Published on 12, July, 2020
I sometimes use the "search" function to look up some questions I have to see if someone in the past has already ask similar questions. And when I look at past posts, like posts that were 6 years old, the people who were actively replying to posts back then (e.g., having many posts/replies and top contributor), pretty much all of them are not actively posting now. Actually, it doesn't even have to be that long, a lot of people who were active 3 years ago are not active now. So I'm curious, what causes people to leave? Is it because they got what they needed (e.g., originally needing advice on how to get a diagnosis and then they got one)? Or is it because they get bored of having to answer the same questions over and over for so long? Or is it because they had some bad experience here? Or is it because they later got a negative diagnosis and felt they don't belong? Or is it because they got too busy in life (e.g., work, family, friends, and other demands)? Or is it because they realised that they like the forum too much that they are spending too much time on it and should take a break? Or is it because they found a different ASD group (e.g., more local, more focused)? Or because they moved to a different country?
Do you think you will still be on this forum 5 years later?
qwerty said:Or is it because they get bored of having to answer the same questions over and over for so long?
Greetings to You from Myself. I shall freely admit that this is close to being ME, here. This is why some of Us keep asking NAS to put up a 'General Q&A' Page here, along with the "Rules", linked to when a person first signs on, here. They can do it but they will not.
qwerty said:Or is it because they had some bad experience here?
...There are some People who... well, "Post in Anger", either deliberately or accidentally, and then they are Censored or Deleted. (The Moderators threaten the Person with "Moderation".) And sometimes a Person deletes Themselves whilst Angry or Upset.
qwerty said:Do you think you will still be on this forum 5 years later?
...I always say that, even if I do not Post as often as I used to, I shall always keep My Account Open (i.e. not turn into a "Deleted User" which is confusing to follow.) Sometimes a person long Posting not for Years, comes back, and it is a thing to see them Post <> "I haven't been here for a while!" and if they are in good repute then it is good to see, Yes indeed.
I have been here 3 Years so far, and this is My only (safe-ish) manner of exploring so-called "Social Media", and so in Two Years Time I may reply to that Question with a sort of "YES, Thanks."...!
This is a good Thread. Thanks. (I had to open using a quote or else this reply might disappear as I type it!)
Thanks for your thoughtful replies!I agree a 'General Q&A' page could be very useful. It could also help those who are looking for answers to search the forum more easily. Though there is a general information page here: https://www.autism.org.uk/about.aspx, which includes what is autism, adult diagnosis, driving, etc. Perhaps putting direct links to these pages that people can access from the forum will also be helpful?I think I will very likely do the same as you, even if I sometimes don't post as often. I personally would like to have an account open, so if I do take a break for a while and decide to come back some months/years later, I can always come back easily. And I agree "deleted user" is really confusing to follow. It's amazing you've been here for 3 years. Good job! I've been reading posts from this forum since almost 2.5 years ago, before I created an account of my own over a year ago. I remember reading your posts from those years ago
To DC , you are special and I was so glad to get to know you and share many a late nite here chatting, yes you chatting to me yay, WoW hoorah and such like exuberance’s.
I am also a Rabid upvoter and proud of it,
beware the ware rabbit hey.
And to you I give an 028 Lol. Sssshhhh it’s secret don’t you know. ()
take care and so good to see you posting.
Well it’s soon to be my anniversary of joining the NAS forum. 14/06/2017.
I joined just as the whole forum layout was changing, many left as they were struggling to adapt to the big changes in how it worked.
It was a very different feel and I think quite strict in that going off topic was regarded as a real no no,
I was taken to task for voicing my opinion as I hadn’t yet got a formal diagnosis.
There were really nice people here already,
I had read a small piece about a women who had just been diagnosed on a face book article.
It was an epiphany for me, pretty much every thing she recalled throughout her life hit a chord with me, ok so I am Male but her life long feeling of being from another planet, not fitting in, struggling to fit in, it all ticked boxes for me.
I was happy then sad then totally overwhelmed by it all, It also felt like a bereavement as I had lost so much because no one had ever picked up on why I was the way I was.
I had self diagnosed as dyslexic when I was quite young, late reading and writing, very late actually, I hid it well, it took one very special teacher to spot me and give me the information I needed to understand letters and how they all came together to make words and sentences. Once I knew how and why I was very angry st how easy it all was but no one had tried to explain to me in a way I could accept it. I wrote a very long post on here about my dyslexia. I also wrote a very long post about being young.
My dyslexia presents as lack of short term memory mostly, I do however think differently to most.
Anyway as usual I ramble away getting further from my main point , that’s part of me too.
Many come here looking for answers, many find out and some stay, I have no intention of leaving but as my journey into finding out who I am and why has been a difficult one at times I have always had so much support from so many on here, it is indeed like being in a family of like minded caring and understanding people.
some are more special and I was lucky to be part of their journey as mine started.
As DC says “and I do reeeeeealy miss certain people.” I also reeeeeeealy miss certain friends.
True friends who supported me and gave me so much understanding and friendship when I struggled to come to terms with who I was.
I have experienced every emotion going and some.
I see new groups joining up, that’s great and reminds me of all my friends, we had sorrow and laughs .
Many posts were indeed serious but often we would escape reality by going on adventures. Kids if you like! Why not, when life is difficult it helped me to recover and feel a part of a family.
I haven’t posted for a long time , I have now made up for it Lol.
I was well known for offering new members a virtual hug, they didn’t have to accept it but a lot were over joyed at receiving one.
Take care all and keep being YOU who ever that may be. (Virtual aspie hug is this) () () () ()
For special friends I added x()x()x()x
they know who they are ;)
R=29,
S=38,
V=374.
qwerty said:. I remember reading your posts from those years ago
...Then You have seen Me being both Useful and Naughty...?! (And, see, it took Me Three Years to figure out how to Post Emojiis, yeesh...)
There are plenty of others still Posting for more than 3 Years, though. I am not certain if it is good to 'name names', though... and I do reeeeeealy miss certain people.
But to close this here Post -- THAT LINK which You give there, is fer-lipping useful! I am copying this, now. The trouble is also that NAS changes the contents and addresses as if every 3 Months...!
(I am a Rabid UpVoter and Proud of it.) Good Fortune "qwerty", and Fare Thee Well, for now.