Shows keep getting smaller!

Mike Henry said:

I suspect that FB groups and other mainstream social media like X, Youtube, and Instagram have attracted a lot of public interest away from the older forums, like the Google .io groups, Village Press and CNC-Zone.

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This is true.
JasonB pointed out a pretty sizable group of folks who focus on the Baker Ball Hopper Monitor and related Baker engines on facebook.
Lots of very good info; extremely difficult for me to access, since I refuse to join fb.
The old engine folks seem to have gotten somewhat fractured.
Diddo for backyard casting.
I have heard of a number of backyard casting groups on fb.
Not a good state of affairs for sure.
Facebook is a social media thing, not an informational archive thing, in my opinion.
Trying to find the same thing twice on fb seems to be very difficult, at least for me.
I really dislike the entire mindset of fb, but I understand people want attention and interaction, and you can get that on fb.
There is a big difference between having a social chat on fb and having a good technical discussion about an engine, in some cases at least.
Chat tends to be just chat, which is all well and good, but not necessarily useful for engines or foundry work.
.

Mike Henry said:

I suspect that FB groups and other mainstream social media like X, Youtube, and Instagram have attracted a lot of public interest away from the older forums, like the Google .io groups, Village Press and CNC-Zone.

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I on a few Facebook groups they mostly listen to the ownertrying sell something or everything goes. Most have no moderator. I have been on few you could not post too. The two other groups I am on one thread has Not on topic and funny some parts of year most of posting are on not on topic and funnies.
The other group only has a thread everthing has go in one thread .They let some off subject as long as the every first label. Both do not like politics

Dave

Dave

I think facebook, X, and most of the other "social media" apps are great for quick postings, sharing some pics and transient information. They are not so great for long thoughtful posts with many photos and in depth explanatory text. I find value in most of these sources, just different value for different needs. Still can't help poor GreenTwin with how that darn giraffe got loose in his PJ's however. I did see a unicorn that had let himself go completely, almost like Mickey Rourke. The zoo folks said it was a rhino, but I know better. It seems the weirdness is widespread. Oh the places we'll go...

Move with the times or miss out.

You have to be a bit selective, find groups where the content is the type of thing you want and No they won't want you block dumping 10years of old forum posts.

This often means you have to join a closed group where you need to be approved to join and this does keep out a lot of the rubbish particularly if the site admin are active. I've certainly got information like photos and dimensions from other FB members that have allowed me to make some of the engines that I have. Same with Pat he would have less detail of his ball hopper project.

Several nice rare casting sets come up for sale on one group overnight yet those that don't go there would miss out and just post that it is hard to find kits to build.

And yes a quick search throws up loads of backyard type casting groups.

I think the biggest problem with fb and similar sites is access.
What is it, and where is it, and how do I find the same information next week?
Closed groups, etc.
It is a proverbial corn maze.
If it were all organized and accessible, that would be one thing, but it is not.
Multiple completing backyard casting and other groups?
If I unintentionally say the wrong thing, do I get banned from the group?
It seems to be more of a popularity contest; more like a TikTok thing.

The one thing that keeps me off fb is that I actually joined them years ago, and they sent me an email, and said they needed to verify my identity, and please send a close up photo of my face.
Needless to say I told them to fo and they closed my membership.
Orwellian stuff right there.
1984 is not just a book; it is here and real.
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I used Facebook for several years and right after the last election I got attacked several times just because they thought that my views may be wrong in spite of never expressing them. Things just got too political and too personal. I operated on the premise that I did not want to know that you voted for the other guy but figured that you could still contribute to the group. Since then things have just gotten worse. Unfortunate because that type of forum could be very useful as long as it stuck to the original purpose.

Jasonb said:

Move with the times or miss out.

You have to be a bit selective, find groups where the content is the type of thing you want and No they won't want you block dumping 10years of old forum posts.

This often means you have to join a closed group where you need to be approved to join and this does keep out a lot of the rubbish particularly if the site admin are active. I've certainly got information like photos and dimensions from other FB members that have allowed me to make some of the engines that I have. Same with Pat he would have less detail of his ball hopper project.

Several nice rare casting sets come up for sale on one group overnight yet those that don't go there would miss out and just post that it is hard to find kits to build.

And yes a quick search throws up loads of backyard type casting groups.

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Politely - - - - I would disagree.

Social media is about making the owners a lot of money.
Everything that happens there is manipulated from behind the scenes.
These services are really not as benign as they would have one believe.
Was on FB for a bit but found that the quality of what I was seeing saw similar
to that going into my septic tank - - - there is some useful stuff - - - but
good luck finding it.

Gordon said:

I used Facebook for several years and right after the last election I got attacked several times just because they thought that my views may be wrong in spite of never expressing them. Things just got too political and too personal. I operated on the premise that I did not want to know that you voted for the other guy but figured that you could still contribute to the group. Since then things have just gotten worse. Unfortunate because that type of forum could be very useful as long as it stuck to the original purpose.

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Personally, I love politics, however, I don't get in fist-fights over what other peeps thimpfk. If anyone I am speaking with gets hot, I either stop arguing or leave. There is no need to get emotional when analyzing someones agenda . If one can't discuss like a scholar, then don't discuss at all.

Richard Hed said:

Personally, I love politics, however, I don't get in fist-fights over what other peeps thimpfk. If anyone I am speaking with gets hot, I either stop arguing or leave. There is no need to get emotional when analyzing someones agenda . If one can't discuss like a scholar, then don't discuss at all.

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I also follow politics but the place for that is not in a dedicated forum. If you want to talk about your sea shell collection etc. that is fine but bring it somewhere other than a forum dedicated to something like model engineering. Politics and religion do not belong in a venue dedicated to another topic.

Amen (pun intended, LOL).
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It may be that with better exposure lots of hobbies can increase interest without shows.

For those "exhibiting" at shows... it can be a lot of work, loading up, showing up, setting up and taking down, loading up, and going back to shop and unloading to restore normal.

For visitors it can be a short amusement... but getting their (especially with "loved ones" can be a bit of a "trial".... used to do that with young boys... If Id been an octopus I could have been dragged in eight directions.

As for "vendors" they too have learned the net can be a more lucrative sales venue, less work and fewer overnights...

Ye, the net has changed a great deal. Yes, there are other interests easily accessible too. And in the US... I suspect if tarriffs are imposed the price of hobbies is going to jump (up) driving fewer interested new "victims" (Oh I meant interested parties.<G>)

Honestly, I still remember loading vans, trailers, etc, going to set up before the crowds and then spending hours manning a booth or exhibit, and then loading to go home... I really don't miss it that much... especially cold exhibit space with even colder concrete floors...

I must be getting old... I sound like some of the "old timers" from forty years ago...