Are we scaring the competition?

They are posting more annoying adverts that hopefully this site will never do...

Who is going to pay?

There is a variety of ways to advertise. I can deal with the least annoying type, but when it becomes annoying as hell and you feel like its a battle to read something, I'm outta there...
Now if you enjoy the battle, then go for it. I certainly won't put up with that nonsense.

Agree! I honestly doubt they still take any notice at all. And I don't think it's necessary. This site can't and won't compete with dpreview or any similar site - that has been established and it's fine. However what it should be able to, is keeping its user base, both in numbers, but also in terms of engagement and interest... and that's honestly what I'm currently worried about. Maybe that's on me but everything I've tried seems to come to nothing...

It could be that the new DPR parent had a “pipeline” of articles and when combined with DPR, they are just publishing more…..

Many of us appreciate your publications and your superb photographs. 👍

SimpleJoy: If the site survives it will owe much of its survival to your efforts. What you have done works. We are holding the core of the active users. The key to survival of a site like this is to start interesting threads that get others to participate and share images and/or thoughts, and assure that they get constructive feedback for that participation. That is the key to the 15 year success of the Wednesday Critique thread, and the key to the success you have had with your share-threads. It has been the key to every successful forum or thread I've been involved with over the years.

Our problem here is that we don't have a way to attract new members. A good landing page with visual content as well as links to other items of interest on and off the forum would be helpful, if/when there are resources to create such a thing. Till then, we keep focused on holding the core.

+1 for a good landing page!👍

Hi Alan,

When DPReview announced on June 20th that they'd been acquired by Gear Patrol, one of the comments was that the site would remain invested in quality editorial content. In his September introductory letter to the DPReview community, Gear Patrol CEO & founder, Eric Yang, specifically told members that DPReview "is in the business of photography journalism" and that, among the changes to expect, is "an increase in editorial output." Towards these goals, Gear Patrol has invested in hiring new staff and providing staff new facilities and resources.

We're seeing the fruits of that investment.

Yes, but they still have terrible moderation and aggressive advertising that drives many away. I glance at it now and again, and mostly see the old die-hards.

On the other hand, I welcomed the take-over because my interests were only the Tech Forum and the Sigma Camera Forum (which is almost dead here). The Sigma forum there has excellent moderation!

So ... chacun a son goute, eh?

On the other hand, I welcomed the take-over because my interests were only the Tech Forum and the Sigma Camera Forum (which is almost dead here). The Sigma forum there has excellent moderation!

So ... chacun a son goute, eh?
[/quote]

Well that depends how you view 'excellent' ...which I don't see here with just a quick looksee...
www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67304102
Locking threads is NOT excellent moderation in my books!

I was recently sent to the naughty step { all my posts had to be approved by the mods 😀 } for the crime of calling out a poster with a host of sock puppet fake ID's { same methodology , same agenda ,easy to spot } . I use an adblocker and never see an ad on DPreview