Atlas forums?

[PLYzero]

The atlas forums SHOULD be back anytime now.

The website says "sometime in August". Anyone know of an official date they will be starting back up?

[JeffShultz]

Nope. It's a matter for open speculation.

[modelbob]

Meanwhile, let me ask you this question. What features did the Atlas forum offer that we don't have here? Is there something I can add to this forum that will make it as useful / interesting / attractive as what was there?

Yes, I know it was a more active board. However, with a little effort, we can make this place an active and thriving community too.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering if there are any other features or functionality that I should consider adding here.

[JeffShultz]

Bob,

It wasn't what it offered particularly... it was simply the volume. A lot of people, posting a heck of a lot.

One thing that it had was it's structure - It was structured simply as scales, with a separate DCC forum. This forced everything related to a single scale - benchwork, scenery, weathering, kitbashing... everything... into one forum. People got tight within their scale (possibly too much so in some cases), and there was a lot of topical crossover within threads.

Thinking about it, there was one thing it had that you'll never be able to match here: it was hosted by a manufacturer, and everyone knew that at least that manufacturer, and possibly others, were lurking about and, in some cases, actively participating.

Many of the very interesting topics were on the line of "What do you want built" and they were supported by a group feeling that perhaps the manufacturers were listening, and perhaps they would take heed of our desires.

And perhaps they were - GATORS! was a cry I first saw there - and now BLI is going to produce them.

[ak-milw]

This may be just my opinion but, WHO CARES!!!!?. I never liked the Atlas forums and I don't care if they ever come back! To me it was just a mixed up bunch of complainers, I like it here, and here I will stay! Except if this site goes down for awhile I might go on Atlas and keep asking when will it be back. I'm sorry but it's just the way I feel, If this post is anyway offensive to THIS forum, I apologize, and feel free to get rid of it. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[PLYzero]

I agree with Jeff. There is nothing wrong with RRF.

It is just the people on the atlas forum. And there are A LOT of them. As well as the fact that atlas hosted it, and was/is active in the forums, that is one thing that RRF can't do.

Remember, RRF can't specialize in everything. That was one of the down falls of TO.

[CBCNSfan]

I never belonged to Atlas, and I'm sure I won't be going there when they are back online. I'm afraid my opinion of Atlas may be tainted from some of the complaints of former Atlas members. Flaming, and too fast a pace is not for me. However if I have the wrong idea of what went on , I apologise, but my impression was gleaned from members of the Atlas forum who posted their woes about Atlas being down, instead of appreciating what is available in well moderated forums. There will be some who will go back and some who intend to stay in the more laid back and friendly forums like this one, and those who will belong to both. I wonder if the new Atlas forum when it returns online will be well moderated, now that might be interesting, reading the complaints about that.
Bob, we have a good forum here, we have lots of members, the only thing that has to be done is to find out why, and to encourage our members who do little if any posting. Perhaps some are waiting to see if it remains a friendly place, where they won't be ridiculed for something they posted. Perhaps they have been flamed elsewhere and are being cautious, and that is not a nice feeling when you are a newbie. Gosh Tonight I read the following quote ( Don't remember who posted it ) but ***a forum is what it's members make it*** so folk's, if you have a problem , do something about it.

I'll pass the soap box now!

Willis

[JeffShultz]

I never belonged to Atlas, and I'm sure I won't be going there when they are back online. I'm afraid my opinion of Atlas may be tainted from some of the complaints of former Atlas members. Flaming, and too fast a pace is not for me.

After what happened earlier this summer, I'm sure it will be a bit more tightly moderated.

And remember - lurking costs you nothing (neither did signing up, actually...) and if you don't visit, there may be some really excellent modeling tips you might miss.

[modelbob]

> Remember, RRF can't specialize in everything.

I don't plan to try, I was just wondering if they had some ideas that I could adopt here and make this a more useful place. I don't really like the idea of lumping all the discussions only by scale, since for example "L girder benchwork" or "plaster and screen scenery" are not at all scale specific and I don't want folks to have to search to find stuff like that.

As for the people, well I've built it, let's see if anyone shows up. ;) This place is just getting started, and it will take a while for the word to get out and people to show up. It was always a quiet and not very well known corner over in the other forum, I'm hoping now it will thrive and grow.

[ak-milw]

Well Bob, I really like it now that we have our own little page. It always seemed to get lost when the two forums were together. :cool:

[modelbob]

Well Bob, I really like it now that we have our own little page. It always seemed to get lost when the two forums were together. :cool:
Well if things go the way I hope, you won't be able to call it "little" for too long. I'm hoping it gets just as active as the other forum, and I think it might.

As for getting lost, that's why I split them. The model posts scrolled out of sight too quickly, folks didn't notice them and thus we had little activity. Hopefully the new home will change that.

[Larry]

I've been on Railroadforums since the get-go. When it was on the other web site, there wasn't as many things that could be added like what we have now. I've been on many other RR forums that weren't moderated like Bob does here.
If the members get out of hand & there's no one to stop the flaming that has happened w/the other web sites, I don't think anyone should waste the time to scout around.
We have the best RR web site w/plenty of options. Stop complaing & go w/the flow. Where else can you go to get any question answered, pictures abundant, all kinds of friends & a fantastic chat line? If there's a place better than
this, don't let me know. Period. This is my 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 cents worth. Smile, be Happy.

[ak-milw]

Larry, You brought up the chat room. Is it in sections now for modeling chat and real railroad chat? It seemed to me before everyone was talking about lifesize rail and not modeling. Don't get me wrong I would log in and just read without adding because alot of what was said was work related. :cool:

[MKTMIKE]

Fellows:

I belong to this forum and railroadforum.com also and enjoy both of them. I look for new ideas from everyone, and have learned from beginners, very experienced, and everything in-between. It's just model railroading to have fun with, and not a job. I cruise the Atlas forum for new information on model railroading in general, but don't usually read anything political. Everyone has their opinions and personal judgements, but to harass or flame someone over them is just plain overkill.

I like this forum, and get lots of ideas from the other side (Railroad Forums), especially from the photography of things I don't have access to. Be careful, don't put up too good of a pic, or it just may end up as the background on my Windows XP screen. It really gives me more motivation and reminds me just how much most of us have fun with this great hobby.

MKTMIKE