Missing Forum Members?

[SeeYou190]

JaBear

In the Current Interweb Age of Information there are too many instances of ffolkes putting far too much “personal stuff” into the public domain, which if they had any sense, they wouldn’t.

Before I joined this forum, I was a very active member, for years, on a wargaming forum used by thousands of people world-wide. The wargamers shared A LOT MORE personal information than the model railroaders do, but I think that is because we all met at coinventions/tournaments from time to time in the real world, so there was less anonymity amongst the participants.

Also, before I joined this forum, I had a substantial online presence with my previous employer.

I already had tons of personal presence under my real name in the web, so since I have always "existed" on the web, I don't think about it much.

JaBear

I’ve been perturbed by Forum members whose valued contributions, be they helpful/ interesting/ controversial/ other or a combination of categories, have, for the want of a better word, stopped!  

I have also 90% stopped offering advice/solutions/help to people in this forum. I communicate via email with four other regulars that have done the same thing for the same reason.

Continuously being shouted down by a know-it-all who can't even figure out how to wire or operate an Atlas Controller, but constantly tells the experienced helpful people they are wrong, has taken a brutal hit to the helpful advice provided here.

JaBear

Unfortunately, the Diners RIP Track is increasing in occupancy at a somewhat alarming rate.

I think this has just been the case in the last few months. Since I have been here, January 2017, Brakie, Rrinker, Neil B, PastorBob, and TamikawaTT are the only new arrivals on the RIP track from the forum usership, but four of them have been in the last 12 months. I pray this surge ends.

JaBear

Now, I’m making a reasoned guess that some former prolific contributors have “out grown” this Forum / hobby; had a w**k/ lifestyle change; or simply moved on with their life.

That happens. I would never have come here if I had not been kicked off the wargamer forum I used. I will need to be kicked out of here to leave this one. I think I am stubborn when I find a forum home.

What Mr. Hooper would call a territorial predator.

JaBear

There are, of course, Forum Members who have left enough “breadcrumbs, that I feel certain that I can identify their real persona.

I have met about a dozen forum users face-face, even visited five of their homes. I have cell phone numbers for about 20 people. That might sound like a lot, but I had this circumstance with hundreds of the users on the wargamer forum.

JaBear

There are other regulars who I wouldn’t have a clue how contact them.

I used to have addresses for about 30-40 forum members, but I lost them all when I retired and surrendered my work computer. The file became encrypted and locked when I tried to open it on an unauthorized computer.

JaBear

The question I’m asking is, do you have (even if it is for the far distant future) a notification system in place? That is if you even care.

Since everyone here knows my real name and where I live, I am certain it will not take much effort to figure out what happened to me. But... my wife has instructions how to let everybody know.

riogrande5761

Atlas shut theirs down in 2012.  With the way things are going with this magazine, I wouldn't be surprised if this forum gets the axe. 

Atlas is a manufacturing company that had a forum. It did not fit.

Kalmbach Media is a communications company that is transitioning to a larger online presence. The forum fits. The forum drives a bit of traffic to the Kalmbach site, and keeps it returning. The hardest part of having an online business is getting people to come in your door. I think the forum will be here for a long while.

I just renewed my subscription to Fine Scale Modeler, and subscribed to Classic Trains for the first time to try it out. I finally had a contribution published in Model Railroader.

The forums do work for Kalmbach Media to a certain extent. I am certain they work better than they did for Atlas.

They could do better, like my previous employer did (we were a manufacturer that used the forum to keep our "enthusiast" customer base excited).

trwroute

I do belong to a couple different forums, but I don't post enough for anyone to miss me.

You would be missed, at least by me. I recognize your avatar and read all your posts.

riogrande5761

I had guessed it, but didn't understand why work had to have letters replaced with asteriks, like it was trying to go stealth or something.

W**k, to many of us, is an offensive and vulgar word.

York1

That said, it is concerning when someone who actively posts just quits.  I'm not sure why my first thought when that happens is that something bad has happened.

Many of the missing members communicate with me via email. Most are just fine. Hopefully when the toxic dark force that has infected the prized how-to threads moves on, they will be back.

I have two more projects to share, like my benchwork segment and paint booth, but in the current environment, I am holding them for the time being.

-Kevin

[York1]

So, I guess the question I’m asking is, do you have (even if it is for the far distant future) a notification system in place? That is if you even care.

 

This is interesting since I know several forum members who suddenly "disappeared".

I have left enough information in some of my posts that it would not be difficult for someone to find my obituary when that happens.

That said, it is concerning when someone who actively posts just quits.  I'm not sure why my first thought when that happens is that something bad has happened.

[ModelTrain]

I am a new member here but I really appreciate the help and tips that I have received on this forum.

I only have an ipad, no computer, so when I post pictures here, it takes me a long time to do it. So in the last weeks, I decided to try model railroading Facebook groups. It's way faster to post photos than here but my threads get lost very fast in the sea of threads. Plus, I have received a lot more helpful tips here than on Facebook so I am back even though this forum is not user friendly for ipad users like me.

[riogrande5761]

I had guessed it, but didn't understand why work had to have letters replaced with asteriks, like it was trying to go stealth or something.  Maybe I haven't had enough coffee to get some subtle thing here?  or was that just done to play with our heads?

[trwroute]

I don't have any kind of notification plan in place.  I do belong to a couple different forums, but I don't post enough for anyone to miss me.

However, I just retired about a month ago at the age of 57.  That might give me time to post a bit more and, maybe, someone might actually notice when I disappear!

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

The mystery word appears to be work.....

Sheldon

[riogrande5761]

What is this w**k you speak of - this mystery word.  Forums themselves can be relatively ephemeral, even this one.  Atlas shut theirs down in 2012.  With the way things are going with this magazine, I wouldn't be surprised if this forum gets the axe. 

People have different priorities and preferences but forums are generally set up so members don't have access to personal contact info unless a member voluntarily shares it with someone they feel they can trust. 

They come for their own reasons.  Obviously some come here as much for the social interaction as to talk about model trains, sometimes model trains are pretty much a vehicle or excuse to socialize online.  

I particiapate in a number of forums so I don't depend too much on any one.  If MR magazine shuts this forum down, which I expect will happen sooner or later, it will not be horrible to me.  Maybe it will be for some who have become dependant on it.  I tend to prefer forums where trains or model trains are the focus, rather than social banter, or "coffee clutch" talk with "virtual" food.  A couple of other forums are very much social centers and as such, I tend to visit less often - not much "meat" there.  A few others are much more focused on the hobby and to me they are more satisfying. 

But as they say, different strokes ...

["JaBear"]

In the Current Interweb Age of Information there are too many instances of ffolkes putting far too much “personal stuff” into the public domain, which if they had any sense, they wouldn’t.

 

So, I do respect ffolkes who do value their privacy, but of late, I’ve been perturbed by Forum members whose valued contributions, be they helpful/ interesting/ controversial/ other or a combination of categories, have, for the want of a better word, stopped!  

 

Unfortunately, the Diners RIP Track is increasing in occupancy at a somewhat alarming rate, though I shouldn’t be that surprised, given, I guess the average age of a lot of Forum Members.

 

Now, I’m making a reasoned guess that some former prolific contributors have “out grown” this Forum / hobby; had a w**k/ lifestyle change; or simply moved on with their life.

 

Some of the youngsters have gone off to college, or started w**k,  and or become interested in fast cars, and or, dare I say, faster women, and may at a later date return to the hobby, and therefore the Forum. but even though I lost a good workmate/friend to cancer at the tender age of 42, it’s not the youngsters I think about, excepting that I occasionally wonder how they’re going, and that they’re having a “Happy Life”.

 

There are, of course, Forum Members who have left enough “breadcrumbs, that I feel certain that I can identify their real persona, others I know who frequent other forums which is where I would make inquiries, but then there are other regulars who I wouldn’t have a clue how contact them.

 

So, I guess the question I’m asking is, do you have (even if it is for the far distant future) a notification system in place? That is if you even care.

 

Cheers, the curious Bear.