Why are you still Here?

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Considering the multiple reincarnations this site has had (i.e. Bolt, Bolt2, Boltagain) and losing most of it's user base and features, why do any of you continue to go to this site? Expecting things to improve? Currently enjoying the low key atmosphere? What brings you back here?

[Sam]

I was offered free cookies and milk...I'm still waiting for those. I come to chat, obviously, it's the one feature that I use the most, and most of the time if I'm not here to chat nobody else does. Honestly I like talking to people and meeting new ones, minus the private messages from the people that think this is a dating site. I don't normally post in the forums much, but most of the topics don't appeal to me. Yeah, I could make my own, but I don't care to see people like Curious George mock me or make some smart ass remark. I haven't been around very long so I don't have as much say as others, but I AM a member here. Keep up the good work guys.

[Curious George]

I "mocked you"? If I did I sincerely apologize. Just trying to have a little fun, never mean any harm.

Sam said:

I was offered free cookies and milk...I'm still waiting for those. I come to chat, obviously, it's the one feature that I use the most, and most of the time if I'm not here to chat nobody else does. Honestly I like talking to people and meeting new ones, minus the private messages from the people that think this is a dating site. I don't normally post in the forums much, but most of the topics don't appeal to me. Yeah, I could make my own, but I don't care to see people like Curious George mock me or make some smart ass remark. I haven't been around very long so I don't have as much say as others, but I AM a member here. Keep up the good work guys.

[Curious George]

I realize this Jer, and I see the changes. I think that was in retrospect. you have done great so far.

Jer said:

Curious George said:

The "staff" need to put time in here too, creating, promoting, make chit happen.

I've been busting my ass for this place since I was promoted to administrator a month and a half ago, so I hope that incredibly ignorant comment of yours wasn't directed at me. I've been working day and night tweaking things and making improvements (both subtle and obvious ones). There's only so much that can get accomplished every day when you have three guys running things. We're making progress, though. (Not that you're qualified enough to see that, showing your face around here once every few weeks solely to complain)

The last thing Bolt needs is more incessant pissing and moaning coming from the metaphorical mouths of people who could give a rat's ass about it. If you don't like the site (and the way it's operated) then leave. It's not rocket science by any means. It's common sense. Why people choose to stick around when they can't stand the place is beyond me. This goes for numerous people on here. Be more efficient and thoughtful with how you spend your time. Instead of flushing precious fractions of your lives down the toilet associating yourselves with something that upsets the hell out of you, go do something you enjoy. Eureka! There's a solution to implement into your lifestyles. Amazing, huh?

Bolt needs quality, active members who constructively contribute to the site on a regular basis. What it doesn't need? Trollish posts like yours, "Curious George". Take your self-righteous, overblown, uncalled for criticism elsewhere. It's not welcome here.

Curious George said:

99% of all social networks are boring as hell. 30,000 people and nobody is ever around. Thanks to the automatic sign up features by Fuzzbook, Tweeter, Google, Yahooters! Linkedtin, Winders Live, etc. All that seems so pointless. Signup and run. People rarely come by "site merit". J/S

As the saying goes... "The people make the place." I don't see you contributing any stimulating, entertaining, interesting, or engaging content to this site. Might want to take a look in a mirror. Quit finding fault with problems that you don't help to remedy. No need to place sole blame on the automatic sign-up feature, either. Bolt only has about 9,000 members who have signed-up through FaceBook. It has even less sign-ups through the other social network mediums. LinkedIn and Windows Live sign-ups aren't even enabled on here.

The majority of those "30,000" members are spammers, scammers, frauds, phonies, fuck-arounds, trolls, duplicate accounts, and young kids who have an inability to take anything seriously. There's also a culture clash on Bolt. We get people signing-up from all around the world, and some of them find it difficult to blend in with the community. On top of that, there's no real target demographic being followed on here at the moment. Bolt was originally a teen site directed at 15-25 year olds. That was lost along the way. We now have older folks on here who, also, find it difficult to blend in with Bolt culture. So, you see, there are many other factors at play here. It will take time to organize the mess this site is in (and establish a new vision/direction for it).

In closing, it's just plain difficult to find quality/dedicated/active members on social networks anymore. As monumentally-unfortunate as it is, times have changed. People in general have become lazier and more apathetic (at least in my humble opinion). They've become products of their decadent environments. They've decayed in unison with the entertainment culture around them. I love Bolt to death, and I'd love to see it thrive once again. The site has been a part of my life since 1997. It was one of the major highlights of my childhood/adolescence (though there were many highlights back then; that entire time period was matchless, pure, magical, and golden).

That being said, Bolt will never be what it was back in the late 90's and early 2000's (as much as it sickens me to have to face the reality of the situation and say that). As Thomas Wolfe said: "You can't go home again." What's lost is lost. It's like taking a walk through your childhood neighborhood ten years after you left it. I took a walk through mine about a month or so ago, and it looks like a completely different place now. The colors of the houses changed, the occupants of the houses changed, some of the houses were remodeled, new houses were built... It was like walking through a ghost town (and the memories were the ghosts). It left a bittersweet taste in my mouth (and a sick feeling in my stomach).

We will never be able to completely recapture the look, feel, and magic of retro Bolt (though we can do the best we can to recapture it, which is what I'm attempting to do). This version of Bolt will more than likely amount to a retro Bolt fan site when all is said and done. A community full of oldschool Bolt members who miss the good old days and wish to rekindle the past. A group of people who aren't ready to say goodbye to original Bolt. Even if we can increase the activity on here to 50-100 active members a day, that would suffice for me. I'm not looking to move mountains with this place (as I'm well aware that it's just not a realistic goal to have). What I am looking to do is reconstruct aspects of a time period that millions of people want back.

[Rydel]

Nostalgia, and because I still like some of the members here. Maybe... I don't know.... Do I? Hmmm....

[Courtney]

Bolt has always been the one place where the people were real. Not only are the people real, it's real things to discuss and talk about. It's not a place where every other post is about how life sucks or so and so did this ("can you believe that?" oh please..). I just came back to Bolt and it still seems mellow

[Sam]

never said you mocked me, but I dont care to have it happen. I had enough trouble with people believing I wasn't a troll when i first joined, rude and snide comments aren't appreciated either. Nothing against you personally, just saying in general.

Curious George said:

I "mocked you"? If I did I sincerely apologize. Just trying to have a little fun, never mean any harm.

Sam said:

I was offered free cookies and milk...I'm still waiting for those. I come to chat, obviously, it's the one feature that I use the most, and most of the time if I'm not here to chat nobody else does. Honestly I like talking to people and meeting new ones, minus the private messages from the people that think this is a dating site. I don't normally post in the forums much, but most of the topics don't appeal to me. Yeah, I could make my own, but I don't care to see people like Curious George mock me or make some smart ass remark. I haven't been around very long so I don't have as much say as others, but I AM a member here. Keep up the good work guys.

[Konnor]

Here to rage...

[Danina]

I like the anonymity of it all. I miss being able to connect with people from other parts of the world that I could share my thoughts and feelings with, without feeling self conscious or judged.

[Beth aka corvina]

I was a member of the original Bolt for about 10 or so years, and I keep hoping to see the site restored to its original glory.

[WaterFish22]

I am a part of the 99 percent and I have nothing better to do but occupy bolt and fill this place up with my random post.

Masturbate to Manda's pictures brings me back from time to time. Just like everybody else.

[Atma]

lol and here i thought it was the oh so special conversations we all have :P

  said:

Masturbate to Manda's pictures brings me back from time to time. Just like everybody else.