The greatest problem that forums will face is the changing medium of sustaining communications between people of our day. The greatest rival against face-to-face communications and forums as well is Facebook. A lot of people from my generation have got unto that "needle" if you prefer, almost like getting set upon drugs. People go to the virtual and take much less care or notice of the real world that surrounds them. Forums are a way to communicate about specific subject, get information you need, and a great place to create and get criticism and reviews upon your creations. With Facebook, one may argue that it is somewhat close, however, it limits your breadth of interests. In Facebook, as far as I understand it's mechanics (I will confess here that I don't know the full ins and outs of it, since I don't have it, simply don't have the time for it and no need), you specify your interests, and it narrows your communication down to those that you selected, and the people you talk to are limited to that specific and highly selective group - so it effectively limits you sphere of interest. But that is not all. The problem with virtual, is that if you spend too much on computers, and talking through the digital ether, you gradually loose one of the greatest skills that we humans have - talking to others just like us, the social skills are lost basically. People of today have pretty much a virtual existence, and their happiness is virtual as well - think about how terrible it is to people today to be "unfriended" in Facebook - it is even recognised as "bullying" that is to be prosecuted in primary schools of today. Also, facebook media brews people that can not think in a continuous thought - they have a clip-like logic. If they can't get a result or figure something out in 5 minutes, they will ditch it. They are good for "come-backs", but not at all good to discuss, argue and talk for long periods of time about something that interests them. Believe me, I am a university tutor for the last 4 years, I see these people a lot, and they are good at memorising, but not at thinking outside their box, and most importantly, not interested to do so. They want to get back unto SMS-ing and Facebooking as quickly as possible, since the data flow of "come-backs" has become phenomenally quick, and if you don't state something within the next 5-10 seconds, you are trailing behind, no time for critical and deep thought. And what is preposterous, is that young kids are almost forced through schools to get facebook in class (assignment in some schools are now given only through facebook, if you are not on it, you may fail, or at least be frowned upon), and more importantly without being tought of the actual and proper use of it.
However, that was me starting to step aside from the main topic, I can write a good deal of stuff enough for a research paper on the topic, but I don't see it of being of any use, no one will not so much as give a damn. It is a mass culture that caught everyone by surprise. I however am not saying that it is completely bad, no, far from it. It is a tool, just like the forums, that is being abused and over-used to the point of ridiculousness. However, the abuse of it is turning out to be much more dangerous than forums, people tend to loose contact with each other almost voluntarily. As a result, forums are falling hugely out of favour and is becoming a thing for the "dinosaurs" of our time (that is basically how it is viewed, note, it is NOT my opinion on this matter of "dinosaurs"). But more importantly, a social gathering, such as wargaming clubs, are slowly dying out People still meet, but only with those that they connect through facebook. Peopla lock themselves into their small shells and don't even as try to reach out, and sometimes even resist anyone reaching into their shells with passive resistance, some even almost scream and kick (figuratively I mean). For example, I don't see much young people in wargaming clubs or any other social clubs nowadays - and this is a worry. Young people as they say are the ones that will bear the torch into the future. I found somewhere a pessimistic view of the future of someone, saying that the future humanity will be these computer "geeks" that are "facebooked". I hope that it is not a prophecy though. Young people are however good at forming "flash-mobs" through facebook, but this is not the same thing, almost similar to the "clip-like" way of tought, fast and in a moment created, so much to in a moment fall apart, leaving nothing behind.
In short, yes, forums like these will be moved by a small group of enthusiasts, and as long as we engage in creative thoughts, historical conversations and so on and so forth, this small community may grow, or at least be sustained. Anyway, enough for my digressing here, I engage in too much talking occasionally and should shut up. This is just a snapshot of my thoughts going through my head and being though upon with regards to this social phenomena that is occurring throughout the whole world and the tendencies of which are taking quite a worrying shape indeed. Hope this raises some thoughts or discussions on the matter....