Modern Vespa

Like was said above for a lot of us this isn't a hobby. This is just what I do. I am the only scooterist in my town and I will continue to use the forum regardless of the economy...

The database here has really helped me throughout the years. I check it a lot and appreciate it.

Has traffic started falling off here?
As far as I can tell, this scene is totally burgeoning.

That depends on the specific traffic metric you're referring to -- there are several. But as a general rule, no. Traffic is flat. We're off of our peak in 2008, when the economy was booming, gas prices were sky high, and scooter sales were through the roof. NSM traffic has picked up, though, and that might mean that General Discussion traffic has fallen off somewhat.

Someone already said this.... This forum is like being in a room with people with the same interest... like a classroom that everybody signed up either because of love the subject, or they need to love it. Facebook kinda works because lots of people you know are there and also like scooters... Difference is Facebook is more like walking down the mall just looking around and maybe go into a place but not buying anything or maybe something small... The Forum is the real thing.... Facebook is just for fun. Maybe if FB changes the way the groups are handled and viewed it might work.

Totally agree. The word I'd choose is "devolved."

So where did that technical discussion go? Paisans?

As a newby to this forum and someone that spends a lot of time in front of a computer at work - the major bonus for me with MV is that companies rarely block access to Forums yet most block access to FB etc. on company computers.
Hence I can think about the issues throughout the day & do bits of searching of the database / reading posts during my breaks - then I have the evenings free to work on or ride my scooters, rather than sat in front of yet another screen.

I wonder if BBS wasn't its own worst enemy. While most of the people there were cool, I never felt welcome there as a "newbie". I can take a little badgering and good natured ribbing, but some of the comments I got on there were just plane rude and hateful. Not at all encouraging or helpful for someone new on the scene. Not for me.

I was grateful to have the NSM side of MV. I believe that the moderating here, while some may say is sometimes a tad heavy handed, is what keeps this forum friendly.

Yup, but Instagram is devoid of strangers inserting themselves into a family thread, or advertising. I'm sure they are mining the data there too, but it isn't as...I don't know...in your face as Facebook is. Yet.

True.

I actually wondered that too. I've visited Paisans on occasion, and...I could be really wrong here, because I don't really hang out there...but it seems like Paisans is where all the old scooter boys who were really into it in the 80's have gone. They talk scooters, but their lives seem to have moved on. Something like a bunch of middle aged guys who used to be on the high school football team reliving their glory days. I'm sure there is some tech talk there, but not to the extent a person might imagine. That's not to say they don't still have scooters, because they do. But there are a lot more guys who post things like "I was totally going to show up to the ride, but my son had a soccer game."

My best guess is that a lot of the guys and gals who contributed to the BBS tech info have different toys these days. Some of the guys here are probably members of Paisans and can correct me if need be. But I think MV's NSM section is becoming the best place to be for tech info, maybe even begrudgingly on the part of some.

This forum has been a critical crucial source of needed info for me when I have had critical tech questions that needed quick answers from the more experienced scootists . I don't think I would have gotten the quick precise input on facebook as I would have received here on MV NSM . Facebook is ok for keeping up with family's and friends. However MV NSM is a lifeline for those of us who do our own repair work and upgrades on our Stella's and Vespa's !! Thanks to the more experienced guys reply's to others tech questions here in the forum, I am learning a quite bit ! That info is here in case I need it later on for review . Something Facebook doesn't have !!
WillC.

I find that FB is OK for finding out about events etc. IF you know where or how to look, or a friend on FB links to it or shares it. I haven't found much there of a technical nature with the exception of the New Orleans scooter group's how to videos, in particular adding on bar end turn signals (and even that link was referred to first on a forum). In a nutshell, I prefer forums for anything technical and tolerate FB for socializing. (That said, I suppose I could be considered a technical Luddite.)

I put off joining FB for years as I couldn't see the point in it, until this year when I realised that any organisation for rides, rallies etc was done there. So now I'm a member of a few FB scooter groups. As most others have mentioned, FB is for now... maybe yesterday as well. But if someone puts up a useful or interesting link, just try to find it again in a month! It's pretty much impossible.

MV has been an obsession for the last 3 years or so, and i've learned so much here. It really the perfect forum (pun intended) for going over a problem/issue as there is time to investigate and research. And the great thing is it's available to delve into a year later or whatever. FB's format discourages the longer reply or comment, altough maybe it's slightly easier to post pictures etc there.

As far as the events issue is concerned, couldn't there simply be a sticky on each part of the forum's page. People could add to it as necessary.

This actually worries me, and not just a little bit. If FB has become the de facto way to get word out about rallies (as opposed to one of several ways) then the people without FB accounts are essentially left out in the cold

I would very much appreciate some specific suggestions as to what MV could do to improve that situation. I've got some of my own ideas already, but hearing more opinions would be helpful.

Jess,

The biggest asset you have on this site/forum are the members. There are a number of people here (you know who you are) who keep this place vibrant and alive. I don't post/contribute too often, but I check this site every single day with out fail. I do this because of the content and contributions these people make to solve problems (and a lot of times goofy content that just makes you smile). Keep these contributors here and happy and MV (NSM) will stay vibrant.

FB is for family/friends. MV is for getting your scooter fix.

I've never learned of a rally here on the forum.. it's all (as has been said on FB) There just doesn't seem to be a draw to that section of the forum.. Maybe when someone posts info for a rally it can be at the top of the NSM page! Up there in clear view with Guidelines, The Big List, and Things to Consider? They go up, and then down once the rally has happened... It would be nice to see pics from all the rallies organized here.. I know there's a place already, but it seems kinda burried over there.. Ease of access (I know that sounds lazy, as it's only a page away), but having it right uo front may help? I think that would be a lot of fun to see pics and vides, stories from the rallies, and it'd no doubt open up discipussions, dialog about bikes, tires & riding and road conditions etc... That does happen on FB... the recent Big Wheel Little Wheel Mods/Rockers here in La had a great Fb page, tons of really good pics.. it was excellent.. Not sure what the answer is, but getting that kind of rally reporting here would be good.

and fixed as well

WORD.

Clearly, FB isn't only for family and friends if all the rally announcements are on FB.

The advantage FB has for event planning is the way you can invite entire groups or all your friends to an event with a single click and then each of them can pass it along. You could do the same thing with mass emails or pm's here, if there was a way to get events submitted and approved before the invites went out so spammers were eliminated. The ads that run on the bottom of each page are fairly effective too...

I'd love to see more of those -- but hardly anyone asks for them, despite the fact that they're free.

Well I was saying what I use them for. Rally info IS kinda catch as catch can for me, so I take your point. I don't even look for it on FB but Google often leads me there. I'm gonna help you out Jess, let's see if ppl will post up current World Wide Rally Info here

There isn't much traffic on Paisans, either. A topic/thread can sit for weeks without any replies. And because the thread sits at the top of list it shows that no other threads are being started to push inactive threads down.

I think a lot of the technical stuff from the usual suspects that made up the BBS just disappeared because they didn't want to go anywhere else and learn any new tricks and learn how to act around new people. I can understand why this is.

I think everything just chugs along. People come and people go. Facebook kinda blows.

I think maybe http://www.scootercentral.net

A quick perusal of the last post dates for each of the forum areas there suggests that they're struggling to find critical mass as well.

There does seem to be some really good tech support on scootercentral. But very few regular posters.

Yes it's gone very quiet over there during the past year, but there certainly has been some great discussion, especially from the likes of Ray Sorenson and Allyourbasearebelongtonik. Eg http://www.scootercentral.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=17647&sid=86d2fca5a215017a847a310332d5fef4
and my favourite (a reall head turner) http://www.scootercentral.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15818

1... this place dont have our lass on
2... my facebook dont have you lot on



i opened up a facebook cos our lass says i needed one so she could put that shes in a relationship with me .... what a load of conning bollox

i've joint many forum but ur is the best Jess and the members is awesome in communicate even with so many character it can bound to one.. my local forum sadly didnt do that

and to answer ur question, scooter forum is still kickin in the knowledge and communicate while the facebook is just to pass the notification around close friends, i use facebook mostly to keep pics and use the url in the NSM section to attach pics

have a nice day to you all and cheer