all time. We see on the front page only 6 posts from this year, 18 from 2019, and 26 from 2018.

    Order it by comments, from all time. Just 5 posts for this year so far. 17 from 2019, and 28 from 2018.

    This is a slow but sure decline. We need to understand why this is happening. Why do people stop using Tildes? Why do the people who browse not post more topics or reply more?

    3 votes
    1. gpl
      Link Parent
      One reason I don't make too many posts is that there doesn't seem to be that many people who can or want to engage on the stuff I'm interested in. I'm a physicist and every time I post articles...

      One reason I don't make too many posts is that there doesn't seem to be that many people who can or want to engage on the stuff I'm interested in. I'm a physicist and every time I post articles about physics they receive a handful of votes and almost no comments. Not even questions and stuff I'm willing to answer. This isn't necessarily the fault of the site or users, just my interests. But because of this I definitely find myself wanting to post less because there's not really a point if it doesn't generate discussion. I still comment a ton but my linking has certainly declined.

      7 votes
    2. JoylessAubergine
      Link Parent
      Because its easier to filter the noise on reddit than read the silence here. I also think the community is responsible. There is so much cattiness and pedantry that it is anxiety inducing to post....

      Why do people stop using Tildes

      Because its easier to filter the noise on reddit than read the silence here.

      I also think the community is responsible. There is so much cattiness and pedantry that it is anxiety inducing to post. And for a community that prides itself on high quality posts there is a lot of impassioned opinions that feel more like verbose tweets than anything youd see taken seriously on the more curated subreddits/forums.

      There is a great community in the "weeklies", they are basically the only thing keeping me coming back to tildes (and that i like the idea behind the site).

      6 votes
    3. Joshua
      Link Parent
      Tildes needs some advertising and word of mouth to grow. I almost never see it mentioned anywhere. People inevitably lose interest in a site. You need more people to join who are willing to make...

      Tildes needs some advertising and word of mouth to grow. I almost never see it mentioned anywhere. People inevitably lose interest in a site. You need more people to join who are willing to make posts to offset that decline in activity.

      2 votes
  12. Comment removed by site admin
    Link