Out there

[leegav]

Gunna throw it out there.
Wtf has happend to the forum.....and in another sense the club.

For a long time now ive been checking in to the forum and im bored. Why am i bored.... Im not sure,..have i lost my love for kit cars..."definately not" have i lost my love for a place to discuss things...."no!.
Its a shame.... Ive found myself joining other clubs to fill that gap that SKCC used to for me.

Despite our efforts to say we are not a clicky club... We are!!! Its why we are loosing members and interest.



I do love the club and what its done for me... But,, if we want to carry on being as strong as we were 5,6 + years ago we need to get together and re focus.
Que loads of poop flying my way.....
I am not sure exactly what we can do as a club to keep the numbers up but we need to do something...
Im going to yry and organise more run outs and meet ups etc with other members up this way once i get the car back.
What else could we do?

[jeffw]

Apparently no one was interested enough to respond

Obviously I don't have a kit car now so can't really comment as an outsider.

[greenwoo]

Interesting Lee...on the run last Sunday we edged around a few topics during brekkie, aside from which I have my own thoughts as to cause & effect. What the solutions are, well i'll leave others to mull...

1/ Social Media...and associated 'apps'.
Some banter & comment has no doubt drifted off the forum into smaller chit chats via Social Media /Apps.
Ability to upload pics fast these days from phone is good/bad - back in the day we'd have 'full' Tour reports and the like AFTER a trip. More commonly there's snippets and teasers that dilute (imho) any final 'story'. This was something that a few of us talked about and wondered whether it'd be better to leave the teasers out and revert to a decent 'full story'.


2/ the 80/20 rule.
The 'rule' that says that 20% of any 'organization' is the creator/driver and that 80% 'follow'. In our case this is reflected by those that actively promote and arrange things. Actually thinking about it, that goes for starting a thread about ANYTHING, let alone posting a drive, run/event up...

3/ Driving vs Meeting
We have to accept (?) that a large proportion of owners of cars enjoy the social side of ownership, rather than a focus on driving. Added to which, getting up early to do a run may not appeal or be practical for many.
Nothing stopping folks just coming to a brekkie venue direct.
Nothing stopping someone asking if a run could head 'sort of' their way
Nothing stopping anyone suggesting a later start


4/Leading vs Lead
A typical club of any kind tends to have events laid on that folks can 'buy into' if they want. SKCC was always 'designed' to be led by the members; That does mean that folks need to take ownership for things THEY want to do, rather than finding the things that others post unappealing. Its noticeable that the East/West areas have been quiet for runs, and in the main that's simply because folks are rarely putting their hand up.

5/ Reading vs Writing
a forum is a virtual pub....someone has to start a conversation among 'strangers'...be that car/kit related or otherwise. Its easy to see that there are a great many readers who read but don't comment. IMHO that's like being in a boozer, someone talks about a something, 1 person chips in and 8 stay silent - which is unlikely in person (?).

There's umpteen contributing factors to a quiet forum/club; Time of year, we're generally not builders so there's less questions about 'how to' etc etc. The reality ( again just my 2 cents) is that activity either breeds or culls; Less comments to a post could mean the writer decides not to bother in future, less to read/comment on means less urgency/reason to check the forum regularly, less shout outs for runs means those that may dip their toe don't...

Personally;
i'd love to see more comments and more posts ( and threads started) from those that tend to read.
and, i'd love to see a few more shout outs for drive outs, or at least a shout to perhaps end up/go in a certain direction.
as well as folks popping along to brekkie direct, with/out their kit...

But we'll all ( i hope) have some form of an opinion

[jeffw]

From my perspective I've tried over many years to provide 'content' from the perspective of starting new threads around various sprints or updates on the Phoenix/Zeus. I've found that not many people reply to these threads, probable due to lack of interest which is understandable, so I've throttle back on them.

As the Zeus isn't a kit car I doubt if there is much interest on here about it so I'm likely to stop posting about it on here.

[greenwoo]

I've found that not many people reply to these threads, probable due to lack of interest which is understandable, so I've throttle back on them.

at the risk of going off topic(ish) I think that this is symptomatic of the 'read' vs 'comment'; Meaning that some readers enjoy what they read/find a topic interesting but don't feel that they have anything worthwhile to add.
As regards to whether one should only post about 'pure' kits, my own view is 'no'. When Tony C had his Midget/Widget i for one enjoyed the threads...after all, we're supposed to be car buffs and more than that - a community.

[Nash]

Heavy sigh......

I've spent the last 20 minutes deciding if and how I join this discussion. As Mark said this entire thread is opinion and as such I can only speak for myself so here goes;

I believe there are a number of contributing factors as to the demise of forum traffic and ultimately the club itself. In my eyes the two are inextricably linked as the forum is the connection between the members and the passion that connects us. If one declines then the other follows.

So what declined first, the passion or the traffic? It is clear that without doubt "social" media has impacted ALL traditional forums like ours. You only have to look at the reduced traffic across all the well known club/forums and the large amount of posts on things like FB to work that out. Social media has a number of advantages over dedicated forums, a wider net to talk to about anything, not just cars but ANYTHING you are interested in. After all none of us are one dimensional.

Not everyone is into Social Media and for some its a show stopper. Some tolerate it and some embrace it. I do think there is things to learn from it, however I don't believe its the main cause of our demise?

This club is 9 years old and I for one have changed a lot in the last decade! My personal circumstances, my family life, my opinions and priorities, my age and my disposable income! All of these things impact my enthusiasm to interact both positively and negatively on the page and in the car. Again I don't think this is the root cause of our demise.

Taking into account Mark's 80/20 rule previously stated, 20% of the members produce(d) 80% of the traffic so it doesn't take much to reduce the traffic dramatically! It also means that the discussions become very narrow and samey. I get bored with that and I don't believe I'm alone in that thought?

The 'Banter' just winds me up if I'm honest as that too is samey and unoriginal and in the main belongs in the school playground, which for most of us is at least 20 years ago and for others (me) a lot longer! I have added to that banter over the years and so include myself in that indictment. I could argue that I was just trying to fit in and that it was all a bit of fun and nothing malicious and I do believe that was the case for most if not all but its divisive and drains enthusiasm.

A decade is a long time to put up with all the above negatives so why stick it out? Well for me my overarching memories of this club are the terrific road trips, breakfasts, memories of roadside comradely moments, the great friends I've made that extend to my whole life not just car life! The things I've seen, the challenges we've done, the times when this club and its members have supported me in difficult times. The parts of the UK and the World I've seen because of this club and its members are some of the best memories and experiences of my life!

All of the above, both good and bad is up to us to keep up or put right. I for one am fascinated by some of the things we do outside of driving our "kits" and would welcome more of that here where it doesn't get lost in the noise of huge waffle social media traffic! In fact I will post separately on that subject.

All of this is my opinion and feel free to pull it to pieces, add to it, challenge it etc. but all I want is my enthusiasm back.

Discuss.......

[locost220]

Wow i read this one at silly o'clock the morning and wondered how/if to respond.
Much of what the respondees have said as well as lee original post are true, we have discussed to death over many years how to get more people involved along with watching the slow decline of the forum traffic many of which may have been tried and failed.
for myself who i class very much in Marks 8 who do not respond, for various reason, but rarely negative reasons, there are so many different personalities and getting the mix right to suit all is impossible.

couple of things i would like to add or suggest though, think we all need to be conscious of negative comments that we may be tempted to make on the forum that will put those people off wanting to be involved / make comments as well as those watching from the sidelines, sure you might get a laugh out of it, but at what cost, don't tell me people take it as a laugh i know for a fact some have disappeared because of piss taking.
do we really need to point out an 'I' before an 'E'
maybe better to make no comment at all rather than a negative one, could we consider a thumbs up ICON as used on you tube etc to show you liked a post or thread rather that having to make a written comment if you cant think of an original thing to say or can be arsed.
The fact that runs appear with 3/4 names already agreed is a clear indication that non forum traffic has taken place already so i am not surprised that the clickie comment was made, maybe just pay it lip service and add it in the correct way even if you have agreed it already via what app.
For me the club really has opened up my social life and road adventures and for one feel a sense of disappointment that the traffic has dropped to the level it is, we do need to get more people out.
My jaunt on Sunday in the tin top, over a hour to spend some time socialising with people i have meet through the club gave me a real boost after cabin fever working on the Locost, sets me up for the following week, if we could bottle that would be great.
When i write my updates on the work i do it is nice to get remarks but it is always from the same 6-7 people who make the effort, i certainly need to do the same as can cause you to think why bother and not being a journalist i have little experience on different way to present such stuff.
Rich.

[greenwoo]

@ Nash/Neil.
technology or the way that one can interact via a phone is imho a change to the way that folks surf and comment. Maybe i'm alone in this, but i read emails or surf the web from my phone; But i rarely, unless its an emergency bother trying to type a proper reply, or 'get involved'. I know many are more 'tech' literate, but I can see that some would be drawn away from accessing and therefore being fully invested in browsing on a lappie/pc etc.

Passion & traffic

are not necessarily linked. Time and habit are equally or more a root cause. Passion to me in this context is a bit like an aging footballer, he's been around the block but suddenly he's got fresh legs around him and that rejuvenates his enthusiasm.

Banter

Interesting. I can't think of any/much banter in the last year or two that falls into what i perceive that category.

we do outside of driving our "kits"

agreed, i remember Duncans thread about the forging of knives etc and have wondered a few times since how that's going, let alone other 'stuff' that has popped up over the years.

@ Rich.

thumbs up Icon....

Possibly. Right now we're trying to get the forum platform 'stable' after some issues. Once that's all done we can look at other 'add ons'.

Ultimately the club & forum was to be a place ( and remains so ) where we could meet like minded folks, to pursue our 'hobby & interest' - and where individuals could push their ideas. However, that means not being passive but engaging.
I've had it said by outsides at shows etc ' Oh you're the club that goes out at a stupidly early time, that doesnt fit with me'.
It used to do my head in, because the fundamental point they'd missed is that the club doesn't arrange those runs - the members do! It just happens that the most prolific/posted runs are promoted by those that want to get the clearer roads!

[DJ.]

Some interesting points as always

First, I have to admit that I often read a thread, want to post, and then find my rather unoriginal thoughts have been made by a couple of people already, so I don't post.

A few of positive things:
1. There are less posts on here than Facebook, but 80% are of interest to me, whereas it is about 2% on my Facebook feed
2. This is a great place to get help with Kitcar problems with knowledgeable members who are helpful. Lotus Seven club is full of people who just say use the search function.
3. As Richard says, we may not get many out on Sunday runs, but when I make it, I invariably have a brilliant time. I would really miss SKCC run outs.
4. We still have a thriving road trip community, I am going on two this year I
5. I really think SKCC is the least cliquey club I have been a member of.

Obviously, it would be great to have more posts and new members, but remember it's still a great club.

[steve m]

Lee's, questions are very difficult to answer, as I seem to be more of a lurker now, (as I got older) and unless I have something sensible to say, I probably don't post anything, even as I type this, I realise I used to post some quite contraversionel stuff!
so this means, ive grown up ?

Another reason, in my place, is I do a lot of reading forums etc on my phone, and trying to type a message/reply back is so bloody tedious with my short stubby fingers I don't bother !

I honestly do love this place, and although I wasn't on the road last year due work and family commitments, my MOT will be booked soon, and I will be doing some runs this year, promise,

keep up the good work

steve