I have noticed that YouTube and Facebook are popular with this hobby, especially YouTube.
However, I feel that Twitter is under-utilized, it has the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading and create a greater community among modellers world wide.
1) Anyone here have a Twitter account?
2) Anyone have thoughts on this topic?
Pablo
gpharo1) Anyone here have a Twitter account?
Count me as no, not now, not ever, never.
gpharo2) Anyone have thoughts on this topic?
I don't think it is practical. I believe that each "tweet" can only consist of so many words; probably not enough to ask an intelligent question, certainly not enough to give an intelligent answer.
Call me "old school" or "dinosaur", but I don´t do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of those not so social media. This forum (and a few selected other ones) fulfill my communication needs 100%. I don´t need thousands of virtual "friends" to follow me whatever I may be doing, nor do I believe my tweeting or chirping it will save the world.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
gpharo However, I feel that Twitter is under-utilized, it has the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading and create a greater community among modellers world wide.
And how did you come to that conclusion?
gpharo 1) Anyone here have a Twitter account? 2) Anyone have thoughts on this topic? Pablo
I have a youtube channel. That way I can share information and techniques through visual stimulation. I don't have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or any other social media.
I don't think I'm missing out on anything by not having social media accounts. I know lots of people who have deleted their accounts or wish they didn't have them.
Maybe if more people spent LESS time on social media and MORE time actually doing things (like going to a train show or railroad prototype modelers meet instead of waiting for it to appear on social media), they might get more out of the hobby.
Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
gpharo 1) Anyone here have a Twitter account? 2) Anyone have thoughts on this topic?
A: Nope. I have no desire for one and really don't see the appeal or benefit to one. I find this and my groups.io forums are quite adequate for garnering "community". In fact, a number of the members here on this forum cover quite a few time zones around the world.
I do have a FB account, my own website, and also belong to a decent-sized train historical society. I think that's as much socializing as I need at the moment.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Nice to hear others seem to feel like I do......
I have no interest in "social media" whatsoever. I do enjoy communicating with email, and I have found huge benefits with YouTube. But the facebook, tweets, and whatever else is out there is just not for me.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Maybe it's an old people vs young people thing. I'm in the older people category and don't really see the need to tweet. Forums have always worked well enough. FB seems mostly a means to connect with others (to both good and bad effects) or advertise company activity and get a little feed back from interested parties.
Back on topic, I've never seen a purpose to getting a Twitter account and start tweeting. I mean, what for?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
NO, NEVER, NYET, NADA
Alton Junction
#noway @ twitter
I have used several photo-hosting sites over the years. Some have fizzled out (Picasa) some have made bad management decisions (Photobucket). I will occasionally comment on someone's photo at the one main site I now use, Flickr, but that's about it.
I have some Youtube videos posted. My grandson was looking over my shoulder once and saw that I had some fifteen thousand views on one of the videos and he was amazed. You could be making some money there! said he. Nope, not interested. I did have many commenters thank me for providing memories for them. A couple of Erie-Lackawanna employees re-united by commenting on one of my videos. When something like that happens I'm grateful.
Any other "media" social or otherwise, I have no need or use for. Even texting. I've never sent or recieved a text in the past 62 years. Sometimes my wife will be caught up in a texting volley and I'll say, why don't you just call the person and get the whole conversation over with at once?
Guess I just don't understand.
A few other friends of my sons use several Facebook and Twitter kinds of things. I don't really get it. Mostly mindless drivel.
I believe part of the attraction to this stuff is the "cloistered" lifestyle so many people lead these days. We used to have bowling leagues, card games, dances, picknicks, gee, even going to the shopping mall is becoming a thing of the past. So I guess this is the new way to "socialize".
RR_MelThere is an up side to social media, law enforcement and attornies think it's great because it helps them in court cases.
You mean like the girl that went to the Police station for her probationary drug test, passed it, then went out to her car — still in the police parking lot — and tweeted to her friends how she scammed and cheated the test.
Police were knocking on her window within two minutes.
Cheers, Ed
I have to return here with a question for the OP.
How does Twitter have the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading?
Can you give some examples of how Twitter would be used in this regard?
RIch
richhotrainHow does Twitter have the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading?
I come across some MRR manufacturers that have no web presence other than Facebook*. I don't go there and as far as I can tell, they're losing business, at least mine, anyway.
*not really related to the twitter question, but you get my drift, I hope.
Ed
1. No way
2. Yeah, it won't work.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
gmpullman richhotrain How does Twitter have the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading? I come across some MRR manufacturers that have no web presence other than Facebook*. I don't go there and as far as I can tell, they're losing business, at least mine, anyway. *not really related to the twitter question, but you get my drift, I hope. Ed
richhotrain How does Twitter have the potential to greatly benefit the popularity of model railroading?
As a non-user of social media, I get my info from my wife, three kids and six grandkids. Social media seems to work well for those who are looking for constant contact on everyday blabber or as a source of update info on daily comings and goings. But, that seems to be about it. My impression is that a forum like this one works much better for the exchange of information about model railroading activity.
Rich
All of these social media sites remind me of buzzing beehives-lots of noise! Maybe it's the lone wolf in me but I can live my hobby life quite fine without the need to have x number of "followers" of anything I say. This back and forth forum is sufficient to solicit advice, offer suggestions and remains on point at all times (except when I'm fooled by a 10 year old post that is resurrected). I see many companies with that "follow us on facebook" request in their advertising. If you have nothing else in the world to do with your time, by all means indulge yourself. I just hang around here - on my schedule- and live life more meaningfully!
Cedarwoodron
gmpullman #noway @ twitter RR_Mel There is an up side to social media, law enforcement and attornies think it's great because it helps them in court cases. You mean like the girl that went to the Police station for her probationary drug test, passed it, then went out to her car — still in the police parking lot — and tweeted to her friends how she scammed and cheated the test. Police were knocking on her window within two minutes. Cheers, Ed
RR_Mel There is an up side to social media, law enforcement and attornies think it's great because it helps them in court cases.
Gmpullman,
Ed,
I watched one of Your Youtube videos a couple days ago.....crossing the Macarthur bridge in St. Louis, I believe it was on an Amtrak coach. I was wondering how You were able to take that video without wacking Your head on the passing bridge beams?......LOL. Great video though......not much of a rail fanner Myself.......
Although I was leased to and worked for the CSX railroad a number of yrs. But that was Intermodal.
Take Care!
Frank
gpharo...I feel that Twitter is under-utilized....
I can think of at least one Twit whose over-utilised Tweeting I could do without.
Wayne
As has been mentioned, twitter seems to invite a quick hitting type of banter that I think doesn't suit model railroading. The other allow for pictures and videos, and youtube allows for lengthy explanations which fosters more deep understandings.
Of course, some are better than others in producing their videos and presentations.
- Douglas
I'm an old guy and I have a twitter account. I trade stocks and when there is a big move in a stock, with no news, the news is often on Twitter. Usually an upgrade/downgrade or take over rumor.
To do that, I have to wade through a lot of garbage. There are bots, a computer program that operates as hundreds or even thousands of "individuals" tweeting exactly the same thing. If I search CSX's stock symbol, $CSX, I may see 20 posts from different sources all with some trivial news and a link which is spam for a newsletter. Another 20 that just use stock symbols to try to sell you bitcoins.
Dilbert cartoonist, Scott Adams, makes best use of it by doing one or two daily live broadcasts. He makes his money by selliing books, and other ventures. So he gets his face in front of the public every day.
However there is too much anonymity, and too much hate if you venture into politics or current events.
The bot problem has gotten worse, despite what you read. Then there is the censorship issue. No I am not going to use Twitter for MR
Facebook has some interesting things. I belonged to a forum and was active in it for a while. The problem was the algorithms constantly change what you see. If this thread was on a Facebook forum, you might comment on it, click on a friends webpage, come back to this forum and not see this thread again for hours or days no matter how you searched for it. You see posts from some of your friends everyday and others almost never.
There is a lot of room for improvement in the Internet. The retail industry, the smaller companies, have done themselves a disservice by having terrible websites. We were talking about NJ International last night in the forum. Links that don't work and pictures of the products so small, they could be posters for your z scale layout.
I was on the Arizona Rock and Mineral site. The sell a couple dozen "powders" only listed by number no description of color. No explanation on how best to use these powders. Rocks with no picture or description. Yet they are very active on their Facebook site.
A retail store, near me, has the March 2010 Model of the Month featured on their homepage. That doesn't inspire confidence in the customer who isn't sure that the store still exists.
Nick and Nora Design is a husband and wife team that does laser buildings. It's my idea of a nice website
http://www.nickandnoradesignsstore.com/main.sc
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
richhotrainNO, NEVER, NYET, NADA
.
Add me to the "No Way, No How" list with Rich.
I have a Facebook account that my wife made me. I log into it once a year or so when there is something on Facebook I just need to see. Very rare. Other than that, I have no use for these things.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
First and foremost, thank you to all who responded, I did not think there would be so many responses in so little time. I think it’s fantastic.
Secondly, I want to clarify my opening statement that I made. I stated that Twitter would greatly benefit model railroading, now that I think about it, I should have changed my words. Maybe Twitter would just benefit model railroading.
Possible examples of tweets include:
-When Youtubers have a new video
-When manufacturers have a new product
- when a model railroader just did work on his or her layout and they just want to share a picture
- when there is a new podcast episode
- announcing/advertising a train show
-when an online store is having a big sale
-when a magazine has a new edition
To me this is not about Twitter versus forums, or Twitter versus YouTube or any other social media. I for one think it needs to be better utilized as one more tool to share information about the hobby we love.
Ps. PennCentral99 thank you for your video on LED upgrades, it really help me.
It sounds like Twitter is just being used as a news wire for announcements.
I have never used it, so maybe I just do not get it.
gpharo Ps. PennCentral99 thank you for your video on LED upgrades, it really help me.
You're welcome. Glad it helped and thanks for watching!
I am very aware of social media. No I do not have a twitter account, why learn how to use a dead company. Why dead you ask, they haven't made any money, nor will they as they have lost too much over the years (plus a lot of other reasons which you would have to really be into tech to get the full feel of, pluss way off topic).
gpharo Maybe Twitter would just benefit model railroading. Possible examples of tweets include: -When Youtubers have a new video -When manufacturers have a new product - when a model railroader just did work on his or her layout and they just want to share a picture - when there is a new podcast episode - announcing/advertising a train show -when an online store is having a big sale -when a magazine has a new edition To me this is not about Twitter versus forums, or Twitter versus YouTube or any other social media. I for one think it needs to be better utilized as one more tool to share information about the hobby we love.
Maybe Twitter would just benefit model railroading.
It just seems like one more interruption into one's life that might already be bombarded with too many texts and emails and visual stimuli.
Do you know how difficult it is to find a restaurant that does NOT have a TV or bank of TVs? Then you throw in cell phones with all their inducements and distractions and carrying on a conversation with someone can be a losing battle. Even some self-serve gas pumps pummel you with useless advertisement and "information". The latter I just walk away.
I don't need or see the need to be up-to-date "in the moment" for EVERYTHING in my life. Emails can satisfactorily supply me with the above information you've posted. Or, I can just find that out when I visit a forum, someone's website, or a manfacturer's webpage.
For my Groups.io groups, I opt out of all but the announcement email notifications. If I want to visit and read some of the topics then I can do that when I want rather than wade through a bunch of emails.
One of the best recent additions to FB has been the "snooze" feature. If a friend posts way too many links to articles or tells me EVERY facet of their day, I can simply snooze them for 30 days with a few clicks of the mouse. And, sadly, there are a few friends that move from one snooze "session" to the next one.
tstage And, sadly, there are a few friends that move from one snooze "session" to the next one. Tom
And, sadly, there are a few friends that move from one snooze "session" to the next one.
hmmm, that's not my idea of a "friend".
I get where you're coming from, Terry. Some are old acquaintances from HS and I do enjoy hearing some of their news. It's the endless political links and/or unfounded stories or stances that cause me to put the on the "short leash". Only recently have a few become "repeated offenders"...
gpharoPossible examples of tweets include: -When Youtubers have a new video -When manufacturers have a new product - when a model railroader just did work on his or her layout and they just want to share a picture - when there is a new podcast episode
Based on the above responses, this would not work effectivly because few of any in our (limited) group would not be listening. I have no interest in a Twitter account. We do have Facebook but use it to keep in touch with family; no need for hundreds of followers.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
doctorwayne I can think of at least one Twit whose over-utilised Tweeting I could do without. Wayne