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Sorry gang, but I'm leaving the FSM Forums

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Between LA and OC, SoCal
Sorry gang, but I'm leaving the FSM Forums
Posted by oortiz10 on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 5:52 PM

First of all, I have to say that I'm hesitant to post this and make it official. I've been on the forums for over 20 years. It's been my pleasure to share my hobby with you all. I can say that I am a better modeler for knowing and learning from you all. I've met some great builders and even better people. However, it's time for me to go. Not because I want to, but because...well...I'm just not happy here anymore.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the members. You have all been great. Sadly, I have to say it's FSM itself.

First, it was the increase in the subscription cost coupled with the cut in issuses. But the main reason I'm leaving the forums is the hassle. The constant connection errors and slow loading are too much. I know that the staff is aware of the issue because it was addressed in a forum post about 3 months ago. However, it seems (to me) that nothing has been done to correct the issue(s). 

I am constantly getting 504 and time out errors.

When the forums do decide to load, it takes way too long for a connection. Yeah, I know, first world problems, right? Maybe, but the experience is no longer enjoyable when more time is spent reloading and/or waiting than actually experiencing the content. 

I enjoy posting and sharing on the boards, however, it's frustrating when I spend the time and energy writing a post and loading photos only to have it dump out. It's equally as frustrating when trying to respond to a post and comment in a thread, again, only to have the connection delayed or lost. 

I'm sure I'll be back from time-to-time to check in on all the great work that's being posted. I might even (try to) reply in a thread. Maybe, if FSM can get the connection issues fixed, I'll even return as a contributor. Unfortunately, right now, I'm over it all. 

It's been a great 21 years. Thanks for all the laughs and inspiration. I appreciate all your feedback and comments on my builds. I'm grateful for everything that I've been able to learn from all you amazing builders. 

I wish you all the best. I hope that our modeling paths will cross again someday, maybe on a different forum if not in person. Again, thank you all for everything that you've done for me and my, no, our hobby.

With regards,

-O(mar)

-It's Omar, but they call me "O".

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:18 PM

I'm sad to see you go, good luck with wherever life takes you my friend. 


I can understand what you're feeling. The issues with the site and the generally slow posting has really put a damper on my usage of the site. I used to post every day. Now I'm down to twice a week or so. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:42 PM

Well, O, that's really sad...

Can you tell us where to look for you and for your great builds?

Then again I can understand you - these forums are not really state-of-art with how the pictures a re uploaded for example. Statements about hard drive costs have been true 20 years ago, but not now...

Then there are those loading problems...

And this all impacts the participation - hardly anything happens here anymore... And that's because talented people like you decide to try their luck elsewhere...

I've been a user here since 2007 and I don't know how much longer it's going to be...

Catch you on the 'net...

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 7:26 PM

See you over at MSC !!! Big Smile

Didn't realize that you were here as long as I have been,actually a little longer.So you remember the good old days and all the great members who have left.So sad to see it the way it is now,especially when remembering the past, oh well,nothing stays the same.

My own participation has been curtailed,but I still check in and help out where I can.Would be nice at some point to see a resurgence

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:55 PM

Ditto on seeing you on MSC! I too check out this forum occasionally now. Put my 2 cents worth in or attempt to help out a newby. It's definately not like it used to be. 

Stay safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:43 PM

O, as somebody once said, I feel your pain. I know where your coming from in frustration with how things work on here for the past while. Probably the simplest workaround is to make you photo posts elsewhere, as in other forums that many of us frequent, then copy and paste them onto here so no loss when things go sideways.  Simply have another go at pasting the post. That's what I do, and others here do as well.

But if you choose to lessen your participation on here, I know that I'll be seeing your work elsewhere. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Thursday, July 25, 2024 9:37 AM

Guys, what is MSC?

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, July 25, 2024 10:49 AM

I've actually seen the forums acting close to normal than before the hiccups.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Thursday, July 25, 2024 11:48 AM

missileman2000

Guys, what is MSC?

 

 

Message sent

https://modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/threads/recent

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, July 25, 2024 12:29 PM

O, lots of us have felt that way as well.

Just be sure to keep your participation on your own terms.

See you elsewhere.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Friday, July 26, 2024 9:25 PM

Missleman, message sent on PM.

Stay safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    January 2019
Posted by Edwin on Saturday, July 27, 2024 3:29 AM

Sad to see this. I have often enjoyed your posts and inputs, O. 

I don't often get the time to come on here, and when I do, the issues you mentioned sure do not make the experience an enjoyable one. I do remember how it was like in the early to mid 2000s, when the forum activity was a blast. Back then, I participated under a different user name, which got lost. When I got back into this hobby around 2018-2019, I recalled this forum and signed up (again). 

On the matter of FSM subscription, I am still a subscriber although I am feeling the content is far from how it was back around the '90s and prior. 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Saturday, July 27, 2024 7:02 AM

" O"

        You are going to be missed for sure. Listen, May God Bless and You take care of yourself. As us sailors say " May you have fair Winds, and a Following Sea". The mag has slipped for me too. And this mess here on the sight has me wondering. Well, based on  things here looks like I'll be vacating soon too. It's just no fun anymore.T.B.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, July 27, 2024 3:33 PM

Edwin

Sad to see this. I have often enjoyed your posts and inputs, O. 

I don't often get the time to come on here, and when I do, the issues you mentioned sure do not make the experience an enjoyable one. I do remember how it was like in the early to mid 2000s, when the forum activity was a blast. Back then, I participated under a different user name, which got lost. When I got back into this hobby around 2018-2019, I recalled this forum and signed up (again). 

On the matter of FSM subscription, I am still a subscriber although I am feeling the content is far from how it was back around the '90s and prior. 

None of the forums that were really active from like 1998-2005 are still hopping today, if they are even in existance.

There were days if you missed just one afternoon of checking forums, it seemed like it took days to catch back up.

Today, only a handful of forums get more that a moderate amount of activity. Some might be dormant for days before a new post is made.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Saturday, July 27, 2024 7:04 PM

Britmodeler

Kitmaker

Modelerssocialclub

They are three that are really busy,maybe not like in their heyday,but pretty good activity.

On the other hand,these are also much slower

Modelersalliance

Steelnavy

Spammodeler

  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Saturday, July 27, 2024 9:14 PM

you can add ModelWarships.com to the slower list as most new members who registered there are spammers as i have seen them. i am a moderator on a tech site for at least 14yrs plus was 1 on another tech site but no longer a mod there as was not posting for a while but i know what i am talking about.

  • Member since
    July 2011
  • From: Armpit of NY
Posted by MJames70 on Saturday, July 27, 2024 11:12 PM

Subject specific forums are dying in general these days. And the days where every company or product had their own forum are over as well. It's a change everywhere, not just here. Forums were a big fad when the internet first took off. But they have been dying off for the last 10-15 years. It turned out to be a lot of work, for minimal benefit. 

Steelnavy hasn't been updated in over three years and is basically unmoderated now. Modelwarships gets just a couple of posts a day usually. Starshipmodeler I think is going to disappear completely soon. 

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Canada
Posted by sharkbait on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 8:19 AM

What gets me are the non-model pop up ads that cover the screen and are replaced as fast as you can delete them. 


I keep getting booted off line and often have to log back in when I just change forums.

I just wanted the magazine mailed to me...nope you have to buy an online subscription and paper is extra. 

Seriously thinking of both canceling my subscription and leaving the forums too. Been a member here since 2003 and been buying tge mag since long before that. 

You have never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3!

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 8:42 AM

Gotta use ad blocking browser,not just here,most sites.

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