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[Richard230]

Revzilla seems to think that on-line motorcycle forums are dying and going the way of the dinosaurs, thanks to cell phones replacing desktop computers. Here is their short discussion article making their argument: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-are-online-motorcycle-forums-drying-up-and-dying

[DonTom]

Revzilla seems to think that on-line motorcycle forums are dying and going the way of the dinosaurs, thanks to cell phones replacing desktop computers. Here is their short discussion article making their argument: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/why-are-online-motorcycle-forums-drying-up-and-dying

There is no doubt about it. Many moved to FB and never came back to the forums.


But I never could understand why FB became so popular and why people never return to the forums.


I can name many forums that used to be very active that are lucky to get one message per week these days.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[DonTom]

thanks to cell phones replacing desktop computers.

I hate using those little thingies, but I have to own one. The only way to activate some DC fast chargers, like those stupid Electrify America. Sometimes I spend more time getting them activated than I do charging. They don't use a card, unlike the others. I won't even use a Smartphone with my Tesla--I use the FOB, unlike most.


I bring a real Windows 11 laptop with me. I prefer to use that, where possible. But these days there are a lot of apps that are not available for Windows. So I have to put up with those little thingies--but I don't have to like it.  I normally have mine off until I need it.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[Fran K]

Since you made it motorcycle specific,  Ktmtalk and advrider seem quite healthy.  This one had the most members and guests on line on Most Online Today: 21. Most Online Ever: 919  (January 14, 2020, 11:26:30 AM). ktm talk Most users ever online was 6,912, 12-19-2020 at 03:58 PM.  As for advrider I could not find that statistic but can see curent users including robots https://www.advrider.com/f/online/?type=guest

There is a bunch of comments included with the article.  As to the smart phone revolution, talk to text likely brings in a certain shall we say demographic.

I went to recreational motorcycles dirt when instead of forums there was discussion groups perhaps; usenet included in the dial up internet and the email program.

Forums also get sold Vertical Scope in a major buyer.  So all the content someone adds becomes or can become property of the next buyer.

[TheRan]

The mobile device argument doesn't make all that much sense, anything that has the Facebook app also has a web browser. The only advantage I can think of is notifications, so you know when someone has replied to you instead of having to check manually. There's also the fact that most people are already on Facebook and it's fairly easy to find a group on there, compared to having to Google search to find an appropriate forum and then sign up.

In terms of actual function I think a forum is better. It's a more permanent thing and a better source of information that's more easily able to be searched, it has anonymity, generally it has a better selection of people, usually it is better managed (you don't have one power hungry person running it who deletes anything they don't agree with), it's not limited to Facebook's terms, and it has many features you just don't get in the Facebook app.

[Richard230]

My big complaint about cell phones as a way of typing a message, especially a long and detailed one, like you might do on a forum that is directed toward technical issues and not social ones, is the little keyboard. It takes me forever to type something on that virtual keyboard. I keep hitting the wrong keys and the phone tries selecting words that I don't want. I have been using a typewriter, first a manual, then electric, then a full size desktop keyboard, all of my life and using a stand-alone keyboard I can type at least 10 times faster than on a cell phone keyboard.

The only thing I use my cell phone for is to recharge its batteries once a month and to check the condition of the batteries of my Zero. Since I don't get a cell signal at my home, I don't even use it to make phone calls and still use a landline to hear robo-calls.   

[DonTom]

My big complaint about cell phones as a way of typing a message, especially a long and detailed one,

Can't you use voice with it?


-Don-  Reno

[Richard230]

My big complaint about cell phones as a way of typing a message, especially a long and detailed one,

Can't you use voice with it?


-Don-  Reno

I don't know anything about Voice. I do use my desktop computer to talk to my family using Google Chat. Other than that, I don't bother using my cell phone, unless I have to make a long-distance call, in which case I will walk down the street for 1/4 mile to get a cell signal.  But the robo-calls come in just fine on my AT&T landline (I dropped their long-distance service to save money, but free 800 calls still work), which are caught by my 30-year old message machine. 

[DerKrawallkeks]

I'm the younger generation, but I still don't have facebook (which less and less people really use here in europe anyway).
So for in-depth technical stuff and serious discussion, I definitley go to forums. Also, if you have a problem and google it, you kinda automatically end up in forum threads.. so I don't think it's dying

[Richtea]

I'm the younger generation, but I still don't have facebook (which less and less people really use here in europe anyway).
So for in-depth technical stuff and serious discussion, I definitley go to forums. Also, if you have a problem and google it, you kinda automatically end up in forum threads.. so I don't think it's dying

Agree with all that. FB isn't needed.

And for faster / simpler typing on mobile, try Swype or an equivalent gesture-based input method. It's called Glide typing on Android.

[valnar]

As said above, forums are better for searching technical questions.  The downside of Facebook is the same questions get asked over and over because search is difficult.  And some questions get left unanswered by the technical experts because they're already done it.