Are forums a dying breed?

Twitter turned the world into one big message board--complete with massive trolling.

The kids move from one popular social medium to the next with quickness. Facebook is relegated to the grownups at this point. The kids are immersed in instagram and Vine at the moment.

Instagram plays into the massive narcissism that has been infused into them by years of parents telling their unremarkable children how remarkable they are. Now take constant pictures of the world revolving around you, Hayden and McKenna!!!

I browse forums on my "smart" phone all the time. There's an app called Tapatalk that is specifically designed for most forums. GRM uses some sort of proprietary forum software that Tapatalk doesn't support.

Sky_Render wrote: I browse forums on my "smart" phone all the time. There's an app called Tapatalk that is specifically designed for *most* forums. GRM uses some sort of proprietary forum software that Tapatalk doesn't support.

Between Tapatalk and Forum Runner, I can access every forum that I follow except my two favorites, this one and Corner-Carvers. Not sure why CC doesn't work, it's a Vbulletin site, but there you go.

my point with the phone access is that I can access forums... but the likelihood of punching out a thought out response or initiating a new thread from my phone are lower.

Sometimes I think "I'll reply to that when I get home..." and then never do.

I often see my friends' latest car mods, new wheels, new parts, first startup, etc. via Facebook or IG where-as before those instant gratification forms existed... the forums represented the online social interaction and was the only outlet for it.

Taking this further, I've even noticed the trend of friends posting live updates on projects via social media, but not updating build threads... only to be egged on later with reminder posts, prompting a "catch up" type post on the forum with a general "didn't have time to sit and do this for awhile..." type of vibe.

It adds up.

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to alfadriver: You miss stuff if you refuse to use something a large chunk of the world is using to disseminate information. We are all going to end up like our grandparents with a house full of clocks blinking 12:00 is we don't quit being such grumps.

Not to start a FB debate. But one decent example of missing something important?

IMHO, FB is information overload. The good content <<<<<<<<<<< the useless nacisisitc crap. The filter required to find useful information vs. just going to message boards? yea...

xflowgolf wrote: I often see my friends' latest car mods, new wheels, new parts, first startup, etc. via Facebook or IG where-as before those instant gratification forms existed... the forums represented the online social interaction and was the only outlet for it. Taking this further, I've even noticed the trend of friends posting live updates on projects via social media, but not updating build threads... only to be egged on later with reminder posts, prompting a "catch up" type post on the forum with a general "didn't have time to sit and do this for awhile..." type of vibe. It adds up.

Is being able to do that neat? Sure.

Useful? eh...

needed? No.

Then again, I don't see the need for anyone to follow my builds, and don't generally need to vicariously live through other people's builds.

In reply to alfadriver:

I follow other people's build threads (on message boards) not to live vicariously, but to learn new things/get ideas. I would have never thought to use a washing machine as a sheetmetal donor if not for Joey's Datsun, and I've learned more about welding replacement panels from tuna's truck than I did taking welding classes as just two really quick examples. That's also what I hope others get out of my builds. I don't think anybody else actually has the desire to resurrect an orange 73 AMC...

Tom_Spangler wrote:

Sky_Render wrote: I browse forums on my "smart" phone all the time. There's an app called Tapatalk that is specifically designed for *most* forums. GRM uses some sort of proprietary forum software that Tapatalk doesn't support.

Between Tapatalk and Forum Runner, I can access every forum that I follow except my two favorites, this one and Corner-Carvers. Not sure why CC doesn't work, it's a Vbulletin site, but there you go.

Corner Carvers' problem is that they don't seem to accept new members. I "asked permission" to join back in February and still haven't had my account activated.

In reply to Sky_Render:

I noticed that. Oh well, their loss. I honestly find smarter people and better tech talk about suspensions here anyway.

Javelin wrote: In reply to Sky_Render: I noticed that. Oh well, their loss. I honestly find smarter people and better tech talk about suspensions here anyway.

I wonder what the C-C/GRM crossover is.

I do lurk on C-C. Sometimes there's good info there, just like anywhere else, but the signal/noise ratio is kept nice.

This forum is also really nice for signal/noise. Kudos GRM denizens!

alfadriver wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to alfadriver: You miss stuff if you refuse to use something a large chunk of the world is using to disseminate information. We are all going to end up like our grandparents with a house full of clocks blinking 12:00 is we don't quit being such grumps.

Not to start a FB debate. But one decent example of missing something important? IMHO, FB is information overload. The good content <<<<<<<<<<< the useless nacisisitc crap. The filter required to find useful information vs. just going to message boards? yea...

I am incredibly amused that I shut down my tablet and fired up my netbook to post this-no keyboard=pain in the but for more than one line of type.

One example for me was in 2012 when EVWest was making a run at Pikes Peak in their E36 EV. They updated their build constantly on Facebook while their webpage is Still awaiting updates. World changing importance-probably not. Similar to what I come to GRM for-absolutely.

Javelin wrote: In reply to MrJoshua: Nobody has missed *anything* of importance by skipping twitter.

Exposure to the Twitter audience.

You are addressing it as a participant, but you forget that some businesses WANT exposure to the Twitter crowd, and they won't get it if they avoid Twitter.

In today's business environment, you HAVE to meet people where they want to be, not expect them to come to you.

Picture it this way... if your favorite hangout is a rough biker bar, you probably won't hang out regularly at Chuck-E-Cheese's. If I am in the business of selling leather jackets or extreme tats, I'd be an idiot to try to find you at Chuck-E-Cheese to sell my wares.

Disclaimer: I don't use Twitter, or like it. But participating in it drives traffic to my website.

forums usually are more rich in discussion and maybe less immediate than social media.

i find those other places better for throwing information out there, but not for interacting with it....

From a personal use perspective I much prefer forums for a targeted discussion on a particular topic which is easy to follow.

Facebook is good for a quick general "what's up with people I know" but the format is terrible for threaded on-topic discussions.

I have yet to find a viable use for twitter other than quick status updates during banger rallies so you can see what other teams are doing.

From a professional use perspective (ie. advertising Asphault Adventures)

A forum has limited reach and for my own personal ethics I feel I should be buying advertising to be ok promoting my events on the forum. Compared both in reach and cost with FB its just not financially viable. I'd love to sit here and discuss ideas for the rallies with everyone but the cost of advertising and the fact that most people have ad blockers just make it not a viable option for me, that's why you haven't seen me push my events as hard as I pushed other people's. So I guess I'm really saying I love forums and am frustrated at my own personal ethics preventing me from discussing something Im very excited about with forum members....so not really a forum problem :)

In comparison $50 on FB gets me a reach of 177,000 people. Even without spending that $50 my reach through direct association (Page likes and friends of page likes) is about 40,000 right now. And FB gave me the first $50 free.

I hope forums never die, I love them and spend most of my free time on them, researching, sharing, and just plain socializing. But from a business perspective I see the appeal of social media.

Been saying this for a while, at least on a regional/local scale. Facebook and the like have all but killed local car forums.

I think GRM is a little more deathproof than most because it is so varied. There's a little bit of everything here all shared by people who have something in common. Its kindof like, I don't know, a social network!

xflowgolf wrote: my point with the phone access is that I can access forums... but the likelihood of punching out a thought out response or initiating a new thread from my phone are lower.

Agreed completely. I'm much more of a "consumer" of forums if I'm on my phone or tablet, and I'm much more likely to actually contribute if I'm on a real computer, like I am now.

I'm a Luddite. berkeley Facebook, I don't have time to wander through 40 pages of

OMGWTFBBQlookattheprettykittiesseewhatIhadforlunchohfooitsrainingyadayadayadayada

to get to information. Yeah, that makes me a curmudgeon, antisocial and according to one recent 'study' it means I'm going to be the next Ted Bundy.

Curmudgeon wrote: I'm a Luddite. berkeley Facebook, I don't have time to wander through 40 pages of OMGWTFBBQlookattheprettykittiesseewhatIhadforlunchohfooitsrainingyadayadayadayada to get to information. Yeah, that makes me a curmudgeon, antisocial and according to one recent 'study' it means I'm going to be the next Ted Bundy.

The key is to eliminate people from your "friends" list who post that kind of crap. I recently went through and did a cull, it hurt because it wasn't like I disliked any of these people, but I set a hard rule that if I hadn't exchanged any meaningful information with that person in the last 12 months then it was time to remove them. Many people on FB have a huge cluster of BS to read through because they feel "bad" if they remove people from their list. I finally realized it was a communication tool and it was within my power to reduce the signal to noise ratio. Not so bad if you look at it that way.

Still not as good as here though :)

You can also weed through your friends list and choose the ones you wish to have post to your feed. Allows you to filter out the drama queens and the like, but allows you to still get contacted by them if something directly concerns you. The most surprising use of facebook for me was when our area got flooded a while back, it was amazing how powerful a tool it was for coordinating help and clean up.

Yeah, my friends and family are far flung, and FB allows us to communicate with each other as though we were all still living side by side. And if you don't want to interact with them, UNLIKE living side by side, you can simply not check FB for a while. The ONLY stuff you'll read about are from people you SHOULD care about or are interested in hearing from, not a million people you've barely heard of.

Like all tools, it's in how you use it.

For example, I get to follow my friend Greg's racing updates as he runs their ALMS car around the country, without having to travel to be there, or regular updates from friends at say, the SCCA nationals while I'm stuck home. I get to keep in contact with my neices on the other side of the country, and can constantly check up on my aging parents from halfway around the world. It's also an easy way to keep updated with the local cars 'n coffee event, not only what's scheduled to happen, but seeing what came out when I can't go.

In reply to SVreX:

AKA advertising.

I have nothing to advertise, and want to avoid advertising. So I don't FB or tweet.

you advertise yourself, your product, or something- it's still advertising. Keep in touch with your customers with cool projects = advertising.

I don't need more advertising.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to SVreX: AKA advertising. I have nothing to advertise, and want to avoid advertising. So I don't FB or tweet. you advertise yourself, your product, or something- it's still advertising. Keep in touch with your customers with cool projects = advertising. I don't need more advertising.

Good point. It's a great tool for those who want to sell stuff.

Because it's a great tool for those who want to sell stuff, it's a bad deal for me.

If the product is free, you are the product.

GRM is free here, though, so maybe I'm not being super pure about it.

tuna55 wrote: If the product is free, you are the product. GRM is free here, though, so maybe I'm not being super pure about it.

Maybe. The only reason I have a subscription is to support the forum. I mean that sincerely. I rarely read the entire magazine, and often don't read it at all. (Except 'Say What'.....I alway look to see if I was included. I never am. I guess I'm not that funny. ) Besides, I could get the magazine for free......lots of hand-me-down old issues are available in most car clubs, mine included.

So why do I subscribe to a magazine I only partially read, if ever, and could have for free? Because part of my money goes to the care and feeding of the forum.....

Chris_V wrote: Yeah, my friends and family are far flung, and FB allows us to communicate with each other as though we were all still living side by side. And if you don't want to interact with them, UNLIKE living side by side, you can simply not check FB for a while. The ONLY stuff you'll read about are from people you SHOULD care about or are interested in hearing from, not a million people you've barely heard of. Like all tools, it's in how you use it.

Exactly. That is why I have Facebook.