Post by Wß on Apr 24, 2015 16:12:43 GMT
The topic of continuing to grow this forum came up today and it made me think a bit about why the forum format still holds on in the face of Twitter and other social media sources so I thought I'd stir the pot a little and open up a topic for discussion.
I use forums over social media, and I have very defined reasons why I do. A forum is very specific, it allows me to dig deep, not be merely superficial or brief in commentary and it allows me to read through and develop my thoughts on a subject, even alter my opinion given the level of discussion. I have to dedicate time to a forum as it's not an in your face involvement. I go to it, unlike social media where it comes to you. The level of interest in social media however dwarfs the environment of most forums combined, with a single tweet or image posted, the audience is huge.
But IMO social media content feels like reading a menu and forum contend feels like reading a book. In some cases like watching a soap opera but that's a different story. Which brings me to the point in this post. I've seen Forums that are over a decade old with millions of posts and hundreds of thousands of topics and they have thrived with little impact from the social medial world at large. I've also now seen F1 forum become lethargic, dying a slow death through apathy. I don't mean apathy in a bad way, I mean that there is quite a few (often the majority) of members that are inactive, or people that don't become members yet read the forums regularly and are content doing just that. The thing with a forum is that they are an inherently familial environment and successful environemets people visit just because, or just to see what's up or to share topical thoughts etc. But they thrive on content, no content, no new topics or posts, and they are simply dying a slow death.
There are F1 forums out there full of autistic savants more than F1 fans, they thrive and do well but the discussions tend to be exclusive not inclusive. There is the flip side of that which are forums that allow people the most repetitive and cockamamie of commentary all to reflect an inclusionary auspice, missing the crux of the issue, that being informed and factual is the foundation of good discussion. I want balance between the two.
I have a lot more on the topic, but to cut it short and for the sake of further discussion, I like the tight knit familial philosophy and balance we have and I'm content having people find us. In that process, getting to know us, and coming share their views and opinions on specific things F1 and the rest of what the world offers that's not F1 related. I like the feel that this place can be like going to a cafe to drink a cappuccino. You can make it a home, you can get it to go, but you enjoy it most when you drink it slow with conversation at your favorite coffee shop.
I use forums over social media, and I have very defined reasons why I do. A forum is very specific, it allows me to dig deep, not be merely superficial or brief in commentary and it allows me to read through and develop my thoughts on a subject, even alter my opinion given the level of discussion. I have to dedicate time to a forum as it's not an in your face involvement. I go to it, unlike social media where it comes to you. The level of interest in social media however dwarfs the environment of most forums combined, with a single tweet or image posted, the audience is huge.
But IMO social media content feels like reading a menu and forum contend feels like reading a book. In some cases like watching a soap opera but that's a different story. Which brings me to the point in this post. I've seen Forums that are over a decade old with millions of posts and hundreds of thousands of topics and they have thrived with little impact from the social medial world at large. I've also now seen F1 forum become lethargic, dying a slow death through apathy. I don't mean apathy in a bad way, I mean that there is quite a few (often the majority) of members that are inactive, or people that don't become members yet read the forums regularly and are content doing just that. The thing with a forum is that they are an inherently familial environment and successful environemets people visit just because, or just to see what's up or to share topical thoughts etc. But they thrive on content, no content, no new topics or posts, and they are simply dying a slow death.
There are F1 forums out there full of autistic savants more than F1 fans, they thrive and do well but the discussions tend to be exclusive not inclusive. There is the flip side of that which are forums that allow people the most repetitive and cockamamie of commentary all to reflect an inclusionary auspice, missing the crux of the issue, that being informed and factual is the foundation of good discussion. I want balance between the two.
I have a lot more on the topic, but to cut it short and for the sake of further discussion, I like the tight knit familial philosophy and balance we have and I'm content having people find us. In that process, getting to know us, and coming share their views and opinions on specific things F1 and the rest of what the world offers that's not F1 related. I like the feel that this place can be like going to a cafe to drink a cappuccino. You can make it a home, you can get it to go, but you enjoy it most when you drink it slow with conversation at your favorite coffee shop.