Artcles

Mon Jan 9 19:15:27 EST 2023

Yes, here’s an example. The first image is a screen capture of the “Fans of the Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railway” group, with the search box displayed (box is triggered by the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the image). The first shows the first two search results from the group - A fun side note is that both of those results are posts from a fan in Switzerland!. The search looks both in the original post and in comments/replies to the post. 

Matt Goodman

> On Jan 9, 2023, at 2:31 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> 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 <mailto: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 <http://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 <http://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 <mailto: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 <http://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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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