wondering

i was wondering if others have noticed how the forum discussions have dwindled. Over the last month I have noticed that many topics get few replies and some do not get any at all. Its seems that there are fewer members posting then there once was?

of course this could just be me but I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

rdg

Yes I have but I believe its just a phase of transition. I feel it will change.

Yes, I've noticed but Greg is not accepting any new registers, so no new blood. That's just one reason.

New blood also means all the people that's been kicked out will be back under a new name!!! Back to the WILD WILD WEST!!! Here's comes waltern and then loingirder!!!

Open the gates!!!! LOLOLOL

I agree with Lysa. It will slowly go to null. I don't frequent the discussion board as I used to because I don't find as much good dialogue as I used to in here and so I go elsewhere. I tend to think the board here is in a stranglehold to the extent that it will eventually be void.

Just my opinion
John

Carmine
Yeah, I find it to be a sad fact and I wish it were not so. A redeeming value is the sermons the site carries. A very good library of topics and people to listen to BUT always test what you hear with the Bible and don't take the message and an automatic 'of God'.

John

I am wondering how one would keep in touch with some on this discussion board, in private, seeing that addresses are not allowed to be posted? Or am I wrong on that.

John

Yes,...have noticed this for some time now.

elizabeth

I have actively participated in this forum and two others, ever. One I joined in 2004 and it exosts still but is almost completely dead. Facebook killed it.

The other is extremely active. If you think this forum is contentious...just take my word for it SI is far more constructive than any forum I know of. And I have visited a good many but only ever joined the three.

I do not do Facebook and plan not to ever. I do Twitter. I have Instagram and Snapchat and Periscope. My daughter is on them so I am. I actually like some things in Periscope. It has potential for ministry.

Point is forums alone let you have deeper discussions. It is sad that people have abandoned forums.

it is sad that some of the members who use to be here and post no longer do. i often found myself challenged to dig deeper by what was shared.

i guess it wasn't just me after all.

rdg

Along with closing the registrations for over a year now has brought alot less participation.

Yes brother, that is the goal. We have looked into some technologies such as twitter, facebook logins, to keep the site secure from people who just want to abuse and do wrong to the site. I do feel the Lord has allowed this time for many reason for no new users, I do feel soon it we will be able to open up the registration. We appreciate your prayers in this regard.

As more points are accumulated, users will gain more and more privileges - e.g. allowed to post replies to existing threads (say, a week after user registration); posting a new thread (after posting a certain number of replies / accumulating enough points); viewing contact information of other users; private messaging... and so forth.

So new users are effectively subjected to a probationary period before they are extended more privileges over time. Trolls can be axed after a few warnings; alternatively, you can have a formal demerit system.

Forums which have such a system: reddit.com; englishforum.ch (which implements it really well, and has minimal abuse).

As a side note - personally, I feel very uneasy about linking forum accounts with Facebook or Twitter logins.

Registering for some of these logins would require mobile phone identification or disclosure of personal details. This would forge a permanent link between our forum account and our real name.

One thing which I've always valued about the SermonIndex forums is the anonymity it provides. Sure, there are some who choose to disclose their real identity - but so far that has remained a choice.

Anonymity can be abused, but it also offers protection of identity. That protection is necessary, given the personal and private nature of many things which are shared here - our convictions, our struggles, our requests for help, and our journey with God... these are the things which illuminate this forum.

People can share more openly under anonymity, as they are guaranteed a safe space for honest discussion. I fail to see how suspension of anonymity would encourage civil behavior anyway, going by the stupid things some people do with their Facebook accounts under their real names.

Forum anonymity would also somewhat parry the threat of digital surveillance by governments increasingly hostile to the Christian faith, and other malicious actors roving in the digital realm.

I hope these factors will be taken into due consideration. Thanks, Greg!

Don't forget about the folks like me that just come in and read 90% of the time. I did at one time post frequently, but then "some" of the discussions I would have like to participate in, kind of went south, so I stayed out of them. I still Love what the Lord has done here and from what I see from a different prospective, is still doing here. I Love everyone here, but sometimes I was temped to get drawn into some of the discussions that did not edify, thank God he gave me the wisdom and strength to stay out. What I see now is less distractions, and a friendlier place to come and learn, to me personally, it just seems like a more peaceful place to visit.
God Bless!
Mr. Bill

P.S. On another note, I had a triple bypass back on Feb. 7th. but God is healing me fast Its been a little over 5 months, and I feel awesome now, I have more blood and oxygen going to my body. I have not been back to the doctor, and I'm not on any meds period. I was told it took them 3 times to shock me to bring me back, guess God was not finished with me yet down here. God gave me a second chance, my prospective on life has changed a lot,God is my healer! Some here know I've lost a wife of 38 years in 2012 and a son in 2013 and now the heart attack, but my faith has continue to grow stronger. Sometimes I do wonder how my faith has increased, but with God all things are possible, I'm a living and walking testimony, it can happen.

bill

am glad you are still around and doing better. for me the discussion were at times challenging but i always felt i grew from them. sometimes it was in learning to keep my fingers from replying to a post and sometimes it was in learning to stand my ground in Him. there were those who challenged me to dig deeper in my walk with Christ and i find it terribly sad that so many are now left the forums. even if i did not agree with another person view it was good to get into the Word and really seek Him to understand His heart on a matter. on several occasions after doing so i felt the Lord growing me, at times to see things i wasn't seeing before and other times to confirm what He has already shown me.

of course i realize there is always a season and time for people to be here but overall i do not feel as if the forum is a more peaceful place. its just a much less active, quiet place then it once was. not sure if that is a good or bad thing at the moment. praying on that still.

thanks for the reply and hope to see you posting for many years to come

rdg

Bill

Your testimony is to God's faithfulness brother. Too easy to miss what folks live through. I'm glad you shared that here this way. I pray for what God already is doing -- transforming you more into the likeness of Jesus.

I'm with bill

I'm learning the verse

Be be slow to speak and slow to wrath,so I'm slow to type but quick to read.

I think most of the people who left were not that .and others obviously favoured and enjoyed the posts of those people .
I think most of us need to resist the temptation to be here and all ways give our opinions.

I don't think we would have any issue if all of us did that in past threads..

Dear Rdg

I was one of the regulars a few years back and like Bro Bill and Bro Gary
I still come on the site almost daily. I tend to read more than participate reason being learning to embrace a gentle and quiet spirit. Basically the less I talk the more I listen. Also the book of James speaks a lot about the tongue being boastful, set alight from hell. Sometimes in discussions we have witnessed the unbridled use of the tongue. I guess everyone is being molded and edified as the years roll by.

I do find the vast sermons on sermonindex pure gold in relation to other Christian sites. There is so much balance in doctrines, edification and exhortation from SI. Also this thought has just come to mind quality over quantity😊. So sometimes you can have plenty of discussion but very little edification. More of us than Him. We must decrease so that He may increase. Dying daily to self sometimes means talking less and listening more especially when it comes to Spritual matters😊. Hope this helps there are a few who are very much still part of SI nonetheless not very active in discussions for a season as The Lord leads. Be blessed dear sister

Love in Christ