[Nick McRae]

I've stopped short of asking this question before as most members are interested in writing, not discussing. But the sun's peeking out and spirits are rising so here goes:

The first 15 years or so of Eratosphere, I'm interested in learning more about that period. I've heard it could be intense at times, what about the earliest years?

I've also heard about Stallings, have there been any other names who reached beyond a small following?

[Julie Steiner]

The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!



Every few years or so, there is a thread bemoaning the fact that the Golden Age of Eratosphere is over. I'll try to dig up one or two. Those usually name names of Illustrious Sphereans of the Past.

[Edited to add: The three I just looked at were way too contentious to exhume — which actually says quite a lot about the history of Eratosphere.]

[Nick McRae]

Originally Posted by Julie Steiner

The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!



Every few years or so, there is a thread bemoaning the fact that the Golden Age of Eratosphere is over. I'll try to dig up one or two. Those usually name names of Illustrious Sphereans of the Past.

[Edited to add: The three I just looked at were way too contentious to exhume — which actually says quite a lot about the history of Eratosphere.]

I've done quite a lot of digging in the archives so I have a sense of it. Shortly after I made this thread I realized that it might be hard to discuss an arena full of eccentrics colliding with each other. I guess one hopes for the positive elements, but then it's not really a true history.

If you have a chance I'd love some links via PM. I really am interested even if I have to wade through bickering.

One leading question I can ask: what years were the golden age? Why did that stop? Many members aging and perfecting the craft?

[Jayne Osborn]

I'm guessing most people don't want to look back, Nick.
There were some "flame wars", bannings, and some bullies.
I cried a few times over some of the treatment I received as a new member. None of those responsible are here now, so although we have fewer active members than "back in the good old days", things are much calmer.

Personally, I can't understand why you'd want to wade through bickering that happened years ago, but that's up to you, of course.

[Matt Q]

Originally Posted by Nick McRae

One leading question I can ask: what years were the golden age? Why did that stop? Many members aging and perfecting the craft?

Nick,

Here are a couple of threads in which you'll find people arguing that the Sphere was much better back in the day, that actually it's just as good as it ever was and is not in decline, that we should try to find ways to attract more people, that we should avoid finding ways to attract more people, and so on. As with most threads in General they go off at all sorts of tangents. And not too much is said as to why the Sphere might have declined, if indeed it can be agreed that it did.

The Decline of the Sphere from 2020

The State of the Sphere another "decline" thread from 2015

This thread contains a few thoughts on the decline of poetry forums (fora?) in general.

Whether the Sphere had a golden age or not, and when that was, will depend on the criteria one uses. For example, I find the Sphere has generally become more a pleasant place to be over time, in that incidents of people throwing their weight around, making personal attacks etc., have decreased significantly since I first joined. In that respect, at least, the golden age is now

Matt

[Nick McRae]

Originally Posted by Jayne Osborn

I'm guessing most people don't want to look back, Nick.
There were some "flame wars", bannings, and some bullies.
I cried a few times over some of the treatment I received as a new member. None of those responsible are here now, so although we have fewer active members than "back in the good old days", things are much calmer.

Personally, I can't understand why you'd want to wade through bickering that happened years ago, but that's up to you, of course.

That's fair. I'll be honest, I was a little star struck when I showed up. Plenty of great writing, smart people, and occasional mention of the creative energy of past years. That's more the angle I was hoping for, but the sense I'm getting is that it wasn't actually that great back then. The busier years likely coincided with the period when forums were popular. Not better, just more active.

I've had the same experience at another forum. It quieted down over time, but the rise of social media filtered out those not interested in depth. That left a wake of calm and more mature posters, which is the feel I get from Eratosphere now.

Anyway, points taken, no need to dredge it all up if it was more traumatic than inspiring. I get it. On the threads, also not the angle I was hoping for but they were offered and I am interested in opinions on the early years. Granted, I know some of the threads are painful reads.

[Nick McRae]

Reading through the 2020 thread that Matt posted and I wonder if the other side of this place quieting down is that people really did master poetry. After a while the effort needed to start new critique threads overrides the return, unless you're doing it for entertainment.

As Julie mentioned in the thread some people then run off and just have fun with it rather than worrying about critique. Almost exactly what I'm doing now and it's only been a few years.