Changing the face of the forum - Part II

[NeO6874]

Well Tom,

looks like you got responses anyway ;)

 

I kinda agree that there whould be another sub forum, either as part of the MRR forums, or a general/generic one as part of the Trains.com set of forums for these "clubs" and groups.  While I can see why people like to make the trackside diner/coffee shop threads, I also think that bergie et al. should probably limit these type of threads to one, maybe two per forum - I personally was in the CS for a few months pretty regularly, it was a nice "haven" of sorts from all the "<company A> is way better than <Company B>" flamebait threads... It was a nice place, because most of the topics were just the generic jawing that happens whenever people get together (how's the wife/(grand)kids/etc), as well as the "more heated" topics of atlas vs bachmann vs whoever... but even then, they seemed to saty more civil than other threads on the same topic(s).

[selector]

It seems to go in waves.  I found the place dead five weeks ago, and now it has "heated up".

Cabin fever, new experiences over the winter that make previously timid on-lookers bolder to say someone is full of it, a long run and a belly full of MRR over the past four months, and probably an associated burn-out.  Sure we're gonna be cross, grumpy, testy, testing, aggressive...all them spring hormones and to-do lists have a whole different purpose to them.

Even I am not immune.  I have felt the urge to grit my teeth and get heavy-handed on the keyboard.  It is natural.

Shh....is that rhubarb I hear poking out of the soil?

[dima]

I am new member here but have been lurking around for quite some time. I agree with the poster - threads that are about something are dying and flamebait threads or threads such as "So, what color underware does your grandmother wear?" become very active.

Case n point - just today I posted a topic on Atlas Autoracks asking for opinions - let's see how long it lives :)

[SOU Fan]

Dave,

If I may ask, which topics did you post that no-one read or commented.  I usually love them, but sometimes I am on call for 48hours and away from the computer.  Also, what forums have a better, more philosophical discussion... I would love to read them. 

Brian

P.S.  I also think peeps are a bit grumpy this month...

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1064705/ShowPost.aspx

No, I meant the other forums (Atlas, Trainboard, Nscale.net, etc.) seem to have more hands-on how-do-ya-do-it stuff while the MR forums tend to get very philosophical very quickly.

There's room for both, though, which is why I come here to stand on my sopabox and those other places to find out, for example, how to kitbash a Pennsy M1b 4-8-2.

I never even saw that thread.  I really like the website except for the heavy prr theme. Just kidding.

-Smoke

[Dave Vollmer]

Dave,

If I may ask, which topics did you post that no-one read or commented.  I usually love them, but sometimes I am on call for 48hours and away from the computer.  Also, what forums have a better, more philosophical discussion... I would love to read them. 

Brian

P.S.  I also think peeps are a bit grumpy this month...

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1064705/ShowPost.aspx

No, I meant the other forums (Atlas, Trainboard, Nscale.net, etc.) seem to have more hands-on how-do-ya-do-it stuff while the MR forums tend to get very philosophical very quickly.

There's room for both, though, which is why I come here to stand on my sopabox and those other places to find out, for example, how to kitbash a Pennsy M1b 4-8-2.

[SOU Fan]

Something I've noticed...

I started a thread with links to two project pages in which I explained how I built a staging yard and how I installed an operating signal system.  It died.  No takers.

But, if I start a thread (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) for DCC people to argue about DC, it lights up like a Christmas tree.

Other forums, which I shall not name, seem to be better places to dicuss the mechanics of model railroading.  These forums seem to almost have a philosophical bent to them.

Hey I never saw that post. could you post a link to it please??

I do have to agree with you guys on this though.  It was fine when there was only the coffee shop but now we have the following "clubs":

Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

The 'DC' club

DCC Club

BEER BARN

The "N" Crowd

The "Club" Club

And then we keep getting threads like "loco wish list" or "what's your favorite rollig stock" or "what's your least favorite rolling stock" or "what's your engine roster" or "whatever you can think of". 

*stepping off soap box now*

-Smoke

[ShadowNix]

Dave,

If I may ask, which topics did you post that no-one read or commented.  I usually love them, but sometimes I am on call for 48hours and away from the computer.  Also, what forums have a better, more philosophical discussion... I would love to read them. 

Brian

P.S.  I also think peeps are a bit grumpy this month...

[Dave Vollmer]

Something I've noticed...

I started a thread with links to two project pages in which I explained how I built a staging yard and how I installed an operating signal system.  It died.  No takers.

But, if I start a thread (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) for DCC people to argue about DC, it lights up like a Christmas tree.

Other forums, which I shall not name, seem to be better places to dicuss the mechanics of model railroading.  These forums seem to almost have a philosophical bent to them.

[Pathfinder]

I have noticed that people seem to be short tempered lately, both in this Forum and elsewhere.  Too much sugar?

Dave Nelson

While I'm new here I have noticed this trend at other sites I visit. It seems to me that it gets worse in the winter months and then gets better as spring and summer come in.

I think someone called it "Cabin Fever" 

So true, and it seems to be worse the farther north you get and there is less light in winter.

As for the forum, I had suggested in the past that a separate section be created for all these "clubs", "beer barns" etc as it gets pretty old to come to the site and have to wade through all these on the first page.  But I have just learnt to put up with it.  It has resulted in less visits and posting here though. 

[MAbruce]

I have noticed that people seem to be short tempered lately, both in this Forum and elsewhere.  Too much sugar?

Dave Nelson

While I'm new here I have noticed this trend at other sites I visit. It seems to me that it gets worse in the winter months and then gets better as spring and summer come in.

I think someone called it "Cabin Fever" 

True.  I've seen the same thing year after year.  February and March seem to be the worst months.

There are also changes as members come and go.  I've often noticed that the forum heats up when there is a higher concentration of finicky modelers and/or younger members at a given point.  They tend to bring in a higher level of passion into the discussions which often results in more 'sparks' flying.

The 'splintering' seems to come and go as well.  It all depends on group demographics at the time.    

[MOJAX]

I have noticed that people seem to be short tempered lately, both in this Forum and elsewhere.  Too much sugar?

Dave Nelson

While I'm new here I have noticed this trend at other sites I visit. It seems to me that it gets worse in the winter months and then gets better as spring and summer come in.

I think someone called it "Cabin Fever" 

[dknelson]

I have noticed that people seem to be short tempered lately, both in this Forum and elsewhere.  Too much sugar? 

Did you ever take part in this experiment -- a group of people, such as a high school class, and the teacher whispers to the first person a very simple story, maybe a sentence of two, then it is passed along person by person.   Then you compare what the last person says to what the first person was told and it is usually amazingly, and hilariously, different.  

That is how I feel about most forum posts that go on for over 3 pages.  By that time they typicaly have little to do with the posted topic.  At that point if you want to continue talking about the listed topic you might as well start a new thread IMHO.

Dave Nelson

[tstage]

A couple of months ago I posted a mini-commentary (by the similar name) about the increase in the number of new "splinter groups" that have been "incorporated" here on the forum.  While I do understand their purpose, it still concerns me that our forum seems to be gradually breaking up into smaller and smaller fractions and factions of groups.  Even the two groups that have started up recently, I've noticed a modicum amount of in-fighting and friction between its "members" over the so-called "infiltraitors" from the other "gang" lurking in on their "meetings".  This I find a very disturbing and disheartening trend.

Personally, I find wading through an individual thread on a particular topic a lot easier to initially discern and understand than a continuing "group" thread that contains several "sub-topics" going on at the same time.  While this doesn't pose much of a problem on shorter group threads (e.g. 2 pages and <), it does become increasingly more difficult to follow the longer the group thread gets and the number of sub-topics breaks down into further sub-  sub-topics.

(In all fairness, the above can be said for ANY longer thread that is posted here on the forum, since it's not uncommon for tangents to take the conversation in different directions.  I'm speaking more specifically about topics that are covered under the larger headings that we already have established.)

Perhaps this is just how our forum is ultimately evolving and changing into.  If I were a newcomer to the hobby and I stumbled across this forum, I would personally view this trend of collaboration a rather daunting and limiting way to try and learn about something that I think I'm interested in.  If you aren't in on the ground floor of the particular group-topic at hand, you have a real job cut out for you, in order to follow all the nuances of the conversation(s).  (Let alone, learning all the added terminology and acronyms that we so often rattle off without thinking about it.)  This would also likely make me feel as if I were constantly looking "from the outside in" and wonder if I would ever be a part of the conversation or "group".

Unlike Part I to this sequel, there is no need to comment to this post.  I'm simply expressing my observations and concerns over some unsatisfying signs that I'm beginning to notice - and some that I have noticed on the forum for a while now.  Change is inevitable.  Trends do come and some go.  Perhaps this would be a good time to just take a small breather from things and re-evaluate.

Tom