Social Media

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
as really it is just social media the same as a forum, just a bunch of people expressing their point of view......

I beg to differ - albeit this "point of view" is based solely upon personal experiance.... I find very little content on any other social media which provides information and comment that one can consider to be entertaining and / or educational. On the other hand, virtually every post to WT can be described by one or more of the attributes of information, education, intelligence, consideration, humour .... and there is an almost complete absence of fluff, dross, me2...

Where is the value in a comment to a facebook wall of "I am standing in a queue... watching others in that queue"?
 
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28ten

Guv'nor
I beg to differ - albeit this "point of view" is based solely upon personal experiance.... I find very little content on any other social media which provides information and comment that one can consider to be entertaining and / or educational. On the other hand, virtually every post to WT can be described by one or more of the attributes of information, education, intelligence, considerate.... and there is an almost complete absence of fluff, dross, me2...

Where is the value in a comment to a facebook wall of "I am standing in a queue... watching others in that queue"?

If this meeting place of like minds is dead, then long may the software remain dead.

best wishes, Graham
Isnt that down to the users as well? I would contend that you can have just as much dross on a forum. I use a thread in much the same way as some people use social media, many of my thread updates could just as well be tweets, but I know of no one in the twittersphere that would be remotely interested :))
The thing with FB and Twitter is that it encourages throwaway one liners, whereas forum software swings more towards a considered approach (sometimes!).
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
The thing with FB and Twitter is that it encourages throwaway one liners, whereas forum software swings more towards a considered approach (sometimes!).

"Sometimes". Yeah, again it's down to the users, and/or the example, precedent and peer pressure set by other users. Generally speaking I think any given forum will get the content that it (collectively) deserves.
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
My two penneth worth!

I use Facebook for keeping in touch with friends and family who are scattered across the globe and across the RAF. I only have a Twitter account as it was a requirement for one of my Internet Marketing assignments for college. I won't use it as I feel it would paint me in the same light as a premiership footballer who tweeted asking how to cook pop-tarts! The muppet.

If used for what they were originally intended for then they are ok i.e. keeping in touch with people. However, both have been invaded by the lunatic asylum especially those from across the pond. Some of the things I have read and seen on Facebook have left me wondering for the future of the human race :confused:

If the feature is activated on here then fine, but it isn't something that I would be using,

regards,

Mark
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
That is a very profound statement!

Glad you liked it:) It does seem to hold true though, the only way I'd see it being otherwise is with some hefty admin control (such as the occasional forum you find that's invitation only). Once a forum gets beyond a certain size, pronouncements from On High to do (or not do) this, that or the other are just p*ssing in the wind AFAIC.

4mm R-T-R Dependant "modellers" on here. I hope the bold italics put the right emphasis on that statement, as there's plenty of 4mm stuff here, but by chaps who do not need a model being made with exactly the right details and number on it, or else they're lost....

I know exactly what you mean and I think that's equally incisive in its way - 'RTR-dependent' is a very neat way of putting it. If you are one of those (seemingly peculiar) folk who see RTR as just part of the picture, somewhere between a blank canvas, a means to an end and a timesaver, you tend to get the flak from both extremes.

I did have a little rant about it the other week on Windcutter. The WNHISG* merchants tell you you're being too picky if you even so much as hint at an error, and the hair shirt evangelists tell you you ought to be doing some modelling and sorting it yourself (which is very probably what you were thinking of doing when you first mentioned the error ... aaaargh ... :headbang: ). It all too often sours what should be intelligent debate with no preconceptions.

* We've Never Had It So Good, a phrase beloved of one Mr Jones. But not as memorable as 'cosy b*mlick apologist morons:confused:
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Well that rules out 99% of my posts...


Oh dear, I am having to beg to differ yet again - twice in one day, must stop this habit. I think that you might have meant to type "well, that includes 99% of my posts". Jordan, your contributions provide much of the flavour of WT, a flavour which binds posts into a cohesive and broad based spread of opinions. I doubt that such comments are going to come from those who are dependent upon RTR-purchases.

I do hope that your 2012 New Year resolution is to sit closer to the front.

regards, Graham
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Glad you liked it:) It does seem to hold true though, the only way I'd see it being otherwise is with some hefty admin control (such as the occasional forum you find that's invitation only). Once a forum gets beyond a certain size, pronouncements from On High to do (or not do) this, that or the other are just p*ssing in the wind AFAIC.
I think there is also the point where is just gets too large, all my favourite internet places are smaller forums where you generally know the members, there is a critical mass somewhere in participating members where the balance is lost.

Difficult to say why that is, without putting certain 'groups' down; but it can't be coincidence that the lack of fluff, froth and wishlists may just possibly be related to the lack of 4mm R-T-R Dependant "modellers" on here. I hope the bold italics put the right emphasis on that statement, as there's plenty of 4mm stuff here, but by chaps who do not need a model being made with exactly the right details and number on it, or else they're lost....
I know exactly what you mean and to me it is a sad state of affairs, a bit like painting by numbers :)
 

28ten

Guv'nor
"Sometimes". Yeah, again it's down to the users, and/or the example, precedent and peer pressure set by other users. Generally speaking I think any given forum will get the content that it (collectively) deserves.

Interesting thoughts, it is very much organisational culture theory, does the collective form the culture? or is it set from the leadership?
 

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marsa69

Western Thunderer
"Sometimes". Yeah, again it's down to the users, and/or the example, precedent and peer pressure set by other users. Generally speaking I think any given forum will get the content that it (collectively) deserves.

This is very true. Any forum is usually a collection of like minded individuals but not necessarily individuals with the same tastes but a respect for other users. By this I mean look at Western Thunder. Primarily started for all things western region we now have a completely diverse group of individuals. Our common bond? Respect! No matter what our individual tastes are we respect each other and the skill set each individual possesses. Since I became a member I have never seen an instance of trashy behaviour, rudeness or in-civility. Our meetings at exhibitions are a perfect example of everyone getting along and having a laugh.

So this forum is what it is. The members make it what it is with only minimal supervision from the Guv'nor and all is well. I have no doubt that some people have visited here and found it not to their taste so have moved on. For the rest of us we like what we have here and as for myself, long may it continue,

regards,

Mark
 

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
Interesting thoughts, it is very much organisational culture theory, does the collective form the culture? or is it set from the leadership?

Hmm, I came up with that all by myself as well, from the good old University of Life:p Having said which, I've just found a Wiki piece on Janis' theory of 'groupthink', which was quite entertaining.
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Interesting thoughts, it is very much organisational culture theory, does the collective form the culture? or is it set from the leadership?

I'd say the latter, although I think Ian's statement also holds good.

Leaving aside organisational theory, one of the things that attracts me to Western Thunder is that it's a group who are more interested in making than buying.

It also manages discussing and talking very well too I think.

Simon
 

Arty

Western Thunderer
I have a Facebook account, I have 17 "friends" and strangely for Facebook, I know them all really well and talk and meet with them very regularly. The only "highlights" of having a page are the photos that are posted for the amusement of all.
This forum seems to be inhabited with people ( I have met but a few) who have come to terms with their interests, don't feel the need to compete and are genuinly interested in the wider world of modelling and are up for a change of direction if the fancy takes them.
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Bringing this back up :rolleyes: a couple of people have mentioned IM chat facilities, is there a wider interest in this?
I have a couple of possible external solutions, because im not keen on adding anything to the site code.
 

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
I would be. I liked the yahoo 7mm group one (we 'meet' Saturdays at 9.00pm) but that was done through AOL which caused some problems. It is largely moribund with just a couple of die-hards, and it would be nice to have something with an active group.

Richard
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Bringing this back up :rolleyes: a couple of people have mentioned IM chat facilities, is there a wider interest in this? ...

Not sure what an IM chat facility would be. Guess this counts me out of the interested camp, though I was a relative latecomer to the internet and forums.
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Not sure what an IM chat facility would be. Guess this counts me out of the interested camp, though I was a relative latecomer to the internet and forums.
It is like text messaging but with a several recipients. anybody here could manage it :)
I have been looking at a couple of options through Google + and Skype. There is potential to do some interesting things with small groups outside the forum framework.
 

40126

Western Thunderer
I have a FB account. My wife is forever on hers (but it keeps her quiet !!). I use FB to talk to old school friends & ex work mates that i dont want to see face to face !! :p

Steve :thumbs:
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Having had a good look Google + would seem a good solution for those interested, so im working on it :)
 

adrian

Flying Squad
Having had a good look Google + would seem a good solution for those interested, so im working on it :)
For info I have a Google+ account, but being an unsocialable git I very rarely use it. Over 3 yrs on Facebook and probably posted less then a dozen messages but being an "inquisitive idiot" I'd be interested to see where you are going with this.
 
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