Well we now have our 300th member, Oldradio49, a new record for our forum. Seems only a short time ago it was about 20 people. Frankly when this enterprise started up I never figured we'd be able to find more than a few dozen people on planet Earth to share the old phone phondness, it has far exceeded my expectations.
And it remains a very pleasant place to hang out on the Web, no unsavory fights about whatever, no name calling, no turf wars, all in all a great group of people.
Here here!
Not a single unpleasantness, well said Mr. McH.
I love this place, I've been a part of many forums, and this is the only one I still come to.
This is the only forum I check out daily. The people are nice!!!! You learn alot!!!
John
Quote from: McHeath on April 12, 2010, 12:25:58 AM
Well we now have our 300th member, Oldradio49, a new record for our forum. Seems only a short time ago it was about 20 people. Frankly when this enterprise started up I never figured we'd be able to find more than a few dozen people on planet Earth to share the old phone phondness, it has far exceeded my expectations.
And it remains a very pleasant place to hang out on the Web, no unsavory fights about whatever, no name calling, no turf wars, all in all a great group of people.
Well said McHeath. I had been on both clubs lists for many years and this is done the way its supposed to be done. Congrats Dennis and crew, you should be proud of what you have accomplished....Doug
Thank you to all of our members. And Doug thanks for the kind words. But really, it's on cruise control. I just check in every day (OK many times a day) just to see what's going on with everyone in their collecting.
I agree with Dan in that when it started we never dreamed of having 100 members, let alone 300. I have seen memberships in other forums in the thousands. Some of ours have logged in only to ask one question or post nothing at all. But that's OK too. Some of the "members" have been spammers that I have had to delete but that's only been a handful. So all in all it's been very successful.
Thanks again to all of you!
Dennis ....I think you downplay what you did to get this Forum going and do to keep it going. Besides Dennis, the members are to be congratulated. Why? The professional/friendly manner that everyone has to one another. Just being nice and understanding to one another. This makes the Forum fun. What a concept, hobby-fun. It got so bad on the lists, I thought twice before asking a question or posting a picture. Did I want a beat down from the gods? I am certainly not an expert, but far from a newbie. You had the "experts" whose job was to shoot everything down. Their knowledge was gospel, being right or wrong was inconsequential. Don't question the man. New guys took a beating for asking "newbie" questions. No question is ever a stupid question, if you do not know the answer. Simple? The Forum proves this everyday. Check out the posts here compared to the Lists. The Lists in my humble opinion are dead. This hobby is supposed to be fun and the Forum sure makes it fun. Well done ladies and gentleman....Well Done!!.....Doug
i love these "pat ourselves on the back" threads! :)
i was a hesitant, when i first joined, to chime in. i have a big interest in old phones, but i am no expert. i was afraid of being poo-poo'd by more knowledgeable folks. not the case at all! always a friendly answer to any question. occasionally i even have information to contribute.
seems like alot of us have more common interests than phones. the off topic threads are just as fun. this is kind of like a huge coffee klatch :D
thanks, everyone 8)
This forum is great!!! Everybody's nice and have information to share. Uploading pictures straight onto the page is nice, because on the listserves you have to link to it.
Other forums that I belong to I either don't go there anymore, or just check the highlights. this forum should stand as an example of how to do it.
Do you realize we are approaching 2 years already.
I recall when I joined this forum, I had two phones, One was an A.E. one a W.E., I didn't realize they were made by different people. Now a year and a half later, I see the only thing alike about them, they are both black. Thanks to you guys answering all the endless questions.
D/P
Doug (Kidphone):
I agree with you after taking a beating on one of the listservers for asking what SATT meant. Asking questions or looking for parts is much less stressful here than anywhere else. Plus, I enjoy looking at the collections and colors of other people sets. The feature of publishing pictures easily is priceless.
This is a great place and I'm glad I found it. Next month will be my 1 year anniversery here. Like others I was thrilled to even find a forum for old rotary phones but never thought it would have gotten this big while still not having any fights or any ill mannered people here.
Quote from: JorgeAmely on April 12, 2010, 11:32:29 AM
Doug (Kidphone):
I agree with you after taking a beating on one of the listservers for asking what SATT meant. Asking questions or looking for parts is much less stressful here than anywhere else. Plus, I enjoy looking at the collections and colors of other people sets. The feature of publishing pictures easily is priceless.
Jorge....I agree 100%. I have enough stress in my life, I certainly don't need it in my hobby....Doug
I've been here 14 months and have enjoyed it very very much. I feel like I know all of the regulars here like personal friends and that is a great feeling. It makes for an added comfort and familiarity.
well it is my 2 month forum anniversary the 14th and I started out with 2 phones a WE an ITT now I have 14. I love this place. You are all so nice and listen to my questions. I am so glad to have friends like you all. Thanks to you all for all of the help you have given me.
Quotewell it is my 2 month forum anniversary the 14th and I started out with 2 phones a WE an ITT now I have 14
That's an average of six phones per month! By the time Kennny is 18, he will have 374 phones. I hope that his parents don't blame all of us for filling their house with telephones.
YAY
I recently met Jorge, and Remco (From Holland) I felt very comfortable, like I knew them both for a long time.
D/P
i'm still in favor of a forum BBQ 8)
What time shall we arrive, Donna? I'll bring a dish to pass.
me to
hey..... if you all bring the food, i will be happy to hostess ;D i'll even buy the beer... (no beer for you kenny)
lol ok
I agree with what everyone else has said...everyone is pleasant and friendly here. That is extremely significant. It is hard to find another discussion forum on the net where every thread doesn't descend into a flame war. I especially appreciate how the most experienced members of the group are willing to share with the new people. I learn something new every day.
same here
kenny, i just noticed your signature quote..... & just to let you know...... only for so long..... ::)
lol it was an 82 year old at our church who told me that
Quote from: bwanna on April 12, 2010, 09:14:14 PM
... only for so long..... ::)
Donna:
So long ends when the ink over the dotted line dries. ;D ;D ;D ;)
Hi to all,
I like this forum for the people and their desire to keep this hobby alive ! As said earlier, you kindof had to watch out about some of your questions you ask on the other list!!!!!!! All I've seen here are pleasent people!!!! So HERE'S TO US ALL on a job well done!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stub
:o Hey, I don't drink booze. How about sweetenned iced tea for me? 8)
Can we have the picnic here? I can't travel....
Bwanna, you may still host.
I'll bring a desert.
Hope someone will bring the watermelon. I'll bring potatoe chips, and, fritos.
Bill Cahill
First, I'd like to add my signature to the "Atta Boy's" being passed around here. After reading foots' first post, I checked my own anniversary date--it's in two more Fridays. I can also reply that this is the most pleasant forum I have ever visited or become a member of.
Second, I consider each member here a personal friend & wish I were close enough to many of you that I could drive over for the afternoon or invite you to my place for coffee & bore you with stories of old phones--most of which are in plain site all over the house.
Third, the idea of all of us meeting at Bwanna's for BarBQ sounds great. Since there will undoubtedly be those that can't make it to Michigan, I propose we make bwanna our "central" host, & those that can't get to her place can look up the members in their region, pick a "satellite" host & meet there. If we can figure out this Skype thing, we can maybe link the satellite parties to Bwanna's. Ya think?
QuoteAs said earlier, you kind of had to watch out about some of your questions you ask on the other list!!!!!!!
I develop software for a living, and I often search various on-line forums for answers to questions about how to do various things in software. On some forums, the Apple developer forums for example, a typical response to a question of "How can I write code to do abc...?" will be something like: "Why on Earth would you want to do that? You never need to do that. You're an idiot...". It's very nice to be able to post questions (even possibly stupid ones) to a forum and get polite answers instead of being raked over the coals by arrogant sociopaths.
Larry
I might as well add my Kum-bay-ya's while we are at it.
And I don' mean that in a mean way either. This forum is the most delightful forum going, especially when it comes to phones. There have been some recent topics and insights that I think have really put this forum on the map.
I had actually come to expect that any time I was to ask a simple question on the other forums that I would get at least a couple of intimidating answers, and I was pleasantly surprised to not find that kind of crap going on here.
We also have many younger collectors and this hobby needs you younger folks!!! I don't think the younger ones can relate to the old buzzards that hang around the other forums. Not that there isn't a wealth of information there too; it's just that you have to wade through some "stuff" to get a simple answer to a simple question.
Don't forget that the clubs are a motivating force behind all the shows and a lot of other information that is out there, so I cannot berate the clubs, only the actions of some of the listserve participants. Let me be clear about that. I am a believer in club participation.
If I had to put this forum into a couple words they would be, "Mutual Respect.."
D/P
after hearing all the comments about how nasty other forums can be, my question is why would any one participate. ???
d/p.... that about sums it up :)
bill cahill.... you may certainly have sweet tea. :) not sure i can make a trip to florida, tho :(
jorge.... true..... & it goes both ways. ;D ;) :o
jester.. good idea. that one may even be feasible. 8)
I check many forums, but the ones I come back to most are the ones where people are nice and helpful. This is one of them. Plus I just love that there is a forum for old phones! I tell people about it and they think I'm nuts.
Netdewt...LOL...I've started to find myself talking about the hobby to people that don't have the addiction and I get those looks that say "you need help." Makes me laugh. I guess this forum can count for group therapy.
I get those same looks by my mom ;)
and we now have 301 members
I really like the forum. It is quite fun. The listservers were fun for years, they started getting stuffy in the last year or so.
The forum is fun and exciting. I may not get a kick out of finding a HW 500 set anymore (except for D/P's). But it is fun sharing the excitment when you find a HW 500.
This forum has kick started me back into the hobby.
I am pretty excited about today's phone finds that I made today.
see thread "sometimes you find phones, sometimes they find you."
The big kick is sharing the find. I was expecting the common colored sets to be the extent of it. They were only about half. (and the boring half )
JMO,
Jim