Should Wineberserkers Try to Attract Younger Members?

[Brian_Tuite]

@MChang

@Brian_Tuite

Generational differences? We “Boomers” are here to share and talk while the Millennial/GenZ are in it for the “likes” and/or “followers” and to say “OK Boomer”? :newhere:
It’s normally us “Boomers” who don’t care what someone thinks about what we say because life is too short to worry if someone is offended. You’d fit in just fine.

And tell younger people what they’re doing wrong… don’t forget that.

I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve been told I’ve been opening grand crus too young, by people who’ve never opened them on release or in the first couple years. How would you even know then?

That’s a tough one. Published drinking windows are a big aid when it comes to this subject. At the price of Grand Cru Burgundy I personally would like to get the most value from my experience. I can see trying a few early to find out for myself but after that, I get why people wait. YMMV.

[MChang]

@Brian_Tuite

@MChang

@Brian_Tuite

Generational differences? We “Boomers” are here to share and talk while the Millennial/GenZ are in it for the “likes” and/or “followers” and to say “OK Boomer”? :newhere:
It’s normally us “Boomers” who don’t care what someone thinks about what we say because life is too short to worry if someone is offended. You’d fit in just fine.

And tell younger people what they’re doing wrong… don’t forget that.

I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve been told I’ve been opening grand crus too young, by people who’ve never opened them on release or in the first couple years. How would you even know then?

That’s a tough one. Published drinking windows are a big aid when it comes to this subject. At the price of Grand Cru Burgundy I personally would like to get the most value from my experience. YMMV.

Fortunately I have a lot of the wines I buy and can try them early, and guess what, they’re actually really good. However, you’d never know that if you didn’t try them. Burgundy isn’t like it was 20 years ago and a lot of the wines are really accessible early, but you wouldn’t know that if you didn’t try them.

[Brian_Tuite]

I guess I’ll just live vicariously through you.

[MChang]

@larry_schaffer

@MChang

Yeah, a lot of young people might have been proud to try a Caymus and basically would be made fun of for drinking it here.

And of course not only here but in most places on the internet as well

It’s too bad - just makes folks not want to interact at all.

At the end of the day, who cares what anyone drinks or how they drink it? We may all have our likes and dislikes but there is no universality to this at all.

And not everyone progresses to Burgundy and Bubbles . . .

Cheers

I don’t really think so; as I said earlier, Reddit and discord are much more friendly.

[jgreco]

I’d start by not using forum software from the 20th century and getting rid of ad formats that a porn website would be embarrassed to use.

[J_Rock]

That’s actually a similarity with Reddit! However, more “ordinary” bottles get more traction on Reddit typically.

[Siun_O_Connell]

I don’t know up to date figures but in the past when I helped admin a major site with high engagement, participants were typically under 15%, most people are readers.

When I worked in a tech startup precovid, we had happy hour weekly and 90% of my colleagues were young – theysplit almot 50/50 between beer and wine but their wine price point was very low nd there were multiple inexpensive wines usually bought at Foxtrot around the corner that matched their budgets. I shipped a lot of my wine purchases to the office and opened bottles they enjoyed frequently but they were not generally spending online time in any discussion boards, no matter the culture or topic.

[MChang]

@J_Rock

That’s actually a similarity with Reddit! However, more “ordinary” bottles get more traction on Reddit typically.

I’ve seen some special selection posts get some engagement, but yeah I mean, if you posted Meiomi or something people would assume it’s a joke most likely. I do think lower priced bottles get much more engagement.

[Andrew_L]

Wait — there are people out there who are actually too intimidated to shit post on a grape juice forum? Sad!

[m_blasco]

I still think there’s a place for old school forums and hobby/interest discussion is definitely one.

I spend plenty of time on Discord (planning and playing games, coordinating sports leagues, etc) but those are all ephemeral discussions. It’s not a great way to post stuff for posterity. Reddit is at the mercy of upvote/downvotes and also site admins/moderators. Plenty of subreddits are lost to time after being closed due to moderation.

[John_Morris]

@MChang

I generally don’t care that much about what other people think and have no problem getting into it with ppl over various things (obviously) but this forum can be a pretty unfriendly place for people just getting into wine, especially compared to Reddit and discord where if you post a trophy bottle you’ll just get hundreds of likes.

You don’t care what people think but you like posting where you get lots of likes?

[Max_S1]

Pretty sure I’m on the younger end in my late 30s and I see attracting people in their 30s as having multiple issues beyond the message board thing:

1. People are starting families, don’t see a lot of people picking up new, expensive hobbies right now
2. Sort of like 1, most of my friends are building wealth, not spending it yet.

Getting past those, you have,as you noted:

3. People can be assholes on the board. But that’s message boards for you.
4. People have strong opinions. But I’d expect someone in their 30s to understand that.

None of those are really fixable. I think the board should be aiming for people in their 40s. Folks in their 20s are a whole different ballgame.

[MChang]

@John_Morris

@MChang

I generally don’t care that much about what other people think and have no problem getting into it with ppl over various things (obviously) but this forum can be a pretty unfriendly place for people just getting into wine, especially compared to Reddit and discord where if you post a trophy bottle you’ll just get hundreds of likes.

You don’t care what people think but you like posting where you get lots of likes?

I post here a lot more than I do on discord or Reddit; I don’t routinely read posts at the other places but will sometimes cross post just for fun, mostly for engagement and sometimes to set up wine events, as I’ve gotten more traction at other places than here.

[MChang]

@Max_S1

Pretty sure I’m on the younger end in my late 30s and I see attracting people in their 30s as having multiple issues beyond the message board thing:

1. People are starting families, don’t see a lot of people picking up new, expensive hobbies right now
2. Sort of like 1, most of my friends are building wealth, not spending it yet.

Getting past those, you have,as you noted:

3. People can be assholes on the board. But that’s message boards for you.
4. People have strong opinions. But I’d expect someone in their 30s to understand that.

None of those are really fixable. I think the board should be aiming for people in their 40s. Folks in their 20s are a whole different ballgame.

Idk, I feel like most of what me and my friends do is pick up new and expensive hobbies lol

[Robert_Dentice]

The cool thing about wine is that it does not have to be expensive.

[Rahsaan_M]

@MChang

I think young people enjoy debating/bickering with each other, not being talked down to by boomers.

I guess, but I’m sure there are plenty of boomers who also don’t enjoy being talked down to by people, of any age.

At the end of the day, I think it’s more about personality than age. Some people of all ages are into debate/verbal sparring, and they are the ones who will be attracted to online forums like these.

And maybe my perspective is skewed, but I don’t find this board particularly hostile. (Admittedly, my core reference point is Disorder and before that Therapy, where Dressner did his best to bully people into confusion) I think the defining feature of this board is its Big Tent, as there are so many sub-communities. That can be exciting for some, but potentially overwhelming for others trying to start out, regardless of age.

[Robert_Dentice]

Great post and I know what you mean about Disorder / Wine Therapy. I for one am very happy you have decided to post here and really appreciate your contributions to the German threads.

[MChang]

@Rahsaan_M

@MChang

I think young people enjoy debating/bickering with each other, not being talked down to by boomers.

I guess, but I’m sure there are plenty of boomers who also don’t enjoy being talked down to by people, of any age.

At the end of the day, I think it’s more about personality than age. Some people of all ages are into debate/verbal sparring, and they are the ones who will be attracted to online forums like these.

And maybe my perspective is skewed, but I don’t find this board particularly hostile. (Admittedly, my core reference point is Disorder and before that Therapy, where Dressner did his best to bully people into confusion) I think the defining feature of this board is its Big Tent, as there are so many sub-communities. That can be exciting for some, but potentially overwhelming for others trying to start out, regardless of age.

I find this board not particularly friendly to new posters. Almost everyone is asked to used search, which is likely helpful, but means the vast majorities of posts they might make are pointless, so why should they post at all?

[mattgw]

@MChang

Almost everyone is asked to used search, which is likely helpful, but means the vast majorities of posts they might make are pointless, so why should they post at all?

This is definitely a thing that has kept me from posting new threads. I’m not sure how much younger I am than the average (I’m 37), but I am definitely newer around here, and I think people often suggest using the search function without appreciating that it’s not always that easy to find the information you’re looking for by searching.

[Max_S1]

It’s all relative. Going from $2/can beer to $5-10/glass wine is tough. And you have to finish the bottle.