How has discussion on BA changed over the years?

From my perception, the mods have become more invisible lately. Posts and whole threads used to get deleted more often. Maybe that’s because there’s less shit posting than in the past?

 

I think there's less posting about specific beers (BCBS excluded), and more posting about general subjects.

 

As I can recall, the style appreciation threads were few if any, and there were no “Off Topic” threads. It also seems like there is a lot less geeking out on technical elements of beers and breweries these days.

It seems like there is more comradeship these days too. A notable exception is that when the Northeast Region split to New England and Mid Atlantic, participants and friendly banter dropped off. Which surprised me, I figured the boundaries would be crossed frequently.

These observations might just be a reflection of my personal participation having changed over the years. My early participation in the forums was slim, as I primarily used the reviews and places functions.

 

I think this plays into my post before - there are soooo many beers/brewers these days with many being quite local, what would be worthy of a special thread? I still see them occasionally, though, but agree much less often than when I joined, I can imagine how much it has changed in the extra 6 or so years.

That said, things have shifted that now I do pay attention to what breweries people (especially "trusted people" of which we all have our own) are talking about. For instance, Dovetail recently dropped here, and I was happy to make a little effort to get some. Another instance is a desire to get to / check out Tonewood - though @jonphisher might've made expectations unrealistic


I'll throw in another thing that is partly a question - I think industry involvement, at least in the national forums, has dropped off the edge. Maybe there's more involvement in the regional threads. I believe it's been mentioned here and there (even by BA management), but I do miss having those people producing the product we love weighing in.

 

I've loved the beers I've had from both Dovetail and Tonewood.

 

I hope everyone loves their local place as much as I love that place. But seriously the variety they have and the way they keep prices low, respond to consumers, they rotate and hone in the same beers instead of one offs, just always happy good vibes, etc. you know though, all you gotta do is send me your address I just bought some of my favorites seasonals of theirs.

You’ve been one of my trusted sources as well, as you know

That was all Oaklyn brewed stuff, still the only place I’ll go to hang. But now that the new production place has been up and running their beers have become even better with all their new toys in that place. You know the drill too, just send me a message…

 

Oh, I completely agree that this is a large reason, though there are probably others, as well. It's understandable, but I still miss it.

 

I want to ask how to find posts from me that long ago. Then again, I’m not sure if I should

 

Even easier just do what I did, click on your profile and it lists your beers, posts etc. then just click on posts and all of yours will appear. But I noticed they only go back to 2012. I joined in 2010 and Inknow I posted to the forum in 2010 and 2011.

 

Somehow the FIBs have gotten more annoying. I kid.

Also, no more timeouts from the mods.

 

It seems that the forums in last few years have transformed more into a social media gathering spot to talk about the beer your drinking, food your prepping, music you recommend, how your dog is doing, what the weather is like etc. In years past the forum had a lot more topics for beer nerds to discuss various aspects of the craft beer hobby. That seems to be the major shift in the the forum discussion where it was once a niche hobby interest (like comic book or baseball card collectors, civil war reenactors ) and now it’s more mature and social gathering amongst a wider mass audience and drinkers is more the norm. Just my observations over the years.

 

It seems like the emergency forum upgrade from 2012 that @Todd mentions is the starting point now for how far posts go back as I am able to see my posts going back to November 2012 but nothing before that (which is still amazing).
It's funny reading some of my old posts as I have no recollection of them and wouldn't even think they were mine after reading them if they weren't showing as comments under my name.
As far as discussions here changing over the years, I think things have become more civil and politically correct. I like the civil part but do miss seeing people's opinions on certain issues good or bad and it seems like any controversial comments are deleted by mods(which I do understand why in these times.)

 

Everyone’s comments on here have been really interesting to read. I first got on BA 11 years ago or so and was religiously checking in every beer I had and reading up on what the new beers were ogling everyone’s hauls and WBAYDN. I got away from using this site for the better part of the last decade and recently got back and while im still definitely checking in beers and looking at Top 250 lists, most of my time is spent in the forums now and engaging in discourse.

 

I also think Untappd has had a huge part in getting all the people solely interested in ticking away from here leaving BA as a space more for discourse/discussion.

Untappd is the quick status flex for whale tickets and BA is for those more interested in engaging w the community. Definitely room for both groups!