richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL But I do just as much modeling in summer as winter, sometimes more. So, then, why does forum participation decline in the non-winter months, which it does? Rich
ATLANTIC CENTRAL But I do just as much modeling in summer as winter, sometimes more.
But I do just as much modeling in summer as winter, sometimes more.
So, then, why does forum participation decline in the non-winter months, which it does?
Rich
Because for most people model railroading is a hobby. Some people on these forums seem to treat it as a duty.
Why don't I participate? Because the threads in this forum constantly devolve into a mini-Facebook clone: Health problems, what I had for dinner, and pictures of lawn tractors. If I want that nonsense I'll read posts by my extended family in Facebook.
AEP528 richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL But I do just as much modeling in summer as winter, sometimes more. So, then, why does forum participation decline in the non-winter months, which it does? Rich Because for most people model railroading is a hobby. Some people on these forums seem to treat it as a duty. Why don't I participate? Because the threads in this forum constantly devolve into a mini-Facebook clone: Health problems, what I had for dinner, and pictures of lawn tractors. If I want that nonsense I'll read posts by my extended family in Facebook.
Well obviously that is your choice, but in 14 years and 11,000 posts, I have spent way more time sharing my 54 years of experiance in this hobby than posting pictures of my garden tractor.
But regardless of the time of year, I post a lot less now, and agree there is not enough actual talk about modeling.
Still considering if I will bother to post my new layout construction.....
Only on here right now because I am stuck with some down time......
Sheldon
AEP528Why don't I participate? Because the threads in this forum constantly devolve into a mini-Facebook clone: Health problems, what I had for dinner, and pictures of lawn tractors. If I want that nonsense I'll read posts by my extended family in Facebook.
I really have to disagree about that. The moderators do a fantastic job cleaning up, locking posts, and keeping things on target. Other social media is a cesspool compared to this forum. I'm also a member on a drone forum. During a thread another member who lives about fifty miles from me asked for a get together the next day. Without warning the thread was locked and warning emails were sent. Any minor deviation from the topic is strictly forbidden. The monitors of this forum have a heart and realize we are human and will sometimes sidetrack. The wealth of knowledge far outweighs a picture of a lawnmower.
Pete.
PRR8259 Pete-- So sorry to hear. My kids are on social media way too much, and I fear a similar result for them. Both my sons are on the autistic spectrum. People in my town were NOT accepting of them, so much so that my older son doesn't even want to come home from college but wants to be outta here. In high school, some people thought he was stupid and not worth playing in sports. So 8 of his classmates played over him in baseball and all thought they were above or better than him, yet (due to travel baseball) he is the only one that actually made it to a college team (and is actually playing a little). It also appears that one or more of his baseball high school teammates actually hacked his Instagram account, sent inappropriate content to a prospective female student at my son's university, and as a result very nearly got my son kicked out of the university. (Finding and prosecuting the dirtbags would be a challenge, but I've personally overheard members of his high school team talking about him in a negative manner about the time this occurred, so I'm pretty sure they did it but we can't prove it. Weird timing coincided with him getting his first start as a college pitcher.) So he hates our town, in particular our school district, and just wants to be gone, to never see most of his classmates again, etc. In an interview on the Tonight Show some years ago, Liam Neeson, when asked about social media and his participation indicated in his own words that they were "utterly inane" and that he avoided using them. John
Pete--
So sorry to hear. My kids are on social media way too much, and I fear a similar result for them.
Both my sons are on the autistic spectrum. People in my town were NOT accepting of them, so much so that my older son doesn't even want to come home from college but wants to be outta here. In high school, some people thought he was stupid and not worth playing in sports. So 8 of his classmates played over him in baseball and all thought they were above or better than him, yet (due to travel baseball) he is the only one that actually made it to a college team (and is actually playing a little). It also appears that one or more of his baseball high school teammates actually hacked his Instagram account, sent inappropriate content to a prospective female student at my son's university, and as a result very nearly got my son kicked out of the university. (Finding and prosecuting the dirtbags would be a challenge, but I've personally overheard members of his high school team talking about him in a negative manner about the time this occurred, so I'm pretty sure they did it but we can't prove it. Weird timing coincided with him getting his first start as a college pitcher.)
So he hates our town, in particular our school district, and just wants to be gone, to never see most of his classmates again, etc.
In an interview on the Tonight Show some years ago, Liam Neeson, when asked about social media and his participation indicated in his own words that they were "utterly inane" and that he avoided using them.
John
Sheldon: I look forward to seeing posts and pictures of you layout build. And I can't get the wife off the lawn tractor; she loves mowing, I think she runs the sprinklers just so the grass will grow. She mowed last weekend. It is weird to note the differences in Kansas and Texas lawns. We mowed year round in Texas; I have mowed the yard on Christmas Eve before. Not so in Kansas, grass is dormant from November through March.
I don't participate as much as I once did, I don't have as much time during the day. But I do try to read through new posts every day as there is something new to learn. Lots of good folks passing on good knowledge and skills. I appreciate all of those efforts.
I think "constantly" is probably a little strong. Often enough to be "annoying"?
Yes
There are ups and downs. During the holidays, a lot of folks get interested in the hobby and it shows on this forum. This year, I noticed that there were many posts and a number did not get timely responses.
COVID is still hitting too. My sons and nephews had it last week, and my wife has not been feeling great these last few days. It's slowing down a lot of folks.
Simon
I belong to a bunch of model and prototype RR and aviation and music FB sites and they are great, especially the thousands of photos posted. I don't do the friends thing. I post videos of me performing songs and playing my guitar on a couple of the guitar player's sites and get all these women wanting to hook up, I never respond.
Social media is user-friendly including this site. The friendly part is no one is holding a gun to your head to read a post or a thread or even join for that matter and it is free to use. Instead of complaining about what someone post that is off-topic just scroll on by. There are some FB sites that are managed with an iron fist as far as going off-topic is concerned and they are boring for that reason as expanding on a discussion is just not on for the moderators.
I have left three FB groups as they seemed to be infiltrated by hate groups and such. I don't miss them in the least as there were so many others to drop in on. There are very specialized groups such as the one on weathering track that I enjoy, who knew something so specialized would have such a following.
I join groups thinking they may be interesting and leave if they are not for me, I don't complain about the content.
I get a kick out of making videos of my layout and I am the first to admit they are pretty crappy. Now YouTube shows who watches them. I will post a video here and maybe it will get two views, period. I post the same video on an MRR FB site and it gets 100 views in the first hour along with a bunch of fun conversation.
My biggest complaint/concern with MRR FB sites comes from when asking for advice. FB is ripe with bad advice. This forum is a much better place to find help.
I hope this place is around for a while yet as I enjoy it, however, if the doors get locked I'll get more done on the layout.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I wrote a fairly long comment, only to get the 403 Forbidden message.
I wrote a paragraph near the bottom of the comment, then used the cut and paste function to move it closer to the top. The submitted the comment and got the error.
I swear, the 403 Forbidden message ONLY happens when I try to cut and paste into the comment box....not paste a picture from somewhere else....but cut from the forum to then paste into the forum.
Its the only time it happens.
And it might be a while before I respond to the actual thread. because if I can't paste what I just cut out of this comment box (to write this comment), it will be a long time before I rewrite what I wrote.
- Douglas
Software dosn't like " or ( at times.
I dable on FB just a little, the tractor stuff has largely moved there, and I joined two model train groups.
I don't post much on the train groups, hardly at all.
Here is my problem with FB - the randomness of the whole thing - I hate it. I suspect I will get bored of it soon. The randomness is information overload - I don't deal well with that.
Okay. I'll try remember what I was going to post before.
The forum doesn't seem to be as active as previous years. I for one, got a little tired of the debates and arguments that were triggered by a banned member, and stayed away. Not blaming him per se, but other just couldn't seem to lay off. I always tried to find common ground instead of searching out points of conflict. I guess he inspired the opposite in some folks.
And, I've evolved a little to where I'm mainly interested in my area of focus and not so much anything model train related.
Activity in previous years was filled with DCC vs DC threads that kept things moving. I think its been settled that neither is "better" (when before I think there was a tone of one being better than the other), is a matter of choice, but, if you choose to run onboard sound...and more people are....DCC is the choice. There just isn't as much to debate about it as much as before.
Build vs RTR? Do what you want. There is no debate anymore.
Online vs LHS? Do what you want. The choices are still there, but the trend is obvious even if you don't like it.
Personally, I can see how pictures of the same garden tractor can put some people off, but generally, I think the side-bar discussions add personality to the forum.
It gives identity to the Avatar. It helps to understand a post when you understand the person writing it a little better. Maybe some are uncomfortable providing insight into themselves. I appreciate those that are comfortable with it.
I try to, up to a point.
Frankly, I probably would not be interested in following Sheldon's layout build of a transition era layout if it weren't for the fact that it was Sheldon's layout. Being a present day modeler myself, the era would not be as interesting to me as it might have been a few years ago. But because its Sheldon, I am more interested in the layout build, and am rooting for its success.
Same with Mark P. A little background in moving from NJ to WY and a home search provides some background and personality into a steam era layout build set in Wyoming.
Kevin, Wayne, Rich, Brent, RRMel, and others share photos and participate in side-bar discussions from time to time. I think those conversations help a thread rather than detract from it.
To me, those discussions provide cohesion to a forum to help create a community, as long as they don't take over a thread.
Otherwise, its a bunch of random posts that have no foundations.
I don't come here just to research what I can find via Google (although much of the searches bring me back here). I come here to also discuss, which by its nature, is more about opinions, choices, and reasons behind them than pure information research.
As a recent joiner of the forum what I have found after lurking for quite a bit is that the information found here is pretty rock solid. I have followed the posts on the reddit model railroad sub for example and they can't hold a candle to this forum.
And c'mon - we have Mel here and if that isn't compelling to be a part of this forum then I don't know what to say!
Regarding FB - much too toxic for me. Too much chaff, very little wheat.
DoughlessTo me, those discussions provide cohesion to a forum to help create a community, as long as they don't take over a thread.
I think this is an important point to make - thanks for making it Douglas. Information is much more interesting if it comes with context and a bit of a story behind it.
I love this forum and I have learned a ton!
Thanks all!
charles
p.s.
And to add - I happily live in Vermont in dairy country, so I will always welcome pictures of tractors! I own a Deere 3038 myself so Sheldon, please feel free to post all the tractor pics you want - I'll always be interested! If someone doesn't, their loss, right?
The fact that Ablebakercharlie appreciates the contributions others make is invaluable. Everyone brings something to the proverbial table. Some are more able to articulate ideas than others, which is fine. This hobby likely ebbs and flows for the weather, limited availability of stuff, etc. Just go with it and enjoy each other's company.
Have fun and cooperate. Bringing someone down to put yourself up is a recipe for disaster. We all remember Junior High School!
With the advent of "social media" (facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.) I reckon participation is down on many (if not most) browser-based message boards.
Content of the postings probably has less to do with it than does changing tastes.
But... by comparison... the old Usenet newsgroups are all-but dying out. [Name removed by moderator] gets almost nothing at all. Rare to see a new message posted there (one that isn't spam). Nothing on [Name removed by moderator] for years (I think I put up the last non-spam post there).
I have no interest in nor presence on "social media", so I'll be on the web-based message boards 'til the end (theirs or mine, mine will come first, heh)...
I started this hobby 15 years ago. I took a break for about 7 years and just came back. I like this forum, although I don't have a lot to share as I don't have lots of nice scenes. But I like this forum and hope I can still get advices and helps for the next 20 years...
Jerry
wrench567 When I took a sabbatical a decade ago these forums were hopping and very busy. It wouldn't be too long when a post would end up on the second page. Now it seems days can go by without too much activity. I would hate to have our host pull the plug. I feel that this platform is a great resource with very valuable information not only in technical support but also inspiration. Some would say priceless. There are a lot of what I would call master modelers who share their knowledge and techniques freely. What can we do to increase the participation? How about a monthly poll for modeler of the month? Any other ideas? Pete.
When I took a sabbatical a decade ago these forums were hopping and very busy. It wouldn't be too long when a post would end up on the second page. Now it seems days can go by without too much activity. I would hate to have our host pull the plug. I feel that this platform is a great resource with very valuable information not only in technical support but also inspiration. Some would say priceless. There are a lot of what I would call master modelers who share their knowledge and techniques freely.
What can we do to increase the participation? How about a monthly poll for modeler of the month? Any other ideas?
Regarding current participants, I will stand by my earlier comments that participation is seasonal.
Regarding former participants, it is a shame that we don't have their contact information. If you really want to know why forum participation is down in recent years, it would be most informative to ask those who have left the forum why they left.
Alton Junction