I was a decade+ long member/Moderator of a military related forum. Shortly after the 2020 election and just prior to the inauguration, the forum owner announced that the forum would be closing indefinitely for upgrades. We would have one week to exchange contact info. That was nearly 10 months ago.

Similar to here, there were relationships and friendships I had made in Cyberspace that in many ways I valued more than some of my face-to-face relationships.

Some I have been able to track down on FaceBook, others have started a few group texts, but as you can imagine, it’s not the same.

Why did it close you might ask? While I cannot 100% confirm this to be true, those in the know believe it to be because the Forum Owner held a GS rank and was concerned about the new administration and the rumored witch-hunt for government employees who participate on “extremist” websites or forums.

The forum I reference did not accept ads and was member supported. I’ve attempted to engage a few new sites, but the overwhelming flashing ads has made it not even worth my while.

I was blessed to be a member there, and feel equally grateful for what Para has provided for us here. Especially the tight moderation and zero ads. It is unlikely I will ever find another forum like what I had there, nor what we have here.

Thank you again Para, for what you provide for us here at SigForum.

Ronin summed it up pretty well. Thanks for this place para!

Being here is something that others on any other forum can not comprehend.
Nothing more that I can say except it is a special place.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: smschulz,

quote:

I was blessed to be a member there, and feel equally grateful for what Para has provided for us here. Especially the tight moderation and zero ads. It is unlikely I will ever find another forum like what I had there, nor what we have here.

Thank you again Para, for what you provide for us here at SigForum.

Very well said Ronin.
Para operates on a level that is above and beyond anything else I've encountered with forums. And the members here are of a caliber (npi) that allows this style of leadership to work... indeed, to flourish. Synergy.

In the last week I just lost a valuable site also Strokeboard.net. An incredible asset to many stroke survivors that communicated over the years. I registered the same year on that site as I did here. I always benefitted greatly from those that live with stroke and understand immensely the deficits shared. Fortunately like Ronin, I made good friends and contacts that I still exchange emails with, but it cannot take the place of all the things we've shared between the members over the years.

I only visit a couple of sites, and Sigforum is my daily staple, I can't express how much it's helped me because my reasons are more than personal, it helps me cope some days thru the camaraderie, humor, and gifted people willing to share their own experiences...and there is the Cat thread, endless humor. Thank you Mike, and all the members that help in ways you could never imagine.