Old Timers?

Still here,i pop in regular,and mainly read.
Not been on top form for a while to get back into any meaningful posts.
Ill still lurk.

As Kev35 says there seems to be less of a sense of community and tolerance on here than there was when I first joined, and more people seem to take offence more quickly, or seem unable to accept that other members may have views and opinions that differ from theirs, and that others are fully entiled to hold those different views, ….but that seems to reflect modern society (unfortunately).

The gentle self-mocking humour generally seems to be less obvious, and many “younger” users seem more earnest, less “chilled”, and less able to see the difference between good natured “banter” and a truly barbed comment – again this seems (IMHO) to reflect modern society?

I remember how I could be a little sensitive and a little short in the wit department some years back. I guess things such as life experience, development of self-insight and social competence play a big part. Some of the younger members might have a way to go.

At times I find the inability of newer members to use the forum “search” function, or to have used web-based search engines, a little frustrating, particularly when a simple search would probably have saved them incurring the wrath of older members who may well have seen the same question asked more than once before.

A familiar issue in multiple forums, I think.

inside what remains in my body, is a 21 yrs old lad bursting to get out.

Jim, you cant kidnap young lads man! you have enough models to practice hair dressing on when you go for your weekly visit to the supermarket 😀

An “Inbetweenie” ?

Been a member since 2005, lurked for a while before that… so am I a “newbie” or an “old f@rt” ?

Yes a number of regular posters have “left” the forum for all sorts of reasons since I joined, and a fair few have left this world too :-(.

As Kev35 says there seems to be less of a sense of community and tolerance on here than there was when I first joined, and more people seem to take offence more quickly, or seem unable to accept that other members may have views and opinions that differ from theirs, and that others are fully entiled to hold those different views, ….but that seems to reflect modern society (unfortunately).

The gentle self-mocking humour generally seems to be less obvious, and many “younger” users seem more earnest, less “chilled”, and less able to see the difference between good natured “banter” and a truly barbed comment – again this seems (IMHO) to reflect modern society?

At times I find the inability of newer members to use the forum “search” function, or to have used web-based search engines, a little frustrating, particularly when a simple search would probably have saved them incurring the wrath of older members who may well have seen the same question asked more than once before. Then again, I wonder how may times in my life I have asked a “stupid” question that I probably could have answered myself if I first made the effort to do a little prior research..:o

I understand the complaint about the historic forum being a little too “Spitfire-centric”, but you only have to look at some of the threads about arcane types that Avion Ancien (and others) ask about to realise that we area in fact very broad church, with a near endless breadth of interests and knowledge, though it is perhaps only natural that the more famous types will feature more frequently. Then again, I try to bear in mind that it is probably the more famous types that foster the initial interest that may go one to lead a youngster into becoming an aviation “lifer” like me.

Yes the forum has moved on, membership has changed, but one thing that I appreciate, but that I feel many younger members perhaps do not, is that having this forum available as a reference resource 24/7 (even with its “faults”, occasonally erroneous ‘mis’informaton, and “lovers’ tiffs”) gives us all access to a breadth of information that those of us who existed in the “pre internet” age could never even imagine.

– As a teenager I was lucky enough to live across the road from a friend with similar interests in aviation, and I attended the local ATC cadets twice a week, but apart from that, I had no regular interaction with other like-minded individuals. There was no instant “two way” comms with multiple fellow enthusiasts across the other side of town, let alone across the other side of the globe.

Aviation news and photos came to me via the monthly magazines, and were fairly limited in scope, and often weeks or months after the event.

To badly paraphrase Monty Python’s “Four Yorkshiremen” – “We used to live in an age without the internet….try telling the kids of today that and they won’t believe you…”

-Whenever I find this forum hard work, or see “newer” members taking chunks out of each other, and think “why do I bother…”, I just have to remind myself how much the positives outweigh the negatives.

As with life, friendships come and go, and tastes and fashions (perosnal and global) change…seems Web-forums (fora?) are no different in those respects?

Paul F (An aged relic from the pre-internet era)

Joined in 2005, but that same year I got married (relatively late in life) and since then my interest in aviation has had to take a back seat, especially since my 2 sons came along. My large collection of books, magazines, DVD’s etc is now in internal exile in the loft. Last weekend I flew on an Embraer 195 and was taken aback to realise how little I knew about the type. Once upon a time I’d have known so much more.

Primate, as crazy as I apparently am I’m going to agree with your comments on the tiresome number of speculation threads taking place in the Mil Aviation forum.

Agreed. Seems to be the place for nationalistic nonsense.

I’ve just gotten to where I don’t post as much because I have trouble finding topics there to take interest in.

I don’t disagree, sometimes there is little going on here.

My biggest complaint (other than the Military Forum) is sometimes, the HistoricForum is far too Spitfire/Lancaster/RAF centric.
I’m afraid unless it has something to do with an RAF (or one of the primary USAAF WWII) types, even an interesting or historically important topic dies on the vine.

Primate, as crazy as I apparently am I’m going to agree with your comments on the tiresome number of speculation threads taking place in the Mil Aviation forum.

The more I think about it, the more I think I quit posting as much because I just can’t seem to find any interest in the topics that seem so popular there now. This is unfortunate for me as I’ve learned a great deal from this place over the years. Aside from differences with a few members here and there, I’ve enjoyed the company this place has provided over the years.

I’ve just gotten to where I don’t post as much because I have trouble finding topics there to take interest in. The good thing is that now and again I can find a good discussion going on in the Historic forum or even the Commercial Aviation or General Aviation boards.

I suppose at the end of the day I’ll just keep reading and maybe I’ll learn some things here and there. Learning is how we all grow…that much is certain.

Looking forward to hearing from more of the forum vets around here.

I first registered on here in 2000 when I was at university. So I think I could be described as an “old timer” 😀

Anyone else been here a fairly long time? I feel like I don’t post here as much anymore and I am wondering to myself what has caused that. Anyone else feeling the same way?

I’ve been around for a while, but my posting rate has been relatively low for years. For long periods I haven’t been eager to read much, either. The main reasons for this include a slight change of interests and other things in life which take up my time. I can also say that I’m pretty tired of the endless speculation fests taking place in the Modern Mil section, but of course it’s easy to just avoid those. I could be wrong about the level of quality in some cases, though. I also wonder if and to what extent this forum might serve as an open-source intelligence spot for interested parties.

I do pop in occasionally to read and sometimes comment on issues of interest, but it’s a rare thing these days. It would have been fun to catch up with some of the old breed, though. That includes some of you guys as well as Arthur, SOC, GarryB, GeForce (?) and probably a bunch of others I don’t remember at the moment. And I surely miss Steve with all his wit and warmth.

Am I crazy?

Definitely. 😉

Hey, I resemble that phrase “”OLD TIMER” exactly how old do you have to be to be able to be called that?. Outwardly, I know from my own feelings, that inside what remains in my body, is a 21 yrs old lad bursting to get out.I have many varied hobbies, but this site keeps me together, I think there are a great bunch of chaps on here, and I would bet my B******S, that should a member ever need help, and we got to know about it, they would be inundated with offers of help. I know this for a FACT, and just to embarrass them, Thanks Moggy and Deano, and you both know why. and if you delete that you will both get a RED card.;)
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Here…although I have been left to an occasion flypast over the forum now due to work and work taking me places which are not exactly hospitable.

But yea…I have been here since…well…13 years or so. 😮

And due to the occasional flypast also a big letdown as a mod. 😀

Likewise, I was here long before 2004, but a move and new computer prompted a ID change. I have no idea what it was before.

I think the January 2000 date is illusory. It marked some point at which the forum software was reset.

Thank you for your good wishes though 🙂

Moggy

Kev and Moggy have both been here since January 2000 (or so it says on their posting headers) – but both may have been reading the forum before then.

I’m a fairly recent ‘joiner’ and don’t post much but I enjoy reading what others say.

Many more years to you both – and the same goes for all forumites on here (can’t stand those would-be defence procurers’ discussions on the Military section, though :D)

Peace and joy to you all.

Been here since September 2006, although prior to joining fully, I did ‘lurk’ for about 18 months.

Don

What I’ve noticed is some of the newcomers are young and are asking the same questions we asked years ago.

Also, some of them don’t have the same resources (books, films, or experiences) we had/have…and some of that knowledge is at risk of being lost when we leave.

So in some intances, I find myself here stating stuff we “old timers” know, but take an extra step to inform the younger members here.

Cooper.

You’ve always been crazy.

I’ve been here a while, probably the best part of ten years so Moggy’s been here longer than that.

A long time ago there was a real sense of community, especially on historic, and for several years various individuals organised meetings and activities. Becca arranged a couple of cracking events at Duxford, I did ones for Newark, MAM and Air Atlantique and there were others at Hendon. Interests change, friendships grow in other directions or die altogether and as Moggy says we have lost a few members here who were taken far too early whilst they still had a lot to give.

For myself, I’ve learned so much from the various contributors and along the way I’ve learned, sometimes by design but more often by accident, just how to carry out research and how to ask the right questions. More importantly I’ve learned to listen. I hope, in the course of this learning I’ve been able to help a few others as well.

It’s still a good place with much expertise to draw on and more than it’s share of characters.

Long may it continue.

Regards,

kev35

Still here and still posting…

Re 3

Moggy C

That was an interesting comment and one that struck a chord. ….. “Those that are snatched from us”…..

At my age, Ive witnessed the departure of many friends, acquaintances and people that I didn’t know but, all of whom had, achieved success in the different worlds of science, show business, commerce and suchlike. Their leaving or fareing forth, as I prefer, left me with a sense of deep loss. Loss that is, connected with either their friendship or their individual and special talents. I wonder if there are others who keenly feel these matters?

Phantom 11

I’m the reverse. New here but a relic in all else !

John Green

I have been hanging around for 8 years! mostly because I am a bit sad and dont have better things to do! :);)

While the forum is not as good as when I first joined, it is still informative and interesting sometimes.

Sometimes the fun police are just too much and can be quite off putting, but then give some people a little bit of power and they do turn into little Hitlers! its the ones that insist on correcting spelling that really anoy the hell out of me, luckily there does not seem to be that many about at the minute, but i’m sure they will return.