I just found out a forum (i.e. a message board like this one) I particpate in is planning to split into subfora.
It is currently basically one forum (users can sort by subforum but it defaults to "everything" view and I don't see any evidence anyone takes advantage of the ability to select/filter.)
It's busy at times, but often days go by where only two or three discussions see any activity within a 24 hour period (it's a bounce to top forum.)
I've expressed my conviction that this move would be a guaranteed method to kill the forum, but if anyone has examples of fora that used to be busy but got split into stangnancy, or have subforum hell but only a little activity remaining at one or two subfora....I'd appreciate a link (the glaring example can not be used as an example for obvious reasons....)

Some Forum software (IPB for example) gives the option to "view new posts" which will show everything that fits the criteria of "new", while still maintaining multiple forums for organization...

If the key is discussion perhaps a single large forum is best, but for information and research purposes subforums are very helpful.....

The curent edition is just fine.

We don't have enough traffic to justify subfora, nor would i prefer that.

.02¢

I really don't think it would work here nor be terribly welcome but xenforo is fairly nice and quite customizable with some odd perks. http://www.arboristsite.com/community/ just implemented it after being hacked repeatedly and unmercifully thru exploitations in vBulletin . (problem being users failing to patch known exploits, to be fair )

Black wrote:
if anyone has examples of fora that used to be busy but got split into stangnancy

Dealmac.

DOOMED.

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
[quote=Black]
if anyone has examples of fora that used to be busy but got split into stangnancy

Dealmac.
Yes, that's the "glaring example" referenced in the above post.
But it's actually not that useful an example because of the way the departure of the bulk of users was facilitated all at once.
And as noted because it's gone...

billb wrote:
I really don't think it would work here nor be terribly welcome but xenforo is fairly nice and quite customizable with some odd perks. http://www.arboristsite.com/community/ just implemented it after being hacked repeatedly and unmercifully thru exploitations in vBulletin . (problem being users failing to patch known exploits, to be fair )

I think they may actually be coding new forum software from scratch (even more scary...)

I think when the time comes to split, a forum will know it and it will be inevitable. Any time sooner, you risk killing it like what happened to what's its name.

Only other example I have is also far too old to be of use to you for demonstration purposes... the old "Accurate Shooters" forums. When there were 5 forums, it was a lively place with high traffic.
Eventually, it was spit into ten... then fifteen.. then thirty or more sub-forums. Traffic died off, users left. Eventually the place closed down.
It was shutting down about the time I started on Dealmac....