Dear Robert, moderators and active forum members! Some of you might remember me. I used to be a contributing member many years ago.
It is kind of sad reading about the inactivity and seeing that this beautiful forum suffers from inactivity. I know, I know, it’s easy to stop by now and say “hey guys, go on, don’t give in”, when I myself, haven’t been posting in years. Unfortunately, I have no proper solution to the problem at hand. However, I’d like to express that I owe many great experiences to The Fret.
I remember the many inspiring videos and dedicated discussions that really made me improve as a player. Not to forget the familiar approach. It wasn’t only once that we have also discussed personal things here and yes, sometimes I needed to be lifted up when I was down, and many of the members here were willing to do so. Although, I am not very active on the internet or any other forums anymore, I will always appreciate and value these experiences at The Fret very highly! Never have I found such a great companionship in any other forum – NEVER!
I fully respect Robert’s position and tight schedule, becoming more engaged due to his professionalism. I congratulate you to this wonderful development – you deserve this Robert.
Also do I believe that you have created a forum basis, strong enough to go on, without you being present each and every day.
Most of the musicians I know welcomed facebook and concentrated mainly on FB activities. Here they could share information the quickest and build a community, they could spotlight their persona more effectively. Regarding gear questions, well almost everything is said and done and almost everything is reviewed and filmed, so many people do not feel the need to post their questions in a forum – they Google the topic, read the posts and have their questions answered. This lead to the fact that most guitar related forums broke down to small diehard communities. Some forums became dumps, where people only come to post their youtube links and do not really participate in a constructive way, nor come back to read the feedbacks to their posts. This is sad and tough times for forums.
I cross my fingers for you and wish you manage to keep this place vivid and gather new and passionate blood.
Maybe you will undergo a period where only a core of members stays active, but I am convinced that better times will come.
All the best
Jimi75
….still a guy without a facebook profile ;-)