It's generational:we are here, and the younger folk are choosing to do something newer, shinier, and to us, annoying and perilous.

It's technical: in the early days, web forums (fori?)were cutting edge social platforms. Then a bunch of innovation happened, and competition developed. Prepping became mainstream to the extent of becoming a media industry and youtube category.

It's organizational: all organizations exhibit a life cycle, even a loose structure like an online forum. The enthusiasm and chaotic interaction of youth segues into the more disciplined behavior of maturity enacted through establishment of norms and enforcers, with corrective actions imposed on norm breakers. This makes the forum less combative, and, arguably, less interesting.