Even though I move at a snail's pace, I will continue to review items I purchase that fit my interests even if they are hard to find or not big sellers. I see it more of sharing knowledge than assisting manufacturers. I'd still like to see review have a keyword so a user could look at all "Leopard" or "Bundeswehr" items for example.

As for build logs I would have to finish something first.

Also who do I contact about getting pictures restored to one of my reviews? Europa Militaria No 29 Challenger Squadron is missing all the pictures.

Paul

Hi Arnold,

I joined the site about 5 months after you did. If you average out my post count out it's well over a 1000 a year since I joined. Your posts doesn't make a lot of sense to me, the whole idea of the forums is to provide an opportunity for people to communicate on what ever the subject is they want to talk about.

The whole idea of this thread is to try and engage/encourage more people to particapate and not just lurk around. When I joined, if you asked a question, posted a build picture you would heve been sure to get a host of responses from a lot of different poeple. That has changed; Michael summed it up in his post above; on his first model x amount of hits and 2 comments, me being one of them.

I would agree that if you post a model for comment then cool or super might not be very helpful, but it is a lot better than no one respondijng to your post at all, and in itself could be taken as positive feedback.

People tend to come and go as suits them, new sites, other things in life folks, tend to drift in and out. or be more active at certine times than others.

Ive had periods when I haven't been that active, most of the time I'm around reading articles, posting questions, generall enjoying the site. Sometimes it's just a bit banter or a thread like this where folks get talking.

You seem to use the buy/sell/trade forum a lot so I trust that works well for you. I don't particularly see a 1337 club here as you suggest. I do see groups of modellers who are interested in the same subject interact, help each other and make the most of the site.

Like many I'd just like to see more people getting involved again, I would think there is a lot of useful knowledge out there. The sub divisions also mean that people tend to stick to those, which is good for them but probably no so good for the site.

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There are many so called armchair experts here, and while some are legit in my book, others are outright morons. Even those who have contributed heartedly can be the biggest gimps too.
Unquote

That's a pretty offensive thing to say to people. All the forums have a respond button so if you think someone is talking rot why not point it out in a constructive and helpful way? There is litle point in sitting back and not participating, getting wound up, whilst at the same time doing nothing about it. As Jim R points out below unlike some sites I can think off you won't find any gimps here.

I didn't find you 1st post helpful. I did think it was iinsulting to members, and ill thoughout.

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Criticism is criticism...I'll take it for what its worth. What gets me is people extending the knowledge they think they have when they don't. I drove all kinds of vehicles in the military, but does that make me an expert or knowledgeable on them? It sure didn't.
I rely on books and the WELL informed individual. What irks me are those who THINK they know. I don't expect 100% accuracy, but well informed info is better than armchair bravado.

Another example: Member comes on board, asking about selling his built up models. Guy gets ridiculed by long time member for bringing up such topic and told to go to ebay.
Long time member then decides to sell his built ups on this site himself. Where is the self policing?

As far as the "Post whores", thats how I see it. I don't personally need to see my build log inundated with "kewl" or "nice camo". I'd rather have a well placed criticism that reflects the positve or negative aspects of my build. Then again, I remember that there are those who don't know how to properly judge or review said subject matter, or say anything more than two or three words long. Again, this is my opinion.

This isnt a perfect world, and I understand that. Hell if that were the case, all my models would build and paint themselves.
Then again, I believe it can be close to perfect.

And lastly here is some advise from someone who knows something: you wipe til its clean.
Front to back.
Unquote

You don't post you builds so there is not much one can say there. Again you comments seem aimed at particular individuals which is IMHO is off course and a bit out of order. I would recommend you either address your issues in the original thread or by PM to those individuals rather than make snide remarks and generalisations about them simply to vent your frustration.

We all post here for different reasons, labellig people 'Post Whores, becasue they took the time to reply to a thread and you didn't doesn't cut much ice with me either. You may find them annoying, but it's hardly a crime and I can't see why it would even bother you. Language like that will just put people off posting even more,


My thoughs anyway.

Al

IF I posted something (which I havent done and said so earlier) then that'll be my decision til then. I really dont have an inclination whether someone posts to my build or not, it doesnt bother me. Ive won enough awards in the past and done commision work for folks to tell me my crap dont stink.
Offensive? I can be, but peruse through every one of my posts on this site, and I guarantee you won't find one negative post thats demeaning or useless (ie the uninformed). At least I'm someone wiiling to stab you in the chest and not in the back.
Anyone can build a kit, to whatever their talents may take them too. Not everyone can make an informed decision or remark. Personally, I choose to keep my inner dialogues to myself.
Others need to learn how too. And this goes for newbies as well as oldies.
Feelings get hurt, well, suck it up. Momma aint gonna hold your hand.
As far as being frustrated, not in the least bit. Im giving my opinion. If I was, I wouldve started this topic myself long ago. See second post...

Btw, I cherish your opinion.

so basically we all follow your rules and we will all be happy, basically, remove the friendly social element of the site and you will be pleased,
look out everyone, dont post because Arnold does not want to hear it.
well ill tell you something, i want to hear it, because if this site was just do this, do that i would rather go buy a technique book. instead i come here because not only do i Enjoy modelling, i enjoy interacting(even if digitally) with the site populous, nearly everyone here is a Blast to get along with.
if you seem to as big headed as to say your [auto-censored] dont stink surely you would have posted all your builds by now. you may be a god modeller, but you seem to have your head buried somewhere dark.

Apparently you dont understand a thing I posted. If you did, you wouldnt go on your "rant".
I will try to make this clear for YOU in one little statement: Think before you thought.
Why some understand where I come from and others dont is beyond me.
Oh yeah, because they read it through.

Have fun

Al

sorry guy, but I have read you posts and read them again and still get little sense from them. you may want to try reading them out loud to yourself before you post. i'm not saying this to be an ass, but this is a trick i learned long ago about writing. often thoughts are faster than the hands that write or type them so sometimes the message is lost or garbled when it appears on the page.

i know this is off topic, but i have to say this. i am approaching one year on Armorama. this is one of about a dozen forums i belong to and my primary model forum. I'm approaching 600 posts which averages out to about 2 each day over the year. i spent at least an hour here each day, usually much more. i have struck up friendships with people i have met here that i wouldn't have otherwise made. i like the atmosphere of this forum and the way the moderators let things flow. i like the way conversations develop within threads, but are also self policed enough to not stray too far off course. i have received superb advice from members when i asked and i have gotten good answers to almost every question i have asked.

i have learned more here in the past year about model building techniques and about the vehicles we model than i would have ever imagined possible. i have learned a lot of military history as well as history of vehicles, when, where, and how they were used.

there are some experts here that can irritate me, but it isn't because they don't know what they are talking about, it is the way in which they present their knowledge. some can be quite condescending and critical of things that fall short of their personal standards, but they are still correct in the facts they present. i don't think any armchair experts would bellow and roar here for too long before being silenced. in fact, almost all of our experts could be far more aggressive than they are. i have seen some very spirited debates both started and engaged in by some of these folks and they take as good as they give.

concerning your comment about one or two word praises added to completed builds that are posted. i look at it like this: when one or more of the builders here that are among the best i have ever seen take the time to acknowledge another builder's effort and praise it, even if it's only a word or two, it means a helluva lot to the builder! there are few finer feelings than to be encouraged by one's peers, especially by those at the top of the totem pole. for the thin skinned who can't deal with criticism i offer this: don't ask the question if you are not prepared to hear the answer! it's been said, and quite truthfully so, there is often more to be learned from mistakes than from getting everything right first time up. how do any of us know 100% of our weaknesses and areas in need of improvement if these are not called to our attention. some have the self-awareness to know these things without being told; most people need the help of another set of eyes to help bring these into focus.

lastly, you seem to think everybody should have the same set of behaviors, the same beliefs, the same norms, etc. and it appears you have set yourself as the standard for this. truthfully, the only human being you have any control over is yourself (and in the case of those with an evil streak, those close enough to force into submission). people are different which should be a cliche´ by now, but people keep coming up with using their own personal behaviors as the standards to judge the merits and motivations of others. it's the differences between the members as much as all the individual personalities that create the atmosphere this forum has. it IS like a big extended family. and like any large family, there are within it the "good ol' boys", the eccentrics, the youngsters, the oldsters, the professionals, the amateurs, the artists, the mechanics, the arrogant, the humble, the know-it-alls, the know nothings, and all the rest! some can be overbearing at times and may criticize another for doing something and turn around and do the very same thing! so what? if someone goes too far, he/she is reined back in. i'm glad it's that way. above all, it's allowed!

i don't understand why you just don't use this forum as you see fit? post or don't post as you wish. put up pictures or not as you see fit. if someone gives bad information that you know to be incorrect, let it go if you wish. but, don't criticize that person for providing faulty information, probably unknowingly so, when you knew better and choose to remain silent.

the key to good communication is that the message you are conveying is understood. obviously, you know what you are saying but others aren't comprehending it too well. i don't think the fault is entirely theirs.

in the interests of full disclosure i haven't posted any completed build here. i switched from cars to aircraft to military vehicles about a year and a half ago and am still adjusting and learning. i am getting better and hope to soon have something worthy of putting up pictures. although i try, everything i write isn't always completely clear, either. i still slip at times because i tend to write the same way i speak. text doesn't have vocal inflection or facial expression to help express the message so the words must stand on their own. i sometimes don't see it until after the fact that i could have expressed things a little differently or a little better. it doesn't happen often fortunately!

Most everyone commenting and contributing to this discussion has participated on a regular basis. There's not really any new voice speaking up here. I think Jim's intent originally was to find out what is holding them back. How do you get people involved in anything anymore. Is it just too easy to sit on the side and watch others hash it out? Are we now a society in which somebody else will take care of the problem so there is no need for me/us to speak up? Is it that the new voices don't want to jump in to this discussion now? How do we get others to participate. I don't know as much as most, lack a lot of skills, build for my own pleasure, try to help out where I can. I found out on this site that participation yeilds rewards.

I don't know how to encourage others to share beyond making a simple invitation. Most visitors here are anonymous or short stay only which sort of defeats the invite, but anyone who stays on and looks around should be able to see the welcome mat is out.

Bratushka,
I agree and applaude you. If Armorama were full of autonomous drones, I'd have left it long ago. If everyone were like me, I'd loathe them myself. This is why these are my opinions and not anyone elses. There are people here I have known awhile, and some I have even met. They know me and my attitude, and sometimes they even agree to disagree.

Arnold is entitled to his opinion and just because it differs from my opinion makes no odds what so ever, he has answered the question Jim asked as far as it applies to him. Remember this thread question has no right or wrong answers, and bickering with a person for their opinions is pointless.