Artcles

[NW Mailing List]

Is it possible to search facebook pages for old information/topics?
Jim Cochran

On Mon, Jan 9, 2023 at 1:03 PM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> Since many folks who don’t use Facebook may be unaware of how it functions
> / how it’s organized, I think it’s worthwhile to clarify a few things.
>
> *Facebook Groups* are functionally similar to this mailing list, forums
> or groups.io groups. Anyone who is a member can post a question or start
> a new topic, and all members can post information / replies to those
> topics. It handles media very well. Well-run groups also have places to
> consolidate FAQs and other foundational information.
> *Facebook Pages* (which the NWHS has one) more closely resemble web
> pages. Posted information is usually limited to representative(s) of the
> organization. Pages are the place where an organization can post
> information, announcements, updates, etc. about the org. Depending on how
> the page is set up, people who view the page can comment directly on posts,
> or indirectly via a feedback section.
> *Facebook Feed* is information that Facebook presents to every user on
> their “home” page. The feeds are usually what people think of when there is
> hand-wringing about trolls, politics, etc.
>
> Since *groups* are populated by like-minded individuals, the information
> is typically on-topic, with none of the extraneous noise that worry many
> Social Media users (and especially non-Social Media users).
>
> Switching to some thoughts on this debate, the biggest shortcoming of the
> mailing list is its cumbersome search process compared to the what is
> considered normal today. Facebook groups and Groups.io groups do a much
> better job with search; search is a built-in function that operates like
> today’s users *expect* it to operate. If something functions differently
> than today’s norms, it will seem inscrutable, and act as a hurdle to the
> person seeking information.
>
> And man, is there a LOT of good information that has passed through the
> list in the past many years!
>
> Please note that my use of “worry” and “hand-wringing” above are not
> intended as derogatory in any way. I worry and hand-wring about this very
> same topics - but I also know how to limit my exposure to them. Mainly by
> staying in groups.
>
> Matt Goodman
> Columbus, Ohio, US
>
>
> On Jan 8, 2023, at 8:59 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> wrote:
>
> This has stirred a lot of debate. I've never thought the email list should
> be replaced. I do, however, believe it slows (and potentially kills)
> discussion.
>
> Here's an example: yesterday someone posted a picture of a Y5 and asked
> "What is that smokestack cylinder in front of the smokestack?"  Since then
> it has received 33 comments.  The discussion started with responses about
> the Bradford front end throttle. A small diagram of the throttle was then
> posted.  An error was found in the Archive description of the throttle,
> where it described it as an exhaust stack and it was pointed out so it
> could be corrected. The conversation continued on to talk about
> superheating steam. An Archive picture of a Y-5 with the throttle control
> rod running through the sand dome was posted. Someone then mentioned the
> American throttles which were more common.  Someone posted a small excerpt
> from the Prince book, discussing the Y5's road numbers and rebuilds. and
> reclassing from Y4a.  Eventually, the discussion shifted to the re-use of
> the original Y5 frames onto Y3's & Y4's.
>
> In the end, Facebook is not a great medium, as the Society has no control
> over content. What happens when Facebook goes the way of MySpace? Also,
> Facebook group pages are hard to search for old info. I suppose if it goes
> away, we will all migrate to another media.  I believe an nwhs.org-hosted
> forum could be more useful than an email list as it can be moderated and it
> can be stored indefinitely, and more easily categorized and searched.
>
> Like many have mentioned, I dislike FB's political stance.  I had stopped
> using Facebook several years ago, before I found the railroad and model
> railroad groups.  Why does everything have to be political now - it is sad,
> for sure.  That said, there is no other place on the internet with the
> amount of information available to railroading and model railroading.  If
> you saw what others are doing with 3d printing, it would probably really
> surprise some of you.  There are special interest subsets that are simply
> amazing in what they are doing.  There is a C&O group that is modeling an
> entire C&O yard and 3d modeling and 3d printing all of the buildings.
> There is a group of several members participating and they are doing
> amazing work.
>
> "*My concern is if we post these things on the web, then what would be
> saved for the printed Arrow? **Perhaps have a limit on how much could be
> posted on the web. Or have people say if they want it posted on the web or
> printed in the Arrow. *"
>
>
> Are you really advocating that there be only be (approx) 250 pages of N&W
> information published per year, and only after it has been thoroughly
> vetted by "official sources"?  What are you holding out for?  No one in
> the group is getting any younger.  The current membership contains the last
> generation of 1st-person experience to steam-era N&W and VGN.  We need to
> get *more* information out into the public record - not less.  If
> anything, information should be pushed out and discussed at a faster speed.
>
> It is my belief that the Facebook N&W group is a compliment, not a
> replacement, to what the Society does.  Regarding moderation, I remove or
> decline to approve approximately 1 post every 3 months.  They are either
> business spam or some other railroad item that is non-related to N&W/VGN.
> I have asked someone to calm their responses only one time in the past
> year.  Not sure what is believed, but the moderated groups are  not the
> "Wild West" of discussion groups.
>
> Mike Rector
>
> On Sun, Jan 8, 2023 at 7:40 PM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Hold up, folks! Nobody is moving this mailing list anywhere. I, myself,
>> and every officer and director (If I may be so bold to speak for them) are
>> well aware that many, many long-standing members still enjoy this list.
>> That part is not up for debate.
>>
>> Since I stirred this pot, I'll try to throw some ice on the top by saying
>> this facebook vs. mailing list idea is not an "either/or" opportunity.
>> Rather, it's a "both." Personally, I favor adding a facebook component
>> because I see the future being in that direction. But I'm still an old
>> 300-baud modem guy who grew up with mailing lists from the time I
>> first logged onto the internet. The way I see it, this mailing list will be
>> around until the last person in here turns out the lights.
>>
>> Stephen Warren
>> Roanoke
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 8, 2023 at 5:49 PM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
>> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I agree. Please do not move this group to Facebook.
>>>
>>> Tom Lewis
>>>
>>> On Jan 8, 2023, at 1:00 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> As someone that does not use Facebook, I can not support moving these
>>> mailing lists to that platform.
>>> I am a member of the list on the Groups.Io platform and it is not
>>> active, this was a transfer from the old Yahoo Groups.
>>>
>>> I think this list and the modeling list work just fine here.
>>>
>>> On Jan 8, 2023, at 10:00, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> I agree this list has become out dated and needs to move to a Facebook
>>> platform . But needs to be under N&WHS umbrella .  not converted from
>>> something else . Close this list down and move the  files , Just think of
>>> the advantages in file sharing and in real time response .
>>>
>>> Larry Evans
>>>
>>>
>>> James Wall
>>> Rural Hall, NC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________________
>>> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
>>> To change your subscription go to
>>> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
>>> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
>>> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
>>>
>>> ________________________________________
>>> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
>>> To change your subscription go to
>>> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
>>> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
>>> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
>>>
>> ________________________________________
>> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
>> To change your subscription go to
>> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
>> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
>> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
>>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
>
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20230109/0ab59558/attachment.htm>