Thought I'd jump in here and say my own bit (nearly 6 am and I haven't been to sleep yet). It was never claimed that this place would work out for everybody. It was merely created and offered up as a choice for people to try and maintain the relationships that they had built up on the BSN. If it does fail, then well... it extended the time that you got to spend with everyone by five months and counting, didn't it? More than what you would have had if it hadn't ever existed. So, I'd say it succeeded on that front. So, I really don't get the bitching. People were naughty, repeatedly warned (and dealt with on nearly a daily basis), and subsequently banned because they wouldn't stop, which by the way, was also driving away people. Damned if you do, fucked if you don't (sign me up for damnation, please). It's not like anyone can be made to stay because as I stated this place was offered up as a choice and some people are going to think that they can do better or just won't find the choice appealing to them.

When that happens some will leave which will in turn cause their friends to leave and thus begins a domino effect. There's also the fact that some people will have things going on in their lives that require their attention and will prevent them from visiting the forum. You know what though? The number count isn't important (at least not to me).

Also, Rome is a horrible analogy. This forum was, quite literally, built within a day.