As a daily visitor to this site since it started I more or less know all the trends of posting and chatter, this can change depending on the time of year, holidays, dearer times, quiet times etc. but recently it does seem the topics are less responded to, often threads will get over a hundred views but just two or three replies..... I think what we have is a "new trend" now and basically one I am not too keen on, I guess its been self fueled as many click new posts and then leave as there is only a few, many of the tech threads I have done in the past would get great coverage and responses that in turn would create more banter, with a typical tech thread taking upwards of two hours to take the pictures, change them to suit, size them and write up the thread to then get next to no feedback is one reason I do less now, so I guess I have fallen in with the trend too :sad: is it work life in the 2014 UK become all consuming? this is not a rant just my views, any thoughts?

 

Jeff TT

Its up to members like you to put the fun into the threads Mick. Like was done in the posts above ;)

Iv'e been thinking about this problem for a while and I agree that mobile phones are part of the cause, the forum is not orientated towards that type of interface, and even using Tapatalk etc is a compromise. In comparison Facebook etc are very mobile orientated and in some cases work better on mobile than a full web browser.

 

So, is this a sign that we need to adapt to the times ? Is there an alternative to the "traditional" forum based medium ? Should we consider some more social media type alternatives, such as Yammer (the only reason I mention that is that we use it at work). We have a lot of history in the forum archives, I can't see us wanting to lose that. I feel that we need a VBulletin for Mobile, rather than VBulletin for PC web browsers and a mobile phone app that is just a compromise.

For me with having to break the V8 project, taking the slicktop off the road last year to transfer the plate but then the fiance leaving me in the lurch financially - i haven't been able to get the old boy back on the road and to be honest not having a zed on the road kind of takes the fun out of being on here - i have missed the banter though :(

 

It's been under a cover on the driveway since December 2012 and i've finally got myself financially solvent again enough to tax, mot and insure him again next month. Maybe not as a daily driver but at least a couple of trips out a week at least.

 

Once i'm back on the road i'll probably show a bit more interest but the last year I lost my gran to cancer in the march, fiance left in april, my step gran contracted breast cancer and broke her hip shortly after that, my mum was critically ill after that then my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer in the september and my uncle with bladder cancer the same week before my little cat being killed outside my house a week before xmas so it's been a tough old year on me and the family.

 

2014 has been a much better year so far: Dad is one chemo session from recovery, my uncle's better, my step gran has fully recovered, mum is fine now and i met a lovely girl back in february who's really picked me up and helped me through everything not to mention a payrise on the horizon, a successful ppi claim and some other luck on the cards.

 

Hopefully i'll start posting up a bit more and responding to posts when i resubscribe next month but hope you guys who do know me don't think i've forgotten about this place! :)

 

I agree that facebook does seem to have taken over a bit from bulletin boards - it's just much simpler to communicate on them unless you use tappatalk

Edited May 14, 201411 yr by bantambunny

...in fact sod it - subscription paid :)

...in fact sod it - subscription paid :)

You have been threw the mill mate but glad 2014 is looking much better and thanks for subscribing again.

Its up to members like you to put the fun into the threads Mick. Like was done in the posts above ;)

 

I'll make an effort to put more daft stuff up, I have some good pics for another SAR Saturday post ill get together :)

Whilst I have noticed a steady decline, I am still a prolific user, I log in several times a day, more or less every day from my phone and I view probably 99% of threads.

I use tapatalk pro and I think it works well for the use as a forum browser, I have no real issues with it. The only thing I miss slightly about browsing on a PC (which I virtually never do anymore) is the signature pictures, which acts as a constant reminder of what members cars look like, what projects they're working on etc, it gives it a more community feel.

I'll make an effort to put more daft stuff up, I have some good pics for another SAR Saturday post ill get together :)

 

I like your SAR threads Tom :thumbup1: nearly hit the like button instead of printing this lol

Iv'e been thinking about this problem for a while and I agree that mobile phones are part of the cause, the forum is not orientated towards that type of interface, and even using Tapatalk etc is a compromise. In comparison Facebook etc are very mobile orientated and in some cases work better on mobile than a full web browser.

 

So, is this a sign that we need to adapt to the times ? Is there an alternative to the "traditional" forum based medium ? Should we consider some more social media type alternatives, such as Yammer (the only reason I mention that is that we use it at work). We have a lot of history in the forum archives, I can't see us wanting to lose that. I feel that we need a VBulletin for Mobile, rather than VBulletin for PC web browsers and a mobile phone app that is just a compromise.

 

 

Food for thought there Andy plus we do have a facebook page but its not used much.

...in fact sod it - subscription paid :)

 

Nice one Nick - thanks for your support matey!!!

 

Richard:thumbup:

I think the 'what did you do to your zed today' thread is a double edge sword. Project updates go there, so lowers the new threads and people can easily miss stuff. Agreed it does encourage others to post the smaller stuff, but we lose a lot too

I think the 'what did you do to your zed today' thread is a double edge sword. Project updates go there, so lowers the new threads and people can easily miss stuff. Agreed it does encourage others to post the smaller stuff, but we lose a lot too

 

Totally agree with that. I've coved the journey of vinyl wrapping a whole Z in that thread over the past few months...

 

Nice one Nick - thanks for your support matey!!!

 

Richard:thumbup:

 

No problem Gary/Richard/Steams, happy to be back :)

Edited May 15, 201411 yr by bantambunny

I think the 'what did you do to your zed today' thread is a double edge sword. Project updates go there, so lowers the new threads and people can easily miss stuff. Agreed it does encourage others to post the smaller stuff, but we lose a lot too

 

From maintaining a huge build thread or two I think you're right there although i'd still keep a separate thread to document a build/project alongside the What did you do with your zed today thread

I think facebook is playing a major roll, what you find or should i say, what ive found, is when i have a issue, ill get around 130 views on my thread before Jeff / z32bolt / Mark responds, usually covering the same ground ive covered here at home, i read it and take it in, and if suggestions are made that i hadnt thought of, ill go and tackle them and come back with feed back, then i sit and wait, 240 views an and usually only the same people will respond again IF they respond, I think it might get annoying for them being the only ones to reply, as much as it is for me hoping for a broader set of suggestions as to what the issue could be.

 

With facebook, you have pretty much instant access to not only the minds of UK zed enthusiasts, but also those in the US, this gives a broader response and more idea's, to someone like me who likes to get hands on and fix my car (hate not being able to drive it), having to check my post and notice that no one has responded in 3 days, even though ive added new symptoms that have reared them selves hoping to narrow things down forces me to look else where for answers.

 

Unfortunately this has had a knock on effect, we have a handful of knowledgeable people, i know some stuff but im still learning 6 years on, if they are not on the forum, then peoples technical questions go unanswered and they will move onto other mediums, most of the people knowledgeable in the z32 in the UK, do not frequent the forum as much. Ill answer questions where i can, but i can only give answers if i know them.

Which Facebook based zed groups are there? I only use this place, I don't want to move elsewhere but just wondering?

Which Facebook based zed groups are there? I only use this place, I don't want to move elsewhere but just wondering?

 

Nissan 300zx Drivers (probably the most popular)

Nismo 300zx UK (probably the worst)

 

There is also the .net and .co.uk forum facebook pages which are very quiet.

 

I am in the process of starting one for the American website with linkbacks and other stuff to draw people back to 3ZC a little.

 

You also have a gaggle of more tech orientated ones like ProjectZ32, Nissan 300zx ZX Twin Turbo owners, 300zx Tech Help

 

Plus a number of 'Z' related, such as 'Z people' and 'Fairlady Generations'

 

Literally hundreds of regional / other Z sites also. I am a member of SoCal Z32s, LAZ32, Z Atlanta, Aus300zx, BransonZfest, Z1 Motorsports, ZcarsofNebraska, Zcon San Diego, Smoky Mountain Z Car Club, OCZCC, Midwest Z Heritage, Z Club of Texas and Heart of America Z Car club.

 

+ a few Z32 buy/sell sites.

 

Lastly, I am also a member of 'Z Enthusiasts against AMS' page and of course PowerZed which I created for Jimmer! :)

Edited May 15, 201411 yr by Funkysi

I think it would be nice if we could have a dedicated project thread for each member, if they want it. Not a blog or the journals - a proper section for build threads.

 

In my opinion, that'd make it better than, for example, posting in "What Did You Do To Your Zed Today?" as each person's entries are sometimes weeks or months apart.

 

Just my $0.02 :)

Did someone mention US sites then as a comparison?? no surely not:whistling:

 

Well the general consensus among the answers is the effect Facebook and other similar social portals has had on the forum and added to age of cars, lower numbers, and lower numbers of "real" enthusiasts, even this thread has itself served as an indicator with the number of views and the number of responses, even given that some views may be more than once by the same viewer and the same goes for the posts/posters it still is only hovering around the 10% mark which frankly must be disheartening for the long term members, the mods and the committee members.

 

Given that the problem ( is it a problem ? ) has no real answer other than that`s how it is, then maybe we need to remind ourselves of the good work done here, I for one do not have the answer (s) and maybe needs some new younger thinking... maybe?

 

Jeff TT

Did someone mention US sites then as a comparison?? no surely not:whistling:

 

....and why not? We're suffering the very same fate.

 

I agree with you that we get quite a hefty page-view count. But I think a lot of time, people just do like to read and don't have any input. I don't know whether we have stats for that same scenario for response/view ratios from a few years ago....Lee?

I will try to put more stuff up and not be afraid to comment on tech help questions.

 

And I like Si Mondo's idea, also what do people think about either removing the like buttons, or having a visible indication on the thread for others to see who has liked it. Because as it is only the person 'being liked' can see them as notifications right?

I will try to put more stuff up and not be afraid to comment on tech help questions.

 

And I like Si Mondo's idea, also what do people think about either removing the like buttons, or having a visible indication on the thread for others to see who has liked it. Because as it is only the person 'being liked' can see them as notifications right?

 

You can view how many times a member has had comments 'liked' or 'thanked' in their profile, you, for example have 2 pages of likes/thanks in your profile. I kinda like it, but I agree, it's probably slightly detrimental to the forum post count. In addition, whilst I like the 'what have you done to your Z today' thread, it too is a source for lower thread count.

Oh, it's a drop down list! :clap: we live in the future :lol:

Ive let this run and read each post and a couple of things ive noticed...My assumption of other social media places not helping seems to be confirmed by a lot of peeps...Ive also noticed and its happened in the past is members and users saying things like "its no fun anymore" or "its the same old type of threads" these type of comments are made by long standing members but with a low post count:confused:..iff you want it better or more entertaining then join in is what i say and dont be affraid to get shot down by posts that might not be right..this is a discussion board at the end of the day:thumbup1:

Did someone mention US sites then as a comparison?? no surely not:whistling:

 

Well the general consensus among the answers is the effect Facebook and other similar social portals has had on the forum and added to age of cars, lower numbers, and lower numbers of "real" enthusiasts, even this thread has itself served as an indicator with the number of views and the number of responses, even given that some views may be more than once by the same viewer and the same goes for the posts/posters it still is only hovering around the 10% mark which frankly must be disheartening for the long term members, the mods and the committee members.

 

Given that the problem ( is it a problem ? ) has no real answer other than that`s how it is, then maybe we need to remind ourselves of the good work done here, I for one do not have the answer (s) and maybe needs some new younger thinking... maybe?

 

Jeff TT

 

I clicked "like" and "thanks" for this one Jeff.....:wink:

 

Ive let this run and read each post and a couple of things ive noticed...My assumption of other social media places not helping seems to be confirmed by a lot of peeps...Ive also noticed and its happened in the past is members and users saying things like "its no fun anymore" or "its the same old type of threads" these type of comments are made by long standing members but with a low post count:confused:..iff you want it better or more entertaining then join in is what i say and dont be affraid to get shot down by posts that might not be right..this is a discussion board at the end of the day:thumbup1:

 

....And you're right there Bri....!!

 

Richard:cool: