Anyone know what the problem is??

I am certainly up for suggestions to make this a viable forum.

My guess is the teens that come to this board are more interesting it what is going on in other sections.

I'd like to add that I think the teens can't think of anything interesting enough to hold a decent thread. They're not dumb or anything, it's just that they can't come up with anything important enough that would warrant posting about and starting a discussion over.

For example I'm a teen and, well, I don't really have much to say.

Unless there are questions relating directly to school/teen social life, most questions could be answered with more traffic in other forums (IMO). For example, say I wanted to outline my supplement regimen, or ask a basic nutritional question. (I believe) the general and basics forums would be best to voice these, just because of sheer traffic numbers and variety of users who check them. In most cases, I am lead to believe that teen users at Avant want the most/best discussion available, rather than input from only teens (except for select issues).

If you look at other sites, the teen sections are basically reiterations of questions already answered, and better answered in another area. Here we have members that search, and generally our teen users post in a respectable way so that there is no 'anti-teen' backlash from older users, which leaves teens to segregate themselves in another section.

My guess

Teens are expected to be ignant.

Our job is to make them knowledgable and capable of critical thought.

This is supposed to be a forum for ingnorant questions, so that people may become educated enought to join the other forums.

Do the regulars feel like it is fulfilling that duty, or should we just cut the basics borad back down to a single forum??

I'm sure the mods do not want to have their forum removed for being worthless, no??

im a teen as well and i agree with Ex_banana-eater .. at the moment.. i am trying to get a mixed routine of powerlifting/strength training with muscle gain .. and this best fits in the strength training .. and as you notice.. when i have a question about supps/diet or any other topic.. it usually goes in the main forum for that subject.. idono if this would help.. but if you maybe split the teen forum into diets/supps and training and maybe a couple others which i cant think of at the moment .. it would be more popular .. but IMO people will be sure to answer a question in the normal diets forum before they answer the a question in the teen diet forum .. and most people..let alone teenager want answers and want them as fast as possible .. so thats probably why this forum is so "dead"

We could always use some "what strength oxy pads do you use?" type questions. But I guess the content would not be up to Par, so to speak.

I don't think it is that teens are incapable of providing stimulating questions (after all when this place started a lot of the people here fell in that age group). I think it is more so that with a basics board, the teen section is redundant for simple questions, and for anything more complex they could get more eyes on it in the general section.

Yeah, definitely seems to be the case.

This is basically what I meant to say with my original post, only I didn't use the best words to explain. All the information needed can be found elsewhere on this board and thus nothing really important or interesting gets posted here. Like ex_banana-eater said, the teens that visit this board are respectful and mature enough that they can integrate themselves with the older members easily and find better answers for questions on forums like Diet or Basics 101. Any teen visiting this board in the first place is obviously already doing extra research on body building, power lifting, diet, etc. and is looking for more advanced discussion on the topics.

Personally, I think the whole problem is more about maturity and mental compacity than age itself. Look at the BB.com teen forum. Sure, it's very popular, but it's so littered with idiocy and egotism that absolutely nothing useful is generated from there.

i would argue that this board is too advanced for "teen" type questions. I came from bb.com where every knows how crappy most of the teen threads are there. The main reason i came, however, was bc there are much more involved discussions as well as MUCH smarter people here. The disscusions there would be about cell tech or how do i get a 6 pack in a week? i think if teens started some meaningful disscusions, the way the rest of the avant board is, people would get more involved.

Exactly, I think teens are perhaps fearful that this board is above/beyond their understanding (or at least, the responses they recieve to questions posed will be).

Teens who take their training seriously, or REALLY want to learn about physiology to benefit their training are rare, they just want the quick and basic information to allow them to get the beach physique.

This said however, I think dumbing down the in the teen section in an attempt to encourage more threads/teen members would be a big mistake.

I am a teen who cares to learn about physiology to benifit my training .. this may be because i care just as much about strength as i do my physique .. but like i said before .. if i had a question about my training i would put it in the "training" forum .. like i said before unless something has to do with teens in specific .. id post it in the appropriate forum.. only thing i can think of for us teens is like does weight lifting stunt growth(which does not) and things that have to do with a teen lifestyle .. there arent many questions a teen can ask relating between his lifestyle and weightlifting .. just my 2 cents

Agreed. The board displays gradations of knowledge/realm of expertise, hence the differing emphases/levels of discussion & dialogue that take place in the Basic/GQs/Advanced Theory forums-- and age doesn't really factor into this. The real key is the knowledge you possess and how you can apply it, which is why there are always going to be "wunderkinder" posting in advanced theory, and seasoned training veterans posting in the Basics forum. I mean, with knowledge comes experience (as well as the opportunity to research/absorb material related to bodybuilding), which is why the 'norm' points younger posters towards the Basics forum; nonetheless, the concerns most of them are voicing are no different from the concerns other, older posters would also be voicing. I guess the Teen Forum just doesn't seem to fly here is because people recognize that the Teen/Adult distinction isn't really very telling or relevant when it comes to learning & applying knowledge.

Also-- and I assume I'm speaking for more than just myself here-- I don't really want to be labeled a 'teen' either. I mean, yeah, I am (at least for two more months [although I shall remain a "Toys-R-Us-kid" 4 Life... ]), but what does that mean? I mean, this isn't political enfranchisement where one must reach a certain age & abide by certain standards (generally speaking) to learn and contribute; Par/Avant have designed it as a free and largely unregulated forum that is far more synthesis than structured. The broader the range of inclusion/perspective offered (without fragmenting and marginalizing those perspectives by trying to categorize, pigeon-hole, and relegate them according to pure "age"), the greater and more furtive/rich the learning/posting environment will be. I mean, obviously there are general standards of respect and etiquette that must be observed, but if someone-- anyone-- has something to teach me, I'll listen. It's how you present yourself and your arguments that matters-- what we can see in the text you type and what it conveys. And the "Teen" characterization doesn't really seem to figure into this dynamic in any fruitful or constructive way as I see it...

whens ur bday loki?

ill be 20 on july 21st

Aug. 17th.

Well Im a teen (19), I do agree that this board seems a bit to advanced for most teens. Its not so much the information as it is the intimidation factor. I have no problen with this place because of the information being presented is right up my alley like most of ya'll know, but for the majority of teens who cant even give you the basic outline of the function of the nervous system in a post are going to be turned away based on the the fear of getting attacked or looking dumb. This is kinda where the intimidation comes into with this board because of its high level of knowledge. My forum has several teens on (alot actually) but we are a bit more layed back and not so much into the scientific discussion per say. This will actually bring more in because they dont have that fear of 'looking' dumb in their post.

My point being this board is very intellect and that from what I can see is the goal by the owners and that is what they are doing. I do feel that intimidation and fear are the main reasons why you see more teens lerking then posting on this site based on that. They'd probably find that this place is layed back and is intellectual and simply just a great board. Great combination IMO.

Kc

Maybe, but that's silly.

I've never seen anyone get attacked on this forum for not having the same knowledge base as some of the regulars, as long as they're honest about it. The only time I've seen people get themselves in trouble is when they think they're TEH INTARNET GENIUS!@@ and start giving out bad information.

The Teen board, just like the Basics board, are intended to be less strict -- not as far as being an idiot or dumbshit, but as far as lack of knowledge.

It is not intended for knowledgable teens, it is intended for those who want to become knowledgable (and, learn to think logically and criticially) and to provide a haven away from the idiocy and immaturity that accompanies most teen boards.

Loki, do you have any desire to put together a mission statement for this board??

If we don't get it going, soon, I am just going to merge it back into the basics board, but i would rather not.

My three jobs & "miscellaneous miscellany" are leaving me ungodly overworked at the moment, but I think I can manage something. Par, I'll get back to you on this (hopefully shortly)...

I have a better idea -- how about we all contribute and put together one in this thread.

Basically, similar to what Dante wrote, but with emphasis on the concepts more specific to teens that we have already mentioned (plus whatever we have not mentioned that would be helpful)

im a teen and i want to learn
what do you mean by mission statement?

Im a teen. and i have developed the fear of giving advice because i know my knowledge is not on the level as high as everyone. so i usually read the threads and post questions but i dont give advice. i do think though that the teen thread can be used. there are things that only fall in the teen category such as my question about competing. i posted that because i would compete in the teen section. i find the enviroment created by this forum is incredible. i come everyday here and i know ill learn something, the discussions go deeper and there arent any idiots posting crap, its all serious and i love it. i think there is a lack of traffic in the the teen board because no one has questions or discussions that fall here. but as soon as some people start talking here, it will attract more people. thanks.

par? loki?