Is Facebook killing the internet forums?

[bkm]

It seems that over the last several years the internet forums have been losing steam and more people are using Facebook as their medium. I know my local Mustang forum has practically dried up, but a lot of the members post to Facebook. .Org has all but dried up and blown away since the latest update fiasco and no one really seems to care. Here you can go back just two or three years and read posts from numerous members who no longer post or haven't in a couple years.

Is it just me or are the cookie cutter forum formats eventually going by way of the Dodo Bird?

[RIDE-RED 250r]

IDK, Facebook isn't bad, but it's far from an equal substitute to the forums I frequent. Things are cluttered and disorganized in comparison on Facebook, and you can't search topics you need info on like you can here.

I too have noticed alot of groups popping up. Heck, I even started a NY based 3 wheeler enthusiast group. But by no means do I prefer FB to here though.

I think unless FB designs some sort of format to keep groups organized and implement some sort of search engine, the forums in most cases will remain the main attraction of people. At least that's the way I feel about it..

[bkm]

I also prefer the forum layouts above and beyond that of Facebook. It just seems the forums have slowed way down compared to several years ago.

[Ghostv2]

Forums will never dry up as long as you are providing something to keep them here and 3ww is the one stop shop for everything trike related. The reasons the little ones dry up is because they fall to the bigger ones. Or lack of updates and poor staff. And 3ww IS the big one.

Facebook is more local, i belong to a trike group, but its a group based out of members from PA. I keep 90% of my trike stuff on the forums because quite honestly nobody on facebook really cares. None of the girls care, hell my own girlfriend doesnt even care. If i posted everything about trikes i wanted to on facebook people would probably block me because it would be annoying.

[fabiodriven]

This is the only forum I have ever frequented so I don't have much to compare it to. I don't watch the actual numbers but I've felt the traffic in here has slowed way down over the last couple years. I remember back in 09-ish I'd finish replying to a thread in Trikesylvania and there would already be 5 new replies to other threads. It's not like that anymore. Facebook hasn't stopped me from posting as much here, I just broke my brain. I dunno where everyone else is.

[kb0nly]

I check into facebook maybe once a week, i check into the 3WW forum daily... So NO for me.

[just ben]

I have noticed the groups on this forum have dried up completely and I think that could be related to FB. I'm not on any forums really besides for trikes but I have noticed a slow down on them. My thoughts on that are that this site lost a few members that posted 800 times a day to drama and 3WO, well they killed it themselves. I was told over a year ago that Dan didn't give a turd about his site and as soon as it stopped paying for itself it would be sold or shut down. It looks like their "upgrade" may have been the end. It's kind of too bad because since this past spring they just started getting a lot of traffic. FB will fall at some point too, at the hand of a "better" site but the forums will always be around.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I agree with that Ben... I have noticed it has slowed down too, but IMHO for the better for the most part.

Maybe the kids that were starting BS here daily have migrated over to FB where there is no moderation to speak of and they can post whatever they want?? LOL! ;)

Or, maybe people swing in and see what a bunch of old farts we are and just move on down the road??

IDK, either way, I would rather have quality over quantity. Rather only see a few new posts per day that are productive, than see page after page of nonsense.

[atc007]

I don't know anything about FB or other forums except >org is a toilet bowl. Yep,there are some super guys that go over there and here. But I know 1st hand about the owner and how he does things. Great to hear it's dying. :) Around here,I think everyone has a different reason to be here. I Love the virgins coming in with that ear to ear Sh!t eatin grin after scoring their first 3 wheeler! Their excitement is palpatable! That was 1981 for me. I LOVE when they jump from a 110 or a 125 up to a 200X,,or maybe even a 2 stroke short course racer. That was 1984 for me. If I had the time,I would help every last one of them so long as they don't have a chip on their shoulder. If they do? Sorry bucko :) I do know also 1st hand. A lot of the guys I talk with in my circles care very much about their privacy and may have never heard of this place,or have stopped in and seen the very innocent demands for pictures,videos,,"proof" of what they do or don't have,,and never come back. What Billy has built here is absolutely not going away IMHO :) It is good :) I have noticed a slow down in my short stay here for sure.

[big specht]

I think it is hurting some of the forms. I'm a member on rrorc.com and they were just talking about FB hurting it too. The post have slowed down really bad over there too. AS for FB I don't have a page and hardly ever go there unless the site I'm on is pretty much dead and the only why I can get ahold the people that run it is to get them on there FB page.

[86T3]

I think that the two month probation period has slowed down the posts here. I began to go to .org a lot more in the last year because there is a lot more traffic there for racers. Raffa getting exiled there and the racers section made for a lot of good threads. Its a damn shame what the update did. Ive seen a couple of the .org regulars posting over here so im afraid that they shot themselves in the foot. Facebook will never overtake the forums but like ben said, the groups are better

[ScreaminRed]

Hey, you guys that have been here a long time, don't go anywhere!!! This site needs you, i need this site. I'm not really a big FB fan, but i'm also older and i do like my privacy also. I got my first 3 wheeler in '83 and still have it. I love these things and WE are the only ones who seem to care about them. This site is great for info and buying or trading parts, and also to chat with boys and girls who love these things the way we all do. I've been checking in almost everyday since i joined, and i really like it here. :)

[RapidRick]

I don't know anything about FB or other forums except >org is a toilet bowl. Yep,there are some super guys that go over there and here. But I know 1st hand about the owner and how he does things. Great to hear it's dying. :) Around here,I think everyone has a different reason to be here. I Love the virgins coming in with that ear to ear Sh!t eatin grin after scoring their first 3 wheeler! Their excitement is palpatable! That was 1981 for me. I LOVE when they jump from a 110 or a 125 up to a 200X,,or maybe even a 2 stroke short course racer. That was 1984 for me. If I had the time,I would help every last one of them so long as they don't have a chip on their shoulder. If they do? Sorry bucko :) I do know also 1st hand. A lot of the guys I talk with in my circles care very much about their privacy and may have never heard of this place,or have stopped in and seen the very innocent demands for pictures,videos,,"proof" of what they do or don't have,,and never come back. What Billy has built here is absolutely not going away IMHO :) It is good :) I have noticed a slow down in my short stay here for sure.

Ya, I like this site too

[Billy Golightly]

FB hasn't helped, but the amount of drama and inner group politics that has went on the past several years has probably been the biggest contributor unfortunately.

Maybe we will grow out of it and heal those wounds eventually.

[fcf35]

FB hasn't helped, but the amount of drama and inner group politics that has went on the past several years has probably been the biggest contributor unfortunately.

Maybe we will grow out of it and heal those wounds eventually.your exactly right.I myself had second thoughts on staying on this site because of sometimes being made to feel like an idiot.I do know that sometimes the search function just doesn't work or its difficult to find what your looking for.for me I just wanted a fresh opinion that seemed geared toward me.I just turned 34 and have always been the kid who takes everything apart to see how it works.that's a lot of my passion towards 3 wheelers is just working on them.I like buy diamonds in the rough and fixing them.as soon as everyhthing I have runs I get bored and have to find more.its gotten so addicting that I don't even ride them when I get done I just fix them mechanically and scoot them to the side.this site has been invalueable to me and ill always be a member not matter the drama.I really appreciate everyone who has guided me threw my problems on here and I will do the same for anyone who needs it.

[300rman]

A lot of forums I am on have slowed down a lot. Dont see how FB could make a difference, theres not really a good way to post Q and A's there. Its cool for sharing cool photos related to things you like but not so much for discussion

[bkm]

I agree with Ben. The forum isn't going away any time soon, so maybe I was being a drama queen when referencing that, but the groups on here have pretty much stopped being used. A lot of the same faces that frequented the Tecate page on here are now active on the FB Tecate page. I agree that posting a build on your FB wall isn't going to do much unless aunt Martha is a good wrench, but the groups seem to operated the same as they did on here. Lots of info gets answered on there the same as it did here at one point in time.

I also think there is a lot of truth in the fact that when "Forums" started 13-14-15-16 years ago, we were that much younger and this whole internet thing was one of the craziest things to come along since the light bulb. When the first "Chat Rooms" started a guy in Cali could ask a question and get an answer from a guy in New York in a nano second.

Now that the newness has worn off a lot of guys have picked up other things in life and the internet is old hat in many ways, plus as Billy stated, the drama fest's that played out back when have really put a bad taste in many peoples mouths.

This is all good discussion and really just kinda something I have been thinking about lately.

[Howdy]

I have always thought that at some day we would reach a max amount of users do to 3 wheelers no longer being in mass production. I also think 5 years ago we had a lot more hit and run members, they would stop in for 1-2 questions and then never log back in. We still get a few but not as many.
Life issues has kept me from visiting here 10 times a day like I used too. LOL

I love this site, haven't been to .org in a long time. So I don't know about it.

FB, can be good, but also bad. I'm check it to see family and friends updates and news and a few local classifieds. FB causes my computer to freeze and crash quite often, so I'm on there less and less.
Howdy

[atc300r]

Im not on FB not interested. I have only been here a short time and have noticed things slowed. Im a member on a few other sites some non trike sites . I spend time here and af.com mostly.

[oldskool83]

deleted FB forever....was a waste of time....women seem to like it for some reason. I am done with it since sept. before thaty I rarely used it. Look I am still alive!

[RapidRick]

really dude ?......i!

The Umpire says "SAFE"!!!!!!!! LOL Glamy. Haven't lost your touch. TOUCHE

[JasonB]

its a combination. I have seen all the forums i am on slow down alot. FB has some to do with it, and it seems like people just arent really doing things they love like they used to. I feel like there are alot of people not into hobbies in the same capacity as 5 and 10 years ago. the local car message boards i am on for car related stuff and cruises has died. its there, but has like 3 posts aday instead of the 100 or more it had 5 years ago. I think it has to do with people not having the disposable income for toys and hobbies anymore. who knows.

[Mrs.Mosh]

Not on Facebook, never care to be. I can see it probably has it good points like keeping in contact with out of state family or friends. But I use the phone for that.

It just seems more like a "hey look at me" page for some (not all) people. The ones that update every hour...that would drive me nuts.

I do agree the forum has moved a lot slower lately. But the info is here and like someone else stated about not being able to search fb, the forums are better IMO.

I welcome all new members, but if fb keeps the Riff Raff off here then that is a good thing.

[Dave8338]

its a combination. I have seen all the forums i am on slow down alot. FB has some to do with it, and it seems like people just arent really doing things they love like they used to. I feel like there are alot of people not into hobbies in the same capacity as 5 and 10 years ago. the local car message boards i am on for car related stuff and cruises has died. its there, but has like 3 posts aday instead of the 100 or more it had 5 years ago. I think it has to do with people not having the disposable income for toys and hobbies anymore. who knows.

I agree, Jason. It seems to be money, more than any one other reason/excuse. When disposable funds dry up, and they have for a great many, the toys get parked or are left in whatever condition they were last ridden. Also many are busy with family (my particular case at the moment) and just can't make the time to get back to their toys. It will change and personally, I'm not convinced Facebook has anything to do with it. How long would it take you to get an answer on the max compression ratio for a arm yanker 200+ cc machine ? Or brake your ankle on a "super powerful" 200x set up. :lol:

[Dirtcrasher]

It is a bit boring here now. Have we simply covered near anything??

I rarely bust chops now, (even with friends) because I don't want to be banned. The guys balls I busted were close friend but there certainly were a few newbies that would piss me off.

Ruining good parts due to the lack of effort of downloading a FREE shop manual. Even them I just did not respond because I didn't want any problems.

Anyhow, the traffic for about 2 years has really slowed down. Maybe people are searching older or similar parts is all I can hope for. I miss having 10 threads I could help people with...

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Here's another angle...

I have what I refer to as "kicks". It is an endless, repeating cycle of me changing focus on what lays my hair back at any given time. I usually cycle through about 3 or 4 different kicks throughout the course of the year.. I go from wheelers to Smith and Wessons, to boats, to hunting and back again. The frequency of my forum use related to any of the given kicks usually adjusts accordingly. I am a member on Smith and Wesson forum as well.. I am on that site hot and heavy from about early fall (a little before hunting season starts) through springtime. After that, I might swing in there every 2 or 3 weeks.

I know I'm not the only one that operates like this... both of my brothers are the same way! LOL! We can't help it :D

But, 3ww remains the mainstay year round for me because if it's not riding season, its winter wrenching season..

[kb0nly]

While i agree the forums have slowed a bit i will argue that its still the most useful place on the web for trikes. I see at least a half dozen or so posts a week on here from someone looking for a little help, a little push. Does it get boring answering the same light bulb question or wiring question? Yeah sometimes... But then you got to think, the guy went to the effort of coming here, asking, and working on a 30 year old trike. I support that, even if i answer the same question 20 times a month, i will still gladly type it again.

So we are a small tight group, oh well, i like it here. Its quiet yet its busy enough to keep my interest, there isnt a lot of backbiting and drama. I have been to 3WO, and i still log in over there maybe once a month, but it seems like any answer you post falls on deaf ears or the next guy to post says your full of trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro and tells them something else. I don't mind being corrected, thats part of life and learning, but at least know what your talking about and how to spell when you try to one up me. LOL

Anyway, i have a handful of forums i am active on, this being the one i come to the most. Every day i click on the new posts and i get 3-4 pages of posts, some forums i go on i click on new posts and get maybe a handful or less of posts in the last 24 hours. So its certainly not dead here.

[Mr_RPM]

I have noticed this too, but I don't think its facebook. Even facebook has slowed in the last few years. 2-4 years ago I had a blast on facebook, always getting Instant messages from others wanting to chat on their computers, always checking my crops on farmville, taking the latest survey to see what type of dog i closest resembled. once everyone got smartphones the online chatting stopped as everyone is online all day now, but not to chat. Once all the scammy apps took over all the games like farmville failed and all the fun applications were no longer trustworthy.
I find myself bored with the internet more then ever these days. i use it to research stuff on google and youtube and thats about it.
used to spend hours talking with friends and strangers while playing games.
Theres something else going on with the internet then just people going to different sites

[JasonB]

I go through that kick thing too! Im on over 30 different message boards like this one for all different hobbies from biking to cars to atvs. my facebook feed has turned into a hodgpodge of atv and muscle car related pics and posts, i rarely see peoples status updates because my feed on fb is 90% hobby and humor related junk. actually pretty entertaining lol i can look at it for hours

[CRAZY70MAN]

The forums, facebook, internet are merely tools for our hobby and sport. People rely on them too much and become armchair trikers. Get to a race....even just one! Go riding with some friends ....pull a kid around on a sled......help a fellow triker out...show another generation how to ride a trike,,,it is called interaction. Love of a sport has nothing to do with how many visitors or members you have. I also have never been on facebook.....never will...... You wanna know what I am doing?? Stop by and we will have a beer.....like the good old days. Technology will never and cannot replace the human factor in anything. This site and others are only a few wrenches in a whole box of tools that fuel are sport. Your will and passion are the reason these tools even exist.:beer Thanks to all who woork so hard on the forums so we all have a place to share our hobbies and passions...:beer

[Blown 331]

I was kind of tricked into signing up on Facebook about 4 years ago. lol. I got an email from my cousin to check out some pics he had on facebook. So I had to create an account to see them, so I do that and then he doesn't even have any pics. lol. Then my wife joined up as well. I didn't have a smart phone at the time so I really never looked at it. My wife became obesessed and looks at it all the time and can't miss one post. lol. When I got a smart phone I found myself looking at it more to the point I almost became as bad as her. lol. Then I started to get annoyed by the majority of the posts. It seems most were political and false information. lol. Just like a post I saw in the open forum here a month or so ago said IL had more people on welfare than working. Does that even sound possible? Google it, its false. That type of thing was all my facebook feed was. It is nice for certain company info such as PRM posting 350X nerfs to Facebook before their site and you can keep up on other things like TV shows or whatever, you can find coupons to restaurants or stores or whatever. So that stuff is nice but I got so annoyed with all the BS on my feed I haven't logged in, in months. I don't even have it on my new phone.

[350XJEDI]

Love this site ,don't post often but
visit when i can ,,,
i don't do much screen time
Have been busy building and riding
Will try update my photo album ,
Have some cool ride pics
Build pics