[Wendell Hanks]

To all:
A recent posting, "Less activity on MLS - Is it me?," ironically has filled at least three pages of responses.
However, from those responding, the concensus appears to be that fewer people are writing.

QUESTION:  What topics would you like to see posted?

Me? I particularly enjoy reading technique tips - locos, track, reversing systems, and powerpack choices.

Wendell

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Me too, although I often post the results of my investigations on my web site.

Seems that just about everything we buy or build can be "tweeked" to be just a little bit better.

Regards, Greg

 

[blackburn49]

Posted By Wendell Hanks on 03/11/2008 11:27 PM

To all:
A recent posting, "Less activity on MLS - Is it me?," ironically has filled at least three pages of responses.
However, from those responding, the concensus appears to be that fewer people are writing.

QUESTION:  What topics would you like to see posted?

Wendell
It is my belief  that your question misses the point, which was a complaint of a noticable  lack of responses to most postings of late.  You may possibly get answers across the board  of what topics interest our members (assuming they really want to post at all)  regarding this LS hobby, but  I fail to see how that knowledge would be particularly useful. After all, there are certainly plenty of very specific categories on this forum already. And if people are really interested in specific areas, as of course they are because they are here, one would think they would either create their own post or respond to someone else's on the specific subject. 

 

[pimanjc]

Wendell,
Thanks for posting the question.  This is a constructive approach to the issue of postings.  

I enjoy the variations of topics [of interest?] in the Public forum. My favorites are posts that demonstrate some skill, construction, or type of modification.   In another word, I like posts that help us to share and learn from each other.   For the most part, I have tried to follow this thought with many [not all, by far]  of my postings in Buildings, Review, Beginning, Rolling, Track, Tools, RC/bat, Sound, and Trackpower.  I have not posted much in Garden, but read topics with anticipation that I will learn something. 

The Websites like GregE's, GeorgeS's, and others [sorry I can't name them all here], have been invaluable to my growth in GRing.  However, it is nice to have the topics or information posted in the forums, with the ability to go back to the websites at a later date for reference.  Pictures posted always enhance understanding [One picture is worth 1000 words] and interest.

Blackburn,
You may [I wonder] have missed the point that Wendell is perhaps trying to make.  If Forum members see that others have particular interests and questions,  then they might be encouraged to post on those topics.  Several times, I have declined to post on a topic just because I thought that no one else would be interested.  Many times, to my surprise, that  topic, or a similiar topic ,was later posted with great response and interest.  Any encouragement we can give each other about sharing ideas that improve the hobby is always a good idea.

$.02, IMHO.

JimC.

 

[Wendell Hanks]

The conclusion, just a possibility, is the topics are not garnering the attention the writers anticipate.
The question is what are some of the topics in our hobby that would ensure the greatest number of responses?

Try this one: An interview with Wolfgang as to his current role or non-role with LGB?
Of course this would get readers -- and, pending on what he said, responses.

Of puzzlement is why the manufacturers don't offer their insights and interests on this site. On other hobby sites - try the collector car hobby -- manufactuers are continually reporting restoration techniques and product applications -- both as responses to input and the generation of same by themselves. I edited the Avanti Magazine for seven years -- never had any problems getting information from vendors.

If readers and contributors alike listed what they were willing to contribute and desired to read, there may be greater interest. The lack of a generation of interest in this very posting may be an indicator of interest by both readers or contributors.

Wendell

 

[dawgnabbit]

That's a very reasonable question, Wendell...

Speaking for myself personally,  I most enjoy seeing the results of other people's modeling efforts (locos, rolling stock, structures, etc.).  A lot of effort goes into a scratch or kit-bashed project, and the author has a right to show off his work and maybe brag a little about how he did it.  I'm frequently in awe of the quality of the work posted here.

A close second would be seeing the "techniques" that people develop to improve their own skills and results.  I learn a lot from seeing how the MLS experts do things.  I'd put a personal favorite of mine, shop projects, prominently in this category also.

It's easy to single out two topics like that, but I'd bet most of our members have pretty broad interests.  I read any post whose subject catches my eye, regardless of category, and I almost alway learn something new when I do...

Dawg  

  

 

[vsmith]

I've been doing my part with building logs on two projects and some rolling stock topics elsewhere.