What is the problem with the server? It was NEVER as bad as this

Log-on problems, server seems to just stop or slow down to a crawl, posts get 'lost' or aren't there when the page refreshes, post a reply and then told that I have to wait 30 seconds when it's my first posting, database error messages on quite a few occasions...and posting pictures is a nightmare; it's a hit-and-miss affair whether the server will grind to a halt and lose everything that's been posted.

Very frustrating