Forum v. Facebook?

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

Hi guys!! I've been in the club for over a year but finally joined the forum this morning! I was just curious as to how many people here only use the forum or also use both the forum and facebook. It looks like the trend among a lot of people is towards the social media platforms, so I was just curious. I noticed a few names here I never see in the Facebook group and only a couple that are in both.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:49 pm

Recent trends in people moving to Facebook for these things had made me think it was fine to do that.

At the risk of turning this into a political debate, the recent events where Facebook has shown their true colors on what they are doing with this data they are amassing has made me wish everything could move right the hell back out of Facebook.

I mean it might be "easier" than going to another site, but the reality is that Facebook is NOT as good of a platform as even this antiquated web forum is (web forums have come a LONG ways since this one was last updated). If we were to do some updating of this thing, it could be a much better experience than Facebook anyway.

But there's the saying...you know what the best camera in the world is? The one you have on you. So while Smartphone cameras may not be better than "real" cameras, the fact that they are in your pocket means they win. The fact that everyone is already using Facebook means it is winning.

Damned shame, though, because those assholes are now actively shaping our culture rather than being a tool to let us do it ourselves.

--Donnie

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

AS of right now on the FB page, I have like 25 people voting "only Facebook." There is truth to what you say. I used to be a big forum guy 10 years ago and was involved in several car forums. I've considered getting rid of Facebook because I feel like I spend too much time on it, I feel like it provides methods to divide us rather than unite us, and I feel like it's become bad for the political and social discourse of our nation. :soap:

That being said, I keep several acquaintances through FB that I wouldn't otherwise have, I've been to several events and met several people I'm not sure I would have found about or met otherwise. With everything we gain in society, we give up something else. We want to be able to use such platforms for free, and the people who make these sites have to figure out how to keep their bills paid. This was a subconscious decision society made 20-25 years ago when pay to use websites largely failed. What's keeping me on Facebook is the fact that so many of my friends, events, acquantiances, events, and other such things primarily use FB to keep thier information going out and its where most of the people going interact now, and not on the forums.

Facebook also creates an easier platform to follow. It's in our pockets with a nice app, it notifies us all the time and draws us into its realms, one doesn't need multiple accounts across multiple platforms to be involved in a plethora of worlds, only join those pages. All our information is conveniently linked. However, it's day is going. The kids don't want to be where their parents are, so kids these days prefer instagram and maybe twitter as a platform of choice. In 10-20 years, Facebook will be a platform of old people, if it isn't already. Into the depths with MySpace with it.... that's only natural though, kids who got lugged around in a station wagon refuse to drive one, I have a theory that's why suv's got popular for a time there, they weren't the minivans kids in the 80's got lugged around in.

For example, a lot of these cars and coffee events these days don't even have websites that they actively use. They just created facebook groups and spread the word from there. I like going to Cars and Coffee events. So without Facebook, how will I know? We've opened Pandora's box as a society I guess.

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:37 pm

I voted forum only because I do not have a Facebook account nor do I want one. I know I am in a small and shrinking minority, but it would be a shame if this forum went away. I understand the shift to social media is and will continue to be the trend as evidenced by the almost ghost town activity here. I do not have a problem with that trend, but I would like to see this forum remain a viable option.

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

No one ever said it's going away - I'm certainly not in position to get rid of it - I did ask Francis if it was okay for me to run a poll and survey the members (I'm still kind of nervous joining a forum and then my first post being questioning its viability). I did notice poking through the threads that I see several names here that I don't see on Facebook - and many of hte names I see on Facebook I dont' see here. I was really doing this in part for my own selfish reasons - if I gave up social media, am I really giving up my primary information source on the club?

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:42 pm

But that's the rub...if everyone caves and goes FB-only, then the youth will HAVE to join in since that will be the "only way." The more that don't cave, the more chance we have to maintain some amount of life without it.

And I contend that a good web forum is WAY better than Facebook.

FWIW, I really like forums powered by discourse.org.

--Donnie

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:44 pm

Jordan Normark wrote:

I voted forum only because I do not have a Facebook account nor do I want one. I know I am in a small and shrinking minority, but it would be a shame if this forum went away.

I'm right there with you Jordan. Besides, my wife spends enough time on Facebook for 3 or 4 people, so she's using my portion of social media and then some.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:48 pm

Actually, I take back the Discourse recommendation. No tapatalk integration. But there are other better forum packages than this one that do Tapatalk.

--Donnie

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:53 pm

I posted a comment on the FB thread. For those who don't have FB to summarize I would say...

* FB has eaten away at the traffic here
* FB has the advantage of non-members being able to get information and participate.
* The membership has always said to keep the forum private when asked (it has been years since we probably last asked that question)
* A private (members only) forum with real name usernames has a bunch of benefits, but also some real limitations.

I used to be firmly in the "private forum" camp, but for a few years now think that is not the right thing to do. I think the right answer (if any changes were to be made) would be to re-implement the forum (newer software, better integrations such as tapatalk, etc.) and for it to be public access. But for there to be some type of perks for members. I also firmly believe that the existing/current "private" content should never be made public. Primarily as that is/was the expectation for anyone who created content here.

I think the forum should be the "center" for meaningful discussion. Things like FB and other social media sights should be for outreach and basic communication only, but not the core. As Donnie says, forum software (when implemented correctly) is much better than something like FB.

Richard

PS: For the newbies who don't know me. Me and one or two others started this forum years ago and I ran the forum for quite a long time after that, but stepped away from it a few years ago due to personal time constraints.

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

I feel like a bad boy. I stirred up something earlier about an autocross course in Facebook and now I'm stirring up the forum

I just cna't seem to help myself! I really just kind of wonder how many FB users kind of lurk here and never read it. I would like to see it be a more "popping" place so I could add it to my list of reasons to quit FB (see above posts on that) but I think that's a lost cause, perhaps. There are features that can create private groups on Facebook as well if that would lure anyone there. I'd be happy to help out with it if need be. I'm guilty of spending too much time on FB myself, which is part of why I've thought of getting rid of it.

Ultimately, that's kind of like an adult way of running away from home though. We all know you're doing it for attention, we all know you'll come back.

I know there are people who are always going to be firmly against Facebook or any social media. I know I'm 29 years old and getting to that point in my life.... "Eh you darn kids, I'm not using that dumb tweety bird or insta-grammy thinggie"

On a positive note though, this post has generated some attention in its brief life.... a few posts, a few votes... nothing like a similar facebook post made at a similar time though.

For better or worse, Facebook lures us in better. It takes a conscious decision from the user to come to the forum and take a peek. It does not take a conscious decision to just take a glance at FB and get lured to the page by a notification there....

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:52 pm

You know that most of the "kids" think Facebook is for oldies now?

It's all snapchat and other social media I'm not sure about using.

With that said I would appreciate some additional help with the bringing the forum into the 21st century if anyone has any time on their hands! Perhaps with a private/public hybrid model to bring in the general public.

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

Is there any forum the kids will use tho?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:06 pm

Jordan Normark wrote:

I voted forum only because I do not have a Facebook account nor do I want one. I know I am in a small and shrinking minority, but it would be a shame if this forum went away. I understand the shift to social media is and will continue to be the trend as evidenced by the almost ghost town activity here. I do not have a problem with that trend, but I would like to see this forum remain a viable option.

I'm with you Jordan -- have never had a Facebook account and never will. It's funny how some people think the latest "news" about FB is actually something new.

Anyway, it's sad that this forum lost the potentially great content and contributors centered around autocross events for example. In years past we used to have forensic examinations of each autox event course, lively discussion with lots of great learning opportunities for old and new alike. Granted it's been a few years since I've been to an autox locally, but if everything is on FB now related to THSCC autox events like it used to be here, that's unfortunate. It's amazing how many are willing to function as free employees of FB with their personal information/lives with a cavalier attitude no less.

Duane Black · **Joined:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:58 am **Posts:** 33

That discussion is certainly alive and well on Facebook actually.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:43 pm

The traffic here and my lack of Facebook is the reason I likely will not re-up my membership. I’ve lived in Charlotte since 2004 and haven’t been to a THSCC autocross in about 10 years. I co-own a Lemons car with 3 other Tarheelers. In the end, I don’t get the benefit. - AB

THSCC Forums

Forum v. Facebook?

Who is online