Forums losing interest?

Mike, glad you did not take offense. Trust me, my spelling skills are not the greatest, nor my typing skills.

Like others, I find FSM's forum more broad based. As I am mainly modelling WW II armor in the smaller 1/76 and 1/72 scales, I tend to check t other forums with sections dedicated to that scale much more often. So, unlike some others have said, FSM's forum is not my 'home' forum, and I only check for new postings every few days.

Jim F

Tucohoward

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 don't think lots of people are leaving here for other forums. I think in many cases its just people posting less. I have not seen that many members dissapear completly. As for me, i am not to keen of those forums that have a narrow focus. I tried a 72nd aircrfat forum once and could not get into that either. I do think most moderllers have a range of intersts in regards to genres and scales and i have not noticed any drop off in otehr forums i have looked at. I know the one i joined up to can be difficult to keep up with, which surprised me for a UK based forum.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

 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.

 

Very true that. I have seen things posted on FB by persons well into their 40's and 50's that have either gotten then fired from their jobs or in trouble with spouces or friends. And then there are the adults posting all sorts of personal info like where they went to school, DOB, employment, Etc just making it easy for someone to steal their info.

I quite frankly don't get the FB thing of listing your daily life as you go on doing things. Who the heck cares!

We have a FB account set up for our neighborhood to keep up with what's happening in the area. I actually find it very useful in that regard, specially if neighbors are giving away or selling things. I recently picked up a brand new dining room table for my daughter's apt. for free. The nice neighbor just wanted it out to make room for other furniture. 

A while back the account was locked up due to suspicious activity. I contacted FB and indeed someone in Russia was attempting to log on to my account so FB locked it up till I set up another password . I have no sensitive personal info of any kind in there but it was disturbing to learn.

As far as the new forum format goes, I was one complaining about the changes but by now it seems to not bother me any more and I just turned the page on that issue. I do wish they had a different background color and picture storing capability to avoid the the storage websites.

The lack of traffic could be that people are just busy specially with the Christmas Season coming up, and cooler weather finally filtering in so outside yard work becomes more tolerable. I for one have had little bench time due to yard work and grandpa duties with the arrival of my granddaughter.

 Don its just that time of the year, The weather been pretty good here in Wis all summer. Time to get away from the bench and the computer . on the weekends and vaction days when the suns out I'm up and out till it go's down and the mosquito's drive me in. I looked up my post's and it show's.

 March 3 post's

May 1 post

June 0

July 1 post

 August 0

 Sept 0

 Oct 2 post's

 Nov This make's post # 2

 There hasn't been much to comment on. The industry seems to be slowing down a bitt  a lot of rereleases ,reboxing, some retooling.

 I'm sure as the Weather turns colder the modeler's will get back to the bench's and the post's will flow.

 Dave M

An interesting article regarding Facebook...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/for-a-happier-life-give-up-facebook-study/ar-CCbI8E?li=AAa0dzB&ocid=iehp

Ya know, since this thread came out I started watching the forums more closely to see what was happening. I noticed that there is still plenty of activity with regard to people viewing threads, but very very few posts in response to those threads. I'm sure that we could list numerous reasons why the posting is not happening, but that is not all that important. What we should be doing for each other is reply to many of the posts we take the time to view. I think it is the curtious thing to do. If someone takes the time to post pics of their build or WIP, if we view it we should be kind enough to respond. Even if only a singel word. Otherwise, why bother posting for others to see what you've done.

That's just my opinion on one form of forum ediquate.

BK

BrandonK

If someone takes the time to post pics of their build or WIP, if we view it we should be kind enough to respond. Even if only a singel word. Otherwise, why bother posting for others to see what you've done.

Very true BK. I see some wips with 80 to 200 views and maybe 10 responses. Not too encouraging for that person that took the time and effort to upload the pictures. 

plasticjunkie

Not too encouraging for that person that took the time and effort to upload the pictures. 

Steve

Uh, guys.....hate to break it to you, but this forum IS "social media", not much different than facebook. Look--we "like" a post when we chime in with an attaboy, and we even have "friends" here, lol. It's just slightly more focused and has rules and guidelines that are enforced by moderators.

Even so, it has had some notable and memorable flame wars and "un-friendings" to coin the phrase.

Yep. Better face it. You're ALL Facebookers at heart! Bwahh HA HA HAAAAA!!!

It's a Lost in space forum.The true modeling forums do not lock you out when you voice your opinion What styles of modeling that others may agree or not.It may be the time for hunting or fishing .At least you will see how small the hobby is from the outside.

the doog

Uh, guys.....hate to break it to you, but this forum IS "social media", not much different than facebook. Look--we "like" a post when we chime in with an attaboy, and we even have "friends" here, lol. It's just slightly more focused and has rules and guidelines that are enforced by moderators.

Even so, it has had some notable and memorable flame wars and "un-friendings" to coin the phrase.

Yep. Better face it. You're ALL Facebookers at heart! Bwahh HA HA HAAAAA!!!

 

Yes, but my Parents and Grandma aren't on this forum...

Nathan T

Yes, but my Parents and Grandma aren't on this forum...

Neither is my sister... thank goodness!

Really, maybe we're just tired of talking about modeling.  Sure seem to enjoy talking about the lack of it, anyway. 

Gary

the doog

Uh, guys.....hate to break it to you, but this forum IS "social media"......................

Yep. Better face it. You're ALL Facebookers at heart! Bwahh HA HA HAAAAA!!!

 

Speaking for myself, I do a deep catch-up every week or two and avidly watch the WIP threads. For the most part, I am agog at the quality of the builds, but it never occurs to me to post a quick "attaboy" for the person who made the effort to put up the photos.  Perhaps I should reconsider that. I remember discovering the incredible museum-quality 1/12 Mercury WIP and how he seemed disheartened at the few responses, and even then I didn't post anything. Maybe I feel that the work speaks for itself. I dunno.

Sometimes life intrudes. New job and call kept me away for almost a year. 

But now I am back and ready to participate. I am sure same thing happens to different folks at different times

Perhaps I am odd man out, but I build my models just for me, the enjoyment of it. I don't post a WIP, or finished results, mainly because I never think to. Don't care if anyone things it's great, or crap. Maybe that's why I could care less about fb, as it seems a way to blow your own horn, in a much wider sense.

As for posting something regarding someone else's work, I will, if the subject is one I have a interest in, because that is the only reason I would be looking at the thread in the first place.

I use forums, and yahoo groups, for info, either looking for answers that have already been asked and resonded to, of to ask a new one.

Again, maybe just me :)

Jim F

Funny, though you are tongue-in-cheek (I think???), Karl, this occurred to me whist I was posting several days back. I wondered when someone was going to be a wise-guy and point it out. You win.

Kinda yes, kinda no.....  but your point is taken nonetheless.

Nathan more or less nailed it for me with his comment above.

edit: I forgot to insert Karl's (the doog's) post, sorry.

Getting to this late, but for myself I was a member from 2002-03 until 2010-ish (whenever the last software upgrade was), I left basically because of software issues, it simply became too difficult for me to participate any further. The new update actually caused me to return but life has made things difficult for me to spend much time here (or do anything model related), but as things are winding down at work I hope to get back to both. 

I've been trying to become more active in both posting and my builds.  Unfortunately, certain replica prop projects have me locked away in my basement building various machines that I need... 3-axis CNC router, Vaccum former, Rotocaster, larger spray booth... As is the case, the models take a back seat for a bit.

The white background is a bit much though...

Along the lines of falling back to special interest forums...

What do you guys think about putting out multiple build logs of the same project on different forums?  

I've done it a couple of times in the past but I figure most builders hit the big and/or special interest forums anyway and I wondered if I looked like an "attention whore" by doing it...

I also, however I will usually build in a GB or 2, therfore need to post in them, and there are many members who don't look at GB's and complain that all the WIP is posted in the GB's. That leaves me posting the same WIP threads 2 or three times. 

I for one appreciate the multiple forums posts since I don't participate in any GB's but very much enjoy seeing the work you guys do. I find it hard to search the GB's for info due to the volume of posts.

Jay, i know what you mean about GB's. It can be hard to keep up even when you are in them. Thats why its nice when people also do a seperate WiP thread so that otehrs can see your builds. And a lot of the GB guys are doing that more and more now.

Sorry I ain't been around. I just needed a break.

I have other hobbies that tie up my time as well. Especially with Christmas coming up. I do leatherwork and have been making gifts. So, my modelling suffers.

Guilty of not being around lately here....

Just life you know. Seem to always be a million and one things that takes attention away from sitting at a bench working on a hobby. Hoping to rekindle the fire though and get back to building something now that gardening, Harley riding, and general outdoor activities are getting scaled back due to cooler weather. Glad to see a lot of names still hanging around here though!