Bustin Loose
Well-Known Member
I came to the 4x4 forums because they had tech I needed outside of wheeling which I couldn't afford to do. I spent a great 8 years or so learning from the "old timers" and was thrilled that there were places that stored this kind of information. No longer was it a situation where someone died and the information left with them. But my rig is my van so I end up at Ford Truck Enthusiasts most often for that.
But over time as people got to know me I started to get attacked which I kind of expected but didn't do anything about because it wasn't worth it, until it spilled over into tech threads and a Christmas secret Santa exchange. I just decided it wasn't worth it anymore. I'm grateful to NWW for not being overtly judgmental and no attempts to pigeonhole me occurred here but I didn't want that kind of taint following me either. I didn't get as much info here but it was still a safe haven of sorts to discuss things with other motor heads.
That's why it should be saved,
Yes, FB, Instagram and YT are all more popular than old timey discussion boards. But the discussion boards staying alive have integrated those applications so that they take advantage of the crossover. Someone sees an interesting idea, concept or info they were looking for, need more info and then are here at the forums. They get the added benefit of not having to weed through irrelevant bull**** and can get right to what matters. Information speed means everything these days. Many just haven't realized yet that it takes just as much time or more to weed through BS than it does to log in here and get to what matters right away. No phone is big enough to expand that pic someone needs to see something small.
As a regional board its a disadvantage in some ways and excellent in others. You do cater to a select crowd rather than just everyone in general, at least when it comes to the environment you wheel in but it can be used for outsiders to visit and enjoy because you KNOW the area. Until the covid cooties dissipate everyone is suffering hardship. This is the perfect time to reflect on what actually matters. How can you attract more members? Are there enough people interested in being roving reporters of sorts and post articles on their wheeling trips with pics? Not the little blurb of "yeah I went to X this weekend and here's a hold my beer moment". They need more meat. WHO can go there, WHY should I go there, WHAT is there, what can I do there and what do I need to do it. Like a color glossy brochure for the world to read.
Addressing the loss of old timers and attracting new blood. This is a hard one but not impossible. Lots of old timers moved on. Find out why. I mostly see that they don't wheel anymore. Since that doesn't fit in with a wheeling centered board it doesn't give them much incentive to stay, but doesn't mean that all of them stopped turning wrenches. You do have excellent "other" topics that aren't 4x4 only so there's some meat but how to make it appear relevant to the FB crowd as well as retention?
When the cooties are over(or if there is a group of you that know each other is "safe") is it possible to have something like a quarterly get together where a topic is taught? I don't learn from reading, I need to "see" it happen. Record it and post it to YT and FB with links back to here. Rebuild that Dana, do a compression test, adjust those air bags. Yes I know, lots of videos on YT. But are they of you and your buddies, people that are relatable? Is it good quality instruction free of dumbassery(unless its an important/common mistake that should be addressed on how to avoid)? IOW, is it in a high tech shop that no one will ever be able to afford, or someone's decently organized garage that is more within reach? An active appearing board attracts new blood and helps old folks to stick around.
Someone mentioned that everyone has a hand in the slow death of the board and that is true. However, it doesn't mean it has to remain this way. Who would be willing to step up and knock off the dust? What topics motivate you now that might be interesting to a diverse crowd that also wheels? Diversity is HUGE these days. Many different kinds of people wheel, there isn't just a certain set. The only way wheeling will survive and boards like this as well is to shed the stereotypes. For example, I'm very progressive as well as being very vocal in defending 2A. What's the one thing people want to discuss with me first at a 2A gathering of some sort? It isn't how we protect 2A. They want to make me responsible for the liberal nutjob gun grabbers. You wont find me on the NRA site but I will be on Liberal Gun Owners. Not every wheeler is obvious or conservative. I'm not only a hippie tree hugger but I also recognize that off road recreation is just as important and believe both can be symbiotic. Will you welcome non-conservative wheelers that want to save Reiter as much as you do?
A couple other people mentioned the annual happy birthday they get. I'm mostly alone so that electronically scheduled birthday greeting I get, while technologically based, is always the first of a very few I get. It makes me feel not so alone. Others mentioned they forgot about being members until your request was sent. Send out a monthly newsletter to remind people you exist.
Lastly, this board started out as a small group of friends with a common bond which meant a few posts here and there and maybe some pics. No one can predict the future but it grew bigger. Technology has moved us on but we haven't kept up. What are your thresholds for membership and activity? What would you be okay with? This is where patience comes in. It takes years, are you willing?
TLDR: Keep NWW alive, integrate newer tech such as FB, YT. Try to make things more relevant AND diverse so the "old folks" have something to stick around for thus passing on thier knowledge, as well as attracting new blood. Ask volunteers to create more meaty content. Send out a monthly email. Decide if having a small freinds board like it was in the beginning is okay again now or by what perimeters would you call it a day and turn off the lights. Facebook sucks more than a dusty old bag vacuum.
But over time as people got to know me I started to get attacked which I kind of expected but didn't do anything about because it wasn't worth it, until it spilled over into tech threads and a Christmas secret Santa exchange. I just decided it wasn't worth it anymore. I'm grateful to NWW for not being overtly judgmental and no attempts to pigeonhole me occurred here but I didn't want that kind of taint following me either. I didn't get as much info here but it was still a safe haven of sorts to discuss things with other motor heads.
That's why it should be saved,
Yes, FB, Instagram and YT are all more popular than old timey discussion boards. But the discussion boards staying alive have integrated those applications so that they take advantage of the crossover. Someone sees an interesting idea, concept or info they were looking for, need more info and then are here at the forums. They get the added benefit of not having to weed through irrelevant bull**** and can get right to what matters. Information speed means everything these days. Many just haven't realized yet that it takes just as much time or more to weed through BS than it does to log in here and get to what matters right away. No phone is big enough to expand that pic someone needs to see something small.
As a regional board its a disadvantage in some ways and excellent in others. You do cater to a select crowd rather than just everyone in general, at least when it comes to the environment you wheel in but it can be used for outsiders to visit and enjoy because you KNOW the area. Until the covid cooties dissipate everyone is suffering hardship. This is the perfect time to reflect on what actually matters. How can you attract more members? Are there enough people interested in being roving reporters of sorts and post articles on their wheeling trips with pics? Not the little blurb of "yeah I went to X this weekend and here's a hold my beer moment". They need more meat. WHO can go there, WHY should I go there, WHAT is there, what can I do there and what do I need to do it. Like a color glossy brochure for the world to read.
Addressing the loss of old timers and attracting new blood. This is a hard one but not impossible. Lots of old timers moved on. Find out why. I mostly see that they don't wheel anymore. Since that doesn't fit in with a wheeling centered board it doesn't give them much incentive to stay, but doesn't mean that all of them stopped turning wrenches. You do have excellent "other" topics that aren't 4x4 only so there's some meat but how to make it appear relevant to the FB crowd as well as retention?
When the cooties are over(or if there is a group of you that know each other is "safe") is it possible to have something like a quarterly get together where a topic is taught? I don't learn from reading, I need to "see" it happen. Record it and post it to YT and FB with links back to here. Rebuild that Dana, do a compression test, adjust those air bags. Yes I know, lots of videos on YT. But are they of you and your buddies, people that are relatable? Is it good quality instruction free of dumbassery(unless its an important/common mistake that should be addressed on how to avoid)? IOW, is it in a high tech shop that no one will ever be able to afford, or someone's decently organized garage that is more within reach? An active appearing board attracts new blood and helps old folks to stick around.
Someone mentioned that everyone has a hand in the slow death of the board and that is true. However, it doesn't mean it has to remain this way. Who would be willing to step up and knock off the dust? What topics motivate you now that might be interesting to a diverse crowd that also wheels? Diversity is HUGE these days. Many different kinds of people wheel, there isn't just a certain set. The only way wheeling will survive and boards like this as well is to shed the stereotypes. For example, I'm very progressive as well as being very vocal in defending 2A. What's the one thing people want to discuss with me first at a 2A gathering of some sort? It isn't how we protect 2A. They want to make me responsible for the liberal nutjob gun grabbers. You wont find me on the NRA site but I will be on Liberal Gun Owners. Not every wheeler is obvious or conservative. I'm not only a hippie tree hugger but I also recognize that off road recreation is just as important and believe both can be symbiotic. Will you welcome non-conservative wheelers that want to save Reiter as much as you do?
A couple other people mentioned the annual happy birthday they get. I'm mostly alone so that electronically scheduled birthday greeting I get, while technologically based, is always the first of a very few I get. It makes me feel not so alone. Others mentioned they forgot about being members until your request was sent. Send out a monthly newsletter to remind people you exist.
Lastly, this board started out as a small group of friends with a common bond which meant a few posts here and there and maybe some pics. No one can predict the future but it grew bigger. Technology has moved us on but we haven't kept up. What are your thresholds for membership and activity? What would you be okay with? This is where patience comes in. It takes years, are you willing?
TLDR: Keep NWW alive, integrate newer tech such as FB, YT. Try to make things more relevant AND diverse so the "old folks" have something to stick around for thus passing on thier knowledge, as well as attracting new blood. Ask volunteers to create more meaty content. Send out a monthly email. Decide if having a small freinds board like it was in the beginning is okay again now or by what perimeters would you call it a day and turn off the lights. Facebook sucks more than a dusty old bag vacuum.
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