I don't understand

[Nacho Z]

This goes out to the forum members. I would like honest and frank input from you. If recent history is any indication, there will only be a few who respond.


I don't understand how this forum can have over 100 visits on a daily basis but yet go days or weeks with no postings.

I don't understand how we can have a monthly contest and only get one, or sometimes no, entries.

I don't understand how, when we do get more than one entry, we get 6 votes for the entries.

I don't understand how we get new members and then they do not post a single post.

I don't understand when I ask for input on how to make this forum better, I get very little to no input.

Is Facebook killing off small forums like this?

Am I just missing something that is so obvious to everyone but me?

I'm listening.

[halfpint33]

You hit the nail on the head.....facebook. I've basically asked the same question over at the Modelers Haven. I had a post that had over 30 views and not one comment.

And I'm just as guilty as the next person about not posting much at all. My main interest in building has shifted to semis so I go to forum that is exclusive to that subject.

It's frustrating I know. The Haven is my home board. Been there since the inception of it and hate to see it go to the wayside. Just hoping that the fb craze dies off and people flock back to our lil corners of the world wide web.

[harron68]

Dunno the reason. I know I stop by here and less "busy" sites because they're less active than in the past. It seems to be a self-reinforcing cycle. A number of sites have dissolved due to lack of interest, so it's a reflection of the decline in this hobby, I'm sad to write. I find a few dedicated builders (one model after another) can keep interest up, but it's a struggle. Drastic Plastics, once a very busy site, has declined and some of the smaller sites have become cemeteries of the past. e-scale site shut down and builders went to other sites, Skid's Place mostly. Military modeling seems the only one to hold a steady crowd of builders. Jerry's Cherry's, a drag and custom site, has kept interest due to a few constant builders too.
In sum, all I can recommend are 2 things, spread the word at other model sites of your existence and have some "constant builders" who post new pix at your site exclusively. That's about the best one can do. The comments section of You Tube model vids is another place to let your site be known. Best of luck to you. The hobby needs promoting to survive, grow, evolve.

[Nacho Z]

Thank you, halfpint33 and harron68.  Thank you for taking the time to reply and answer the question I posed.

This is my "home" board.  I had posted my WIPs and finished models here exclusively at first, but have in the last few years shared on other sites as well.  I hate to see the board falter as it has lately.  It is only faltering because members are not posting their work or even commenting on other's work.  Why the hell join a board and not participate?


I have spoken to the founder of TMM.  He does not want it back.  I have no problem sticking around and doing whatever needs to be done here but it is pointless if members don't participate.


I don't really get the allure of Facebook.  You post something and get 20 "likes".  Very few comments.  Very few WIPs that have a decent narrative.  Just a few pics and a few "likes".  At least here you can have a dialog.  Threads or topics don't get buried like they do on Facebook.


Anyone else care to weigh in and shed some light on this topic?

[67impala427]

Hi Nacho. Alex here. You know, 67impala427. I am one of those guilty of being a member and not contributing. Since I started Lex Scale Modeling my building and posting has dwindled to almost non existence. The problem is time. I have been working on my 71 GTX project for almost 7 years. I have updated it on this site as I've been off a few days but who knows when I will be able again. Then there are additional distractions such as Facebook. My LSM Facebook page get quite a few visits. Also there's other social media outlets that gets people's attention. Thus reducing forum contributions. It's a hard problem to overcome but I understand why it's this way.

Alex.

[halfpint33]

Jul 11, 2016 16:35:09 GMT -5 Nacho Z said:

I don't really get the allure of Facebook.  You post something and get 20 "likes".  Very few comments.  Very few WIPs that have a decent narrative.  Just a few pics and a few "likes".  At least here you can have a dialog.  Threads or topics don't get buried like they do on Facebook.


Anyone else care to weigh in and shed some light on this topic?

As far as fb goes I think alot of it goes to the fact you don't have find a place to host your pics then load them to the forum. So it's easier. Also it is easy to find most any model genre there as well. It's all about what's easiest these days like it or not. Myself I would rather be on a forum than fb. I very rarely post on fb model pages.

[Nacho Z]

Thank you Alex and halfpint33. I have long thought Facebook may be a big reason for the decline of this and other boards. I do see some guys who post their work on multiple Facebook pages as well as multiple boards. I do this on a smaller scale. Alex just posted his work on his '71 GTX. I may be in the wrong FB groups, but I just do not see this type of posting on Facebook. I normally see a few pictures, (many of them so crappy, I just pass on by), and a short "here is what I'm working on" type of comment. A few "Likes" and a few "that is cool" comments. Just look at Alex's post. How great is that?!

I said it in the subject line, I don't understand.

[harron68]

Agreed, FB is largely a "feel good" place, somewhere to get mild praise and rant about matters. Really, if you look at the history of the internet, it's crystal clear that it's about trends constantly changing. Sadly, the early adopters, mainly the young and young adults, check out the latest things and they either catch on for a while or don't. These more limited-in-interest forums are naturally going to have a harder time getting and holding the attention of folks. It takes effort and enthusiasm to build and maintain a "club" online. I know I'm grateful for those who keep alive my favorite sites. As I wrote before, a few hot shots who build and post often can keep interest up. Encouraging more occasional modelers to come on board can add interest, but it isn't easy. I lost the creating bug long ago myself. I hope others will pick up the challenge at this and other sites!

[Eddie]

Unfortunately many people have turned to Facebook. I personally prefer this forum but it has obviously slowed considerably. I'm just as guilty, I don't get much time lately, between starting my own business and raising 3 boys I haven't even touched a model in over a year.
I'd love to see this forum return to its former glory how it was when I joined, unfortunately I don't have much to contribute at the moment.

[67impala427]

One other thing I noticed is people may be visiting these boards but are not commenting like they used too. When I post about my '71 GTX on this site I also post on the Scale Auto Magazine forum. In the week and a half since I started back on it at that site it has gotten over 230 views but only about 3 pr 4 actual replies from forum participants. That may be a result of not participating that social media sites have brought on. I guess it's easier to like on fb Than to actually post or reply in a forum. That's just the way it is or so it seems.

Alex.

[Nacho Z]

Good insight, guys, thanks for the comments. This very post proves, at least to me, what I have been thinking and saying for some time. Members need to participate! Just think how busy and great this board would be if every member posted even just once a week. Just think if every member would create one thread to show what they are working on. This place would be on fire.

[halfpint33]

I'm just riding the fb craze out and hoping people will return to the forums. I'll see if I can't get the few that still post at the Haven to come over here as well.