Wondering about all the Forum's members...

[Ramfins59]

When you open up the Forum, to the lower right of the screen it says that the total number of members is 15,736.  Man that is a lot of members...!!!  For the last couple of months I have been looking at the member's info for each one having a birthday each day.  It seems that the majority of members have less than 100 postings on the Forum, and, haven't been on the Forum for 2, 3, or 4 years...!!!  

I'm wondering if they lost interest either in the hobby, or just this Forum?  Did the occasional trolls and/or flame wars drive them away?

Did "life" get in the way of all of them and they no longer have time for the hobby and Forum? 

Are a lot of them no longer with us (literally and figuratively)?

I know a lot of the Forum's members, like myself, are retired and have more free time to devote to the hobby and spend time on the Forum.  My questions are sort of rhetorical.  I'm just wondering...

[Lunajammer]

I think a lot of them are sort of passing through. I'm kind of the same way on a PT Cruiser forum. Was pretty stoked about participating when my Cruiser was new and I pop in from time to time still, but mostly I sort of moved on. I prefer to think that a bad experience is not why members here moved on.

[Old Buckaroo]

Richard ,

I am also guilty of looking at the Birthdays and seeing if they are active as I sometimes send a Happy Birthday p/m to members.

It is hard to say where they have all gone, I was a long time member at FSM and when they changed their forum format I did not care for it. Add to the fact I quit building aircraft and ships - not much reason to spend any more time there.

I also think that maybe the facebook groups capture more attention. This I do not know for sure as I dont fb , but I see post here linking to the pages there.

Who knows, this is a great place for my interests and I like it here.

[Harry P.]

There are only a couple hundred "active" members who actually post here–some regularly, some every now and then. The majority of members never post at all. They may look, but we never hear from them.

[CometMan]

Along with interests, and amount of time, changing keeping members away I think that folks may think that on this forum, or any other forum, if they have not been accepted into the group's "inner circle" that they may be ignored.

[SfanGoch]

There are only a couple hundred "active" members who actually post here–some regularly, some every now and then. The majority of members never post at all. They may look, but we never hear from them.

The Silent Majority.

[Harry P.]

The Silent Majority.

Yup.

It would be great if a lot more members posted, even if only now and then.

[Harry P.]

...I think that folks may think that on this forum, or any other forum, if they have not been accepted into the group's "inner circle" that they may be ignored.

Not sure who is in the "inner circle" or who decides who gets into it. In fact, there's no such thing as the "inner circle" here. We don't have some sort of secret handshake or anything. And I don't remember seeing anyone being ignored because they're not part of the "group." What makes you think we have some sort of special group of members who are above all the rest?

[BIGTRUCK]

Not sure who is in the "inner circle" or who decides who gets into it. In fact, there's no such thing as the "inner circle" here. We don't have some sort of secret handshake or anything. And I don't remember seeing anyone being ignored because they're not part of the "group." What makes you think we have some sort of special group of members who are above all the rest?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Maybe it's just my perspective, but I seem to think there are more low-number posters showing their work here in the past few months, like maybe the forum is growing a little quicker. I could be wrong.

It's good to remember that it's not unusual for ANY group to take a while before new members are fully assimilated and accepted, and it's seemed to me, again, that the work that gets the fewest responses is the work that's just the least interesting, or not very well done. New members who show really pretty work get a lot of attention immediately.

A lot of the older members here do try to be encouraging and helpful towards less-skilled folks, and to praise at least the parts of a model that ARE well done, even if the whole thing isn't show-quality.

The occasional arguments and ruffled feathers are mild compared to what you see on some sites, too, and everyone seems to at least try to act like adults, for the most part.

The BEST way to get accepted is to post your work, show an interest in growing in the hobby, and an interest in other peoples work.

 

[gino]

Along with interests, and amount of time, changing keeping members away I think that folks may think that on this forum, or any other forum, if they have not been accepted into the group's "inner circle" that they may be ignored.

I felt that way on two other sites I joined but not here . this is by far the best place to be. i'm glad to be here.

[Harry P.]

And we're glad to have you.

[Harry P.]

One thing you might want to post is your actual full name. It's a forum rule. We like to know who we're talking to...

[talon63]

Ditto the GT4494 post. I've definitely improved certain skills since joining this forum, and most of what I post doesn't garner a lot of attention. I enjoy this site, and I'm glad it's here.

[CometMan]

Not sure who is in the "inner circle" or who decides who gets into it. In fact, there's no such thing as the "inner circle" here. We don't have some sort of secret handshake or anything. And I don't remember seeing anyone being ignored because they're not part of the "group." What makes you think we have some sort of special group of members who are above all the rest?

Harry, it was not my intent to cause any trouble here!! Perhaps I did not quite succeed in getting my thoughts across earlier, so I will try again! As for me, personally, like many other members, my time for hobby activity is not what I would like it to be, when I join a group I like to be an active participant right away, not just to try it out and leave if it's not what I expected. That being said, I looked in on several modeling forums for a while before joining this one, I joined this one because I really did not notice any cliques between members, and folks are far more polite to each other than in other forums. But, as mentioned below my original post, it is natural for people in ANY group, whether intentional or not, to gravitate towards people they are more familiar with, as you become more recognized in that group to find it easier to communicate with other members. This MAY cause SOME new members to become frustrated and leave the group without giving it a fair chance! I did not mean to insinuate that certain members were intentionally leaving out other members, if it was taken that way, I apologize!

[Harry P.]

Harry, it was not my intent to cause any trouble here!! Perhaps I did not quite succeed in getting my thoughts across earlier, so I will try again! As for me, personally, like many other members, my time for hobby activity is not what I would like it to be, when I join a group I like to be an active participant right away, not just to try it out and leave if it's not what I expected. That being said, I looked in on several modeling forums for a while before joining this one, I joined this one because I really did not notice any cliques between members, and folks are far more polite to each other than in other forums. But, as mentioned below my original post, it is natural for people in ANY group, whether intentional or not, to gravitate towards people they are more familiar with, as you become more recognized in that group to find it easier to communicate with other members. This MAY cause SOME new members to become frustrated and leave the group without giving it a fair chance! I did not mean to insinuate that certain members were intentionally leaving out other members, if it was taken that way, I apologize!

No need to apologize.

This forum is open to everyone, whether you're a long-time member or just joined yesterday. Every member is equal here.

[Harry P.]

I thought everyone knew what "No F Good" meant.  That's what I was called growing up.   

Norm

Still waiting for the full name...

[Roadrunner]

There are only a couple hundred "active" members who actually post here–some regularly, some every now and then. The majority of members never post at all. They may look, but we never hear from them.

I think that's common on most sites, most of the ones I'm familiar with anyway. Lots of members, but only a small contingent (say 200) that post regularly, many silent member/lurkers, and folks that have just lost interest and moved on. I view a lot here, but manage to post on only a very small percentage of what I see.  For what it's worth, MCM seems to be very busy compared to many modeling sites.

[mustang1989]

I'm on six different forums and can say that this by far is my favorite forum (and among the first) that I post to. Great people, great staff and totally awesome folks to go to for help. That includes automotive AND aviation!! In short......I don't think we have anything to worry about.

Edited March 8, 2016 by mustang1989

[Roadrunner]

I'm with you, Joe, there are some great folks here. My experience here this past year, has been quite positive. Hopefully, I'll continue to learn and improve, and keep having fun with the other folks here. 

[peteski]

There are only a couple hundred "active" members who actually post here–some regularly, some every now and then. The majority of members never post at all. They may look, but we never hear from them.

Thems are called lurkers.

[slusher]

I look at the birthdays also and notice lots of members that have not been on in a while. So many joined and never signed back on and some they didn't stay around over a month to 3 months. I have been happy here since day one. I also have no idea who has left or had to leave for other reasons. 

[mikemodeler]

Thanks for starting this topic Rich, I wondered the same thing. I do notice under the birthdays that sometimes there are multiple people with the same age and birth date and wonder if they signed up under different names or if truly there were that many people born on the same day & year who are members here?

And a question for Harry. When someone is banned from this forum, are all traces of them removed? Meaning their posts, user name(s), contact information, etc.?

Edited March 8, 2016 by mikemodeler

[fog cutter]

No need to apologize.

This forum is open to everyone, whether you're a long-time member or just joined yesterday. Every member is equal here.

Not sure who is in the "inner circle" or who decides who gets into it. In fact, there's no such thing as the "inner circle" here. We don't have some sort of secret handshake or anything. And I don't remember seeing anyone being ignored because they're not part of the "group." What makes you think we have some sort of special group of members who are above all the rest?

have you been in the cooking sherry again? and, no, i'm not pm-ing you with names and examples (unless i'm put on the payroll).

 

 

 

[Harry P.]

Payroll???

You think I actually get paid??? 

I think you may have been hitting that sherry...