Artcles

[NW Mailing List]

Jim,
Yes, there is a search function. It appears to work pretty well.  On the
desktop browser version, there is a magnifying glass icon at upper right,
below the red "Invite" button. On Android app, it is in the banner on the
right hand side. If you do a search for "Auville" you will find many
results due to some maniac (me) in the group who is seemingly obsessed with
that service facility. There are also a few filter options, such as "date
posted" and "posted by me" or "posted by anyone",

Mike Rector

On Mon, Jan 9, 2023 at 2:47 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> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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