Atlas shutting down its forums!

[ChevelleSSguy]

I see a lot of guys are going over to the Railroad line forums. I dont have an Atlas Forum account. Someone want to go or a bunch of you Atlas guys and start plugging this forum? It would be cool to get some new faces in here to add to our knowledge base. There is actually a post over there about where guys are going to be going after the Atlas forum closes.

Course, after today, it wont matter anyways. Unless the keep it archived.

 

[el3637]

Interesting how I've now read the story of the Atlas forum closing in at least 10 different places. And read 10 different stories. I make no apology for my approximately 10 years as a regular. I think in the final tally I'm 10th on the list in terms of post count. I found it informative, fun, and always entertaining. I am on quite a few other forums and groups but other than the list(s) I run myself, I spent more time at Atlas than any of the others.

I gotta chuckle at the posts that declare "you'll find no rivet counters here". Or "no negativity here" all the while slamming another forum and its membership up one side and down the other.

I've actually been a member here for a couple years, but don't read it or post that often, needless to say I'm in search for forum(s) to replace Atlas, but I'm on 3-4 others already just watching the discussions fly. All of them are having an influx of new members due to the demise of Atlas. All humans... sorry about that. No Vulcans, Organians... and probably not even any Tibetan Monks.

Andy

 

[Old 97]

I make no apology for my approximately 10 years as a regular. I gotta chuckle at the posts that declare "you'll find no rivet counters here". Or "no negativity here" all the while slamming another forum and its membership up one side and down the other. needless to say I'm in search for forum(s) to replace Atlas, but....

Thanks for the post Andy. Let me be first to tell you that nobody here cares where you spent the most time in the last ten years, so no apologies needed. Secondly, there is no negativity or rivet counting here. We've a great group of folks who get along and share ideas. Folks are free to comment on how they've been treated in other forums as compared to here. It's called free choice and folks will exercise it. Feel free to post as much as you like now that you're looking for a new home. If Modelrailroadforums.com isn't a fit for you, there's always one more stop on the line.

 

[el3637]

In the exercise of free speech, there's bound to be some negativity, or at least something that someone might perceive as such. It's all a matter of perspective.

Andy

 

[diburning]

You're right, it's all a matter of perspective. It's easy to label a post you don't agree with as "negative" or "trolling".

 

[bob]

You're right, it's all a matter of perspective. It's easy to label a post you don't agree with as "negative" or "trolling".

Trolling, like pornography, is hard to define, but experienced forum managers know it when they see it.

A couple of things usually stand out.

The first is attacking people instead of their ideas. Disagreeing is fine, but name calling or attacking the person is not.

Neither is constantly heckling, berating or bullying somebody.

Just like in grade school, there are few bullies who enjoy causing trouble, making people uncomfortable and generally wreaking havoc. Of course when you call them out on it, they play innocent and do the "Who, me?" routine.

Basically discussions can be friendly or they can be competitive, with lots of 'one-upmanship". We strive for the first category.

 

[el3637]

experienced forum managers know it when they see it.

That's the key.

Speaking of rivet counting, I just made use of Archer rivet decals for the first time and it was a lot of fun. I changed a Branchline welded ACF 40' box car from an 8' door to a 9' door which necessitated building new door guides and frame, and I used several different sections from an Archer assortment sheet. Unfortunately I didn't keep an exact count. Though the basic car body is welded and doesn't have riveted seams, the door frame and tracks are riveted and there are also rivets (or bolts) showing at the bolsters through the sill.

Andy

 

[enjineerbill]

That's the key.

Speaking of rivet counting, I just made use of Archer rivet decals for the first time and it was a lot of fun. I changed a Branchline welded ACF 40' box car from an 8' door to a 9' door which necessitated building new door guides and frame, and I used several different sections from an Archer assortment sheet. Unfortunately I didn't keep an exact count. Though the basic car body is welded and doesn't have riveted seams, the door frame and tracks are riveted and there are also rivets (or bolts) showing at the bolsters through the sill.

Andy

Thanks for the post about the rivet decals Andy. I've seen them advertised and have wondered how they are. Think I'll look into a couple of sets for some upcoming projects. Thank you for sharing.

 

[riogrande]

I've been a member here since 2009 but still did most of my posting on Atlas. Of course now it's gone I'm frequenting some of the other forums I've been a member of more often.

As for the negative stuff, at Atlas there were a few who could be down right nasty at times, and I'm not sure why. I think some of those posts were a negative reaction to how some folks could be critical of models, aka rivit counting. I like to have meaty discussion about models so I encourage people to have lively discussion that we can all learn from. That was the good thing about Atlas. I found people liked to wag tongues on other forums about how wonderful their forums were vs. how horrible it was at Atlas, especially when the annoument went up to shut Atlas down. In my experience, those claims were far over blown, and I found the tempests would blow over quickly and we'd get back to the businiss of talking trains.

I'd like to see a similar level of discussion on other forums because that what I like but there seems to be a lack of critical mass much of the time. But one can hope.