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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 12:32:21 GMT
I look at the member list and I see a lot of new names with ZERO posts. Don't be shy, say hello, tell us a little about yourself, your interests, what do you model, pre, post, modern, 2 rail, 3 rail?? Remember, you only have a year or you will be kicked off the rolls  So say Hi. |
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Post by thebigcrabcake on Nov 21, 2019 12:57:25 GMT
That’s not exactly correct. There’s no requirement that any Member must Post. Logging in on the Forum would be considered “Activity” within the prior 12 months. Member rolls will only be cleared of Members who are inactive for 12 months. It’s really just a housekeeping function so that we don’t have an inflated Member count. Having said that, I believe the intent of this thread is to encourage participation. I couldn’t agree more. It can be intimidating to post opinions for the first time. It was for me. I quickly found that even my most basic questions were meet with genuine interest and that I usually wasn’t alone in my questions and opinions. New voices are always welcomed. I get the most out of my Membership by posting and discussion. If someone prefers to participate without posting, that’s OK too. The Forum is here for all of us. Emile |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 12:59:29 GMT
Thanks for the clarification Emile
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Post by thebigcrabcake on Nov 21, 2019 13:17:30 GMT
Thanks for the clarification Emile Thank you for the thread. I think this is a very important topic. For example: A good friend of mine since childhood is an O Gauge fan. We go to local Meets together and he’s a regular at the local hobby shop. We have many conversations about the hobby and he has even created a modest YouTube channel with a few Christmas layout videos. He’s happy to be a Forum Member but is uncomfortable posting because of his self-described inexperience. I think he has many interesting things to say and many reasonable questions to ask. I’ve learning quite a bit from our dialogue. Still, there remains a barrier to participation. I’m not sure how to remove that for anyone other than to say that all friendly dialogue is welcomed. Everybody was new to the hobby or the Forum at some point. All perspectives are valuable. Not every post has to be a “Golden Nugget”. If you have a thought or an idea or a question: Post it. There’s no penalty for bad grammar or spelling mistakes. Emile |
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Post by ptc on Nov 21, 2019 14:25:17 GMT
Thanks for clarifying this point about OGF activity, Emile. We certainly encourage post activity, but it is not required. Logging in is indeed a form of activity as we know you are participating.
We established the 12 month rule, again as Emile has pointed out, to reflect an accurate picture as to a realistic membership count. Also, why needlessly pay for extra ban-width. We have all seen membership information being touted elsewhere that claim to have 20,000 + members. It begs the question when was the last time they purged inactive members? How many in that number have passed on or are no longer are involved in the hobby? Have the membership roles ever been purged for inactivity? I can understand why they might want large numbers as advertising dollars are no doubt at stake, but we have no such pressure here. We want an accurate picture, not something else. Hense, the activity rule.
Hope that clears this up. |
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Post by JKP on Nov 21, 2019 14:27:03 GMT
Great thread, I only started this past year to be part of a forum, and this forum has been enjoyable. Always great to see what other members are doing.
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Post by Sir James on Nov 21, 2019 14:30:43 GMT
It's a good rule. No need to carry the weight of inactive members. Of course it would be great if everyone joined in
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Post by dennym57 on Nov 21, 2019 16:12:53 GMT
Thanks for the clarification Emile Thank you for the thread. I think this is a very important topic. For example: A good friend of mine since childhood is an O Gauge fan. We go to local Meets together and he’s a regular at the local hobby shop. We have many conversations about the hobby and he has even created a modest YouTube channel with a few Christmas layout videos. He’s happy to be a Forum Member but is uncomfortable posting because of his self-described inexperience. I think he has many interesting things to say and many reasonable questions to ask. I’ve learning quite a bit from our dialogue. Still, there remains a barrier to participation. I’m not sure how to remove that for anyone other than to say that all friendly dialogue is welcomed. Everybody was new to the hobby or the Forum at some point. All perspectives are valuable. Not every post ha to be a “Golden Nugget”. If you have a thought or an idea or a question: Post it. There’s no penalty for bad grammar or spelling mistakes. I'm Emile "There’s no penalty for bad grammar or spelling mistakes". My father was always on my case about spelling and grammar. |
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Post by Country Joe on Nov 21, 2019 16:27:02 GMT
Gary, thanks for starting this thread.
To new members and older members who haven't posted, don't be afraid to jump right in. We are a friendly group who will quickly adopt you into the OGF family. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner just thinking about getting started or an old timer with many years of experience.
It can be intimidating to be the new member joining a group where they are all old friends and you are the outsider, but just say hi and you will quickly make friends. In a week or so it will feel like you are talking with old friends so join in. It's so much more fun participating than observing.
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Post by Joe Saggese on Nov 21, 2019 16:44:30 GMT
What Country Joe said!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2019 0:40:12 GMT
Thanks for the clarification Emile Thank you for the thread. I think this is a very important topic. For example: A good friend of mine since childhood is an O Gauge fan. We go to local Meets together and he’s a regular at the local hobby shop. We have many conversations about the hobby and he has even created a modest YouTube channel with a few Christmas layout videos. He’s happy to be a Forum Member but is uncomfortable posting because of his self-described inexperience. I think he has many interesting things to say and many reasonable questions to ask. I’ve learning quite a bit from our dialogue. Still, there remains a barrier to participation. I’m not sure how to remove that for anyone other than to say that all friendly dialogue is welcomed. Everybody was new to the hobby or the Forum at some point. All perspectives are valuable. Not every post has to be a “Golden Nugget”. If you have a thought or an idea or a question: Post it. There’s no penalty for bad grammar or spelling mistakes. Emile Emile, great post in a great thread. Mention this thread to your friend and hopefully some new members here will read it too. Do you know how I learned about building a layout? Reading, watching videos, and asking more experienced members on forums like this. I know some members here from other forums, but some here are new to me. That’s great, because it gives me the opportunity to learn from a larger group of people. Exchanging information is paramount to the survival of a forum. This is the friendliest, most welcoming forum I’ve ever been a part of, hands down. That’s what makes me want to come back and see what others have posted, and share some of my own items. And I will have plenty of questions going forward because I’m still learning. The day I stop learning, throw dirt on me. I have already asked some members to explain their process of scenery, or how they solved a certain problem, and they have been kind enough to do so. That’s also why when I post, I describe the process, so if someone else wants to try it out, they can do so easily. Andy |
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Post by dennym57 on Nov 22, 2019 3:31:00 GMT
How many forums have members that get together for dinner? Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2019 12:03:02 GMT
Thank you Gary, this is indeed a needed and neat post. I've learned everything about model trains here! More importantly, as life has moved on and friends have moved or passed away, I have gained more friends from this forum than anywhere else. Read the posts and you will find people who appeal to you. Follow them, comment on their thoughts and private message them. Before you know it, you will have an interesting friend and if they live close enough you might visit them or go to York and have dinner with them.  (Thank you Denny.) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2019 15:21:58 GMT
Have you noticed only us regulars have posted to this. Come on Newbies, lets hear from you.
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Post by Sir James on Nov 22, 2019 15:38:23 GMT
How many forums have members that get together for dinner? Well not directly but York gives us an opportunity to have at least one meal with them. Of course we gotta have breakfast with Laz.  |
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So say Hi.
(Thank you Denny.)