The Decline of AP.com

[G36 FTW]

What a sorry state of affairs. As a newbie who arrived perhaps in the middle of AP's heyday, it's sad to see it fade, and to see a number of the big players writing it off.

People on here were knowledgeable, and while salty, things seemed cool enough for me to stick around. My first few posts were crap, but I stuck around because the forum was alive, and people were nice enough, assuming you could form a coherent sentence. The community had some integrity, some anonymity, but also some color and sleeze (other forums, arnies airsoft for instance, wouldn't tolerate any sort of foul language, which gave a very sterile feeling).

The problem likely is that a lot of people didn't stick around, and when you drive off a large number of new players, you won't see a lot of users stick around to become active and give back to the community.

I can't even weigh in on local games, since I never partook. But since the forum activity is near zero, it'll be hard for AP to rebound. I'll fondly remember the Halloween costume contests.

[Nark]

What a sorry state of affairs. As a newbie who arrived perhaps in the middle of AP's heyday, it's sad to see it fade, and to see a number of the big players writing it off.

People on here were knowledgeable, and while salty, things seemed cool enough for me to stick around. My first few posts were crap, but I stuck around because the forum was alive, and people were nice enough, assuming you could form a coherent sentence. The community had some integrity, some anonymity, but also some color and sleeze (other forums, arnies airsoft for instance, wouldn't tolerate any sort of foul language, which gave a very sterile feeling).

The problem likely is that a lot of people didn't stick around, and when you drive off a large number of new players, you won't see a lot of users stick around to become active and give back to the community.

I can't even weigh in on local games, since I never partook. But since the forum activity is near zero, it'll be hard for AP to rebound. I'll fondly remember the Halloween costume contests.

Glad you saw through the crap slinging to stick around! We never set out with the intent to drive users away but we would like to know that they're adults if they're going to possibly be shooting little plastic BBs of death back at us.

I'm with FoxCruz. Videos like that and ones from MSW games should be the feature on the landing page as sort of a "This is what happens around here and who we are" so people can actually see that we're not a universal forum that we're all actually players here.

[Beran]

I'll admit, it's kind of nice to see that some folks still give a shit. AP and airsoft in general was a huge part of my life for a long time, and it gives me warm fuzzies to see that people don't want it to die. I've made some of my closest friends from this place, people I still see and talk to regularly even if I haven't logged onto AP in forever. I can't make it out to games as often as I used to, but I still have all the gear (too much of the gear). I've been rolling with the truck guys lately, so I get out more than I normally would since I can sit on my a$$ in a heated truck most of the time.

I'd be interested in trying to do my part for AP. I can't be as active as I was, but I'll try to be more active on the forums.

[Agent orange.]

I'm still new to this site and community, but I think this site is the bees knees when you get right down to it.

When I first joined this site, and started making posts, I had horrible spelling and punctuation, and I tried going for a MILSIM kind of thing right off the bat.... Yeah, I took a little abuse, but I stuck it out, cause I knew ya'll knew what you were talking about and doing, so I listened, and just said to myself "just deal with it, no need to be a cry baby about it"

I haven't posted anything much on here lately, but I always come on here everyday to see what's new and out there.
But I agree with Cruz, just some tune ups, and some minor addons, is a great start, and then slowly but surely make our way up to making this site somewhat like it used to be (back in the day, I wasn't here then)

So there is my two cents worth on this discussion, hope I didn't waste no ones time.

[ClownBaby]

Awww, You guys are all so cool. Realz.

Question from left field time.

What would you guys think/say about AP doing a community service project a few times a year.
Less for trying to make outsiders think we're cool, more for Us, as a community builder.

Back when I found out that Phantom Fury was doing it, I thought it was pretty cool.

If people are interested, I have project ideas, and would like to hear anyone else's suggestions.



And as far as sprucing up the main page, what about a video loop you can click on of us all, in kit, Harlem shuffle? LOL

[Blackhawk]

I think some new content and perhaps an updated layout could be a big help. A more mobile friendly site would be huge since most people have their phones grafted onto their hands at this point. AP has always been my airsoft home. I would hate to see it disappear or stagnate. Working at Airsoft Outlet NW I always tell new players that come into the shop to check out this community. Yes they mostly just want to know the when and where of games but I try to encourage them to really take a look at what we've all built here. There is so much knowledge and experience shared here its amazing to me. But as people have pointed out there has been any new non-forum content in 18+ months. Thats a little sad considering whats happening with the technology of airsoft lately i.e. MOSFETs becoming commonplace, the burgeoning HPA scene, and so many manufacturers revamping their product lines. Heck this year we're seeing the rebirth of Classic Army in the USA. There is no lack of content to be had it's not like nothing is happening in the world of airsoft. I also rarely so moderators or admins offering up their own wisdom in the forums. Granted many of them have moved on from airsoft all together but that is why new ones need to be found.

Cruz I salute your efforts to revitalize AP thank you for starting this conversation here. I've heard it discussed many times on the fields and in the airsoft shops but its nice to see it happening where something might actually come of it.

[dos_Santos]

Social media is primarily the reason I stopped using AP over time, it was really a convenience issue. But AP.com was at the root of when I started playing (almost 10 years on AP) and how I met guys that ended up becoming my team mates (SOTA). There was community here, and that's what made this place fun.

And there still is community, but like several have mentioned, relevant content is missing, so people aren't attracted to AP. This site will continue to serve the local community if the community contributes. I love FoxHound's initiative, that's leadership. And leadership is what this site needs to revive the AP community.

I believe that if a gathering were held in the PDX area to reboot AP, several people would probably step up to be apart of it.

I love forums because there is content in forums that won't exist in Facebook (DIY how-to's are the big ones I value, for my cars). I believe if AP were more accessible, that would change the interaction dynamic as well. There are great apps that make forums convenient for me (Tapatalk being one), so I would look into a similar platform for AP.

Great seeing old faces on here!

(BTW, I still participate in airsoft/milsim (MSW Clovis, CA being the most recent), but I have have had to be intentional with my time because of career/family/etc, so I am not playing/practicing 4 times a month like back in the AP heyday.)

[Eudorus]

The only thing that would bring me back to Airsoft would be regular training along the lines of the old PLA.

[Nark]

Time to bump this back up.. Being a member on other forums I see a lot of activity in other areas of forums like music, netflix, girls, general feels boards positive and negative, politics, etc. and I feel it helps bring a forum together into a more inclusive group. It helps when new members can post in other topics and not get chewed out for not knowing about the little nuances we like to nitpick. Our off topic forum hasn't really seen any action in a couple years so maybe kicking it up and having more conversations than just what AEG should I get over and over cause it's a one way street will help draw people back in.

[ClownBaby]

Yes Cruz, videos. Do it!!!

Also I think there should be a comprehensive video on what to do/buy for nwebs.

[Tankwitch]

An intro thread would be useful. But it would have to be updated regularly. It would need several dedicated contributors in order to make it work. I'd be more than happy to start it, if we can get other people interested I would be more than happy to be a contributor.

[Agent orange.]

I could possibly make a YouTube video showing some of the basics of the site? It will just be me talking, and going and doing different things on the site so people know how it works. Also could include in the video how to make a profile etc.

Let me know what yall think about this idea.

[Agent orange.]

A decent intro would be outstanding. Last time I tried using music on YouTube, I got copy wrighted for every song I put on there.

[Junto]

You can also plumb the depths of http://www.freemusicarchive.com for video music. It's time-consuming, but it pays off when you find an artist with a track that sounds like what you're looking for. Usually, they've got an album's-worth of similar content to go with it. You can even use their filter to sift out tracks based on what copyrights and licensing they adhere to.

DRAT has a decent chunk of YouTube content now. We're not limited strictly to airsoft content, but we've still got a ton of it on-hand and even our unrelated content frequently features community members. I'd be more than happy to start porting it over here, provided I have a place to toss the link up. Sometimes, by the time we get an event video done, I'd be necro'ing the thread by posting the video. Speed isn't our strong suit.

And you'll have to forgive my tone in previous posts. I'm honestly kinda bitter about the decline of the site and the fracturing of the community it created. When I've complained, though, people who left the community or the hobby entirely have just dumped on the site and the hobby in general. When old leadership tells you to quit bugging them because it's all over and dead, you stop seeing the point in bothering to try. I still don't have much confidence in driving traffic back here as I really think the main issue is perceived convenience of social networking sites as opposed to forums.

Regardless, I'd be happy to add to the archives.

[Agent orange.]

If you think it will help, then yeah! Go for it. Sorry I haven't gotten the video made and posted yet, I've been busy with school and what not, that I couldn't get around to doing it.
Thanks for the help junto!