Thanks, good point for those with recall. I was thinking more of OF's original comment of newbies not using any search.
......

Some good points are coming out now, it's an emotive subject and it needs airing IMHO as we will all suffer in the end. I have been 'tinkering' and rebuilding LR's for 50+ years and I am happy to help many with their problems but repetitive problems start to become wearing sooner or later, it is IMHO sometimes laziness, sometimes ignorance of the forum etiquette or sometimes just lack of knowledge of the forum nuances. Generally I relate to good engineering practices, not shortcuts or bodge ups but sometimes there are options to keep D2's working as daily drivers. I won't help those who won't help themselves, there is no 'magic wands' on reading a forum, it will impart advice if possible but cannot solve every problem remotely, so it's up to the individual to take the offered advice or do their 'own thing' but it's no good moaning later or blaming the D2 if that 'own thing' turns out badly. There are no 'bad' D2's only ones where they have been abused in one way or another. If when buying you don't know, then admit that, take someone along with you who does know and hopefully not the local idiot or 'know all'. Never buy 'cos it's your fav colour!

Happy trucking :disco:

Personally, I think alot of it is Facebook. Not to mention everyone and their mom is on Facebook and it makes for an easier time, especially putting people together in the same areas.

Been a member for quite a while and seen many people come and go. Couple diehards. Was actually banned for quite a while (Disco Mike era) but came back.
But alot of people trade out cars when they have had enough.

Yeah Mike did ban quite a few for reasons I never understood. Luckily that is now a thing of the past

Maybe you can spill the beans more now AR, I never quite understood why Mike always wanted whoever to PM him with a question and he'd PM them the reply, very strange, it's almost like he was unsure of his facts, knowledge and abilities to know. Maybe I'm wrong and just guessing.

Careful, I got banned for asking that once.....

Except I asked him directly..that conversation didn’t go over so well.

Never really did so on LRO like this forum. Was odd. I was one of the lucky once, must be my soft-spoken nature.....

As far as forums dying.... it all depends of the what and how old the subject matter is. I belong to several and if it's relevant today the forum is active. If it's not so much like it once was then yes I'm seeing less and less traffic and those that do visit are as naive as a newborn.

I think the PM thing with DM was that he didn't want any competition through the forum on his help answers..... or it was inside info that he was entrusted with that couldn't be spread on the web..... who knows? It was like watching a child porn when he did that, I felt guilty and dirty all over. PM me.....

I have been banned once or twice from other forums due to my inability to throttle my humor and poking the bear with a stick.

No idea what the deal with that was on PM's. I only knew Mike from the forums and somehow ended up with a job that doesn't pay and is generally thankless on two forums no less lol.

I do know that you disagreed with him at your own peril and generally I really think he hated it when anyone didn't just go with his advice without question.

Yep, I know exactly what you mean, so have I, it's the insecurity or sensitivity of many people these days, many don't seem to be too sure of themselves and when you challenge the status quo they recoil and shout ban him, it's the modern fragile, sensitive and PC society, I'm afraid I don't fit the mould also these days. Everyone likes a 'nice' and often 'mutually backslapping and self congratulatory' forum where everyone is 'nice' and no-one rocks the boat or pokes the bear. Humour, it's 'banned' these days, you might just upset a fringe or minority group who are 'sensitive' or 'fragile' so 'humour' is a defo no, no, it's like mentioning Brexit in the UK, many are too sensitive or afraid to state their position, again it's a no, no.