What's going on

[Fay]

I see less and less postings in the sumoforum.

Regular posters vanish or don't contribute as much as they used to do. It's not only the usual between basho-vacuum, I even had the feeling during the last basho too.

I hate to do so but the last article of my friend Eric Blair made sense to me and I found it quite accurate.

So what's the reason for this? I know that everyone has stress in his private life, in his job, whatever. But one/two years ago it was the same for everyone i guess.

Less interest in the sport, frustration because of no reactions from the members, consumer mindset, too much info, too many pics, taking everything for granted?

Would it be enough to have a sumo game forum?

What's going on???

Well I don't expect any reactions on this post .... or?

[Kintamayama]

Well I don't expect any reactions on this post .... or?

I'm still here, posting regularly. I will probably be the one to turn off the light as well.

I think the reasons are pretty much everything you wrote. Still, although I have many good friends in the "other" world, I'd rather this place would be dead quiet than have some of the stuff they have over "there"..

[Sokkenaiyama]

Fay, my dear, I think you're taking things a little too seriously. It's probably just a coincidence, you know, summer time, vacations, etc. Either that, or everyone got turned off by Kakuryu's latest improvement (Neener, neener...) Seriously, though, it's nothing to worry about, sumo is still alive and well.

[Chiyozakura]

I have not written something here in quite some time, but I am still reading regularly and was also wondering how we could have a day without a single post in the sumo section. After I read the other thread about it I even had a look at the SumoTalk forum to see whether there is really so much going on, but contentwise I do not see much difference. It seems that there is just not much happening these days, which might be positive for a change after all those scandals in the last two years. The only poster I really miss is Kaikitsune, who has made himself quite rare.

[Fujisan]

I'm a follower not a leader I prefer to reply to open threads but I'm here every day.

I opened the only topic yesterday because I hated to see an empty day.

[Fujisan]

I'm still here, posting regularly. I will probably be the one to turn off the light as well.

You and me Moti...

I know I dont post as often as you but I'm a permanent fixture.

"I will keep coming till we start meeting in a phone box." As an old friend said.

[Blue_Wolf]

I'm here everytime i'm online. (Neener, neener...)

[Kofuji]

Since I'm not in a place that has access to sumo news and don't know Japanese, all I can do is follow the forum. I like this forum for its civility and low signal to noise ratio.

I have been taking the opportunity to visit fellow Bench Sumo participants and SumoForum members over the past months. In April, I had the opportunity of going to Frankfurt and had an excellent dinner and beers with Jakusotsu and Hana-ichi.

Last Monday, I met with new SFI deshi, Harinezumi, for wing night at a favourite watering hole in Waterloo, Ontario. Hopefully there are no pictures of his "encouragement" caning ...

And yesterday, Kaiopectate, the Killer Sock Monkey, made the long drive across the north end of Vermont in a futile attempt to recruit me to Massashigawa beya. It is clear from the photo below that Kaiopectate belongs in the Hairy Ichimon ...

[Gusoyama]

its excellent to put faces to names!

[Asashosakari]

Well, yeah, what Moti said. (Though I hereby vow to battle him to death for the right to turn off the light...) Seriously though, it's not like anybody is sitting on interesting sumo news that he doesn't want to share, at least as far as the official news sources go - there's just nothing coming down the wire except drug and doping test updates (newsflash: Onishi officially out of the committee! Shocker!) and the regular "yes, Harumafuji is taking his tsunatori really, really seriously" articles. And a bunch of nice retrospectives on Takamiyama a couple of weeks ago, but which didn't really reveal anything not already known.

Anyway, traditionally the basho breaks are where the less-frequent posters get to start threads and topics of conversation - I've been a bit more busy than usual of late, but I don't think I'm posting any less than I always am during the off-months (which just isn't much), and I think that's true for most of the high-volume members. And as was alluded to already, it's not like it's any different at Sumotalk, the German forum or the SML (which enjoyed a calming 8-day period without any posts recently). Really, I guess it comes down to both madorosumaru and Jonosuke not posting of late, but they've always taken their well-deserved breaks - I'm hopeful it's just a coincidence that they're otherwise occupied simultaneously this time around.

Edited June 22, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari]

Oh, one thing (and yes, I'm post-whoring intentionally instead of making another edit): I think we could be more encouraging of those "Day [x] comments/observations" threads that mostly Asojima has started lately (though I really enjoyed the re-emergence of Kaikitsune there, too). I'm usually a bit hesitant to post something like that because my long-running mindset has been "comments can wait for Doitsuyama's results thread, and besides, aren't I already posting more than enough?" but I think that's the wrong way to go now.

For a while we had chat for that and nowadays Sumotalk does, but that tends to get soul-crushingly heavy on personal game results (both here and there, and I'm partially at fault for that happening in times past), so with more and more people watching the bouts as they happen, perhaps daily open threads are the way to go. I'm trusting that it won't fall prey to people confusing the forum with an actual chat room, i.e. that they'd manage to limit themselves to posting about actually interesting stuff that is going on rather than blurting out random thoughts in posted form twenty times per hour. But yeah, a bit more direct basho discussion would be nice, I'll say that - I have a feeling many of the less-frequently posting members are discouraged from doing that because the big guns don't do it that much.

Edited June 22, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Zenjimoto]

its excellent to put faces to names!

Hmmmm... I am not so sure in Kofuji's case (Neener, neener...)

[Treblemaker]

I'm here every day, frequently a few times each day, looking for items of interest, new posts, things to learn from, etc. I've learned a lot from the wonderful people who have contributed greatly to this Forum, especially those posting pictures, which I consider the gem of this site. Certainly it is great to read about experiences from people much closer to the people in Osumo than I can ever be.

But, take a look at this page:

http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?...r=all&st=25

This is from the Honbasho Talk page on day 13 or 14 of the recent basho, with all of the drama, the run by Harumafuji, the great bouts, the excitement, and the whole page is filled with 25 threads.

7 threads of pics

13 threads of results, leaderboard, facts, comings and goings of rikishi, more data, more facts, more numbers, sansho results

2 of old topics resurrected (Persistence Watch. The Wall)

1 thread dedicated to the video stream

and only 2 relating to actual rikishi and their efforts: Chiyo and Homasho.

And this is in the middle of one of the better bashos in recent memory. Little real discussion relating to the current dramatic yusho battle.

And you wonder where everyone went? And why there's nobody here now?

[Fujisan]

Great pictures Kofuji....

I always like to put faces to the shikonas....

[Kofuji]

its excellent to put faces to names!

Hmmmm... I am not so sure in Kofuji's case (Neener, neener...)

Watch it or I'll post your picture ;-)

[Asashosakari]

And this is in the middle of one of the better bashos in recent memory. Little real discussion relating to the current dramatic yusho battle.

The Rikishi Talk threads usually serve as the main place for basho discussions these days (and as handy conversation starters for obvious reasons), so with them not available last basho except for Moti's efforts to fill in a bit, I guess nobody found a decent place to jump off and start something. It's not for lack of readership, that's for sure - my impression was that the number of guests and logged in members each day was higher than it's been in quite a while, and that's pretty unusual for a May basho, usually the first of three in the summer lull. The interest was definitely there.

So, yeah, as they'd say on Wikipedia: Be Bold! It would be nice if more people simply got conversations started, no matter if they have made 50 posts before or 5,000, and no matter if they're going to post a lengthy Kaikitsune-type analysis or just some comments on a handful of bouts and happenings. My own contributions were a bit constrained anyway, I didn't get to see most bouts until half a day later last basho and if nobody's posted anything by then I'm not likely to post comments (it's pathetic enough that I'm usually at the top of the daily post count anyway...), but I'd probably have jumped in if there'd been more prior conversation. And I suspect that's true for many people who aren't on a "live" watching schedule.

I imagine the somewhat reduced availability of bout videos of late is playing a role, too. Kajiyama's stuff is great, but I think most people are conditioned to look for the bouts in piecemeal fashion as on banzuke.com or Info-sumo, just due to the reduced time investment needed.

Edited June 22, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Treblemaker]

Asasho, you're probably right. Since I'm half a globe away from the action, and unless I stay up at 3 am to watch the bouts live, I rely on the various videos to fill in the gaps the next morning - a good 6-8 hours after people have gone home from the action and gone to bed. That usually doesn't stop me from commenting on something I spotted or a good splash of 300+lb bodies on the people in the expensive cushions, but I was a little disappointed in the lack of real discussion about the things ongoing.

All I kept seeing (even to some degree now) is an obsession with data - facts and stats and numbers and stuff I can never see or relate to - anything Juryo and lower - only because it's never telecast in any form. If I really wanted stats and numbers, baseball has that in abundance. Yet, nobody "talks" baseball stats (unless they want the glass-eyed stare), they deal with plays and strategy. And the occasional funny thing.

The Forum seems to frown on anything really outlandish and funny. It's like being in a bank. Or a library. Only not as exciting. Make a face and you get sternly rebuked. My avatar is a prime example. I think it's one of the greatest photo shots in the history of sport. I still get pm's that it's too, um, un-sumo. How??!? Somehow, it makes people uncomfortable. Not to mention it was in almost every newspaper from Tokyo to London.

The regulars in the Forum are the true backbone of the site, and I always enjoy reading good posts (yours included). I get bored with stats and figures and standings and data because they take so much away from the real people doing real business up there on the dohyo - which is why I consider Fay and the other posters of those incredible pictures to be the real heros of the Forum.

Well, we'll see what happens in July. Maybe people will come out of hibernation.

Edited June 23, 2009 by Treblemaker

[Asashosakari]

If I really wanted stats and numbers, baseball has that in abundance. Yet, nobody "talks" baseball stats (unless they want the glass-eyed stare), they deal with plays and strategy.

You must be hanging out at much different baseball places than I do...

The Forum seems to frown on anything really outlandish and funny.

Not really, it's just that this forum is thoroughly Europeanized in that regard and thus "outlandish humour" runs more to the Monty Python type of irreverency. If you're looking for the type of humour that beats you over the head with how side-splittingly funny it allegedly is, this might indeed be the wrong place. I prefer the understated type, personally.

I still get pm's that it's too, um, un-sumo. How??!? Somehow, it makes people uncomfortable.

Seriously? Well, that's pretty lame. Maybe somebody needs to pick up a guy like Sheikh Yassin as their avatar again to demonstrate how to really make people uncomfortable...

The regulars in the Forum are the true backbone of the site, and I always enjoy reading good posts (yours included). I get bored with stats and figures and standings and data because they take so much away from the real people doing real business up there on the dohyo - which is why I consider Fay and the other posters of those incredible pictures to be the real heros of the Forum.

Takes all kinds. As I've said before, I'm harboring no illusions as to the niche appeal of much of the stuff I'm choosing to comment on. But it's what I'm interested in - if other people are interested in more mainstream stuff, perhaps it would be a good idea for them to actually post about it instead of lurking from the sidelines and frowning that their free lunch isn't what they would have ordered if it wasn't free. And as was discussed in the context of picture threads a few months ago, that free lunch actually takes a boatload of time to provide for people like Moti, Asojima, Fay, mado, Jonosuke, etc. - there are only so many hours in a day, and roundabout asking the forum regulars to be more chatty and mainstreamy in their posts strikes me as a "be careful what you wish for" type of thing. So, yeah, maybe other people could decide to get that ball rolling for a change.

[Asashosakari]

Here's a shot I took that I haven't put up before. Anyone able to guess which basho it was without checking the Doitsubase?

All I know is I'm suddenly realizing that I have huge trouble telling Tokitsuumi, Tochinohana and Hamanishiki apart...that is two of the three flanking Tochisakae in front, right?

[Yangnomazuma]

Sadly, I've fallen prey to my new job title. I got to see a grand total of three bouts live last basho and logged into this site only to get the "Day X results and day X+1 lineups" so I could get my .xls populated so the wife could follow the bouts and our Bench Sumo results. Although I don't see any reprieve from that for the next year or so, I'm quite sure I'll be back in full force (however small that was...) when time again becomes less rare.

[Kintamayama]

To summarize, nothing is "wrong" with the forum. There simply is NOTHING to talk about at present, NOTHING is happening sumo-wise.

Now we get to the core of the matter- can we talk about anything non-sumo around here? Not really. The sense of CAMARADERIE has gone, not the posters or issues. Maybe privately members PM each other and have ongoing friendships, but the forum lacks public friendships-just people talking about da and ha (which is Hebrew for this and that..). Used to be different once, but that's a natural progression, as I have seen in other places I used to frequent or still do. It's like the popularity of Sumo- ebb and flow.

Should they have left Susan Boyle alone or what?

[Jakusotsu]

Anyone able to guess which basho it was without checking the Doitsubase?

Shot in the dark: Aki 2003?

Edited June 23, 2009 by Jakusotsu

[Kintamayama]

The Forum seems to frown on anything really outlandish and funny. It's like being in a bank. Or a library.

A guy goes into a Harley-Davidson shop to buy his dream motorbike. "Excellent!", says the salesman. "Just one small problem- the silver chrome body gets all spotty whenever it rains. Nothing can get the spots out, except vaseline. Just keep a tube in your pocket and you're good!", he adds. The guy leaves the shop on the bike ecstatic and happy, driving around town showing it off to all. On one of his trips a pretty girl catches his eye, and they start dating. After a month, she decides she wants him to meet her family. "We're a big happy family, and we meet every Sunday at my parents' house for lunch. Please come!!", she begs. After some coaxing, he agrees. On the way there she explains: "Just one thing. We have this custom in our family that the first person to speak after desert has to wash all the dishes, but other than that.."

Lunch goes well, everyone is in high spirits and he is heartily welcomed into the family. Everyone finishes their desert, and sure enough, total silence descends upon the room. At first, it's fun and cool, but after 30 minutes, he gets bored. After an hour, he takes his girlfriend and has her on the dining room table. Nobody moves or speaks. 30 minutes later, he has her mother on the table-nobody says a word. As he is having his way with his possible future mother in law, he happens to look out the window and sees it's starting to rain. He immediately takes the tube of vaseline out of his pocket. "OK, OK, I'LL do the dishes!!", screams the father.

[Chiyozakura]

All I know is I'm suddenly realizing that I have huge trouble telling Tokitsuumi, Tochinohana and Hamanishiki apart...that is two of the three flanking Tochisakae in front, right?

You can add Daizen to that list as he is standing left of Tochisakae (Sign of approval...)

[Asashosakari]

You can add Daizen to that list as he is standing left of Tochisakae (Sign of approval...)

Awesome. (I was stupid...)

In my defense, Daizen predates my more-than-casual interest in sumo (since mid-2002) almost entirely. I'm not sure I could have picked him out of any lineup, dohyo-iri or not, even if you'd told me he's in there.

Of course, if that's Daizen, then Jakusotsu's guess was off by at least a year...

Edited June 23, 2009 by Asashosakari