Villein wrote:I think the process is at a stage of relaxation and retirement.
A slow decline into obscurity.
And then, a re-invention and rediscovery.
A period of growth and probably mainstream resurgence.
So while it may appear as extinction, it is the same cycle of interest that has existed since the early Bronze Age.
Or possibly Stone Age, but somebody forget to write it down.
I think that it's too easy for the newer members to completely fail to realize that we are on the backside of significant social engagement in this community (and for content production as well). But that doesn't mean that we didn't do well. We did.
I recently took in a couple really good music related documentaries. One was about the Wrecking Crew, and the other about Muscle Shoals. Here are the links;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwiTas70pAo and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKmGUIM1uAI In both cases, there was discussion about how things went into decline after they peaked. In both case, they were older men and women that were at peace with how things went down. They had a good run and they knew it.
I feel that way about the Quicksand Community as well as the production side of things.
So while folks might look at the state of things now and see failure, that's their problem. It's one of perspective. And in the current mindset of anyone not being on top having to be a 'loser', I doubt that many minds are going to be changed - until they have a good run of their own, if they are lucky enough.