Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself? [Threadbanned users in 1st post]

I have a controversial opinion. Vanilla is actually ok. I think the timing and the manner of changeover was probably problematic but is it that bad?

for you this works. If boards however wants new or younger users it will not succeed without an app.

wonder could the site use a splash of colour like the student room forum, this forum looks a bit dated,

also it should probably setup discussions maybe comps to encourage people to engage

This is sounding a bit like rules lawyering. Basically saying that you want a strict set of terms/phrases that if someone breaches them then they should be banned.

There was an excellent thread on the site in the days of Vbulletin where users were giving out and demanding that certain phrases were banned. The thing was that the posters who had used that phrase (it was a feedback thread about two women who had travelled to someplace during covid travel lockdowns for some cosmetic and were giving out about having to quarantine in a hotel upon their return) were all sanctioned and forum banned etc, but the person who opened the thread DEMANDED that they were made aware of the sanctions applied, and DEMANDED updates etc on any subsequent sanctions. There was a second person in that thread who repeated the phrase during that thread about 5 times, DEMANDINGit was added to a banned list thus ensuring that anyone who hadn't seen it was made aware of it.

Eventually Shield came back with an incredibly eloquent, well reasoned and thoughtful response, saying why those demands would not be met. Which resulted in the rage quit of one poster.

Having a strict set of terms/phrases that are on a ban list just means that low level trolls will work out a way around them and when they are finally warned/sanctioned etc they go running home to mammy crying out about the big bad admins/mods/cmods, because they didn't break the rules.

IF you don't understand what acting the dick, or being a muppet is then that is entirely on you. Everyone knows what tacting the dick and being a muppet means. Pretending you don't is just insulting to everyones intelligence

if you have kids ask them if they would ever think to do this. I absolutely guarantee you they will have no idea you can do this nor would ever think to do this. All the app type things they are used to doing will not work this way.

It works for you but if boards want to stay relevant it needs an app otherwise it's a dead platform.