Forums / Discussion / General

Since we're all very internet-savvy people, I'm sure we've all seen our favorite sites take their turn for the worse. Nothing lasts forever, especially on such a rapidly changing medium such as the internet. But what are some patterns that you notice that lead to the downfall of once-good sites? Is it the creator, the users, the content, or just plain bad luck?

I never know for sure when a site begins losing quality, but I know that the point of no return is when the site produces content solely for the purpose of the site itself as opposed to its original focus. Like, for example, if I stopped posting comedic lists, fanfiction dissections, and pseudo-intellectual rants on Basement Trooper in favor of posting nothing but Basement Trooper-themed contests, invitations for my readers to make fanart, and all-about pandering to what I would then call my "Trooperettes" (fan nicknames=DEATH), that would be my blog's mark of doom. I once lamented about Encyclopedia Dramatica, saying that the offensive tone of the new articles is only done to fit in with the older articles, which had actually used that tone for a reason.

In other words, meta content should always be avoided. It's lame enough in small doses, but a constant barrage of it is outright unbearable and can bring about the demise of any website. I'm currently watching it happen to Regretsy, and it's just plain embarrassing.

What say you?

Usually a site declines when the community dies off. Like if all of a sudden there was no activity on the site for a months, then the site is dead.

True, but something had to happen to cause that.

Bum bum buuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I say it stops when the computer gets boring, and stops creating memes.

I think until the Internet dies. You know, just like the television. Seriously, not many people watch 'television' on television anymore.

It happens when you make a 4th season of 4400.
Damn, that season was bad.

http://mediamavenmusings.com/2007/07/23/the-4400-season-4-episode-6-the-marked-the-4400-is-officially-on-notice/

Usually a site declines when the community dies off. Like if all of a sudden there was no activity on the site for a months, then the site is dead.

This. The thing that triggers it nearly everytime is a website "routine", leading to boringness and lack of "new" content.

I don't know about what would make knowyourmeme.com jump the proverbial shark.

It's a database, it can only get bigger, and better.

No one has ever said "I liked Wikipedia more when the only article there was about Jimmy Wales' workout schedule (I bench press a 50 pound weight for about 5 minutes, ladies)."

As for the forums, I think dullness would do it in. But since we have a variety of characters in the forums, that might be a ways off.

I have seen forums die because the top posters leave and never come back. Websites can be the same way. They might die due to an overall lack of interest.

Like I'm gonna leave.
I'm staying, and so are Jostin, Chris, and Blubber.

Lolz. I'm planning on staying until I'm 16. Where I will get a job at Rocketboom. Thus keeping me here.

I'm considering Rocketboom as a back-up career.
Unless I can work as a physicist and for Rocketboom at the same time.

Well of course, I plan on staying here. Unless it turns out that college decides to eat my life.

If I had a chance to be part of the Rocketboom team, I would go for it! It would be fun hanging out with any or all of the staff members (which Blubber secretly is in reality).

Also, if college doesn't hinder me that much like Hacker suggests, I'll probably be hanging around the site for a long time like RG suggests. This is one of those sites that you just can't leave.

Good to hear everyone!! Long live KYM!!

KYM has my blade.

@ Everyone

I'm planning to stay here for a very long time. (Until I get a girlfriend, at least)

@ Thread

I've never witness a site die before, and I hope the ones I visit don't too at all either.

However, Know Your Meme has flourished over the past year. The community is great and I plan to hope to become a mesmerized character here.

If KYM perishes, I'll probably die with it. (No matter how lame that sounds)

KYM probably won't perish.

I'm planning to stay here too, though I haven't been that active as of lately heh

@Thread: I've seen a lot of smaller forums turn less and less active, and now there are pretty much dead save for maybe a few posts a week if we're lucky. Of course, this is probably related to more and more members leaving, especially the top posters.

I've witnessed the death of several websites (mostly *chans, but that's besides the point).

The death of a website occurs when the original users leave and users that have heard of the website for something it's not (i.e. thinking 4chan is a place to go look at funny pictures and have people rate you) start using it.

It's really a shame. KYM's core family is pretty close knit, though, so I doubt that'll happen for a while. As long as too many Newfags don't come in here thinking "OmG This R plAce 2 StarT Mem3's!1111!!!one!!Shift+1" then we should be fine.

@Watcher – and my bow.

This site will not die because simply put no one will leave.

Wait…

Was i the only one that signed that contract in blood?!?!

You got blood?

Luck-eeeeeeee.

I had to sign in urine, which is incredibly difficult.

I didn't sign with any of my fluids, that's for sure. Still hurt, though.

I am not using my PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS to sign. I'll stick with ink.

EDIT: Does no one get the reference?

Urine sure is precious.

I doubt it will die anytime soon. After all, the more memes that spawn over the years, the more work we'll have, which means we'll have more stuff to do. And working for Rocket Boom seems like a fun job. :V

NOW

Trolling and spamming often make new users intimidated to create accounts, so in other words "Save Know Your Meme, stop trolling."