I'd wager a guess that forum numbers are down because of a natural shift in how generations communicate.
Who here uses chatrooms?
Perhaps it's the medium itself.
As for the left vs right issue. There are d***wads on both sides.
If anyone reads CalgaryPuck thinking it's a leftist, communist, socialist echo chamber is in an alt-right fascist echo chamber themselves. The CP posting demographic is right of centre, which is EXACTLY why I read the political threads here. I live in a Liberal stronghold, my community is union to the bone, Hell, Glace Bay, the community next to Sydney and my wife's hometown still celebrates and closes down for
Davis Day.
I want different perspectives. Alas, social media has shifted to where echo Chambers cause us to think we're centre and the norm, and everyone else is a lunatic.