What Happened To This Forum ?

[Logit]

There used to be so much activity and now nothing. What happened ?

[georgiboy]

In my opinion, a mixture of things:

AI, ChatGPT etc
This website is not using an SSL certificate so browsers will report its not secure.
Rise in efficiency of Formulae in newer versions of Excel, lack of interest in VBA.
Lack of direction/ interest from website owner.
Slipped down the list in Google search results (Google gives preference to secure websites).

[arnelgp]

UtterAccess the so called premier of MS Forums by Microsoft is gone, will this follow?

[Aussiebear]

Well, I challenge everyone of you to ask a question. There has to be something that you don't know how to do with VBA.

[Dave]

There's known unknowns and unknown unknowns. It's hard to come up with an inquiry that I can't google a resolution to myself without requesting assistance. Fairly frequently, I get the website unavailable message when I trial to access this site... maybe bot overload? Also, I've always been annoyed with this site when trialing to post to any thread. Sure it says "autosave" but usually by the time I've crafted my response, the website has decided that I'm no longer logged in and then I have to re-log in again. In the past, I have lost all of my response and had to start again or simply move on without responding. I've learned over time to always copy my reply before submitting it so that I can paste the reply following the re-log.... venting over. Anyways, I agree with previous comments for the reasons for reduced site activity as I'm sure legitimate site visitors are happy with their interactions and outcomes. I'm going to keep my 3 cents left over from my nickel in case I need it later :) Dave

[DocAElstein]

Hello, ( Hi Jim, (Logit) - long time no hear)

I agree with all comments already given so far.

I think also in the past at some major forums , ( I am less familiar with people here ) , some of the more prominent regulars have been to some extent their own worse enemy , voluntary helping to dig their own graves. They seem to favour a quick short answer, and as many as they can do in some sort of addiction to answering as much as possible. This has encouraged to some extent, IMVHO, the tendency for people to exchange their brain for a Smartphone with Artificial intelligence to give then a quick short chat size answer and tell them what to do.

Extending a discussion or explaining in detail an answer to encourage people to learn and think for themselves often results in chastising from a Moderator at a major forum.


Stack overflow seemed to be the worst in this respect encouraging short non human answers, and I think a few months or more ago they sold themselves out to artificial intelligence, helping to develop it one way or another

Maybe forums need to revert back to what they often where intended, for people with similar interests and problems to discuss, learn and get help in solving problems, rather than just getting a quick solution
I don't want to be over critical. There will be occasions when an individual passing looking for help really needs a quick answer and is not in the life situation where they want, need or have time to learn the subject such as VBA. But there should also be some emphasis / allowance / tolerance for encouraging further discussions, further solutions to a thread and generally allowing for the encouragement in learning and thinking for oneself, if that may be appropriate for an individual, or generally helpful for someone passing later.

I think also that there are a few reasons where keeping hold and maintaining older Microsoft Software for some time in the future may sometimes be the better solution, so there will still be the call for alternatives to the newer Formulae and Functions in newer versions. (Maybe also sometimes the maintenance of older forum software could be worthwhile. In general newer Software seems in it's development to include, as well as advancements, other things many people would prefer not to have if they knew about it)

Alan

( P.S. One possible cause of current forum software issues, those involving an insane number of views, might be caused by something/ someone trying to fill the data bank or in some other way help with the development of Artificial Intelligence. But I am not sure about that. I am one person trying hard just now to figure out and fight those things, one way or another. )