Atlas Forum

[Anonymous]

Since Atlas temporarily shut down their forums, I have noticed that many of the participants have migrated to this forum. When the Atlas forum returns will you shift your activity to that forum or remain with this forum?

I've gotten hooked on this forum myself.

[Anonymous]

Well this forum is nice and quiet so I think I will stay here.

[CBQ_Guy]

I spend too much time on this "confuser" as it is. It was getting really out of hand trying to include all the Forums which I've discovered in recent months, on top of all the Yahoo Group and other Lists I'm already on, too, so I decided I would only try and keep up with one forum, which I decided would be the Atlas Forum, for, uh, let's say "personal" reasons. (Hey, look at me, I'm a diplomat!) But then they shut it down for the summer...D'oh!

When it starts up again, though, I'll be going back but may pop in here on rare occasions
(yeah, I can hear a number of you cheering that decision!).

But you asked, so I told... [2c]

[Anonymous]

I have not posted here too much, I will stay here, as well as Atlas.

[Paul3]

JimdeBree wrote:

QUOTE: When the Atlas forum returns will you shift your activity to that forum or remain with this forum?

Provided it's the same, I'll be going back to Atlas more often then here. No offense to this forum, but if I see one more "What's your favorite (fill in the blank)" topic, I think I'll scream. [xx(]

Then, when you throw in the slower loading times on my modem for all the ads for this place, it only reinforces why I like the Atlas Forum better than almost any other forum or group (r.m.r is still my favorite because it was the first for me, even if it has gone downhill, and you know I have to like the New Haven Forum better).

And finally, the most important thing: there are very few "dicussions" here that are of interest to me. What I mean by that is that there is not a lot of back-and-forth banter and conversation that I've seen in the past few months. Pretty much, one person starts a new thread, some people answer his question, and that's it, end of topic. Maybe it's because I'm quasi-new around here and I don't know the players or something... I dunno. But, you asked...

Geez, I'm even starting to miss those obnoxious N-scalers from the Atlas Forum! [:D]

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Anonymous]

I will use both!

Have a bussines DSL-connection, so two forums are no problem.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bigboy4015

I will use both!

Have a bussines DSL-connection, so two forums are no problem.

I have DSL @ 1.250 MEG and still the connection speed on this forum is S L O W but when I beef it up to 1 + gig, I get some fast action and the pages just pop open.
Hardly a problem elsewhere.

A 56 k modem on this forum must be like climbing a 4% grade.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3


"Provided it's the same, I'll be going back to Atlas more often then here. No offense to this forum, but if I see one more "What's your favorite (fill in the blank)" topic, I think I'll scream. [xx(]"


There seems to be too many on this forum with nothing much to add or who don't have any real questions, so they resort to such "favorite" questions. This has been turning me off for quite some time. Way too childish for me. Also way too many silly polls - what I'd like to see is a separate forum for polls only. Then those with plenty of time could spend it answering the polls. Maybe I should start a poll on this idea? [tdn]


"Then, when you throw in the slower loading times on my modem for all the ads for this place, it only reinforces why I like the Atlas Forum better than almost any other forum or group (r.m.r is still my favorite because it was the first for me, even if it has gone downhill, and you know I have to like the New Haven Forum better)."

I discovered a while ago if in my personal profile I choose not to see fancy time wasting signatures at the bottom of messages that the discussions are faster loading. Way too much time-wasting ego stuff here - large photos, animation, etc.! And I have high speed DSL, so I imagine those with dial ups have it worse!

I have yet to discover the Atlas forum, but intend to check it out when they are back on line.

Bob Boudreau
Canada [:D]

[der5997]

locomotive3: Try dial up land line speeds of 24 kbps. Aliant Telecom, whose advertizing slogan is "There for you" ignores our neck of the woods because there aren't enough potential customers for them to bother putting in high speed internet.

Paul3: Have you been tot he coffe shop. I understand that there is more chat, less topic there. What I like about this forum is that one can get questions answered.
Will I go back to Atlas? Probably.

[BRAKIE]

No,I believe I will stay on the 4 forums I am now on..I will check the new forum but,will not take a active part..To be honest I was just about to quit when Atlas pulled the plug.There was just to much BS and smoke and mirrors bashing of products...I also expect it will go back to the way it was before the shut down for upgrades and cooling off and no doubt to be shut down again..I will of course buy Atlas fine line of products...[:D][tup]

[orsonroy]

I'll be posting on both, since they have different personalities. The MR forum is more of a beginner's Q&A forum, while the Atlas forum is the general chat & gossip room. There was a lot of modeling talent on the Atlas forum (especially the N scale guys!), and I'm hoping they return. It was always a load of fun opening the pictures that were posted there.

[dharmon]

I've seen this questioned asked on just about each of the forums I belong to. When I read it, it almost makes it sound like a primary election...you must declare your affiliation to vote. I guess I don't look at it that way. I will go back and participate in Atlas if they let me, but I will also continue to participate here and on Trains, Trainboard and RailroadForums and I peruse a few I have not joined.

Each of the forums has it's own character and characters...[:D] At times I find my interest in one forum is greater than the others, and will gravitate there. And at times I tire of nonsense on one site or another and choose to scan through and leave. And sometimes I join in on the nonsense and become part of the problem.[}:)]

Anyway that's my 2/100ths of a buck.

Dan

[jwmurrayjr]

I "discovered" this forum (Duh!) after the Atlas forum went down and I've enjoyed reading and posting here. But the Atlas forum has much more activity than any of the other 6 or 7 forums I belong to and I look forward to Atlas coming back up.

Every now and then some real "rube" will show up on Atlas but most of the folks are good natured (agree to disagree) and many are very talented modelers.

So now I have one more forum to keep track of. [:)]

[Paul3]

locomotive3 wrote:

QUOTE: A 56 k modem on this forum must be like climbing a 4% grade.

You have no idea. It's especially lovely when people post pics. [:)] All of it makes it difficult to surf all the active topics here on a daily basis, so I tend not to. On Atlas, I usually read most threads because I can zip right through them.

FundyNorthern wrote:

QUOTE: There seems to be too many on this forum with nothing much to add or who don't have any real questions, so they resort to such "favorite" questions. This has been turning me off for quite some time. Way too childish for me. Also way too many silly polls - what I'd like to see is a separate forum for polls only. Then those with plenty of time could spend it answering the polls. Maybe I should start a poll on this idea?

[;)] Great idea. Do you think I should set up a poll to see if you should have a poll about having polls? [:D]

And I don't know if I call all these "favorites" postings "childish" so much as they tend to be lacking in substance (for me). Hey, it's great that John Smith in Mattawaumkeg, Maine likes PRR paint schemes, N&W J-classes, SD9's, EMD, and John Allen, but then nobody really debates these choices. They just list their own opinions in response. Other than finding out what other people like, what's the point? And not to say Atlas didn't have these kinds of threads either, but it is much more common here.

der5997 wrote:

QUOTE: Paul3: Have you been tot he coffe shop. I understand that there is more chat, less topic there. What I like about this forum is that one can get questions answered.

Yeah, I've seen it, but I don't want to slog through 73 pages of comments to read it all. [:)] And while you are correct about it being a "chat" kind of thread, it's also about non-model RR topics. What I was talking about was like this thread right now is (hopefully) turning into. So far, we have the initial post, some respones to it, then (even better) responses to the responses, and so on. Kind of like a conversation or debate. From what I've seen of the latest edition of this forum, this is not all that common here.

Brakie wrote:

QUOTE: I will check the new forum but,will not take a active part..To be honest I was just about to quit when Atlas pulled the plug.There was just to much BS and smoke and mirrors bashing of products...

Oh, c'mon, Brakie. What I saw more often than not was that people would complain that cars were painted incorrectly for the prototype, that details were wrong, that RTR didn't actually mean RTR, etc. There was no rampant, out of control "bashing" of products that I saw. Even CurtMc didn't criticize without merit (at least on Atlas).

I know I took Con-Cor to task several times on Atlas for their truly weak attempts to model the New Haven's stainless steel cars (roof should be black, not light gray; trucks should be black, not silver; orange window band should not go over the doors, etc.). Does that mean I'm "bashing" Con-Cor because they can't get it right?

Or how about all those times you came out against RTR and the lack of GP9's in your favorite road? Was that "bashing" the model RR companies?

Your concerns about RTR and GP9's are just as legitimate as my concerns about Con-Cor, so where are the "smoke and mirrors"?

QUOTE: I also expect it will go back to the way it was before the shut down for upgrades and cooling off and no doubt to be shut down again..

My guess is that it was the UP vs. Athearn, Lionel, and the world that set off the latest shut down. And it wasn't even that bad (threre's been far worse; remember the DCC wars?). If they had just slapped a lock on the offending threads, that would have been the end of it. It is very, very rare that someone starts a replacement thread once the original has been locked (at least for a while), but Atlas didn't do that. So, like others, I assumed that it was still alright to dicuss the topic of UP as long as I conformed to their wi***hat all future discussion take place without speculation and only with facts. Next thing you know, the whole place is shut down, with no warning and no reason.

But then, they did have a BOD shake-up soon thereafter, so maybe it was just a business decision or something. (shrug) I dunno...

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Anonymous]

Atlas N scale forum all the way! Lots more insight, motivated conversation, and even stupid arguments. Most of all, as others have mentioned, not as much "Whats your favorite..." Plus, Atlas is moderated, so you lose some of the "crud" posts that really dont pertain to model railroading (70+ pages for a coffee shop?) or are just plain obnoxious. That, and its all N scale (no offence to HO modellers or anyone else for that matter, I am just one heck of an avid N scaler). So as much as this forum has to offer, it just does not suit me and I am looking forward to Atlas coming back online (and their new NS SD60Ms in the new NS paint scheme).

Matt

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by marcmr

Atlas N scale forum all the way! Lots more insight, motivated conversation, and even stupid arguments. Most of all, as others have mentioned, not as much "Whats your favorite..." Plus, Atlas is moderated, so you lose some of the "crud" posts that really dont pertain to model railroading (70+ pages for a coffee shop?) or are just plain obnoxious. That, and its all N scale (no offence to HO modellers or anyone else for that matter, I am just one heck of an avid N scaler). So as much as this forum has to offer, it just does not suit me and I am looking forward to Atlas coming back online (and their new NS SD60Ms in the new NS paint scheme).

Matt

But I thought that was the reason for the coffee shop. To keep the chat there.

[Anonymous]

It does (I guess it wouldnt be over 70 pages if it didnt), just does not suit me. Perhaps I should have been more clear on that. Apologies. Anyway, really its just a matter of taste. I still post here every now and again when something piques my interest.

Matt

[JPowell]

<----- Does not post on the Atlas site cause I don't have any use for Atlas products. I only have a Atlas account cause I decided to download the RTR Software, which I have not even used since I installed it back in April. All of my posting is done on here, so I'm staying put. Besides, I get some good laughs off of some of these threads!

[Anonymous]

I will be using both the MR and Atlas forums, with Atlas being the first choice, but I enjoy the MR forum also, lots of nice folks here, and I have enjoyed my time spent here, I hope that in my 70 or so posts, that I have added some constructive content that will help fellow modelers, and I very much appreciate the welcome that everyone here gave me when the Atlas forum went down, so I won"t be saying good by, I just may not spend as much time here after the Atlas forum returns, one reason being, my 56K modem works much faster with the Atlas forum. Cheers to all.


Mac

[Anonymous]

I don't post much on Atlas and even less here, so when Atlas get's their Forum back up, I guess y'all will see alot less of me here. Besides, I realized about a year ago that I spent way too much time reading and responding to the Forums in general and not enough time actually modelling.

[orsonroy]

Speaking of which, it looks like it's back up. Dind't see anything different, tho...

[Anonymous]

I just checked. And it appears that the Atlas Forums are back up.

[Anonymous]

It's up intermittently maybe? Seems not available right now.

[orsonroy]

Oops; it's down again.

I guess we AF addicts need help, right?

[wt259]

It's up, it's down!!! I'll be glad when it's back up. It loads a whole lot faster. I have a dial-up connection, no one is interested in providing up to date services out here in the hinterlands. Besides, Verizon's phone lines up here were hung by guys who worked for A.G. Bell. Don't think they've been upgraded since then either.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wt259

It's up, it's down!!! . Besides, Verizon's phone lines up here were hung by guys who worked for A.G. Bell. Don't think they've been upgraded since then either.

Quest out west isn't any better, maybe worse. I think SBC leads the pack for the bells.

[Don Gibson]

I agree with Paul III, J. Murray, & Chcuck Walsh. Too much 'What's your favorite" tthis and that, and the polls = Amateur night..

I have just been waiting for a Poll: "What engine runs the fastest?"

I commend MR for their endeavor, pain. and suffering. ... At least people here don't openly critcize MR's articles - that don't subscribe.

[Anonymous]

When Atlas returns I'll monitor both forum's as I did before.

What I really miss from the Atlas Forum was the Sunday Photo Fest. I know it was tried on the MR Forum but it just was not the same. Hopefully it will be back soon![:)]

[BRAKIE]

Paul3,There is another wrong with wishful thinking about locomotives coming out in ones favorite road name.Yes,I was like most modelers against RTR cars..Now I really like them..[:D] BTW look how many times I ask for a GP39.[:D] And I have 4 Kato GP35s that I traded for and I have no complaints about them-see how time changes things?
No,the Atlas forum was getting out of hand on the personal attacks and other attacks.Even Paul Graf stated to stop the bashing of other companies but to no avail.And those that whine about a missing road specific or other minor detail part(s) that can easily be added by adding a aftermarket detail part(s) this is smoke and mirrors bashing of a other wise fine product..Savvy?
I also feel that the forum was shut down for cooling off of the members..

[egmurphy]

Well I'm hardly the most prolific poster here so it probably doesn't matter much what I do, but since you asked. I'll be glad to see the Atlas forum come back as I did enjoy the info there. Since it went down I have found (or started reading) several other forums, including this one. I plan to continue with my participation here such as it is (mostly Coffee Shop), as well as resume activity at Atlas. And I'll try to keep up with one or two others of the forums I have found. But then again, since I'm retired I have more time available than a lot of you.

Stupid polls here or bashing at Atlas never bothered me much. Even though I'm not particularly computer literate, I have learned how to easily skip threads or posts that don't interest me.

Yeah, the Atlas forum seemed to load faster on my dial-up connection too. Think I'll try that tip someone posted back at the start of this thread about editing your profile to keep from having to load all the signature stuff. Anything to speed this machine up.

Regards

Ed