This place is dead

I am still mostly a noob around here, although I’ve been around for ten years now, but I’m definitely not part of the “old guard”, or the “elite”, nor would I aspire to be (unlike some). Anyone who has joined in the last ten years is still a noob, and always will be. Post count does not change this.

I still visit from time to time, but rarely sign in, much less post anything, since about 2012, so having witnessed the switch over to the new format, and various changes in direction, perhaps my opinions concerning the perceived decline in activity will seem relevant to some

They may not seem "pertinent" to everyone, which is perfectly fine with me. Feel free to disagree. I may respond to comments, if there are any, as time allows, but I will absolutely NOT respond to any negative comments, or baiting.

1. Lifestyle Changes

This is a big reason for my absence of late. I have simply moved on.

I changed to a new industry, where I spend most of my day in front of a computer and in conference calls all over the world. I don’t want to spend any more time in front of a screen in my spare time. I’d rather drink wine, chat with friends and colleagues, and eat good food. Period.

We only watch Netflix in our household, and we have what we need to do that successfully. We have no further need of new equipment for now, and I haven’t bought a TV in ten years. The last audio-video equipment I bought was some JoLida stuff, here on Club Polk, unless you want to count a few iPods, Apple TV’s and a Roku.

Although we live in a relatively affluent neighborhood, ours is the only house where large floor-standing speakers are still part of the decor. People simply don’t consider these a necessity for home theater or music listening any longer. They’d rather have new HomePods.

2. Inappropriate Material

This falls into two categories. The first is politics.

Whatever the atmosphere may have been at Club Polk prior to 2007, ever since one contributor in particular joined around then, Clubhouse content would frequently turn discussions to politics, political messages in signatures and profiles proliferated in abundance. There were even posts discussed at length in defense of such policies as McCarthyism!

This thread is a perfect example already. The influence of the Deep State is already being discussed, and how the “snowflakes” (a supremely derogatory term to begin with) are influencing society. Conspiracy theories abound.

Reasonable people can talk politics amicably with just about anybody, but there are limits to polite conversation in such matters, and no professional in any corporation expects this kind of material to turn up in their online discussion forum.

The second category is tasteful babes.

There was, once upon a time, a tasteful babe thread in the Clubhouse. Those who did or did not appreciate the content shared therein could look, or not look, accordingly. It was closed down, apparently after an intervention by a member named Sona, who apparently joined for that sole purpose, and left immediately after achieving that end. What happened as a consequence was that “tasteful babe” pics starting popping up all over the place randomly, in almost any thread.

This is anything but tasteful IMHO, pretty **** for the most part, and again, no serious professional in any corporation expects this kind of material to turn up in their online discussion forum.

3. The Changing of The Guard

One of the more prominent past members of Club Polk that I appreciated was George Grand of the Jersey Grands. He contributed much, and had a great sense of humor. Somebody I would have been honored to meet in person, though Mr. Grand was never a friend of mine nor did we ever really exchange messages more than casually once or twice. Nevertheless, he was, IMHO, a gentleman here and definitely a senior member of the elite.

It happened that during some of my reading in the Clubhouse he would lament the change in tone in the forum. He shared what could be described by some as some very pertinent, and thinly veiled hints at his beliefs as to why this might be happening. Some here did indeed seem to agree with his assessment. It was what it was. Names were not named, and no noteworthy discussion or suggestions ever came of it to my knowledge.

Then some time in just the last few years, Mr. Grand was being taken to task in no uncertain terms by none other than one of the more prolific post whores. The whole exchange was a disgrace, in my opinion, but to my astonishment, none offered their defense on his behalf, not even the “old guard”. It did not seem like my place to attempt do so, not being very active at the time, and to interject to that end might have seemed presumptuous, arrogant, and uncouth. In any case, I don’t have time to waste on trolls.

That day, Club Polk lost some of it’s moral standing.

Then, some time later, Mr. Grand became gravely ill, and was heard from no more. When many offered their tributes to his contributions over the years, some came from none other than he who had been behind the unjustifiable attacks referenced above. None seemed to remember, or none recalled what had transpired between them.

That day, Club Polk lost even more of it’s moral standing.

...

Club Polk has been quite a journey over the years, and there are many excellent contributors still around, at least some of whom are quite familiar to me. Things may change, but the oft decried Vanilla has had 0% impact on my viewing or posting habits.

YMMV.