Here's another thing, I'll post something and get little or no reaction. I don't know if that happens to others, but it sometimes makes me think twice about posting anything. Maybe I'm just a bore, but jeepers, at least say boo.

It's funny you brought that up, because I have unfortunately noticed that!

I'm not sure why, because you really are one of the more interesting people on this forum and your threads and posts are as well. Your always wheeling and dealing on a new kit, and who doesn't like that? Sometimes I feel like I'm stalking you because I am always responding to your threads and I am to often the only one! So lately I've hesitated a bit, because I kind of figured your looking for the more experienced guys to respond and I don't want you to think I'm a whack-a-doo groupie!

I hope you stick around and keep posting away. You and drumbob are two of the interesting characters here and the forum would be at a loss without you guys. Maybe things will turn around, because there are a lot of viewers and maybe some will eventually join in and contribute.

Has anyone heard from Kenwood? He was a regular when I joined, and was also a big help to me, but hasn't posted in quite awhile now. Just wondering...

I was about to get a restraining order out against you.Sumo Dude

But seriously, I appreciate that.Cool1

I just sold my Tama, so another kit is on the horizon.

LoLoLoLoClapping Happy2Funny Post

Now that was funny!

Lookin forward to seeing the next kit!Keep on Pl

For me- I like to read to increase knowledge, see what others are doing, then kinda keep to myself! Although I've played for over 40 years- sometimes I feel like- 'who am I to tell them what to do?'- I'm not a 'purist' in the sense that I've always had to 'cobble' things together to keep playing- UNTIL I made enough money to afford 'better things' and 'period correct' drums- On other sites I see when people get 'angry' about what someone posted when it is their opinion- heck everyone is entitled I guess but some get offended so easily- thus - I try to stay out of it! To me what someone pays for something/asks for something is what they feel it's worth and if I agree I buy (or sell!) but I don't get all crazy about it and belittle them....It's good to have an idea about value but it depends on where you live also..... Hopefully sites like these will continue/ even with less involvement- imagine the knowledge, experience and history of all these members! (if we only knew!) As I get older I get more appreciative and less vocal... So old guys are still here.... but sometimes wanna be moving sticks instead of keyboard buttons! Long Live VDF!!!

Boo

I think it's a great forum.BTW

Wayne

Okay ... so after reading all these responses to DB's post, I'll give my thoughts/opinion, as I have been here with David .. we run the forum, and have done so from the start, which was 14 years ago! .. so ..

What I have seen in the 14 years I have been here as admin/mod .. is .. YES!, back when David and I started the VDF in 2005, it was incredible what with the participation and sheer number of posts and replies! Since then, we now have OVER 20,000 members. However, and it's a BIG however ... approx. .10% ( 20 members ) of that 20,000 are active! In the VDF's heyday, that percentage might have been .25% ( 50 members ) active on a regular basis. There were MANY regular contributors on the site, very knowledgeable!, and posted DAILY. The forum stayed that way for a solid 10 years or so anyway .. but then .. ENTER Facebook! Once FB took off, MANY "drum communities" dedicated to just about you name it having to do with drums and/or drummers formed on FB. THAT Is where most all the people have gone. Goes without saying that there is a HUGE vintage community on FB, and covering EVERY brand/type of drum known to man. Truth be told, I moderate TWO such FB drum groups: Fibes drums and North drums. Anyway ... FB was .. in my opinion .. the start of the decline in "some" of the internet drum forums such as the VDF. Some forums have just about disappeared all together. That all said ...

... David and I discuss the VDF, and where it's going, or gone, with decent regularity. This site was David's "Labor of love", and as such remains non profit .. meaning .. he PAYS to keep this site up on the internet. It's something he says he will continue to do .. for a while longer anyway .. as the members that DO use/post on the VDF, deserve a place where they can chat about vintage drums and everything else that goes along with it. Plus ... not everyone IS a FB fan, or even ON FB! FB has it qualities for sure .. but .. I can't say that I am a huge fan of it in general. Truth be told, I think social media .. as it is known in it's many varieties .. is truly the downfall of many things ... but that's a whole 'nother discussion. So! ...

... the VDF is still here for those that want, like, and choose to use it! A LOT of the "old timers" that were here are now on FB. That'sjust the way it is. Some of those guys DO check in here from time to time .. and .. we still have some excellent contributors on the VDF that are always here and quick to help, not to mention some of the stalwart members in general!, and you know who you are! Just some commentary from a guy that has been here .. and is still here .. going on 15 years! David and I appreciate you all!

Tommyp

Thank you Tommy and David , I met you both years back and really appreciate your hard work and your monitoring Tommy

But I’ve been around bit too

not quite from the beginning but a bit

Anyways what I see is a decline is old age as we were old to begin with as most here of the older guys actually grew up with theses drums, now sickness , no more drums , older age , memory loss it just happens and as we age it’s a passing of the batons sort of speak

And now I understand about replies but some of us are just to dam old any more or even dying off who knows we don’t keep track , I look in now and then and ifs it’s a cool thread or one that bothered me I’ll say something but for most part at 68 years old I’m trying to handle everyday living with with my maladies are pretty tough on me and my wife and still trying to work ..

Carry on wayward sons it is your time now!!!!!!

Having VDF (and DFO) are so much better than the FB groups, even though I am active there as well. You can't do research on FB pages. Asking for opinions, yes; showing off your new pickups, certainly. But if you want to SEARCH for the answer (because 99.9% of the time, it's been asked before), the archival nature of these two forums is exponentially better.

Keep up the good work Admins!

A lot of valid points guys - old age, FB, no longer playing etc. have all done there part in the demise of forums like this.

Forums like this need younger people to participate, but that's unlikely to happen in any big numbers. I don't want to generalize, but it seems that the majority of Millennials and Gen X'ers don't really have a need for "community" oriented things like forums. I'm not sure exactly what they have a need for, because all kinds of associations, groups, church's etc., are struggling to find ways of attracting these groups, and it seems few, if any, have been successful. Many associations and groups are simply aging out, because they can't bring any young people in. The attention span of these generations seem a little short! lol.

I also don't think they are playing music like the boomers did, basically because they have been brought up on a lot of throw-away, talentless, mindless drivel, not to mention that a lot of it is computer driven, with few instruments being used. Lead guitar and drum solo's mean nothing to these kids. It's not their fault really, as record producers endlessly pushed quick, sell it now, boy band/sexy girl pop music non-sense, flash-in-the-pan garbage on them. Guitar Hero brought some of these wayward kids back to real music and musicality for awhile, but that has passed. The jazz community is a fraction of what it once was as well.

So, there are definitely reasons for this down-turn, and I'm not sure it can be fixed. The world moves on, and some things fall away. Anyway, I to like this forum a lot. For me, it's the best of the bunch that are out there. So keep up the good work Tommyp!