Changing nature of the forum

[plaid preacher]

Ahhh the glory days....someday these will be "the olde days."

I have been shrinking though. I've lost 55lbs in the last year and its near time to decide whether to restock my kilts in a smaller size. My kiltmaker says she can easily and inexpensively size down my hand sewn kilts. Guessing IF...I decide to restock I'll be calling Rocky and Utilikilts. But as of yet I have no clue where my weight loss will stop. My goal is to lose another 20 to 40 lbs. No point in ordering replacements until I get there.

FREEDOM!!

Good to hear from you Ron, and congratulations on your shrinking! I too miss your photos.

[MacKenzie]

I feel the same loss. The reason being, I believe, the loss of most all of the traditionalists on here. We were made to feel unwelcome by many.

Just a few. A vocal few.

[tundramanq]

1. The Photobucket fiasco kind of damped my enthusiasm. Although I still have my pictures on my computer, it would be a time consuming task to re edit all my old closed posts for me and well as a nuisance for moderators to re open them for editing. A lot of my DIY posts are the only ones that seem worth it to me as they rely heavily on the embedded photos.

2. I am more active on Facebook kilt sites but even there I am loath to post many pictures thinking FB may pull a Photobucket scam sometime in the future.

3. Although I still wear kilts every day going on 8 years now, I have learned the "how to do it" for the most part, the new and shiny of kilts has worn off to some extent and several others whose posts were informative and entertaining seem to have also become reclusive or found other interests and outlets.

I still check in a few times a month to see "what's new".

[Tobus]

My activity on this forum sharply declined with the exit of most of the traditionalists. I understand why they left and I sympathise with them. I sensed the same unwelcome attitude here which put a damper on our discussions. It's a shame, because those discussions really made this forum exciting and lively and worth reading. In the 8-1/2 years I've been a member here, those were what I consider the best of times. I absolutely enjoyed the in-depth debates about all the little details that most people don't care about. I learned a lot and felt a real sense of camaraderie. It shaped my view of kilts and how to wear them, and was a huge part of my evolution or maturing process in wearing the kilt. I looked forward to reading XMTS every day. But that's all gone now.

I hear they went to Facebook to continue their discussions. I have never opened a Facebook account due to privacy concerns. (I reluctantly tell people, "I told you so!" when it comes to the handling of private info on the great Book of Faces.) So for myself, the great era of traditional kilt discussions ended with their departure. I still check in here at XMTS occasionally and reply a couple of times a year just to keep my account on life support. But even when I see topics that I might want to respond to, it just doesn't seem worth it any more. And it appears that the other traditional-minded people who are still here are remaining cautiously tight-lipped (as it were) in their posts as well.

I'd love to see us return to these sorts of knowledgeable and lively discussions again. Some of the familiar faces are still here. But as far as I can see, all the elements that drove out the traditionalists are still here as well. I don't see us going back to what we had. As they say, "that train has sailed!"

[tripleblessed]

What Riverkilt and Tobus said. I've never understood the need to drive folk away or try to shut them up. I've referenced Lazarus Long
here before relative to Heinlein's statement about how much more often we learn from/with folk with differing opinions. I am quite casual,
but thoroughly enjoyed the traditionalist point of view. I quite understand how some can have different ideas on subjects Ron referenced
which became taboo because some refused to have an adult discussion and be civil. Or move to a different thread. I have enjoyed the
rule of thumb of civility here. What I've never understood is the attitude that if I don't agree with you, you need to leave. If my belief
can't hold up to a good, civil, freewheeling discussion and closer examination, it may be time to get some new ideas and beliefs. We
diminish ourselves in the attempt to diminish others, and this thread shows the result.

[sailortats]

RIGHT ON TOBUS. You hit the nail right on the head with your post here. The train has definitely sailed much to our displeasure.

[Profane James]

Loud and clear....

[Taskr]

Doesn't matter the post; academic, amateur, newbie, oldie, traditionalist, modernist, wool/PV/Canvas/tweed, kiltmaker, purchaser - there is always something to gain from having a look at someone's comment, guidance, opinion or rant (polite - and even impolite). As for who comes and goes, we are all as welcome as we make ourselves.

Happy kilting and thanks for sharing your thoughts on XMarks

[Me cousin Jack]

Every forum I’ve ever been a member of goes through these same issues, people come and go for whatever reason.

[Steve Ashton]

It is far more likely that what people are seeing is the natural ebb and flow of a forum. Over the years we have seen this many times. People's lives change, interests go in a different direction and sometimes people just run out of things to say. Particularly about such a niche topic as the kilt.

If any of you are members of other forums or on the various social media groups, it is very evident that X Marks has always been seen as the most traditional of all forums. The non-traditional styles are what are currently powering the facebook groups and at my last count there are only 2 forums where the traditional styles are prevalent.

If there is any most common comment I get from new members who contact me saying that they do not wish to continue on X Marks, it is that they feel that there is so little discussion, or room for discussion, about any other type of kilt or way to dress in a kilt. They say that they want to talk about the newer kilts and the newer styles that they see being talked about elsewhere.

So I will say it again - If you wish to see threads and posts, all you have to do is start writing.