Originally Posted by
stbloc
My other reason why I think 1500 will not hold is because these chat boards are dead these days. I remember back in 07-08 you would easily have a full page of new reply's to threads in the forum every day. This lack of activity tells me most pilots are on with airlines and not interested in blogging and new recruits are not learning to fly and joining chat boards. I know this sounds a bit off the wall but if you really analyze these number of new threads and reply's it tells part of the story of the looming shortage.
I think the decline in users has much more to do with people getting sick of the whining, complaining, and pessimism that so strongly prevails on this site. I was a regular here during that time period as well until I got tired of all the discouragement. Only recently did I decide to return to see if things have changed. The answer is not much. And most of the same disgruntled losers are still here spewing their negativity and discouraging advice.
When I first found this site I was a flight instructor soliciting advice about getting into the airlines. I read hundreds of posts telling me how miserable the regionals are, and how I should do something else, and how I would never upgrade at the regional I was applying to. Well, fortunately I ignored the advice and was lucky enough to get hired. It's been five years now, and I still love the job. I'm also about to upgrade to captain. No telling how many guys were discouraged from all the drivel that's spouted on here and just gave up.
That and the tendency of over moderation, I speculate, is why participation here is dwindling.