Forums losing interest?

In my opinion, you can blame it on one word--Facebook.

I personally know of, and have seen former and current FSM modelers who now post MUCH more frequently on FB than on this site. I hope I don't sound too cynical when I opine that the reason for that may be the fact that on FB, your audience is really more of your confirmed "friends" who are more likely to give you effusive praise than any group of mixed persons on any given forum? Then again, maybe it's just a desire to get moreresponses, period; there ARE times on this forum when the responses are few and far in between, for whatever reason. There are some major modelers who now exclusively post to FB.

I have to say that I have not yet fallen to that tendency and don't plan to any time soon. I will post mostly finished photos up on my FB page, or greatly truncated versions of "in progress" photos, but I would much rather post here, for various reasons.

Personally, I don't believe that anybody "abandoned" the forum because of the (gasp!) "big change". And if they did, well...don't let the door hitcha, as far as Im co'ncerned. If you'd leave a forum because of that, that's like running away from home because your parents had to do a little remodeling when the aged infrastructure of your home gave way.

Yeah I agree Karl. Lots of great builders that I used to follow here and elsewhere have pretty much left forums for Facebook. I dislike facebook myself so I won't be seeing them anymore. Also, lots of private SIGs on Facebook as well that can't even be viewed by the casual observer...

FSM forums suit me just fine.

As for Facebook:

http://phys.org/news/2015-11-happier-life-facebook.html

I wouldn't have a clue how to use Facebook as a forum. 

Facebook is useless crap to me. I don't have now or foresee any interest in it. In short I'm on forums for the long haul. Call me old fashioned I guess.

Bish

 

 

modelcrazy

I'm with Wayne. While I'm a member of other forums, I feel this is my home. There are too many people I consider family, and who care about me, to ever leave them.

Steve

 

 

 

 

I have joined a couple of other forums over the last few years, but not as a replacement for here but in addition. But i can never get into them and this will always be my home in regards modelling forums, no matter what.

 

mustang1989

Facebook is useless crap to me. I don't have now or foresee any interest in it. In short I'm on forums for the long haul. Call me old fashioned I guess.

 

Facebook is useless crap. I've seen and heard far too many stupidity than I care to see posted by friends and family alike. I, too, have no desire to open a facebook account either. To me, FB is just a big waste of time.

What is it about Facebook that makes me go "no thanks"?  I even dislike giving out personal e-mail addresses.  I suppose I'm more of a 'lone wolf' than a 'herd' member.

My dad said, "If everyone were jumping off a cliff, would you jump off too?"  I guess that was before para-gliding and bungee cords... 

Being a recent retiree I started a FB account to keep up with fellow retired folks and some currently serving PO's that I worked with.  

I quickly learned a better way to accomplish that task.

I use the darn telephone. I make a date, then go eat and drink beer. 

I am old fashioned (I'm old as well) and that's my "social interaction".

Gnetlemen, there is no need to be so narrow minded.  You only get out of Facebook what you put in it.   Do most youngsters use it to start drama and brag about things they don't really accomplish?  Yes. BUT we are not 14 years old and immature!  We are adults so we utilize Facebook accordingly!  But if you are mature, like you gents are, there is NO need you cannot use it as another tool, especially for modeling, you can put in your arsinal.   

           EXAMPLE!  

 I'm only 24, but I wanted a way to reach out to the young people (and people of all ages) about the benifits of building RC with balsa and composits. "Balsa flys better". I wanted to get them away from all of that read-to-fly foam crap.  Builing and designing is a dying art.  So I set out to bring "awarness" and started a group called "Balsa Model Aircraft Builders Association".    Needless to say in a years time we now have over 2,000 members!!  Countless posts per day.  We also have members donating kits, tools, wood, etc to help with builds. All passing along good deeds and knowledge. There are quite a few 80+ year old members.  All sharing there advice and knowledge to the younger generation. 

             I single-handely created and outlet for amazing pilots, builders, designers, and those aspiring to get together and teach/learn.  If it was not for Facebook, I would not have been able to do that. I have no knoledge of how to start a forum. 

                 So before you call Facebook a "pile of crap" or "a big wast of time", why don't you give it a try and spread some knolwdge instead of a narrow mind?  Were not 14 year old girls, so you should have no issues with drama!  LOL   

SubarooMike

Gnetlemen, there is no need to be so narrow minded.  You only get out of Facebook what you put in it.   Do most youngsters use it to start drama and brag about things they don't really accomplish?  Yes. BUT we are not 14 years old and immature!  We are adults so we utilize Facebook accordingly!  But if you are mature, like you gents are, there is NO need you cannot use it as another tool, especially for modeling, you can put in your arsinal.   

 

           EXAMPLE!  

 

 I'm only 24, but I wanted a way to reach out to the young people (and people of all ages) about the benifits of building RC with balsa and composits. "Balsa flys better". I wanted to get them away from all of that read-to-fly foam crap.  Builing and designing is a dying art.  So I set out to bring "awarness" and started a group called "Balsa Model Aircraft Builders Association".    Needless to say in a years time we now have over 2,000 members!!  Countless posts per day.  We also have members donating kits, tools, wood, etc to help with builds. All passing along good deeds and knowledge. There are quite a few 80+ year old members.  All sharing there advice and knowledge to the younger generation. 

             I single-handely created and outlet for amazing pilots, builders, designers, and those aspiring to get together and teach/learn.  If it was not for Facebook, I would not have been able to do that. I have no knoledge of how to start a forum. 

 

                 So before you call Facebook a "pile of crap" or "a big wast of time", why don't you give it a try and spread some knolwdge instead of a narrow mind?  Were not 14 year old girls, so you should have no issues with drama!  LOL   

                  

 

Its not just kids and teenagers that post stupid stuff on FB. I've see plenty of adults of all ages in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and older post stupid stuff as well. Believe me, you wouldn't believe the stories I've seen and heard.

SubarooMike

Gnetlemen, there is no need to be so narrow minded. 

Oh my!

I think it's great what you've done, Mike. Really. It's a very positive thing and something to be proud of.

But I also think it's ok for some of us to choose not to be fans of social media.

SubarooMike is 24? Heh - you're still a pup and still dont know how the real world works. I agree with Greg. There are those that don't want to get involve with the social media. It's not that were "narrow minded" nor "closed minded", it's a choice we make. 

Agree with Bish and others that I just dont have a need for FB, Forums here are fine although my wife had set one up for me. We have good talented people here with common interests. Thats perfect by me. 

Terry

So I take it you do know how the world works? Slightly condesending, and naive to think that you do at any age.  There is not a fellow alive who knows how the world works. Only perceptions. 

Post intended for BlackSheep.  Forgot to quote

I'm referring to those who have never tried it and are not well-versed in social media. 

Post intended for Greg.  ONCE AGAIN forgot to quote

SubarooMike

I'm referring to those who have never tried it and are not well-versed in social media. 

 

Post intended for Greg.  ONCE AGAIN forgot to quote

 

I don't think we have to try something to be able to decide its not for us. We can get an understanding of how somthing works simply by listening to others. I know drinking poison is not good for me, but i have not had to try it to find that out.

Bish

 

 

SubarooMike

 

Post intended for Greg.  ONCE AGAIN forgot to quote

 

 

 

 

I don't think we have to try something to be able to decide its not for us. We can get an understanding of how somthing works simply by listening to others. I know drinking poison is not good for me, but i have not had to try it to find that out.

 

By "well-versed" I meant do not poses any understanding.  

I'm referring to those who have never tried it and are not well-versed in social media. 

I don't thinki'm in the wrong calling one who does not like somthing and poses no understand of said thing, narrow minded.  

SubarooMike

So I take it you do know how the world works? Slightly condesending, and naive to think that you do at any age.  There is not a fellow alive who knows how the world works. Only perceptions. 

 

Post intended for BlackSheep.  Forgot to quote

 

Well let's see... I am 50 years old, happily married, a kid, a job (25 years), friends, planned my retirement, done civic duty, went through many trials and tribulations so yeah, I know how the world works. 

SubarooMike

 

Bish

 

 

SubarooMike

 

Post intended for Greg.  ONCE AGAIN forgot to quote

 

 

 

 

I don't think we have to try something to be able to decide its not for us. We can get an understanding of how somthing works simply by listening to others. I know drinking poison is not good for me, but i have not had to try it to find that out.

 

 

 

 

 

By "well-versed" I meant do not poses any understanding.  

 

I'm referring to those who have never tried it and are not well-versed in social media. 

I don't thinki'm in the wrong calling one who does not like somthing and poses no understand of said thing, narrow minded.  

 

 

I have never tried it and am not well versed in it but i have an understanding of what it is. I have seen it in use, and that was enough. I would say the same probably goes for many who don't use it. Its not somthing you can really get away from.

Don't take it to heart. It has nothing to do with not trying FB or any form of social media sites. It's just that some folks here just simply have no desire to try FB or any social media sites. 

I agree social media, for the most part, is rather negative and individuals take -- just about everything too far on there. God bless my generation.  I only use it as a tool. I use it for full scale and modeling pages. That's all I was trying to get acrossed.  You don't have to use to connect with people you personallly know and share pics everytime you do something. You can just use it to join groups -- like forums.  That's all.   Clearly I upsett a few people useing the term "narrow minded". It seems as if my point has gone, more or less, unnoticed. But in the end it really doesnt matter.   Being that I am 24, anything I do or say will be micro-analysed and looked down upon. It is what it is. 

I'm narrow minded and proud of it

I'm not dissing SubarooMike with this, but his posts are a super excellent example of why FSM needs to install a spell check function.

One dislike I have with fb is that it is so much easier for a thread, if it can be called that on there, being taken off topic. It's even easier there than on a forum.

Jim Fynn

If people are leaving this forum for other forums I don't think it really matters if the other forums are on FB or somewhere else. The question is why. For me I wanted something more focused on what I build. I build 1/32 scale planes for the most part and at some point found the Large Scale Planes forum. I think that a lot of modelers have a fairly specific area of interest and may be moving to forums that reflect that. I haven't noticed any drop off at LSP. Definitely prefer their format by a wide margin.

Jay 

I found 5-6 other (FREE) forums that I visit everyday, including a great one by a local model club which I plan on attending their meetings when it doesn't conflict with my work schedule.  But I always come back here which is my favorite. One thing I wish FSM would do is to tone down the site with something other than this stark white background.

SubarooMike

I'm referring to those who have never tried it and are not well-versed in social media. 

 

Post intended for Greg.  ONCE AGAIN forgot to quote

 

I can appreciate your point, Mike.

I tried it. Twice. My privacy was taken hostage (through no fault of my own other than having kind of dumb facebook acquaintances at the time). So that's my reason.

That said, I think Bish has a point as well. As well-known as social media is in general, it's ok IMO for somebody to dismiss it without trying it. In hindsight, I wish I would have.

In the meantime, you keep up what you're doing! As I said, sounds like a wonderful thing, and a great use of social media.

JimF51

I'm not dissing SubarooMike with this, but his posts are a super excellent example of why FSM needs to install a spell check function.

One dislike I have with fb is that it is so much easier for a thread, if it can be called that on there, being taken off topic. It's even easier there than on a forum.

 

Jim Fynn

 

I was just typing.  Sorry if I fat-fingered some words LOL