I came here as a lurker and rare poster at what you call the old place. I don't actually know any one of you, however, you seem most welcoming.
There are enough of you to make it work it seems, but what with natural attrition and the odd spat, numbers will inevitably dwindle.
Other places I have been seem to have withered and died over recent years, maybe its me or is it the any Tom Dick or Harryness?
Idle curiosity is all.

I wonder if I'll still be posting here on my death bed.

Is it really a closed space though, it's not like membership is restricted to partners and offspring?

From memory its only spammers and Bots that we have ever refused membership to.

Seems pretty open to me

Exactly what I thought

I like it here I'm not on any other forums at all and for those of us working alone from home it's great to feel somewhat involved in the community at large....at least that's the case for me. I don't know any of the other members here personally either, but it's amazing how you can still feel part of a group that helps other people with tech stuff (or needs help in my case); discusses movies, photography, music and Rachel Riley and offers sympathy and advice when things are going badly for other members.

Obviously there will be people coming and going but that's just the way it is and probably stops things becoming stagnant.

I think with a community like this where most people are known to each other it can be difficult to non-regulars to join in a sense of the word.

I've been lurking since it started, and migrated due to the mis-management of the 'old place'. I very seldom get to post these days due to my employers gateway/firewall deeming the site inappropriate! It's nice to dip in and out every now and again when I'm on-line at home. It doesn't really change that much!

+1.4534 to the those who work from home comment.

I think that there are people coming and going but some are more active than others and keep things moving. It covers such a wide range so can appeal to anyone.

Yes I remember,with great trepidation, my first posts in the old place. Soon made to feel welcome though.

Whoops. I read the OP's post again and realised that he knows the history. Anyone who read my first post on the subject, just ignore me.

This is not a closed space, but considering that it has no affiliation with any product or idea other than "the old place", it will have limited membership unless it is widely advertised and promoted.

Members do come and go, for my part, I find that TMP is often full of long, ongoing threads that I have no interest in or right to suddenly intrude upon, and in the technical threads, little chance to offer better advice than others. As a result, it may seem like I've gone, but I haven't.

+1 And that was almost 6 years ago now.

I think that's true, and I agree with the OP there is likely to be natural attrition and an inevitably dwindle in numbers.

Forums need "momentum" to keep going. Once the number of regular posters drops below a certain level, there is little to interest new members. Fresh blood is required sometimes, and I'm not sure where we're likely to find new lambs for the slaughter. I know the home page is being developed with new articles and stuff, so perhaps that will be an attraction if it starts getting hits.

I notice we're being Indexed by Google now, so that's a start.

They let me join - how unclosed is that???

I agree with whatsisname......... The voices need more space......

Al (and Invisible Bob)

Hmmm I know I said we've only ever refused membership to Spammers and Bots , well maybe we need to make an exception ................

id say its closed only in the sense that we get very few newcomers, though they are often welcome if they introduce themselves and behave nicely