Reza

Another important factor is the “hit and run”, where an OP doesn’t respond beyond the initial post. If the member was sincere, there would be more back and forth, showing resolution and progress of the issue (through the Islamic suggestions of responders).
The key for these topics is to show there’s no solution, and that Muslims are helpless squabblers.

The cost of making these posts is nothing compared to the possible “benefits”, so I’m surprised there’s not more.
Especially text based ones with a much lower production budget than audio, images, or videos. 
Like Nigerian scam emails, if a million people ignore them, but one takes the bait, it’s all worth the return on investment exponentially.

Another important factor is the “hit and run”, where an OP doesn’t respond beyond the initial post. If the member was sincere, there would be more back and forth, showing resolution and progress of the issue (through the Islamic suggestions of responders).
The key for these topics is to show there’s no solution, and that Muslims are helpless squabblers.

The cost of making these posts is nothing compared to the possible “benefits”, so I’m surprised there’s not more.
Especially text based ones with a much lower production budget than audio, images, or videos. 
Like Nigerian scam emails, if a million people ignore them, but one takes the bait, it’s all worth the return on investment exponentially.

The cost of making these posts is nothing compared to the possible “benefits”, so I’m surprised there’s not more.
Especially text based ones with a much lower production budget than audio, images, or videos. 
Like Nigerian scam emails, if a million people ignore them, but one takes the bait, it’s all worth the return on investment exponentially.

Another important factor is the “hit and run”, where an OP doesn’t respond beyond the initial post. If the member was sincere, there would be more back and forth, showing resolution and progress of the issue (through the Islamic suggestions of responders).
The key for these topics is to show there’s no solution, and that Muslims are helpless squabblers.

That feeling you get when you're too recent to be considered an old member, and referred to in sentimental posts. How many years must it take before I get this treatment?

✔️Check. What next? 

Old members may be reachable by social media or offline contact. Some may have forgotten about SC, and need a gentle nudge this place still exists. 

Rules themselves may be imperfect, but as a moderator, I am already 96% perfect, and will get to 98-99% perfect in the coming year. 

Rules themselves may be imperfect, but as a moderator, I am already 96% perfect, and will get to 98-99% perfect in the coming year. 

I don't think that is the case. Since I've come to the seminary, I realized that there are a plethora of topics that are being discussed or can be discussed, or a lot of new insight that can be shed on topics, even on previously discussed topics. Most of these discussions are taking place, but they never make their way into the Western world for various reasons. 
For example, the role of history in our understanding of jurisprudence and its application, the role of ethics and human rights in our application of Islamic law, the role of the intellect in our day to day life - how balanced do we have to be between using our intellect and relying on faith. These are topics that require some degree of knowledge - but previously we had a decent number of members who would have been able to engage in these discussions.
However other social and family related issues like role of women and men in a society and within a family (old topic, but a lot of new light can be shed here, given recent changes in society's understanding), dealing with domestic violence and abuse, the future of our children's education in the West, the doubts and challenges millennials are facing etc. there are all these issues that can and should be discussed with more innovative perceptions. Some of the blog posts Br. @Qa'im makes on his blog are of extreme importance today. They should perhaps be discussed further on the forums.
Obviously you also have the Qur'anic and Hadith related topics as well that never get old and there is always new developments happening there, but once again it just seems there are not enough people of caliber left to engage in these sort of discussions.
This has been my observation.
Wassalam

Could it also be that most of the "popular" topics have been discussed repeatedly, people may feel like there is not much to contribute to anymore?

Don't ask any humans. Ask Allah. You can't know until the day arrives.

I haven't read the comments but I have an inkling as to what was expressed.
 
Just for everyone's knowledge:
 
Right now is 2016. Cuba's revolution happened in 1959. It was a very different world.
 
There were many movements at that point in time (particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America) which were neither atheistic nor anti-religious whatsoever, which because of the magnetic forces of the time (in other words: because of the political necessity of relying on the USSR for military and economic support), ended up falling under the greater umbrella of what we call "communist" or socialist movements.
 
If we want to see what happens in those cases where such a movement does not lean on the USSR, just look at what happened in Chile with Allende.
 
Moreover, although we obviously have our own ideology, at the same time we must recognize that other people who are in completely different situations, are not even in the position to know about our ideology, let alone make the choice to follow it or not. Do we really expect someone like Fidel to fight his revolution in the name of giving the power to the just, pious faqih? This just doesn't make sense. And if we are going to dismiss people so easily, then why did our Prophet not do the same with the ruler of Abyssinia?
 
We have to think about these things and reflect on them deeply.
 
Cuba before 1959 was, literally and figuratively, a giant brothel. It was prostituting itself both literally and figuratively. It was the place where American corporations acted with impunity and a place where American soldiers could "have a little fun." It was a place where the well-to-do could live a life of luxury unimaginable to most people, while the poor were treated like dogs. Fidel not only uprooted this cancerous foreign influence but also made his country much more just and equitable. These things have value. We respect these things.
 
So to summarize:
 
Was Fidel nominally a communist? Yes. Does that mean he is completely dismissible? No.
 
And when assessing a leader who comes from a totally different context than us, we cannot just measure his beliefs against ours and dismiss him outright. That kind of mentality is what leads to Shias rejecting Bashar al-Assad simply because of his madhab.
 
We know from the example of our Prophets and Imams that it is very important to find common ground with others. There is a lot to like about Fidel. He was brave, just, and did a lot of good for his people. Ideologically, obviously we have differences but at the same time we have to understand that in his time and in his country, there was no other path to take. And quite admirably, he pursued it in his own style. He didn't do everything like the Soviets would do. Who knows, maybe if he were in a later era, he would be praying for the return of Imam Mahdi while sitting next to an uncomfortable Mahmoud Abbas. It's a possibility.

The message is clear, that getting married should be a priority over external matters, and delaying it is at one's own peril and risk. According to the author, only marriage can preserve the spirit and character of youthfulness. Otherwise, harmful physical and spiritual effects of various degrees will be a natural consequence over time, as the story illustrates.
Even if some people can wait until their 30s, and appear relatively unscathed and "doing fine", it would be a social disaster for the youth en masse if society reflected its compass of normalization in that direction. Many causalities, overt and hidden, would occur. 
This story frightened and terrified me personally, and makes me worry about many people.

People are being pretty harsh here. This is just one story, a single anecdote to support a basic Islamic point. Obviously this isn't everyone's story. 

People are being pretty harsh here. This is just one story, a single anecdote to support a basic Islamic point. Obviously this isn't everyone's story. 

The Democratic People's Republic of Khafanestan officially recognizes the Volcano Republic as a sovereign nation. We hope to further expand our political, economic, and cultural ties.

People are being pretty harsh here. This is just one story, a single anecdote to support a basic Islamic point. Obviously this isn't everyone's story. 

Getting married is easier when families, communities, and social systems are strong. It's a self-destructive cycle otherwise. A poor community leads to poor marriages and families, which makes the community that much poorer.
For any given individual, its extremely frustrating because of the mechanisms you mentioned, which are difficult, unnatural, and extremely cumbersome. It's no surprise some just give up.

The message is clear, that getting married should be a priority over external matters, and delaying it is at one's own peril and risk. According to the author, only marriage can preserve the spirit and character of youthfulness. Otherwise, harmful physical and spiritual effects of various degrees will be a natural consequence over time, as the story illustrates.
Even if some people can wait until their 30s, and appear relatively unscathed and "doing fine", it would be a social disaster for the youth en masse if society reflected its compass of normalization in that direction. Many causalities, overt and hidden, would occur. 
This story frightened and terrified me personally, and makes me worry about many people.

One of the old Iranian poems about the tragedy of Karbala starts with this line:
این شکار دام هر صیاد نیست
عشقبازی کار هر شیاد نیست
"this is not a prey for any random hunter;
love is not the affair of charlatans"

One piece of important evidence I omitted on purpose was the role of Abu Sufiyan after the demise of the Prophet.
When everyone swore allegiance to Abu Bakr, Abu Sufiyan wanted the caliphate to remain among the children of Abd-manaf. Aba Sufiyan then told `Ali: “O aba al-Hasan, extend your hand that I may pledge allegiance.” But `Ali refused his offer so abu Sufiyan recited poetry depicting the pitiful situation of the two men which led `Ali to rebuke him: “By Allah you only seek to cause trouble and you’ve always wished harm to befall Islam. Leave us, we are not in need of your advice.” (Tabari, Ibn abi al-Hadid).
What are the chances that Abu Sufiyan made the same offer to Abu Bakr and Umar and some how force them into starting a war with Imam Ali (as). As we can see, the usurping of Fadak and Ridda wars were meant to create civil war and extinguish Islam.
It looks like Abu Sufiyan was rewarded by giving his sons the governorship of Syria. Is there any other justification?

That came a little later brother when Caliph Umar and Uthman were heaviliy influenced by the Jew Ka'ab Al-Ahbar.
Isn't it convenient that our sunni brothers are always eager to bring up the ficticious character of Ibn Saba but never speak about Ka'ab.