I'm not sure why, I just think AO has been slowing down... when I first joined, there were tons of users and even more different, interesting threads. Now there're only the 'I've been hacked' or 'HELP VIRUS' that are seen - with the occassional new release of nmap posted by TH

Perhaps, it's something to do with the changing face of AO through the years.

In 2000 Dr K published a book called " a complete Hacker's Handbook" in which
he listed about 70 websites for getting more info on that subject, AO is number
15 on that list.

As I find it here Hacking is kind of taboo subject on AO where
no one is allowed to openly talk about.