Will Facebook Be The End Of Forums?

[No van man]

I used to pride myself on the fact that I hadn't joined Facebook.
However before I did I notice that the forum was slowing down a bit.

What do you guys think? Will Facebook take over?

Gaz.

[sandman 78]

This topic has been on before and didnt go down all that well you just opened can of worms if some choose to go on waste book thats there choice l like this forum and glad to be part of it

[HQVAN]

It won't take over this forum!

A forum is a much better medium to archive and search for that thread/post that you want to find.

With facebook it is constantly updating and it is near impossible to find stuff that was posted any time in the past. So a forum is a much better place to have say a build thread, that you can go back and update as time passes.

It is also better as an archive for the likes of our Van register, where you can search for that van you want to see/read about without having to try and search through an ever evolving list that changes as soon as someone makes a comment on a particular picture.

Facebook is more for instant gratification, you can post a photo or make a comment and instantly you will get a response from your intended audience. The advent of smart phones has changed this again to. Now everyone has facebook at their fingertips at the push of a button, it is user friendly and easy to use. Forums take a bit more effort, are a lot more difficult to use on a smart phone and are more often used when you are sitting down at a computer.

Our facebook page has been a great tool for attracting more people to the forum and the club, and also for promoting our events, the club, and sharing our pictures from the events.

I think both can work hand in hand, and of course people are going to have their preference, but facebook will NEVER take over this forum!

[blur1]

F facebook.

[Epic_Dragon]

facebook will never replace this or any forum. they are completely different things

forum is probably slowing down a bit as people might be busy at the moment. but no need to worry likehqvan says the forum is much better for finding things, and info. face book also has its place in thw world but for different reasons.
i enjoy facebook (mostly t ostay intouch with my family back in the uk) but ill never not be part of this forum or the other couple i go on (horses and landrover haha)

[Rusty62TransAm]

I call it "WasteBook" as all it does for me is Waste my time.

I'm not saying it isn't a useful tool, because its good to get a message out quickly and to the masses.

I compare WasteBook and the Forum to Sex:

• WasteBook is like a Quicky with a Stranger - 60 seconds of Lust: short time gratification that never really satisfies your long term needs.
  

• The Forum is a long term Lover (a Soulmate) - A Lifetime of Fulfilment: rewarding with ongoing gratification, that continues to give you something back.  Just like a Marriage, the more you put into it, the more you get back.
  

That's my   

[master6]

" HQVAN Yesterday at 12:09
It won't take over this forum!

A forum is a much better medium to archive and search for that thread/post that you want to find.

With facebook it is constantly updating and it is near impossible to find stuff that was posted any time in the past. So a forum is a much better place to have say a build thread, that you can go back and update as time passes."

I have stolen part of HQVANs comment , because it is worth repeating.

This forum is a "how to" by people who actually do it. That is what I like here, people who know how to do things, other than write cheques or punch pin numbers.

[The Zodiac]

Yeah Gaz,
we had this discussion before and I compare the two to a feed of Maccas and a home cooked roast.

Facebook is like Maccas yeah you can eat it but it's no real filling.

The forum is like a home cooked roast, more filling, tastes better and you get a lot more out of it.

Facebook has it's uses but as mentioned it's crap to navigate and the more they change it the worse it seems to get.

[No van man]

Sorry guy's, I didn't realise it had been asked before.

I agree though, people seem to use anonymity to forget their morals. It seems that its ok to be a rude prick on Facebook......because its Facebook.

I love this forum, people are polite and if the frick up they usually apologise.......sorry.

Long live the MV forum.
Gaz

[The Zodiac]

Nothing to be sorry about Gaz, if you don't ask you don't know mate.   

Yeah Facebook does seem to attract the special kind, one benefit the forum has over Facebook.........if you're an ar5ehole on here we don't tolerate it long and show you the door.

While we can choose who's on here and our Facebook page unfortunately we can't ban all the stupid and rude people off Facebook, if we did I suspect Facebook shares would plummet and there'd be a lot less on there.   

[fc59]

my  

i have try d to made a point of never replying to comments made of the face book page that is what the forum is for
but i do read it and i will like the occasional pic

what i use face book for more then any thing is to find car parts or buy sell n swap stuff 80% looking for parts 20% connecting with friends is like shouting at the general public

and i use the forum for is updating MVers about my projects asking advice give some if i can help its like talking in a group of mates

i think the biggest thing is that a few people are or have finished there projects so a large amount of content is missing compared to last year like i am almost finished my caravan so there will less posts from that but there should be more from bluEJay my van

[Bowtie383]

Hi Gaz,I was the one who started this topic before as I had a concern for the forum,but I do like how Rusty and Rob have compared the forum and FB they have it in a nutshell,myself the forum will alway's be my favourite place to come to it is great to go back and checkout older threads and to look at what we had in the pass they are alway's there, on FB you do not have that.
There are a lot of keyboard warriors on there but on here none and as it has already been stated they would not be here for long,also never be frightened to ask a question on here we are all here to answer them and help each other out it is the Majestic Vanners way.

Regards Tony.
  
'leave em"wanting more!

[garym]

Recently I gave in and joined Facebook only for van related things ,my only friend outside of vanning is my wife and like me she is a passive user. Facebook is a instant tool for information not all of it useful but instant with everyone having it on their phone we need to embrace it and what it can do for us . whilst we have people like Karl doing great work promoting the forum via Facebook not just on our page on many others the club and the forum can only be the winners .
keep up the good work Karl
Gary

[Mrs Serendipity]

I don't think that Facebook will ever takeover from the forum, facebook is only for instant photos and chit chat, it is useful for the instant things which is great and I as one am a FB junkie but..... The forum is like is fine wine it has matured and has character and depth and has a taste for everyone and is always up for new ideas .... the wealth of knowledge is priceless the new people we meet is priceless, the sharing of thoughts and photos is priceless...let alone ideas and events and I have not touched on everything but I think you can get what I am talking about..... The forum is solid like a friendship.....and that is what Majestic Vanners is about, friends with a passion

[Sam62]

I don't think that Facebook will ever takeover from the forum, facebook is only for instant photos and chit chat, it is useful for the instant things which is great and I as one am a FB junkie but..... The forum is like is fine wine it has matured and has character and depth and has a taste for everyone and is always up for new ideas .... the wealth of knowledge is priceless the new people we meet is priceless, the sharing of thoughts and photos is priceless...let alone ideas and events and I have not touched on everything but I think you can get what I am talking about..... The forum is solid like a friendship.....and that is what Majestic Vanners is about, friends with a passion

Hear Hear Kerri

Sam
 

[HQVAN]

Recently I gave in and joined Facebook only for van related things ,my only friend outside of vanning is my wife and like me she is a passive user. Facebook is a instant tool for information not all of it useful but instant with everyone having it on their phone we need to embrace it and what it can do for us . whilst we have people like Karl doing great work promoting the forum via Facebook not just on our page on many others the club and the forum can only be the winners .
keep up the good work Karl
Gary

Thanks Gary, appreciated mate. 
Cheers.  

[Rusty62TransAm]

  A VAN-tastic Job Karl!!    

[Imperfection]

It has

[sandman 78]

l dont know about that its been abit slow here probbaly because of know real projects on the go or people just not sharing what there doing l have know interest in dumb book l prefer to be on this forum

[master6]

As I work on my HG van project I find myself frequently in need of advice. There is no doubt that facebook is the fastest way to get help, but unfortunately the information is there today and fast disappearing tomorrow. This results in common questions coming up repeatedly, as the last time they were answered is no longer easy to find.
Is it possible to tie facebook in with a forum?

[garym]

Never James
I use both many people would have a heart attack if I posted on waste book It is a source of instant information most of which is useless to me . the forum is a great source of information and contact with fellow Vanners however like me many of the people that drive this forum and feed information and updates have been extremely busy with work and family .We have 1150 registered users and if you check many of them have been online in the last 96 hours .if every one of them posted something we would be extremely busy .So to all those that come in and out of our forum please contribute because we love your photos and updates ,you are our Vanning family and we love to hear from you .
Gary

[HQVAN]

I can only reiterate my closing comment in the last club newsletter:

The Majestic Vanners facebook group page has been doing really well over the past few months with a lot of people contributing photos, sharing news, and answering questions.  We have requests coming in daily and the group is growing quite steadily.  As these new people join the group it is important that we keep directing them to join and contribute to the forum, emphasizing the more in depth and informative nature of it.  Also mention the way it archives this information so that it is easier to search for and reference that information at a later date.  Facebook is constantly updating, and with the amount of posts on our group page, it makes it difficult to find the information we are looking for further down the track.
 
We need to get the forum back up and firing again.  It got very quiet for a while there and is just now beginning to pick up speed again.  Keep making the effort guys, if someone has gone to the effort of writing a large post or posted some pictures, be sure to respond to them so that they get the satisfaction that people have taken notice.  It may not be as easy as pressing the ‘like’ button, but it might just keep them interested in contributing more.  Remember, the more you put into it the more everyone gets out of it!
 
Keep On Vanning!                                                                               Karl Vanzuyden

[Rusty62TransAm]

Would you like some Likes on the Forum?

[666]

Facebook has its place but it can't replace forums. With the forum the info is under searchable headings for members to look back on. There is also more control with forums.

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