Damn kids! GET OFF MY LAWN OR I'M CALLING THE COPS!

Haven't seen an ad for this place in quite some time, but they were mainly focused on this place being a dating site - which it can be if you put the time and effort into it - but as a "typical" dating site its horrible (which is ironic, sort of, since most people think all dating sites are horrible).

My wife and I (whom I met here) have a running bet as to the death date of this place just because of the lack of new folks sticking around.

Anyways, dump the dating advertising crap but have groups where folks interested in dating can go. Sell it as a place to meet people, not "the one", and you may get a greater diversity. May. Once us old white guys claim something as ours you need to pry it from our dead hands and make sure we didn't bequeath it to our kids.

“This site isn't as reflective of the natural melting pot we are, as a global society.” So how’s Atheism faring globally..?

What other Atheist/ Agnostic sources have you been accessing?

My brother and I were the youngest members and attendees at our closest Atheist organization meetings & events ..decades ago. And, there were no females!

My take? Athiesum is too hot. Youngsters are already up against as much as they can handle (mine are) … so why take on even more, to open themsleves up to more discrimination, to close more doors in life..

My brother and I remain fighters, with an Atheist upbringing and militant parents. Most aren’t as fortunate...

And, as Madalyn O’Hair once put it, “We’re the intellectual elite.” No shit - but it takes a while to reach that level. Most youth simply haven’t. Sure, they know religion is bullshit.. but understanding it’s matrix of subtle nuances and twisted history takes time. No one I knew read American Atheist Magazine in bed during their twenties.. other than that brother and self.

So don’t blame us for the demographics. Youth are welcome. But, they need to have arrived at Atheism from a process of elimination, or education, not as an act of rebellion. It’s an easy ‘attention getter,’ and too often used for that. Admittedly, those seeking that type of attention don’t last long around here, they’re associating with Masters, not Ministers.

I’ve certainly noticed the age gap, but also realize - I’m in excellent company

If you want as you say healthy debate looks to me like you will have to put up with us "oldies". Apparently the "younger" generation are too busy with other things in life.

I guess I'm lucky that some of my young friends are willing to put up with my old ass.

But we do get some young folks making new accounts every day - so wherever the site is advertising it is bringing folks in.

I think they experiment with the advertising from time to time. Which makes sense as they would get feedback on what works and what doesn't - from whoever they used.

You have to give them a chance to try new things.

I also enjoy my older friends. Everyone has something to contribute I find.

I know it's discouraging if you are looking for someone to keep up with you physically - but as far as friendships? I've made some solid ones being here for a 2 1/2 years now.

To me it has even been worth the numbnuts I have blocked and all that aggravation. Sure some folks are bitey - but that's on any social media platform.
If people are disagreeable enough - block them. And enjoy the rest of the folks.

I've never thought about someone's age or looks when browsing this site or engaging in the conversations here. It just doesn't matter to me. I have seen AG.com advertising from time to time on FB, but I can't say that about other sites as I'm not on them. When you say you want a better mix I'm not sure what you want Agnostics to do about that. The only thing they can do is entice someone to come check it out and possibly join, but they can't force anyone to do that. That decision is the sole responsibility of the person who sees the advertisement, or hears about it from someone which is how I heard about it. Perhaps you will be the one who can do that? As the saying goes...If you want change be the change, or is it Be the change you want to see? Not sure exactly how that one goes.

I am with you. I love interacting with people from all walks of life. I love diversity too.

Appreciate your speaking up about this.

so the people who exhibit a mindset independent from typical cultural beliefs tend to be older? color me shocked.

Wherever you go in life don't stop opening doors.

White men tend to make up most of atheist. The more diverersity we get the better!

Many who rebel against religious indoctrination go through a gradual metamorphosis; so are naturally older.
Agnostics (and atheists) are not, also, compelled to convert others to their point of view, because of the nature of the beliefs (or non-beliefs) themselves.
No rewards or punishments for increasing the 'flock!'
Except for the U.S. among Western nations, non-belief is not a big deal, right?
Americans are more oppressed by majority religionists, so come to a site like this to find like-minded people. Most are cowed by their communities into remaining silent.
It is only here we find out our numbers are much greater than it seems!
I personally don't consider this a "dating site," though it IS what initially attracted me. It took me about three visits to find out there is MUCH more--and more valuable--to it than that!
I've no idea the demographics. Never thought of it before. You're more sensitized to it, obviously, but what can I say about it? Sorry?
Well then, I'm sorry, but neither I nor anybody else has control over who chooses to join in.
Certainly no one is discouraged from participating. Everybody's welcome.

Maybe start a new group for "under 40" or whatever section of society you are seeking to converse with? It might take a while to get members, but maybe pose questions or topics you'd like to discuss and see what happens? I think some of us older folk simply have more time on their hands to browse the site and voice our comments.

I read your post with interest and agree that the site is skewed very much to an older demographic..it’s also skewed even more to an American one. I never registered for the dating side, only wanting a social dimension, but I can understand that due to the completely scattered nature of the membership it would not have a very high success rate

As an older member, I am therefore someone who falls into the first demographic, but I would say that I enjoy the discourse with most members without even thinking about their age..I’m 74 so most are actually younger than me. I can understand that there may be an age gap in my knowledge of youth culture, but I like to think that mental age needn’t be tied to chronological age, and that I can converse and have a lively interchange with everyone. The other category, that of national demographic, I have found to be quite interesting coming as I do from the U.K. I have never before had such an insight into the psyche of Americans and the sometimes not so subtle difference in language and English terminology. The experience I have had on the site has been extremely enjoyable and because I’m retired I can spend possibly a little bit too much time here.

Cant fight statistics. The App is mostly used in America I imagine and perhaps other parts of the western world, and most of the population are caucasian. Initially the proportions may have been more even. As the App becomes more popular it will naturally shift to the proportions found in the general population.

I personally don't mind the imbalance, it's not the result of a bad rule or practise. It's just statistics.

I do however notice that a signification amount of the discussions is uh....christian-centric. I never grew up as a christian so I'm sort of outside most of the conversations there, lol. And it can get a bit tiresome hearing the same kinds of stories.

But hey, I'm waiting for the day when the dominant conversation shifts from escaping christianity or venting about it to more secular concerns and experiences.

I've truly never thought about the age of other members very much. People are who they are. Most don't live near me in any case, so it hasn't entered into the equation.

Since we're a self-selecting group, I've no idea how to go about "attracting" anyone of any particular demographic... I personally joined because I wondered if there was such a thing as "Christian Mingle for agnostics", and this is where I wound up. I even had a few dates as a result. Not for quite some time now, though. It is what it is. (A tautology.)

We don't always get what we want. ... I don't understand the point or purpose of your post.

Popularity contests, and idlers, interest me not, and IMO if you desire Quality conversation you would feel the same. Lately there has been a Huge influx of foolish posts, and what good are they?

I wonder if the ads might be selectively somehow not appearing on those sites. Social media logarithms do not impress me. I enjoy a diverse group of people in a discussion also but how do ya get the tribal nature of humans to stop moving the group(s) away from that which we seek to avoid?

The more the merrier, the more diversity the better, the more intelligent the better.

Yes, I would like for more younger people to be on the site (or at least stay and be active on the site), but this site is what it is. There's a ton of social media out there: Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tik Tok, etc. I assume a lot of younger people don't want another one. Plus, the site is very bland looking. If you aren't familiar with this site and its groups, then it probably won't hold your attention for very long.

Free thinkers don't allow themselves to be limited or qualified by identity related evaluations. Identity as or with is antithetical to individuality and to independent evaluation of people and their ideas, even IF they themselves 'identify' as members of this or that 'ism'. Freedom means little if tethered to such herd limitations; especially when it is alleged to be thinking.

Being merely atheist doesn't translate into 'free thinking' all by itself. The way out of the morass of identity qualification isn't that simple or short in duration. A person who thinks freely isn't to be found as a member of any 'community thought system' or generation, for that matter. Those elements aren't on their face disqualifying and by allowing them to be, one becomes self-blinding. Real free thinkers will inevitably find themselves among identity groups if they take ANY position, pro or con, on ANY issue. More often than not, their reasons for sharing partnership with group thinkers on a position will differ. That is, 'we agree or disagree on this question together, but NOT for the same reasons and not necessarily expressed in the same language'...

You have a long way to go but so do we all.

I don’t understand . U are 2 yrs away from 40 , right ?
What is the age of people u wish u had more of here to interact with ?
U said that Bcz of job / career etc u left this site , safety and not been an open atheist . At your profile says that u will only discuss personal matters on private msg as well .
If all people who are agnostics or atheists had same issue or only to talk in private , how a site like this will had be surviving ? U want younger people to come here , then u want them to spill out their guts , but u are not willing to do the same ? M I getting this wrong ?
Most people who made a career and a position in their world that allows them to say “ I don’t give a rat’s ass who thinks what about my atheism “, are people who in the majority are older with a lot of credentials in their resume to allow that type of thinking . Even then , not for everyone .
In any ways , what is that u suggest as solution ? Advertise this site in a way to appeal more to younger people ? How ? This site does not sell anything trendy or popular .
And does not close doors to young ( I assume 18-30 ) folks .
Perhaps they are not interested ?

There's plenty of healthy discussion on /r/atheism if you like to air your laundry in public - just use an anonymous user name of you're afraid of that.

As for old people - as I push into my "over the hill" years I think you'll find everyone is like that eventually. We've had the spark of youth, hope, and optimism ground out of us and get tired of hearing the same stuff we've heard all our lives. And yes when you have less time left to live than you've lived already it inevitably changes your perspective on life the universe and everything.

That said I personally feel invigorated by hanging out with people in their twenties and thirties who feel the same way as I do about religion a decade or two their senior. If nothing else it gives me hope and so long as they don't have a problem with my age neither do I with their youth.

On the topic of diversity - I live in a city where Caucasians are the minority yet the local atheist meetup is almost exclusively white, most are also 50+ and many retired. But at least we seem to have a good mix of male/female - often about even. I think we probably create a bias by just being social and not doing anything active. Not sure about ethnic diversity - there's always the argument that someone who is not-X (insert your minority of cover in that context) shows up and most everyone is X so they don't come back. There's the same problem in tech recruiting women. A common solution seems to be start something that is all not-X and then introduce X over time, formally or informally. In tech that has been women founders hiring mostly women to start and gradually diversifying.

" I appreciate all people." Best statement of your whole post. People on the whole tend NOT to use it. Glad you see things changing - they always will but I hope YOU stay with us on this progressive merry-go-round.

I agree. I think they ran out of funding and stopped advertising. Also alot of the conversation went into the groups instead of being a "melting pot" type space. I'm not around as much but I think that also had to do with lack of funding for moderators to keep put trolls. Its weird because I seem too old on regular dating sites and here it's the opposite..