forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => What's New => Topic started by: Dave W on August 01, 2021, 07:39:10 PM
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Which has more influence for your hobby involvement- website model groups or social media platforms?
Every so often a member suggests we create a Facebook group to promote the Forum's interests so I would like to hear from members on how you regard social media groups and whether they influence your model buying or building?
This is not a preliminary to us announcing a Forum Facebook group - that is not planned because I don't think a social media group would bring any more value to our Forum and, frankly, we don't have the time or resources to try and run two parallel model groups.
There's also the issue of Facebook's sometimes weird interpretation of historical imagery - try uploading a photo of a German aircraft with a swastika on it and see your group placed in Facebook prison!
However I'm aware of a manufacturer or two now which do most of their promotion via Facebook groups and gauge likely sales from the number of "Likes" their posts attract. Is this the new face of market research?
How many of our members also follow social media groups ( I do), but do they influence what you build or will buy?
How many of us are on social media at all?
So how important is a website hobby group to you in providing information and helping in your kit buying, or do you prefer the social media platforms now?
Cheers
Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
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An interesting question, Dave, and certainly very relevant.
FWIW I visit both fairly regularly : here and Britmodeller for websites and WNW Fans, Airfix, Revell and LSP on social on FB. However on Fb I adopt a nom de plume (Sam Spade) as I'm also a member of various local social media sites and the vitriol that is thrown around is quite staggering - issues like Scottish Independence bring out the very worst in my fellow citizens, and anonymity is worth preserving!
Probably due to the well run ownership of the websites, they tend to be very civilised fora, whereas FB can be a bit of a bearpit and some members seem to feel they have to post boring lengthy novels about why they are right and others wrong. However FB allows 'likes' or emogees to be posted against entries which guage public opinion pretty quickly.
I'm a bit of a joker and find FB great for a quick funny reply or picture which usually goes down well, but the swastika ban etc is annoying (although probably understandable).
Also some sites are run by very intolerant administrators with 'ban-hammers' being wielded against anything that doesn't fit their own particular world view.
I see a place for both: if an FB site closed I'd find another, if this website closed I'd be distraught 😩
Sandy
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There are two reasons I joined this forum:
- there is no annoying advertising or need to choose "cookie-options" and as I stated before elsewhere on this forum,
- everybody is absolutely civil.
In a world where everything evolves around making money (through "personalised" advertising) it is an absolute relief the our site is doing very well without.
I do have a Facebook account, but I only use it to "follow" both my daughters.
That being said, I am more than happy to pay money to keep this site and forum as it is.
Willem
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I dumped my facebook + Whatsapp and instagram accounts 5 months ago.
I prefer coming to this forum direct...but! I do understand those who want a one-place-fits-all approach. I'm not one of them.
Keep up the great work, Dave.
Bob :)
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Your question can clearly be answered: I will never join those companies like Facebook!
I find the openness of the internet most important! With the open protocols everyone can join, get and put information without control by someone else. That's why we have places like this.
Facebook and the other asocial media try to lock-in the users to their platform, hide information from others, try to get control and make money from the content of their users. So I will never support such business models!
Cheers,
Frank
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Forums!
Facebook does my head in - I've no idea how I could follow a build thread on there
Richard
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Exactly, Frank...Facebook...Twitter...etc....all have morphed into something rather insidious...and speaking of insidious, this cancel culture thing?...little more than peer pressure on steroids turned all the way up to eleven....I completely understand where you're coming from, Dave, you seek ways to improve the site but I vote nay.
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I'm very active on Facebook, I even administer a Facebook group devoted to my line of interest which is also my business/career (Irish & Celtic music), and I say NO. Let manufacturers do what they must do to keep their business going, I will keep my activities there strictly to my business.
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Forum, forever
social media have turned into a pot of hate and rage,
even if there are some well administered groups about ww1 aircraft models
but moderating them is a nightmare, I can imagine
er me
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Please, keep the Forum. I'm not on any social media, and I don't plan to join any social media.
Thanks!
Jason
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Agree with the others . I just don't do social media at all want nothing to do with it . Don't have facebook , just don't see the reason behind it being plugged to it 24/7 , but that's how they take our money and keep us trapped by telling us what to say and think and spread the hate .
Have enough troubles in this world being a woman and don't want to get bombard buy nothing but dating and gross sex stuff .
I come here to get away for that toxic environment to share builds with friends developed over the years . I only post my builds here and the only other site which I post on is for woman were we share our lives and have a good time chatting without getting harassed . Same as it is here , no adds and I love it .
Alexis
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Interesting responses here and I sense a feeling that this forum is a great go-to place - and very different in many ways to other social media.... and I must say social media is great for club activities and general international info... but, and big but, faar too much social angst and criticism involved, very strict and intensive moderation needed and very poor research potential (everything relevant just gets lost down the thread). So I admit this Forum is my happy place, there may not be frenetic activity that social media provides, but it is understanding, relevant and intuitive... and most members know why they are here! So I think concentrate on what we do best and enjoy the ride.... All the Best to you great folks here! Regards, Marc.
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agree with all the others.
I don’t even have a ‘social’ life whatsoever, so I really won’t know where to star from either.
ciao
edo
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An interesting question, Dave, and certainly very relevant.
FWIW I visit both fairly regularly : here and Britmodeller for websites and WNW Fans, Airfix, Revell and LSP on social on FB. However on Fb I adopt a nom de plume (Sam Spade) as I'm also a member of various local social media sites and the vitriol that is thrown around is quite staggering - issues like Scottish Independence bring out the very worst in my fellow citizens, and anonymity is worth preserving!
Probably due to the well run ownership of the websites, they tend to be very civilised fora, whereas FB can be a bit of a bearpit and some members seem to feel they have to post boring lengthy novels about why they are right and others wrong. However FB allows 'likes' or emogees to be posted against entries which guage public opinion pretty quickly.
I'm a bit of a joker and find FB great for a quick funny reply or picture which usually goes down well, but the swastika ban etc is annoying (although probably understandable).
Also some sites are run by very intolerant administrators with 'ban-hammers' being wielded against anything that doesn't fit their own particular world view.
I see a place for both: if an FB site closed I'd find another, if this website closed I'd be distraught 😩
Sandy
Your words are mine, Sandy!
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Agree with the others, stick to the website.
I'm on social media but that is for my political and union activities. It can be an absolute sewer and bare knuckle cage fight.
This forum is a breath of fresh air - calm, relaxing, informative and interesting.
Wouldn't want it any other way!!!
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I agree with most of the comments above and believe this forum is the best vehicle for the likes of us. However as a long standing member of IPMS and branch sec I must say that having a facebook account for our branch has been very useful for sending out info, promotion, and recruitment. We get about 10/15 at monthly meetings but our Facebook membership stands at 67. If you want to interest young people youve got to use the likes of Facebook and You Tube. Believe when I say that I was led kicking and screaming into this now but recognise it's benefits.
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I agree with most of the comments above and believe this forum is the best vehicle for the likes of us. However as a long standing member of IPMS and branch sec I must say that having a facebook account for our branch has been very useful for sending out info, promotion, and recruitment. We get about 10/15 at monthly meetings but our Facebook membership stands at 67. If you want to interest young people youve got to use the likes of Facebook and You Tube. Believe when I say that I was led kicking and screaming into this now but recognise it's benefits.
Facebook does work well for transient information, like news, new releases, meetings and so on. It's hopeless for build threads
If you wan to interest 'young people', you're way behind the curve! 'Young people' don't use Facebook because it's full of 'old people'. ;D
Richard
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i'm on here, Facebook and Instagram, and read/follow a lot more than i post. i'll go to any platform with worthwhile content.
social media isn't a bad idea, but it shouldn't replace the forum.
i think a Facebook group would be a good idea, if it's done in a way that's complementary to the forum rather than redundant. like new releases, blinged up photos, share manufacturer teasers (Copper State and Aviattic in share a lot there).
Twitter isn't a good platform for the kind of content we're interested in.
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Thank you, Dave, for bringing this issue to discussion - a very relevant and important issue in my opinion.
Me, first of all I dislike the increasing number of places, where people present their models, inform about new kits, etc. I truly miss the times without FB. The mutitude of FB groups drives me mad. I cannot get the idea of being a member of several groups (as far as I know there are at least 5 groups related to WW1 aviation modeling) and presenting the same photos of models in all of them.
As some have already pointed out, it is a medium completely not suitable for presentation of build logs. Searching for any info older than 2 days is barely possible. And it can be full of trolls and other parasites. IMHO it is a place where the majority of users wants to show up, have their moment of transient internet glory, gather likes and hearts...
I must confess, I am present there. And I definitely spend too much time looking for some information about modeling but it is usually a hard task, you have to scroll through the heaps of useless posts... I do it only because:
1) I know that some of my friends, also modelers, are present mainly there. This is sometimes the only way to be in touch with them.
2) when you sieve the rubbish you may find some interesting news quicker than elsewhere (as was the case with some novelties, for instance from CSM)
All in all, I would be very much disappointed is this forum moved to FB (if that is possible at all). I find this forum as a tranquility refuge from that FB mess and noise. Please, no I beg you, Dave, and us all, let us keep it as it is, we all need THIS place, it is the most fantastic virtual world, let us all preserve it and steadily improve it - for us and for future users. Let us do it here, not in FB or elsewhere...
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However FB allows 'likes'
One more "vote" here against a Facebook transition or complement. I value this group immensely in it's current form, but wish we had a Like feature. Since we are a friendly group, a lot (!) of posts are "merely" short likes.
Gene K
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Good morning all. The website forum all the way for me. I never use social media. Regards, Pete in RI.
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Many thanks for the valued feedback folks and I can assure you all there is no plan to move the Forum to any social media platform, or to create a clone of the Forum on Facebook.
I was interested in gauging whether social media platforms such as Facebook are influential in your modelling choices, such as your kit or aftermarket product buying?.
Several people have noted that some manufacturers make news announcements on Facebook but do those posts convince you to buy the mentioned items or do you seek more in depth information such as may be found on a web forum?
I am delighted our members find the Forum to be a friendly and welcoming place because that is our #1 objective- to provide a warm, friendly and helpful place where all modellers are equal and can share their joy of the hobby with fellow modellers around the world.
Thanks to every one of you for your support because you make this Forum the friendliest hobby group on the Internet.
Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
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I am on FB and Instagram. I rarely use Instagram but do use FB daily. I don't like a lot of the stuff on FB but there are a few WW1 related Model groups that I follow. I post My builds on MY Home Page, and tend to also spread them on the other groups. Usually I alternate posting updates on different ones and not all at one time. The WNW groups have more or less lost MY interest as they are about 50% sales posts now.
The Forum is My Home and I Love following all of the inspirational builds here. I find it easy to check on progress, find info I am looking for etc. Like we always say, Friendly and Informative! I May give up on social Media someday but not this Forum!
As for your question, if a company is basing their releases only on likes on FB they are probably not utilizing all of the tools they should be. In a small Niche of a small Market I would think every venue would be valuable!
I am Happy you have No intention of Moving to FB, This is without doubt the best Forum Community I have ever been a part of
Just My Humble and Rambling Opinion.
RAGIII
PS: I tend to purchase things I see here more than those I see on FB. I trust more of the opinions here. For instance if I went by what we see on FB I would Never build a Roden kit, and probably not Special Hobby or others !
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Interesting topic, for sure. And to answer your original question Dave I definitely have discovered many hobby related items to purchase that I've come across on Facebook. Not so much adverts, but people sharing info - what they used and where they got it etc. I can wade past some of the other nonsense easily.
But this Forum is very "grounded" and a pleasant place to share model pictures, ideas and thoughts.
Cheers,
Gary
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Hi Dave,
I'm with most of the comments posted here.
I do have a FB account and visit daily, as there are informative pages to be found.
I also respond on some pages where I think it may help the original poster.
However, posters can promote negative and sometimes abusive replies, which in many cases the admins let go.
But then other pages block posts for what seem to be the silliest of reasons, or for no obvious reason.
This forum has always been positive and informative and most importantly, is 'policed' with polite effect.
Members here are accountable for their content, something social media lacks in many respects.
Also here, we're not subjected to a multitude of advertising and the ever present problems of security breeches.
Finally, each of our builds are detailed and lengthy, which is what this forum promotes so well to the community.
That's something we can't easily do on FB and the like, which in reality are just 'snap shot' forums,
Mike
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Pretty much all I do here is lurk, and drool over other people's work, but if I were looking for information on products, I would look here before any social media forums. I don't have time (or desire) to try to keep up with every manufacturer's Facebook and Instagram account.
I do think that Facebook is great for clubs - either local or virtual - but it's not where I go for information.
Thanks,
M.A.Shelley
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Tried to resist the tide and don't have Facebook, or insta, Twitter.
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I never go on social media, so manufacturers are wasting their time advertising there as far as I am concerned. I know I miss out on new product release news but I find what I need well enough. Regards, Pete in RI.
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Dave,
I use this forum as a gauge to determine if/what I am going to buy that is WWI related. I trust and value the opinions and I like the honesty of the people here on the forum. Plus, they can build the heck out of these kits!!! My 2 cents worth.
Mike
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The Forum's a wonderful resource and a rich archive of talent and information. I don't do FB and never will.
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Hello Dave,
I think the forum is great the way it is. This is a place where you can withdraw and also discuss some private problems with your friends. Nobody from my private and professional environment would stalk me here in this forum. As a German, I in particular have to struggle with the fact that, due to our history, we are often pushed into the right-wing corner when we build WWI models or are interested in history. Here, no recruiter stumbles over my words.
bye,Manni
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Influence? To a degree, I use Mediocre group quite often on FB which is run by Andy's HQ I believe and he posts useful videos on subjects which hasn't helped my wallet.
I think people who are interested in WW1 aircraft would eventually find this place, when people ask for advice I send them here too. Maybe the info from here feeds back naturally? to those platforms?
"There's also the issue of Facebook's sometimes weird interpretation of historical imagery - try uploading a photo of a German aircraft with a swastika on it and see your group placed in Facebook prison!"
Unfortunately there are a couple of reasons, one is apparently FB has a lot of issues with extremist groups and I have also seen about the legality of the swastika in certain countries like Germany which has affected other websites and even games, Il2 is a good example where they don't ship with them. I think FB just took the "easy" way out too and sent it all under the ban hammer.
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I am glad this forum is going well and I'm glad to see the positive support here. Sadly this doesn't seem to be the case at an older forum most of us know well: the Aerodrome. In fact, a few years ago they tried the same thing, to expand to Facebook. I was a member of that Facebook group and noticed today that there hasn't been a single bit of activity there for over two years. It's essentially dead. As for the Aerodrome forum itself, except for the homebuilder's page and a few others, it's quite static. The only model section there is the flying models one, and it's on life support.
There's real life in this forum, for sure. But Facebook is a gigantic quagmire that's been described perfectly by everyone here. Ten years ago? Not so bad. Today, it's risky with all the data leaks and people watching your every keystroke, not to mention the political madness. Welcome to Mount Doom. I took a furlough from Facebook for a week and went back today. I'm more interested in the WWI groups anyway where I can post simple snapshots and catch up on some news, if any.
Is there any interest in creating a sub forum here for the flying scale modelers?
Thanks for letting us share our thoughts. I appreciate what everyone is saying.
Lyle
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That forum exploded at one point for reasons I no longer remember, including shutting down all the modelling threads. I haven't been back since - in fact I can't get in as I can't remember my password and the reset reply goes to an email account I no longer have
Times change
Richard
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Thanks for the valued feedback folks, much appreciated. I'm especially encouraged by the feeling that our Forum is playing a useful role in helping everyone enjoy the hobby. Your kind words are appreciated by our team - Lance Carroll, Brad Cancian, Dave Johnson and myself.
With regard to the Aerodrome, our forum grew out of the consequences of the Aerodrome's melt down some years back. We shan't go into the causes of that but the model boards were shut down and a new site was created by another person. The late Des Delatorre was involved with that site but then there was a serious parting of the ways between him and the other fellow, the site was shut down and Des went out on his own and created this Forum.
That was in 2012 and next year we will mark our 10th anniversary! The happy state of our Forum and its good heart are due to our outstanding world wide family of modellers who support one another with no trolls or flame wars ( one reason why the Drome crashed and burned).
We're always looking for ways to make the Forum better for members (within our budget) and with regard to a sub board for flying scale modellers- I'm happy to set up such a board if the demand is there for it? Over to you folks!
Meanwhile on the plastic model front, stay tuned for a little contest we'll be running soon with Roden's brand new 1/32 scale Spad XIII Early kits as prizes! We'll announce details of this soon but it's an exclusive for members of our Forum.
cheers
Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia.
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Hello Dave,
I think the forum is great the way it is. This is a place where you can withdraw and also discuss some private problems with your friends. Nobody from my private and professional environment would stalk me here in this forum. As a German, I in particular have to struggle with the fact that, due to our history, we are often pushed into the right-wing corner when we build WWI models or are interested in history. Here, no recruiter stumbles over my words.
bye,Manni
Bravo Manni - well said :)
Mike
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Hello Dave,
I think the forum is great the way it is. This is a place where you can withdraw and also discuss some private problems with your friends. Nobody from my private and professional environment would stalk me here in this forum. As a German, I in particular have to struggle with the fact that, due to our history, we are often pushed into the right-wing corner when we build WWI models or are interested in history. Here, no recruiter stumbles over my words.
bye,Manni
Bravo Manni - well said :)
Mike
Hear, hear!
Willem
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I stopped using ANY social media alltogether since you cannot escape the political and social madness on there.
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I stopped using ANY social media alltogether since you cannot escape the political and social madness on there.
The same reason for me too.
:)
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This forum is a positive example, even for a forum. (not meant in a negative way, of course)
Some may find it a bit too tightly run, but there's no obligation to join and participate, is there? I don't mind and am glad this place scticks to it's roots.
Some other (non modelling, as well) forums are actually little different from social media... I suppose the right to vent an opinion and the anonimity triggers something in some people. I've met my share of these in real life as well, I just shrug and move on... :)
When I put all season tyres on my camper van and am happy with them, I don't really need other people to yell I've got the wrong brand because they had one blown 25 years ago and respond to any and all threads regarding that brand venting that opinion. Thankfully none of that is happening here, as it gets tiresome after a while :)
Although I don't visit as often as I would like here, I still follow along when I can, and hopefully this winter there'll be some more time to work on my models!
Jeroen
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Hi Dave, hi everybody, I read just now this much interesting thread, and all the posts here are really interesting as well, I respect all the opinions and don't have anything against the social medas, but here I feel really at home and what's more important I know each of us as a family person and I support the Forum when I can with my donations.
So my idea is that we should keep the forum alive with our strength and polite behavior and competent intervention in it.
The forum is open and we have a constant although maybe small number of newcomers and that's good... I feel we don't need to spread a message or target a bigger number of people as a commercial enterprise does.
I do not have a Facebook or other social account: I tried to open one (and an Instagram and a Twitter one as well) but I abandoned all of them because I couldn't understand their usefulness. So my vote (if one is required) is Forum! ...and my hope is that the suppliers of kits and aftermarket keep their presence on the "traditional" websites because I won't ever open a facebook accont to buy some decals or kit.
Thanks for opening this discussion Dave and apologies for taking part in it so late!
Antonio
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I am very late to this thread, and to honest I haven't read anyone's replies to the OP. However, I'll say that I got shed of Facebook almost a year ago, and have stayed off of social media since. I greatly prefer websites and message boards such as this one.
FWIW, YMMV,
WD
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I am very late to this thread, and to honest I haven't read anyone's replies to the OP. However, I'll say that I got shed of Facebook almost a year ago, and have stayed off of social media since. I greatly prefer websites and message boards such as this one.
FWIW, YMMV,
WD
You're not alone. I gave up on Facebook 6 months ago. In that time, not one of my 'real' friends on Farcebook have checked in with me to see how I'm doing. I find that to be sad, but not surprising. In life you will have around 3 to 5 friends that you would lie down in traffic for, the rest are just passing through. Their loss.
:)
Bob
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Bob,
Pretty much the same here, but then I'm just as guilty of not keeping up with folks. BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) I greatly prefer the interactions here and the various message boards, blogs, etc. I frequent.
WD
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Sorry for being so late into this topic, I think the forum is just right for its purposes: social media are useless for many of the forum's activities, without real moderators, an excessively compacted format and an excessive population. No pressure, great friendliness and world class modellers sharing their experience make this place invaluable.
Ciao
Giuseppe
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I don't know how to post it here but on June 21st Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd fame, made a very interesting comment re Facebook etc. A quick search "Roger Waters on Facebook" will find it for you......oh yeah I guess Google is part of the monster.......but anyway....
Steve
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Always goes to specialized forum such as this one. I do have other modeling interests such as ship modeling and for informations I joined the NRG and the sister site Model Ship World. I am also an avid figure modeler but I have yet to find a decent site. I will stay away at all cost from FB or all other "social media "sites. You Tube is often a great place for tutorials.
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Facebook !!!!
Dave, in the name of humanity PLEASE .... NOOOOOO !
Most social media platforms seem to introduce unwanted intrusions like rubbish advertising and back-doors for hackers
This is THE best English language WW1 aircraft modelling site on the net
The format works perfectly and it's sensibly moderated, internally, by you.
You can't improve on perfection
Respectfully,
David