Where is everyone?

[Sean N]

Is it just me, or are things a lot quieter on the forum than they were a few years ago? Has Facebook cannibalised HMVF as well as everything else?

[Enigma]

Maybe, guess forums aren't as popular as 10-15 years ago.

[john1950]

Unfortunately time is taking it's toll on this forum. We have lost some big contributors in the last few years. With the likes of Degsy and ThomoT crossing the bar they are big shoes to fill. I do not think there are the numbers of youngsters coming through, they also use social media to inter act. But the ones who are still here keep a friendship going even though they probably have never met. Big restorations are so expensive now there are fewer of them being undertaken. 

[Rootes75]

Over the years I've made some very good friends on the forum, albeit never meeting in person. I check in quite often each day to see what's going on. Some days I just hit some likes, others I may comment. But sometimes its just reading. I have noticed fewer posts from some people but there may be quite a few just happy to read without comment.

[67burwood]

It could just be that time of year, it’s still wet cold and miserable, if like myself your working mainly outside on your projects, this time of year is not very progressive 🤞when the weather improves the project updates will start rolling in. 

[ruxy]

11 hours ago, Enigma said:

Maybe, guess forums aren't as popular as 10-15 years ago.

I would agree  -  Facebook has taken over and it's not difficult to determine the reason(s) why ,  however FB is not without problems - there are many groups , for in example military vehicles - for just a specific make/type of vehicle , somebody starts a interesting thread and rude people bust in and take over with another query or answer / suggestion not relevent  (moderation seems very poor).  FB  -  it's useless for a long restoration blog.   IMHO  the  HMVF still has it's head above water , mainly for the reason it is a forum covering many types of vehicle - so the pull-in for readers / commentards has a greater head count , they may come for their specific vehicle interest - but read about others and further educate themselves.

[john1950]

Threads do not vanish they remain as a reference for years to come. One thing there appears to be very little input from female forum members.

[ruxy]

13 minutes ago, john1950 said:

Threads do not vanish they remain as a reference for years to come. One thing there appears to be very little input from female forum members.

Offhand - I can only think of Diana Carver  ?

[Sean N]

To be honest I'm guilty as well, as life and struggles have taken me away from things and I haven't been in for a while; but I've posted a couple of things in the last few days I'd have thought would get some response and nothing.

I just noticed a post from Ron from August last year, "Far fewer people are responding to my restoration thread in "motorcycles".  What with FB ... I fear this is another dying forum."

I do worry that Facebook is taking everything over; I've just posted some stuff for sale on another forum with little response, though there is lively trade on the Facebook group. I'm not a FB member, and I don't think it's any substitute for the richness and depth of knowledge and information you get on a forum.

[Sean N]

10 hours ago, ruxy said:

Offhand - I can only think of Diana Carver  ?

I thought of Rosie, but a quick check shows her last post was seven years ago ...

[fv1609]

11 hours ago, john1950 said:

One thing there appears to be very little input from female forum members.

There used to be Berni (Bernardette) last visited 2012

[wally dugan]

Lizzie /BlueBelle

[fv1609]

I moderate 4 forums & in the last few years there has been a dramatic fall off in posts. There are instances where they are used as a hunting ground to draw people away to form a huddle of specialist interest in faecebook groups.

The other thing is that many of us have other hobbies. I now only have one MV but there is some crossover to my amateur radio where I build stuff for the microwave bands that requires a lot of metal work although a bit more delicate than messing with the armoured vehicles I used to own.

[Rootes75]

12 hours ago, ruxy said:

I would agree  -  Facebook has taken over and it's not difficult to determine the reason(s) why ,  however FB is not without problems - there are many groups , for in example military vehicles - for just a specific make/type of vehicle , somebody starts a interesting thread and rude people bust in and take over with another query or answer / suggestion not relevent  (moderation seems very poor).  FB  -  it's useless for a long restoration blog.   IMHO  the  HMVF still has it's head above water , mainly for the reason it is a forum covering many types of vehicle - so the pull-in for readers / commentards has a greater head count , they may come for their specific vehicle interest - but read about others and further educate themselves.

I'm on a few FB groups too, its another good source of information. But, I feel on FB there are a lot of armchair experts who can quite easily offend. When we finished our truck last summer some photos of it were posted on FB, not by us but it was nice to get he exposure.

Trouble is, then we started getting comments about how we'd done this wrong, painted it the wrong colour, something didn't look right etc etc

At the time it really got under my skin, after all our hard work to be sort of ripped apart, quite cynically tbh. 

Whereas on the Forum, people have followed my restoration blog, really helped me at times where I've had decisions to make, made good comments and gave good advice that has really helped. I've also closely followed other restorations which have given great insights into things I didn't really see before.

I think that's the difference.

[paul connor]

I agree it is quieter than usual, maybe this is due to the decline of larger shows and rising costs of purchasing vehicles?

Facebook I have deactivated as I found it becoming a vast waste of my time and also pretty negative as an experience with the content. I only now use Instagram but that is for my music alias as you have to self promote in the current era which I dislike, but needs must. I found Facebook to be very inaccurate in regards to advice and expertise, whereas here you generally get more experience and factual replies; which for me is more important.

I would imagine the gender imbalance is likely down to what the hobby is, most shows are male dominated but I guess that is the nature of military vehicles. I do wonder if the newer generations in the hobby are less represented in vehicle ownership and there will be a decline in the hobby for a while as younger people struggle to afford ownership and insurance?

[67burwood]

3 hours ago, Rootes75 said:

I'm on a few FB groups too, its another good source of information. But, I feel on FB there are a lot of armchair experts who can quite easily offend. When we finished our truck last summer some photos of it were posted on FB, not by us but it was nice to get he exposure.

Trouble is, then we started getting comments about how we'd done this wrong, painted it the wrong colour, something didn't look right etc etc

At the time it really got under my skin, after all our hard work to be sort of ripped apart, quite cynically tbh. 

Whereas on the Forum, people have followed my restoration blog, really helped me at times where I've had decisions to make, made good comments and gave good advice that has really helped. I've also closely followed other restorations which have given great insights into things I didn't really see before.

I think that's the difference.

I completely agree with your comments about FB, although it can be useful there are a lot of rude, obnoxious and arrogant people who post unnecessary comments, while this forum genuinely has people who are interested in sharing advice and admiration for other people’s hard work. 

[Enigma]

19 hours ago, 67burwood said:

It could just be that time of year, it’s still wet cold and miserable, if like myself your working mainly outside on your projects, this time of year is not very progressive 🤞when the weather improves the project updates will start rolling in. 

you are probably right. We're busy outside right now (ok, posting now but I'll get on it again in about 15 seconds) on our Top Secret project called "The Money Pit".😉

[johann morris]

I don't do facebook, I tried it once but I really don't see the attraction, there again, I only post on here and MLU and really only use the internet for buying stuff and research. I may be alone but in reality my projects are for my own interest and enjoyment and many I have never put on the net. Are there really many people out there that are interested in what we are doing, personally I am flattered when I get a response to my posts but I wouldn't stop doing the project if I didn't. There are some incredibly talented people on here and I really enjoy reading their posts but facebook appears to be populated by those who have a lot to say but very little to offer. 

As for my project, I am still making the components for the track links, all 4140 components and it's testing my patience's, so why would I inflict that pain on the forum, as soon as there's any real progress I will be posting again.

Jon

[109ffr]

As a new member, having joined with a genuine need for advice, but having now found that advice on an electronics website, I feel totally unwelcome, having not had one reply on introductions or the British vehicles category I’m not sure what to think.

[attleej]

Dear All,

 

I am sorry that we have not responded to 109ffr but it is easy to miss an introduction.

I don't do social media and I do not have a smart phone.  I like it that the forum is a repository of knowledge and experience.  That is why carefully posted my solution the the problem of broken cylinder head studs on a Meteor engine.

 

John

 

 

[67burwood]

10 minutes ago, 109ffr said:

As a new member, having joined with a genuine need for advice, but having now found that advice on an electronics website, I feel totally unwelcome, having not had one reply on introductions or the British vehicles category I’m not sure what to think.

Sorry you haven’t felt welcome, I can only assume no one was able to answer your question at the time of posting, personally I only tend to view the recently updated topics that appear on the screen, I can only assume yours just got missed. 

[109ffr]

It’s honestly not a moan, it’s just the fact that I thought I’d be in the right place to contact like-minded people who I share an interest with. Thankyou though for your replies tonight. Regards Steven.

[fv1609]

Steven I was going to reply to your query about whether the substitute ballast resistor would work, but I would be bound to say that it did!

I wonder what advice you received on that electronics forum? Sad to say many qualified electronic engineers don't seem to fully appreciate the reason for the ballast resistor. Many say that is for shorting out when starting the engine to give extra volts to the coil, there are certain applications where this is done. But this is not the prime reason for its inclusion in fact in Rovers it is not shorted out at start up,

[109ffr]

Good evening fv1609, and Thankyou for your reply. The chap on the electronics forum backed up the fact that the replacement resistor was perfectly adequate for purpose. I’m also very reassured that it worked in your case too. The landrover is an essential part of our farm equipment, and I’m hoping to have it up and running for the weekend. Back to work for the old girl, having had a short rest. 

[fv1609]

Steven if you any queries relating to the screened ignition system just ask. That article evolved over many years adding bits that people were having difficulties with. You have probably found the sister article covering the 24V 90A charging system, which is equally verbose!

It is good that you are running it as nature intended, unfortunately many owners rip out the 24V system & seriously devalue their vehicle.