This is for the old school guys like me. Any opinions why this site has become a wasteland? Back in the early 2000's this was the place to be for professionals doing their thing and learning from others with more experience. I am sad at what it has become, since there are a LOT more machines out there now. I used to love sharing anything I learned. I guess I don't get the youger fellas.

I too lament the current state of affairs here on the Woodweb forums. Rather sad. Still though the site seems to hang in there. Its departure would be a loss for the industry.

BH Davis

The latest CNC techniques, now appear on instagram, not much, comradery, but it will happen over time.

Where I am in Canada I am seeing a generational shift in shop ownership. I'm in my sixties and each year I have seen shops closing or changing hands from my age group.
Many of the shops in my area are run by people whose first language is not english.
Judging by my son and his friends, web based forums are not a thing.
This site has been so helpful (and entertaining) to me. I sure hope it can survive and reach a new audience.

I agree , It has slowed way down.
I'm in the Chicago area and one of the few English speaking ( as 1st language ) run shops in the area, Most are eastern Europeans..

Also to Tom's point the older guys are getting out of the business or have unfortunately passed.

That brings up the question? What is the age of the people actually checking Woodweb on a regular basis?

I myself am 44 years old and operate a primarily residential frameless shop.

Well since I started this thing, I'll admit that I will be 61 This week. When I started working with CNC's I was still in my 20's. A ton has changed. Every once in a blue moon, I'll still work with an 1980's controller, but they are super rare.

I too, lament the decline in this forum. At one time it was the scene of good debate, bad debate, and most importantly, advancing the cause we all participate in.

I am 75. Retired in 2022. Sold the business to my employee, age mid - 40's and he ran it into the ground. He has never looked anything up on this site, and seems to go to You-tube when needed.
I think some of the younger guys were put off the site implying the Ol Guard rules the turf.

I know little about running a social site like this (but that doesn't stop me from....), except that new blood is needed. I think the site is welcoming enough, but it needs to promote itself better.

I think of all the answers and debates that ended up in the Knowledge Base. Some promotion, some AI algorithms, and some good ol' participation would revive the site. Just the Knowledge alone would justify some large numbers.

Facebook. Instagram. Twitter.

Those three absorb attention far too easily.

The format here has never been my favorite. Threads just stay in whatever order they are posted. If somebody responds to a thread from a year ago, nobody sees it because it's buried.
I've never liked that.

We are a bunch of bullies to the softer generations. I'm 45, I don't need counseling because you don't like how I do things and have a better idea that will make me more profitable and productive. That's why I'm here, to learn a smarter faster way. To many people, that is conflict and they just can't handle that. The USA is full of overweight gluttons dosed to the gills on SSRI's, who will cry at the first sign of push back on a bad idea. Their egos can't handle it.

Great question. For all of us who've put so much into the content here, I wonder. I think this it is simply more effort than people are willing to put in - to dig in and find information for themselves. Same as books. Not sure what the landscape is going to look like in 20-30 years.

If you look at the CAD site, it is even worse then the CNC forum. Sad, but if the industry is thriving somewhere else, good for them. Maybe my problem is that I stay away from all social media except my YouTube channel. That was by accident. Kind of regret it, but still post stuff every month or so if it was cool or easy to shoot. Don't do Instrgram, Facebook or any ot the stuff my wife does.

Mike,

That's an interesting point. I wonder if it's the same with most of the others of the old guard. I also don't use social media other than posting some YouTube videos and also Facebook Marketplace for buying/selling things.

BH Davis

Well, I suppose times change. I still want to help the younger fellas that are figuring this stuff out. Can any of you guys point me in the direction of where the people are talking? I want to give away everything I've learned over the years. Its worth nothing if I keep it to myself. I know, a lot of woodworkers seem to think their craft is a trade secret. I get that, but that isn't me, lol!

When Fine Woodworking shuttered their forum, I spent some time at the Fine Homebuilding forum, Then it was closed by the publisher, but there was a group that moved the data to a new group: Breaktime 3 (Delphi). More of a general, intensive, DIY, aging group.
I think a few of the core participants here aged out, some sold out, some got bored, some got angry, and some have gone back just lurking.

Once upon a time, I learned to seek out older guys with experience for answers. Now, it is almost like they are avoided. "Well sit down right there, sonny, and let me tell you what it was like back when real woodworkers were everywhere..."
I think the Knowledge Database here is exceptional, and could be the core of a new, improved WoodWeb.

I agree with the sentiments in post #8,social media and phones,rather than computers are at the root of it.It isn't just this site,CNCzone has seen a big drop off in activity.I believe in that case much of it could be attributed to a crowd becoming aware that bolting a few extrusions together and running a demo version of Mach 3 wouldn't enable them to suddenly produce things.They have also "upgraded" their forum to the point where I can't even log in any more.

I remember when this forum featured lots of posts about point to point machines and nested based machines,glad a lot of that nonsense went away.