Food for thought - readers versus posters?

[Silvers]

Every once in a while this Fox Forum sorta stalls and there are very few posts for a day or days. I have started to wonder, why is that?

Here are some personal thoughts on the subject. Right now we have 1300 "registered users". And I believe the Fox Collectors Association has about 300 annual and life members. More data, I've read that only about 1/2 of the paid members are on-line. So, that means 1300 - 150 = about 1150 people (or about 88%) who are registered users here but are not members of the Fox Collectors with access to the Member Forums.

What are these 1150 people (88%) here for? To be sure, some of them had registered, asked one question, had it answered, and moved on never to be on the site again. But it seems the majority are here to read - but they rarely make time to write anything but questions themselves.

OK, so let me talk about the gents who do post fairly often and answer questions, and are regular at that....... well, they only have so many Fox guns and Foxy topics to post about. I am one of them. And frankly I am getting discouraged being mainly a writer and rarely a reader. I wonder if other regulars are feeling the same way? I've looked at the regular posters of say 6 months ago, and compared with what those same gents are writing today, and I have seen a drop off in number of posts. Yep that's a subjective assessment but it sure works in my case.

So.. what's likely to happen with this trend? Hopefully some of the 88% silent majority will start posting things (beyond questions) about their Fox guns, their hunts with same, shooting targets, pics of Foxes in action, personal experiences and learnings, other things that will be of interest to other Fox nuts. If that doesn't happen, sadly I see some regular posters/question answerers withdrawing even more to the Members Forums where, at least, it's more of a two way street and they get feedback and comments from other dedicated Fox guys and gals. That's likely to result in even less postings on the open Forums. I don't want to see that happen but that's the trend I see right now.

Again, these are just some personal thoughts for your consideration. Frank Silvers

[Twice Barrel]

It seems that the open forum is the victim of the members only forum diluting the number of posting on each. It also doesn't help when members try to push new folks toward the members only forum and away from the open forum when they seek advice ( you know who you are). I have been a member of the open forum since it's inception but choose not to join the members only forum as a matter of principle.

[Silvers]

Thanks for your reply, That may explain, in part, why some members (I'm one of them) choose to mainly write on the Member Forums.

However it doesn't explain why some 1150 registered users rarely step up to the plate themselves except to ask questions, which was the salient point of my post. Surely many/most have Foxy things they can share in the open forums too. Many including me would find value in them for sure. Silvers

[dragon]

i am an anual member and in the winter mounths(work is slower)i check the forum once and sometimes twice a day.i find that reading the topics are very interesting and they satisfy my thoughts,if they do not i go back and do a search for a certain topic.i would post more topics with hunting pictures but i haven't been able to figure out to post them,i have tried and even had younger computer savy people help me and still having problems(must be my computer)

[mc15426378]

dragon, you using a hosting site such as Photobucket or Hunt101 to upload your photos from? You need to have your photos on a host site such as these then copy and paste the IMG code/address in your post as I've done on the below photos. I'll help you post some photos if you still have a problem. Mike

[vaturkey]

Don't have a good answer for anyone except this seems to be more of a gun forum and less of a gun using forum. Some of the other forums (Parker for example) have quite a few different sections. One for hunting with your Parker, another about hammer guns, another about reproductions, guns for sale, other fine doubles etc. I think most of the users/readers here think these forums are strictly about the guns themselves and not necessarily other things associated with the outdoors. Not sure what the answer is, but see this more as a feeling.


FWIW, I find this better then the L.C. Smith site (which is confusing and a tad boring IMO). The best is probably the Parker site, but I also spend a bunch of my time on Doublegunshop.com (as do many other Fox folks). I think in some ways this site is a "one trick pony" and that's not a bad thing. Its just more about the guns themselves and less about other things that folks might find interesting related to using those guns. I myself check into this site at least every other day. Sometimes more often sometimes less often. I like the expertise and I like the sharing of information.

PS. I'm not only a Fox guy (they are my favorite hands down). I've also got a few Parkers and a few german guns in the old gunsafe hence I have other forums I visit to glean the information I need to glean to educate myself and perhaps provide some assistance to others.

[bbman3]

I am old and live out in sticks and only have dialup! Sometimes i cannot get on the site and i am not computer smart or very smart at anything! I really enjoy this site and try to help those i can. Face it,Foxes seldom need repair!Bobby

[markgphil]

In my business, I remind my clients that it's easier to edit than to create. N this case, it's easier to read and comment than post original content. There is a lot of great info here so I joined, but as a newbie I have comparatively less to contribute in info, but will give posting some more casual shares a try. I have certainly got my share of help so far, and a great small bore for end from Bobby too.

[fullchoke16]

Good point, Frank. Thanks for the motivation. I'm gonna work on those ideas. Fred

[Fin2Feather]

I joined the Fox Collectors initially, but I'm far from a collector, and when I weighed the befefits to me personally I didn't feel the value was there. I'm sure it's different for those who are true collectors, or those who are looking to buy guns on a regular basis. I'm just an old bird hunter who happens to love Fox shotguns, and happens to be fortunate enough to own a few. I check in here for the same reason I check in on numerous other boards, because I enjoy doubles of all kinds, from the humble old Stevens guns (I own a few), to my one Model B, through several Foxes (all Sterlingworths) and one Parker (a Trojan). I enjoy seeing what's going on, what's being said, others' questions and experiences, etc. Occasionally I believe I have something to offer and I try to do it. The rest of the time I just follow along, like I do on most of the boards I check in on.

I do feel that on occasion folks ask a question or seek help and the members' forum is referenced; sometime I feel that the underlying message here is "pay your money if you really want to be a part of this". Nothing wrong with that, I guess, if that's the goal, but if it is, why have a free forum at all? Maybe it's just my perception, but I do think that attitude may limit participation on the free forum. Someone made reference to the Parker board where they have a lot more catagories; maybe I'd participate more if this was a Fox "shooters" board, or at least had a "Hunting with Foxes" catagory, or something similar. JMHO; no offense intended to anyone.

[nj gsp]

I've learned some interesting things about my Foxes here and appreciate all the people who answer questions and help others learn about their guns. But I mostly read. I only have 2 Foxes, or according to some people one of them is not really a Fox because it's a Model B. And I only poke around the open forum every once in a while because there's not a lot of activity so it's relatively easy to catch up.

I have a bunch of doubles, but only 2 (or 1-1/2) of them are Foxes. So I have to agree with pretty much everything Fin2Feather had to say.

[billspeer]

Have to say that I only have a 1910 Sterly, and only recently began to shoot my great-grandfather's gun on the trap range. I'm on the forum every day to read what's going on. I've gotten good advice on the Member's Forum page, and feel my membership is well worth it. Got some great advice on my needed stock repair. Though I have little (or no) advice to offer to others who seek it, I really appreciate this forum and all its collective wisdom. Carry on, my firends!

Bill Speer

[SmithShady]

I would consider myself a fairly new member, having joined this forum in August of last year. I came here like I'm sure many others did after purchasing my first Fox. I immediately paid my dues to be a member, as much for access to information stored in the member section, as I did to just support this sites upkeep in general. My feeling so far is that it has been well worth the investment. I find myself checking the site almost every day, and I've learned a great deal from the information that can be found here. I'm especially grateful to folks like Frank, who by the way has offered great information or advice on just about every question I've posted. The "posters" here, or the folks with the most Fox knowledge are the lifeblood of this site. I've been a part of forums like this before that relate to other interests I have, such as Scuba Diving. I'm an avid Diver and Underwater Photographer, and have seen diving/photography forums similar to this one slowly die because the active posters get tired of answering the same questions over and over again. I often find myself doing more research here first to get answers to questions, versus posting something that has been asked and answered a dozen times. How much is my gun worth? What kind of shells should I use? What grade is my gun? All important questions to new folks, but not interesting in the slightest to the regulars here. I think questions like these that dominate the non-members section of the site drive the members into the private forum where they are posting among "friends" or "regulars", and where the posts are more conversational. Several folks have made comments about the categories on this site versus others, and what can be posted here. I have to say that unlike other sites, I haven't had anybody here question why I posted something, or ask me to move my post to another section of the site because it doesn't belong. This site has also provided introductions to new people in my area that share a similar interest, and I have several new friends/hunting buddies as well as places to hunt as a result. I think right now I'm also in the category of researching and asking questions, because I feel like I have less to contribute from a knowledge sharing perspective. I look forward to having more to share though, and will try to do so in the future.

Mike

[rdhenley7]

My two cents on the subject:

I have been a registered user for about two years but just recently started checking the forums regularly when I became a member 2 months ago. I check them primarily to get information on the guns from other collectors that I am not going to find anywhere in print. I have a few ideas that I think would benefit both the average Fox collector and keep the more advanced collectors involved in the forums. I will admit that I am also a registered user of the PGCA site (although not a member) and they have a lot of these on their site already.

- More information on the guns and the company generated by forum users and submitted for debate/review by members or registered users, such as serial # ranges, dates of manufacture, history on Fox guns and personalities, model information, special order features, etc.
- I think that there are members with a lot of information on some of these things that they would love to share and would make a good late winter project for them.
- I also think that some of the long-time members would love to debate back and forth on some of this information
- Some of this information that is more advanced could be only for members to keep the incentive there to become a member
- I would also like to see better and more photos on the "grade" pages on the homepage. I think that someone would be excited to have their photos picked to put on there as the representation of that grade.

-Hunting specific photos/stories forum
-Shooting specific photos/stories forum
-Frequently Asked Questions page
- This would be a great thing to have for the casual viewer or beginning collector to get information about their guns without bringing up the same questions on the forum.
- This information could also be submitted by members and up for debate
- A forum that is specifically for Fox guns for sale by third parties to debate the correctness of the information provided..

[Flatlander Tom]

First of all Frank, THANKS!! for all the knowledge you and the other regulars are sharing. I have been a member for about a year and am amazed at how much information I can find out on this site. I must say that I have been more of a voyer on the site than a poster, but I promise to change that if you answer me a couple questions that I will get to later. I have noticed a couple of remarks from others that feel the way I do and that is that the site seems more like a fox gun only topic site. I think it would create some more posting if we had some designated areas for topics like Hunting, Gun cases, critter pictures, etc. Heck I really enjoyed Fin2 Feathers posting of the leg of mutton gun case and think it would be neat if we had a area after the different gun grade pictures for us to post pictures of the different styles of cases as they are nearly as interesting to me as the guns. I hate to see people apologize about posting something that they feel is off topic, when they really just needs a place for them to post. I'm sure some of the founding members like yourself feel more at home on the site because you set the course for what it has become and some of us are a little shy and still figuring things out. So, my question is, should we be sticking to more fox related topics or is it ok to venture off topic as long as it is in the right place? In other words, we may need some direction.
As far as the ratio of members and users to posters, I look at that like I do the Saturday morning cooking shows. My wife and I have watch countless shows on preparing different dishes, but have only made a couple of them. Now thats literally food for thought, haha.
Thanks for bringing this topic up and take care.
Tom