When we changeover to phpBB V3.0 (soon, I hope) that feature comes with the new software.

Doug, Network Geek

I found your post to be fascinating. Could you expand even more? Such as providing links to sites that illustrate web 2.0 concepts.

The development of web 2.0 skills for the heritage railroad field may be as important as knowing how to roll a flue.

Robert brought this topic up, but I feel that I can make a decent effort at responding. "Web 2.0" describes websites that rely on user generated content that is available to the wide audience the internet provides. Much of it is never seen outside of the creator's circle of immediate friends and family, but things that are more interesting (like dogs that ride skateboards) find a wider audience as people distribute links in emails and such to recommend or endorse the content. Discussion boards such as this one are one of the predecessor of the Web 2.0 world which includes social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook; and media sharing sites such as YouTube and Flickr.

Most of these sites are used by a younger generation than the average railway preservationist, but there already seems to be some interest in our topic, and most of the participants here have at least found YouTube.

Other potentially useful tools in the Web 2.0 world include "podcasts" which are already used by museums to provide interpretive narration that can be downloaded at home before visiting, and blogs which allow people to create regularly updated websites on any subject that interests them.

I should add that tools such as blogs and wikis (such as Wikipedia) could be very useful for small non-profits for both internal and external communication. Once again, some of these tools are already kinda in use such as IRM's member photo galleries, but could potentially be more useful with the added features of searchable meta-tags and commenting that sites such as Flickr provide.

Some other Web 2.0 examples:
Museum Podcast Directory
Sacramento History Blog
Flickr Railway Preservation Group
Facebook Steam Trains Group
A1 Steam Trust on Facebook
A GCRy Employee's MySpace Videos

And finally, just to make this pretty, a photo:

Several entries in this discussion talked about the need for more articles. I can only observe that if you want people to take the time and effort to write articles for this organization, you should consider improving the way you display and promote them.

Any good authors out there can just as easily send their material to the commercial magazines and get paid for their work. So why should they spend a lot of time and effort producing material for RYPN if you don't think enough of them to give top billing? Maybe you need to make the article section a more prominent attraction rather than just another piece of text on the heading. The articles all took a lot more work than the individual posts in these discussions.

And instead of "archives", implying something that is over and done with, why not just call them "articles" or even "features" and afford them a little more of the respect that they deserve. The current description reminds me of the historical groups that insult their speakers and program presenters by describing their presentations as "entertainment". If they really think that is all it is, why would they expect anybody to put any special effort into doing programs or presentations for them?

Just a suggestion. I think that the small number of articles the last year proves conclusively that you had better try something different real soon.

MX

Adam Smith, the Scottish Moral Philosopher whose book "The Wealth of Nations" has a rather famous quote about exchange economies:

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."

What you see @ Rypn over the past few years is unfortunately, symptomatic of the kind of things that regularly go on @ museums and tourist lines.

1.) Economically languid. I just got a flyer from the National Canal Museum in Easton PA- Canals were important, but far less so than the railroads that replaced them-and you should see the job these folks do-especially in the area of $$$$$$. After I saw the list, I wanted to track down their latest 990, just to see what they are grossing. Yes, there's volunteers, but theree's money to support their efforts. I applaud the people that keep this going, but to matter-its going to need cash.

2.) Excessive concern for the appearances for order, at the expense of vibrancy. Inevitably, as long as the discussions are milquetoast, marquis de queensbury ruled-moderators are happy. Get into an important discussion (original fabric, operating preservation, Steamtown, K-4, legal liability) where passions run high-and the moderators blow the whistle and clamp it down. Its "our sandbox" applies. I'm not advocating profanity or calumny-but sometimes if you post an opinion, you need to be prepared to be disputed-perhaps vigorously. The key value of the internet is interactivity. If I want to be preached at-to be told "what matters", I'll put on the plastic-haired bloviators fat 6:30.

Articles result from two things-money and passion-there's no money and strong opinions aren't allowed.

Speaking of money, what had happened to the list of patrons?

2007 doesn't look like it was finished and 2008 has not been started.

Isn't that being kept or updated any longer?

MX

Here I go violating my self imposed exile which I instituted to avoid further harrassment from Terminal Gasbag the 4th.!!

I think Superheater's post says it well and I would only add that those who have a track record of accomplishment are not going to be active participants if they find themselves being constantly attacked by a tiny few whose usual methodology includes the use of rumors/innuendoes/half truths.

Until/unless the practice of allowing the repeated use of these methods is addressed and the few chronic violators either expelled or muzzled, most folks with valuable real life experience will continue to stay silent--which is a loss for all.

IMHO-- Ross Rowland

Just to clarify, re: 2007 donations. Though my name and address are on the donation pages, I never officially acted as treasure for want of a signature. I have forwarded all contributions I received during 2007 to Mark Bassett without making record of who sent them. For 2008, I have again received four donations which will be forwarded to Mark again. I have asked to have my contact information removed from the forms, but they remain. In order to save postage, I have accumulated the four to mail together this week. If you are Bob, Dave, Preston or Mike, check with Mark in about a week for the status of your donations and acknowledgement of them on the website.

Thanks,

Corey Wylde
Non-treasurer

Since this thread has resurfaced, I still think that this is the main shortcoming of RyPN. For instance, I have dug out some photos I have of the guy who does most of the sign painting (car/locomotive lettering) at our museum. But no way to easily get them added to that particular thread. Also, I have a couple of photos I would like to post for a new thread, but without the photos, it really makes no sense to start the new topic. I think that this is one thing that really needs to be addressed.

Les

There is a mighty gap between arguing the points of a case vigorously --- and getting into personal digs and insults with the other participants. One makes the discussion rich and interesting -- and the other annoys and exhausts the reader and makes them want to leave and not come back.

Yet I find a lot of writers can't distinguish one from the other. They think all heated debate is equal. They see no difference between being an avatar and being a mudslinger. So when one person comes in with a bold minority opinion, they consider it "responding in kind" to insult the person and call him names. They regard the person and the opinion they hold as one and the same.

Joe Smith is wrong.

All due respect, I think Joe Smith is mistaken on that point.

See the difference? Both statements INTEND to say exactly the same thing, but one of them undercuts Les as a person, and the other does not.

Yeah it does seem like "just painting nice". But I think it really strengthens your argument because it denies the mudslingers any pretext to sling mud. Nothing infuriates mudslingers more than being the only ones in the mud -- and then you win.

So I'd say if a moderator wants an attractive forum with broad appeal, he needs to support bold minority opinions and stop the mudslinging cold.

I speak from, eek, pushing on 20 years of experience on various Internet fora with various penalties for misbehavior. On employer forums I can be fired. Others are deliberately "no holds barred", anything goes. It's on the latter that I learned the value of playing nice.

[edit: s/name/name/g as requested]

Here is my $.02 worth...

What is being done here to reach the next generation that will have to carry the torch? I see nothing but a large number of guys pontificating about the way they think things ought to be. This may or may not actually line up with what happens in the real railroad world. These people are the hands on generation that want to actually do something rather than talk about it. You wouldn't have an issue with "pictures are hard to post" with this crowd...

Whoa Robert!

I see the point that you're trying to make, and I agree with it. BUT, you've used me as an example on a statement that I did not make. Check again, I think that you should have used Superheater as the example (whatever his name really is.) I'd appreciate your taking my name out of this by editing your posting. Thanks!

Les Beckman (who has enough trouble justifying the statements that I DO MAKE!)

Welcome back Mr. Rowland! However, do you not think it is ironic when you use ad homenin attacks against another Interchange user, and in the same post you say that the "violators" must be expelled. When you refered to another interchange member as a "gassbag" I thought at first, you were engaging in a bit of self-parody, instead I realized you were freelyviolating the RYPN Terms of Service you agreed to abide by when you were allowed to post again, after almost single-handidly destroying this site about a year ago.

Maybe you should take your own advice to heart and re-enter the virtual exile you have been in for the past few months.

I didn't take it that way, Les. I saw it as only an example and a compliment to you. You're name was likely used because during much acrimony in some threads you seem to remain quite level-headed. The actual post would not likely ever appear with regard to you. Just my take on it.

Check again, I think that you should have used Superheater as the example (whatever his name really is.)


As a matter of fact, a few people either know my name or have met me in person.

This is exactly the type of stuff that I described.

There's this recurrent eruption on here insisting on "real names" despite the fact that its unenforceable and because of modern employment practices, its just not smart.

I use the same pseudonym and you can send your unmoderated gripes to:

Superheater@live.com