Frankly, I'm at a complete loss as to what happened to the best Ram blog around, thanks to Paul and the early members who carried this blog for the first 3+ years.
It is a complete mystery to me as to why this wonderful site has morphed into some sort of "tweener". It's between some sort of progressive type site that includes (IMO) ridiculous things like commercial ad's and ROD money. Sadly, it no longer includes useful things such as "related Rams web links" as it once did. Tell me if you can, how is this site one damn ounce better as a result of these changes? Is participation up? Does it "feel" the same, is it as fun and insightful as before? Is information as readily available? Can you get almost anything pertaining to the Rams on here any longer? How about articles and video's? Are they anywhere near as numerous?
Sure the makeup of the site is sorta slick, but not as user friendly, not really. By that I mean it doesn't have the "fell' that it originally did. Has anyone even spent a moment considering why the attendance and participation rate is so low since this (ahem) new site came up? And where are the majority of the members who supported this site since 2010? Most are AWOL and in all honesty, is it any surprise they're no longer posting?
What's happened here recently is an example of when a highly functioning sports site loses its way and mistakenly believes that bigger is better.....well it's NOT better and participation and attendance has fallen as a result. Honestly when I come here, I feel like I'm someplace else. Sure there are a few of the old faithful, but the majority who contributed and made this an excellent place to celebrate our support of the Rams is a shadow of what it was only 2 or 3 months ago and it's a crying shame.
Then there is the "thought and speech" police and every Sunday, if I want to read or comment on the game day thread, I'm initially greeted by a warning about watching my P's & Q's.....are you kidding me? Is this grade school? Is it really necessary to repeat this crap week after week? This blog prospered because of the 99.9% of those who originally helped grow this thing. And even 2 or 3 years later the vast majority had no problems conducting themselves appropriately.....do the so called monitors really believe that these types of warnings and threats are appropriate or even necessary? Wouldn't it have been just as effective to either eliminate or segregate those who acted inappropriately instead of lording over the entire blog site?
Oh, I see remarkable attention and removal of posts that don't fit a particular forum, but again is it really necessary to look over everyone's shoulder all of the time?
All I know is that neither the participation rate or feel of this blog is the same as it was and that's a damn shame, because it was the best....but not any longer, at least not in my opinion. Even Paul no longer posts and there darn sure isn't anywhere near the number of video's and articles as there were only a few months ago.
I assume that there are reasons for some of this, but again, I'm terribly disappointed by these changes, attitudes and lack of information that was the hallmark of this formally outstanding site where Rams fans felt a strong kinsmanship, this too is but a vague memory.
So here we all are, with a slick site, just like all the others out there, except for one thing...this site has lost the magic and for that I'm terribly disappointed. I know Paul and others were well meaning, but ask yourselves, does is this blog in its current configuration without its previous fan "down home feel" and togetherness including the formally related web links so members could easily navigate between places feel the same to you all? Did we need ROD dollars instead of ease and convenience of use? Do the majority of those who spent numerous of hours on ROD enjoy it anywhere near as much as before these changes?
Those issues and more are what have driven me to say the things I have. For me, it's a sad day, because I personally believe this blog has become a shadow of itself and the magic and enjoyment that once was, just isn't anymore. And so I bid those of you who remain a fond adieu. Naturally, I'll lurk here now and then, but not like the good OLE times when this was virtually my only Rams destination of choice where I knew that just about everything pertaining to my Rams team could readily be found.
I guess that good times have a limit when it comes to anything tech related as the powers that be, always seem unable to leave a successful formula alone....that's just the way it is these days and it's a shame. So finally I end my rant, by saying that it's been a pleasure meeting and speaking to so many great Rams fans and highly knowledgeable contributors, I just wish so badly that this group could have maintained it's continuity and camaraderie at least until the Rams could break through their play off drought.
Anyway, I wish you all the best this holiday season and pray that someday, someone else comes forward with the talent, vision and dedication as "The Dude".
Peace.
