AltonFan Other than that, I think a kind of fatigue sets in. You get tired of answering the same questions, repeating the same arguments, and fighting the same battles.
Other than that, I think a kind of fatigue sets in. You get tired of answering the same questions, repeating the same arguments, and fighting the same battles.
Personal opinion - I think AltonFan's reason would be the primary cause. Used to be I wouldn't miss a day. Now, after a few days of intensive forum visiting, I'm tired of it and will let it go for a week with a feeling of "I've seen this all before." I can predict what a lot of frequent posters are going to say.
Cause #2: Departure of the master model railroaders from many forums, and replacement with RTR folks. The beginners all ask the same layout building questions, or RTR quality questions. Very seldom are there any threads on model building, whether kits or scratch - Darth Santa Fe being a great exception.
Cause #3: Plain wrong information being passed as fact.
Cause #4: Folks taking offense at snippy remarks, being told to search, or just not getting the replies they wanted or expected.
I don't think the economy is the cause. When I was unemployed 2007-2008, I probably spent more time on the forums. Most of us are in or seeking jobs that require some computer skills, and require some Internet work/research in the job hunt. I don't think the Internet connection is one of the 1st things a model railroader gives up when he is unemployed. My experience is that spending on models and layout will supplies will shut down first; the forums provide a way to stay active in the hobby with no money to spend.
my thoughts
Fred W
pastorbobMaybe we need to smile more, pass off insults, try harder to get along, and it might even improve the quality of our hobby activities, which after all, is to be a stress release, a getting away place in our little world and brain from all the bad things. Bob
Agreed
The other thing not mentioned is forums are a trend. Granted they've been around a while, but they will shrink substantially over the next few years. They're great for sharing some thoughts and ideas but for me I'd rather communicate with a few individuals in person than a global group of strangers.
San Dimas Southern slideshow
Nice post, Steam. I agree that the "my way is the only *real* way" folks are not helping this board or the hobby in general.
I certainly agree that there can be a certain amount of snippiness (if that is even a word) at times. There are also a large number of railroaders who go out of their way to be helpful. I think part of the problem is that many new railroaders never were exposed to building things as a child. The demise of the local hobby shop has left them with less access to patient mentors to guide their progress. Model Railroading is FUN. Whether we count rivets or try to see how fast our Hi-Rail loco will go without flipping off the track laid on carpet, or anything in between, if we have fun with it, that's what really matters. We need to build our hobby with an understanding that those who ask questions that some may regard as silly, are looking for assistance from those who might know. If we don't, I fear our hobby will be limited to those who have huge pocketbooks, to buy limited productions of rolling stock and locos, and those who have machine shops and the skills to use them. Does anyone else remember using expended shot gun shells to make wheels? Thanks for the opportunity to vent
All good answers. The eonomy has changed the hobby. How many new releases are there? How many need pre-order/pre-paid?
Boredom prevails, Alton said it best, too many times are there reduntant questions.
Even on the craftsman forums it's slow. how many times do you need to see a wooden structure built? I think the hobby is shrinking due to age and economic woes.
Rudeness may drive some away, but that's been going on for ever, even in busier times
.mike h.
Good luck on your interview, Phil!
I'd also add that there are *more* places than ever to weigh in with your virtual two cents ... diluting the "talent pool" somewhat, so to speak.
Yes it doe's seem like the forum use has gone down some.I don't think that the economy has a lot to do with it though. I have been out of work for seven months. The internet is one of my biggest tools, for job searching. I now find that I spend much more time looking at the forums, wanting to participate. We have to remember that their is a limited number of modelers out there. I am sure a lot don't even know about this great tool, to help them out in their modeling. I took me a long time before I really became active. We do have some very condescending folks on the forums. But you will always find that everywhere you go. I do notice that a lot of questions are answered so well by the first reply that it does not need another response.I have yet to be bored by the forums. Now my only problem is, look for work, or work on the railroad? I'll let you guys guess which is going to win today! I do have an interview to prep for tomorrow, just so you know that I am not just a lazy train bum!
Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad. We know where you are going, before you do!
I'd say there is an annual cycle which picks up in the late fall, peaks just after the New Year, and then starts to trail off again. From some of the periodic "when do you get the most layout time?" threads, it seems that the winter is prime-time for trains. Some of us disappear completely over the summer, with layouts dormant, only to re-appear as temperatures drop again.
I'm the odd duck who does most of his modeling in the summer. I'm a skier in the winter, and I don't care for the heat, so when the sun shines bright on my Massachusetts home, I go to the trainroom and turn on the AC.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Bob wroteI could blame it on economic conditions, big warts on the left small toe or a lot of other things. But, I think on the public forums, the rudeness in the way people answer questions or make comments cause people to just go away rather than be made a fool of, told their style of modeling isn't the correct way, their choices of products are dumb, they should be buying something else, or doing it a different way, or looking for a different product and which products are correct based on the person's ideas making the comments. The Atlas forum had a run of that over ExactRail, numberings, car ends, etc. which caused many threads to be locked.
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I agree with that observation..
I am very leary of posting pictures any more because some wanna be expert will pm me and tell me how to improve my pictures by buying a $1500.00 camera and another $300.00 for lights,lenses etc or what's wrong with my model or its a "foobie".
Suffice it to say my replies wasn't-huh,mmm,shall we say "polite"?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Pastorbob is spot on. A troll or two will run off a newbie in a hurry, and this online community, like any other, has its share. I own and operate a message board relating to sports at my alma mater, and it is only through a vigorous system of moderators and internal policing by the "regulars" that such people are not allowed to ruin the site's atmosphere - they are gone before they can get up a head of steam.
As mentioned above, it seems that the economy is a factor. One friend of mine is itching to build a layout but is having a challenge finding a job. My LHS's owner, inspite of his good service, is struggling to survive.
This may sound odd, but I suggest that you guys consider trying this:
I check out quite a number of railfan and model railroad related YouTube videos. After posting my comments/compliments/critiques on the vids I sometimes strike up a back & forth dialogue with some of the video posters, especially modelers. I always ask them if they're members of this forum. The majority of them told me "No". They, especially newbs, were either vaguely aware of this forum or not aware of it at all. I then invite them to join and from my understanding, a few have. To invite them, I send them a private email since "Trains.com" won't show up on the actual vid page due to the YouTube software that blocks weblinks. So, if out of 5 people that you invite one joins, then that's another contributing modeler we can share with/ learn from on this forum.
(BTW: I've also run into a couple of our forum members too, including C&O Fan, who post vids under different names on the "Tube". )
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I've been involved in message boards since the late 1990s. I've noticed a decline in interest maybe about four or five years ago, which seemed to coincide with the rise of blogging.
Dan
I find myself searching for topics that are relevant to the stage of my layout. This often ends with me reading older threads from years ago. I also don't reply to philosophical topics very often any more. Not that topics like this aren't interesting, I just don't have much to say! I have noticed a drop in forum participation on the few forums I hang out at though.
I could blame it on economic conditions, big warts on the left small toe or a lot of other things. But, I think on the public forums, the rudeness in the way people answer questions or make comments cause people to just go away rather than be made a fool of, told their style of modeling isn't the correct way, their choices of products are dumb, they should be buying something else, or doing it a different way, or looking for a different product and which products are correct based on the person's ideas making the comments. The Atlas forum had a run of that over ExactRail, numberings, car ends, etc. which caused many threads to be locked.
However, society in general has become contentious at all levels, government and private sector. Being a retired pastor I can tell horror stories about things that have happened in churches I served where one or more try to run things the way they percieve they sould be and run off anyone who disagrees. Since I also worked in the computer industry for many years, I saw the same things happen there, so I chalk it up to an attitude of wanting to be superior to others. I also think that the economic conditions play a big part, as we watch our nation, which most of us are proud of, start to slide into a second rate status being replaced by the new big kids on the block.
Maybe we need to smile more, pass off insults, try harder to get along, and it might even improve the quality of our hobby activities, which after all, is to be a stress release, a getting away place in our little world and brain from all the bad things. We need to work harder to keep the outside things away from enjoying our hobby in our own way, without fear of being put down. Just my thoughts.
Bob
Ya I have noticed. Maybe it's because of the springtime, everyone is gettting out of the house after a long cold winter.
Sure hope it picks backup......
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
John,Yes I notice that has well..Even I am spending less time on forums-about 2 vs.3 hours not long ago.I am more active on the Atlas forum and here then I am the others.Oddly these are the first forums I joined.
I have notice my computer time has dropped sufficiently as well.
I've noticed it on the train forums as well, and to a lesser extent on the car forums I'm on. I think it has more to do with the economy than anything. People have been cutting expenses and the first thing to go is hobby money. If people aren't active in the hobby, their probably not on the forums as much.
CNJ831I've seen a lot of ups and downs in annual forum activity over the years, but the recent decline has been particularly striking.
A number of forums have gone private and are either membership only now, or else are charging a fee. That could account for some of it. Also I have noticed a dramatic change in the "snippy-ness" factor and that might be putting people off of posting, especially newbies and novices who are looking for information. From the other perspective of the "been there & done that"ers, they may be simply burning out for the lack of anything new to talk about (obviously they're missing out on my "Philosophy Friday" posts ). On other forums, which we won't name but just nod knowingly, there seems to be quite a bit of censorship and interference from the moderators that make it disconcerting. Of course some boards seem to have a pretty good balance and moderate in moderation. Another thing that might be affecting the forum situation is the economy-- after a long drawn-out economic struggle, many people who are either out-of-work or under-worked may have simply run out of money to pay for an internet connection, or else enjoy the "luxury" of being able to sit and participate in forums versus working their fourth or fifth job at 7/11 or wherever to make ends meet. Finally, since spring is here-- perhaps there are many young men just pursuing what comes naturally.... trains! Perhaps everybody's out walking the tracks???
It could happen...
John
I'm curious if others have noticed the very apparent decline in posts/posters across the entire spectrum of model railroad forums in the past few months? I at least glance at quite a number of sites each day and more and more threads are popping up with titles like,"Where is everybody", or ,"Is this forum dead?"
I've seen a lot of ups and downs in annual forum activity over the years, but the recent decline has been particularly striking. There are a number of previously quite active sites that now seem to get only a couple of posts/replies a day and even here - the most active site on the Internet - many threads (outside BeerBarn and such) are getting very few responses compared with the past. Lately in the mornings the threads often haven't changed position much from the previous evening. Granted, Spring is upon us now, but this situation goes back several months and Spring alone usually doesn't create such a dramatic slip in participation..
Commets? Ideas?
CNJ831