SMC Site vs. Social Media Groups

[Slapshot42]

Been a little slow on the site the last few months.  As much as I enjoy the new social media soda groups this site is still by far the best.  I developed some great friendships and learned a lot from some of you experts in which I enjoy trying to pass along to the noobs. 

I have been trying to think creatively what can we do to keep this site more active?  I think we just have to post more pictures of machines found, machines in the process of being restored, refinished parts, art work, etc.??  That opens up a bunch of discussions that we used to have plenty of...

Thoughts?

[Slider-Bob]

Jared makes a great point. This site is only as great as the people who contribute to it. When I posted happy birthday to Jared yesterday, I was online and there was 1 other member online and there were 15 guests (aka lurkers) logged on at the time. Guests don't contribute much, they mostly just ask for help as newbies. And that's fine. That's how we all got started by asking questions and learning from each other. But maybe we should look at restricting access to those who just view the site, but don't contribute to making it better. Or dare I say, pay a subscription fee to be on this site. I'd pay it to help defer hosting costs and promote information sharing. Or perhaps access is allowed on a sliding scale. The more you contribute and posts pics of your finds or restorations in process, the more areas you can access and view. Just my 2 cents.

[Eric]

I'm not a social media person... no facebook, etc.. this is it for me... Love this site.
Not much going on right now for me machine finding or restoring wise.. though I'm
working on some decals... Will post when they're completed..
Wish more would post their finds like we use to... maybe not as much being found as
it was.... But still here everyday...

[mygoose101]

Yes, agree, this site is slow. It's because it's not a App on our phone like FB so we have to do it the old fashion way, on our PC. I guess that's old school now and not cool but that's the way things are going now like it or not. I'm on FB as I used it to follow family and friends. Now it has exploded with so many categories to follow, it's overwhelming. Not sure I like it honestly. It's too much. I don't always need to see what sign this guy in Florida bought whom I don't even know. Let's go back to the 50's when there was no cell phones, FB, PC's, etc. When we would buy our kid a pedal car and used it as a toy, played Patula Clark on the jukebox, and pulled a ice cold Coca Cola out of a Coke machine for a dime. Things seems simpler that way.

[Creighton]

This is a common issue on all forums I follow. Too a point a sign of the times. FB has many faults but that is what most people use. I don't like all the crap that shows up, but that is where the crowd is.

This is a "drive by" forum for the most part. Someone just got a machine cause they always wanted one, or have one want a price on. Get their question answered and gone. Not many folks buy multiple machines (at first -). This will never change.

I think pay around $200 a year in dues for other forums. Happy to do so to help the cost of maintaining a site. Jim has never asked for or accepted a dime.

Restrictions only drive folks away. There will always be people that read but do not post. Fine, but if just trolling for deals well Chuck Berry's  "My ding a Ling" is for you. Replace "sing" with "post".

1.5' of snow to shovel to just get to my shop. Roads are a mess so no new finds here. However, have a plan how to make a 56 RT lighted door with all bits in the door. Thanks for your thoughts Glen.

Doubt will ever see any massive surge of new members here. Hope the core group just keeps keeping on and helping when can.
Creighton
 



   

[Larry]

What's a Facebook?  .. / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / ..- ... . / .- / - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... .-.-.-

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[BONOVOX]

As my friend Anthony (aka Santino Marella of the WWE) would say;

BOOK OF FACES

I'm not into apps, in fact, I still have a flip phone (as some of you have even seen it lol)  but I do think that apps are the way of things right now, and using a laptop or computer are the same as me using a flip phone.
Not sure what we could do different though.... I think this site is great the way it is.  Although I realize that for some it's just another tool for picking.

[SIGNGUY]

Agreed... I'll try to share more as well, was just kinda thinking people where sick of seeing machines worked on , but if not I'll be glad to post as I post a few times each week to my own webpage showing progress on a customer machine.
lot of standard machines that weve all seen restored , V81's 39's 44's and such.. but I have a few odd ducks coming up I'll share.
good point!

[Larry]

What's a Facebook?  .. / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / ..- ... . / .- / - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... .-.-.-

... -- -.-. / .. ... / .- / --. .-. . .- - / ... .. - . / .-- .. - .... / .... . .-.. .--. ..-. ..- .-.. / .- -. -.. / -.-. --- ..- .-. - . --- ..- ... / .--. . --- .--. .-.. . .-.-.- / .--- .. -- / .. ... / .- / ... .- .. -. - / ..-. --- .-. / .--. ..- - - .. -. --. / - .... .. ... / .- .-.. .-.. / - --- --. . - .... . .-. / ..-. --- .-. / .- .-.. .-.. / --- ..-. / ..- ... / - --- / . -. .--- --- -.-- .-.-.- / .. / .... .- ...- . / ..- ... . -.. / - .... .. ... / ... .. - . / -- .- -. -.-- / - .. -- . ... / ..-. --- .-. / .- -.. ...- .. -.-. . --..-- / .... . .-.. .--. --..-- / --- .-. / .--- ..- ... - / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. .-.. -.-- / -.-. .... .- - - . .-. .-.-.- / .. - / .. ... / .- / --- -. . / --- ..-. / .- / -.- .. -. -.. / .-- . -... / ... .. - . .-.-.- / - .... .- -. -.- ... / .--- .. -- / ..-. --- .-. / . ...- . .-. -.-- - .... .. -. --. --..-- / .- -. -.. / - .... .- -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- / - --- / .- .-.. .-.. / .-- .... --- / -.-. --- -. - .-. .. -... ..- - . / - --- / -- .- -.- . / - .... .. ... / ... .. - . / - .... . / -... . ... - / .-- . -... ... .. - . / --- ..- - / - .... . .-. . .-.-.-

Translation:

What's a Facebook?  I still use a telegraph.

SMC is a great site with helpful and courteous people.  Jim is a saint for putting this all together for all of us to enjoy.  I have used this site many times for advice, help, or just friendly chatter.  It is a one of a kind web site.  Thanks Jim for everything, and thank you to all who contribute to make this site the best website out there.

   I guess no one knows Morse code.

[Ross]

Larry, Thanks for translating.