|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Apr 15, 2024 13:13:05 GMT
… As far as the MTJ, a nasty forum to visit if you are a MTH supporter. I would agree. MTJ was never really on my radar screen as being on par with OGR. Like the awful AOL boards of the time, it had its own brand of toxicity to it. So I’ll stand by my earlier comment that there where few if any O-Gauge forum alternatives in the early 2000’s. But OGR’s moderation style was a lot to stomach, and many of us put up with a TON of BS over the years to hang out with folks who were enthusiastic about the hobby. Eventually, we all have our limits, when a forced “corporate culture” becomes unlikable and is constantly shoved down our throat. At that point, it really is most healthy to just part company. Life is too short to compromise. Unfortunately, we all too often don’t learn that soon enough. OGF is such a breath of fresh air! |
|
|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Apr 15, 2024 13:17:39 GMT
I thought MTJ went under? No?
|
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Apr 15, 2024 13:28:12 GMT
I thought MTJ went under? No? Nope… I just checked with Google, since I hadn’t visited in years. Still there. |
|
|
|
Post by atsda on Apr 15, 2024 13:29:22 GMT
That was an unfortunate event. OGF is the rebound forum. I never got involved with the other forum. I started here and I am very pleased with how OGF operates. The members here are great folks. Alfred
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Apr 15, 2024 14:28:13 GMT
I dunno Alfred, you kinda have to keep one eye on Traindiesel.😋
|
|
|
|
Post by trainman9 on Apr 15, 2024 14:34:56 GMT
Many times OGR uses volunteer moderators. I was told that by AA when my account was suspended for the last time. He had no idea why but did not reinstate my account.
Prior to being suspended I stopped posting a long time ago. The fact of the matter is that there are only one or two individuals that dominate the boards. Frankly the only reason I even participated was because of the buy/sell forum.
|
|
|
|
Post by dlagrua on Apr 15, 2024 14:44:42 GMT
This thread shows why OGF is the best.This thread could not have taken place on any other O gauge model train forum. Far different opinions have been expressed here about OGR both pro and con. Everyone here just stuck to the substance of the argument, reported on their experiences and it was fine with everyone. As for the NJ Highrailer guys on OGR; I believe that they do enjoy special treatment as they have promoted many OGR events for the forum owner. Take for instance the "ORG Forum Breakfast" gathering at Allentown, the dinners at York and the events at their layout location. To my knowledge no NJHR member was ever banned but I cannot say that none of their posts were ever deleted. Regardless of the conversation, I like the people here, over there and always willing to discuss all facets of the O gauge hobby but today this is the only model train forum that I am active on.
|
|
|
|
Post by redjimmy1955 on Apr 15, 2024 14:46:28 GMT
count me in as being booted off that other forum for lame...I DO MEAN lame reasons! I wasn't booted for comments, rather it was because I was "offered the chance" to subscribe to that forum, and was told otherwise I couldn't remain a member! I understand that AA, and the other OGR guys take a lot of time to monitor and shuffle errant posts towards their respective slots.
what also killed my enthusiasm was the obnoxious and frequently displayed illiteracy about trains displayed by "HotAir"....er, water, and his frequent caustic responses to those who are simply asking questions. When he doesn't know an answer, he buffaloes his answer.
I'm glad I found this forum.
|
|
mopac
Full Member
Posts: 142
|
Post by mopac on Apr 15, 2024 14:53:02 GMT
MTJ got started because you could not say anything negative about (MTH)
OGR had a moderator that went by the name Toytrains 1 who was a big MTH fan boy.
Say anything about Mth and your post was deleted and you might get banned. So from the beginning on MTJ it was negative towards MTH. But then it changed and it went negative on OGR. They had a thread on MTJ called the OGR Crapper That ran for over 200 pages until the owner terminated it and said if you have a problem with OGR take it over there.
Then some of the disgruntled on MTJ started their own form called the O gauge Hobbyist. It lasted about 3 years and went belly up.
|
|
|
|
Post by madockawando on Apr 15, 2024 14:58:08 GMT
This thread shows why OGF is the best.This thread could not have taken place on any other O gauge model train forum. Far different opinions have been expressed here about OGR both pro and con. Everyone here just stuck to the substance of the argument, reported on their experiences and it was fine with everyone. As for the NJ Highrailer guys on OGR; I believe that they do enjoy special treatment as they have promoted many OGR events for the forum owner. Take for instance the "ORG Forum Breakfast" gathering at Allentown, the dinners at York and the events at their layout location. To my knowledge no NJHR member was never banned but I cannot say that none of their posts were ever deleted. Regardless of the conversation, I like the people here, over there and always willing to discuss all facets of the O gauge hobby but today this is the only model train forum that I am active on. This forum proves that the idea that OGR's heavy handed moderation is necessary to have a fun, civil and informative forum is a fallacy.
|
|
|
|
Post by healey36 on Apr 15, 2024 15:18:58 GMT
MTJ got started because you could not say anything negative about (MTH) OGR had a moderator that went by the name Toytrains 1 who was a big MTH fan boy. Say anything about Mth and your post was deleted and you might get banned. So from the beginning on MTJ it was negative towards MTH. But then it changed and it went negative on OGR. They had a thread on MTJ called the OGR Crapper That ran for over 200 pages until the owner terminated it and said if you have a problem with OGR take it over there. Then some of the disgruntled on MTJ started their own form called the O gauge Hobbyist. It lasted about 3 years and went belly up. I've been a member of MTJ for nearly 14 years. Back in my early days there, I learned a lot from some of the more experienced modelers, but most of them are gone (like six-feet-of-dirt-piled-on-top-of-them gone, or they just threw their arms up and left). There's too much political ax-grinding on there anymore, even in the two and three rail sections, and it's often personal. It was, and remains, primarily a place for two-rail O talk. Pretty much the rest of it is malarkey, and moderation is largely non-existent.
|
|
mopac
Full Member
Posts: 142
|
Post by mopac on Apr 15, 2024 15:38:36 GMT
The big negative for MTJ is you can't upload pictures to the forum. You have to have a photo hosting program to post pictures
|
|
|
|
Post by david1 on Apr 15, 2024 21:20:22 GMT
The biggest negative is MTJ ITSELF. Back sometime ago I was on it for a few weeks and never did like it and left.
I enjoyed myself at OGR before the newest owner but now it is so strange I'm glad I never took their offer to renew my subscription and rejoin the forum. I asked for a apology from the top man himself and I'm still waiting.
One other thing those guys (owners) are still holding on to a losing business and one day it will be no more. How many magazines do you read anymore? Myself none!!
That says it all. Only specially mags will survive.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Apr 16, 2024 15:32:08 GMT
This campaign of purging OGR members with minimal reason and explanation is just a money grab. I am hearing reports from former members being offered their membership back if they subscribe to a paid OGR subscription....practice is indicative of a failing business. I don't know how a forum about model trains became so divisive. The vast majority of the OGR members are great people, it's too bad their management is so toxic. Without a doubt, the membership is largely composed of good folks like us here. But everyone has a different toleration level of putting up with BS.
When you ask about how a model train forum became so divisive... that's an easy answer. BAD MANAGEMENT. I recall not that long ago a new custom layout-building company was making its way onto the scene, and I was very much impressed. And since the original charter of OGR was talking about "everything trains", I posted about this new upcoming company. I wrote positively about them... even included my own photos of their fabulous work. And each time I posted, the threads would get deleted.
Turns out I was not allowed to post about this new company BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT A PAYING SPONSOR FOR OGR. When I spoke to the principals of the company about this, their response was they didn't feel the need to have their name in a blinking lights banner across the top of the web page. Quite understandable. So for months their name was persona non gratta on that forum. But that all changed when Mike Reagan left Lionel and joined the company as their east-coast director. Mike had a decent relationship with the OGR powers, and just like that... the company magically became an OGR sponsor. Oh... the name of the company? TW Trainworx. Fabulous company... great people. But until you pay-to-play over at OGR, they don't know you. Sorry... but this hobby doesn't need that kind of BS.
|
|
|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Apr 16, 2024 16:42:57 GMT
As Cyndi Lauper has said, money changes everything it still does today and likely tomorrow.
|
|
