Has forum construct outlived its time?

[rcpilotacro]

Dear RCIndia Members,

This thought has been irking me for a while. With increase in number of aeromodellors (i would like to sub classify them into aeromodellors & multirotor fliers) why is this forum seeing so less participation in the recent times?

When the Forum was created over seven years ago, facebook, tumblr, and other social media were still in their early stages. Our Forum became the place where many Aeromodellors could gather and share their love and respect for this wonderful hobby called aeromodelling. For many members, the Forum became a place to hangout - more like a home away from home. We not only shared information about the hobby, but also shared our personal lives as well. We fought, shared our dreams, worries & hopes.

As we move deeper into the 21st century, Whatsapp, Facebook, tumblr, Instagram, and countless other blogs reign supreme, and offer instant gratification, however unorganized it may be. Seeing the chatter on these (including Whatsapp of which i am a observing member ) net space, i feel the forum construct has outlived its time. Most ever online have been three years ago. That magic figure of 500+ i guess would never be breached. Nowadays we see numbers like 100-150 (see image).

I accept that fact, without regrets, because for many years this has been a labor of love for all of us, and we will always remain. I am very proud of what we accomplished here.

I guess time has come for RCIndia members to move to these fragmented unorganized platforms as well. At this juncture i also feel, people who need a organised, not so fast paced gratification space, forum construct could serve the purpose. However, the construct itself needs a serious make over. This is not the story of RCIndia alone, i did my research, many, many forums have shut shop. Some RC, some others, story is the same. Young generation dont like, rules, decorum, and they need everything quickly !! Generation after that would mellow down i guess. We in our forties and fifties would have long gone by then.

I love you & the forum. I will never forget you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. Be well always. I will be seen here, like it has been off late, not so often. Till anwar bhai decides to pull the plug.

Yours Truly,
Gusty

PS
Feel free to voice your opinion

[sanjayrai55]

Sad, but true Gusty bhai

The only area where the forum is truly active is in Trade 

Flying techniques, building........

Once in a year when our beloved admin announces the sweepstakes,there is a flurry of build and flying activity

[sanjayrai55]

But I will never agree it has outlived it's time. It is a repository of valuable information.

Maybe a better search engine, or a little reorganization of old data would help.

More contests, maybe. Instead of all prizes in one sweepstakes, distribute them over 3 or 4?

Ad and pop-up blockers effectively reduce the Ad Coverage and Response, so maybe some re-design there?If the forum is richer, more goodies can be given.

And, I guess we are all many of us are a bit selfish: our dear Admin has to do all the work 

Don't see much activity from too many of the other adminstrators

[sanjayrai55]

Have a look:16/20  is Trade related. That too after moving the For Sale Section out of The Front Fage

   
want 4s battery by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:39:22 PM
Has forum construct outlived its time? by sanjayrai55 (Chatter Zone)   Today at 12:37:06 PM
wanted by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:36:47 PM
2.4ghz 6 ch transmitter receiver by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:36:11 PM
Wanted a 910 kv bldc with 11*4.5 prop.. by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:35:20 PM
looking for 4 to 6 inch rubber tires... by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:34:12 PM
wanted 6ch rx for flysky urgent by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:33:43 PM
2.4 ghz transmitter and reciever within 2k by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:32:54 PM
Brand New 2200-3000mah battery required(3pieces) in Mumbai by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:27:43 PM
Need New/old Brushless motors by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:26:10 PM
4s battery wanted by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:24:19 PM
carbon fibre tube by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:22:06 PM
Wanted plane prop.... by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:19:53 PM
20 amp esc required by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:18:48 PM
need 3s 11.1 V Li po battery 1500-2200 mah by kewal kalsaria (Wanted)   Today at 12:17:40 PM
RC AIRPLANE FOR SALE BY KKROBOTIC by kewal kalsaria (Deals and Special Offers)   Today at 11:51:42 AM
What different glues you use on different things by prabal276 (Tools, Materials and Building Techniques)   Today at 10:26:34 AM
Turnigy Motors problems....giving jitters not starting.. by prabal276 (Electric Planes)   Today at 10:22:31 AM
Dedicated power supply by Tanmay.mathur (Electric Power)   Yesterday at 11:35:47 PM
Thehobbyshop.in by shashaxk (RC Outlets and Resellers)   Yesterday at 11:31:38 PM
Avionics rcb6i mods by Tanmay.mathur (Radios and Receivers)   Yesterday at 10:58:16 PM
Placement receiver for TURNIGY 9Xv2 by Ahmad Ilyas (RC Outlets and Resellers)   Yesterday at 10:45:16 PM
Avionics rcb6i mods by Tanmay.mathur (Radios and Receivers)   Yesterday at 09:31:25 PM
Rcjunk.com Sell your Rchobby items... by priyamraj5 (Chatter Zone)   Yesterday at 06:45:48 PM
Supra Fly 25 corro build for sweepstakes 2015 by manu (Gas/Glow/Nitro Planes)

[Tanmay.mathur]

I too feel the same .
I know many seniors are trying to stay things alive.
It is the younger people who need to deviate from quads and look into planes
. Jokes apart. I think its not only the younger peoples fault , everyone has its own conditions(sometimes circumstances) and needs.
Though i prefer to open rcindia instead of facebook , whatsap instagram etc.

[prabal276]

That was excellently said gusty sir!
I have always opened the website of RCIndia.
Exceptions are that i use tapa talk when i am out of my houses' wifi coverage so as to save on data.
Never ever have used whatsapp; facebook; insta for chatting purposes but only used them for school work/transfer of documents.
The website feels much more homely and friendly.
I am not going to deviate from using the website.
Regards

[sanjayrai55]

Quote: "Whatsapp, Facebook, tumblr, Instagram, and countless other blogs reign supreme, and offer instant gratification, however unorganized it may be. Seeing the chatter on these (including Whatsapp "

None of these can really come near to something like RCI. Two main reasons : Storage, and reach

Imagine if you were on a Whats App Group with 10,000 members, with 50 being active at any given time 

That is why RC Universe and RC Groups is thriving. So many of my builds have attracted global attention (see Cloud Dancer for example) because Google directs people here

Problem is Indian RCers are just not interacting enough. Lack of cohesive rules, and a central body like AMA or BAFTA has made it worse

[prabal276]

what about the AAI?
Is it not like AMA?
Just asking.
Regards

[K K Iyer]

@anwar sir,
@rcpilotacro sir,
If this thread can vanish in a single day, as it has,
Perhaps the time has come to remove 'wanted' posts too from the main page.
Let them be on their own board, like the sales posts.
Or let the trades go to RC Junk.
In essence Gusty's asking should we continue to live or die.
And besides sanjayrai55, only 2 young members responded???
Maybe no one cares.
But guys like me do care.

I want, i want, i want
An XT60, a balance plug, a lipo, a prop
Need a place,
But not on the main page.

Perhaps one of your moderators could identify people who used to have a lot of (non trade) interaction, but have now gone mum. And ask them why they dont speak any more.
But DONT PULL THE PLUG.
Not yet.
Regards.
Iyer.

[a3ruz]

I spend more time in RCI than in other websites When ever i get the data connection in my college first page i open is RCI it was blocked in my college for some unknown reasons ( may sites are )   , i reported to the Network administrator ! Next week onwards i was able to access RCI !
I depend upon RCI more than google for my doubts n clarification  ! Since may were active before usually my searches end up in a thread ! Reading the thread from the beginning is like attending a lecture  ! guys asking doubts !  verifying ! Answering ! That's a feel actually  
" As a newbie RCI helped me a lot to buy used stuffs for cheap rate "
my  favourite section is the build logs specially the  one with many pictures  n maiden video ! 
i too built a coro model  ! Russ40 ! Took pics in each n every moment thinking of my first build log in RCI even though the build is finished i am still waiting for the electronics n maiden    will update the build log if it's a success

I really want to see more n more build logs here (especially coro ones)  !

[madaquif]

SIMPLE QUESTION : Has forum construct outlived its time?

SIMPLE ANSWER : NO NO....BIG BIG NO NO 

how ever some updates are required...which can be figured out by the experts...

[Swapnil]

Or is the hobby itself dying in India? It might be mostly because of the ban. But, the impatient newbies today just want to fly stuff without giving much attention to the learning process. This leads to frustration and they start losing interest in the hobby and quit.

About, the forum...
Well, we've seen many 'die-hard members' leave the forum in the last few years. Were they tired of answering newbie questions? Did they eventually get fed up with the hobby? Only they know.

The 'wanted' threads give another clue. There just isn't enough availability of primary RC parts and accessories even with new RC shops starting every other month. So, how can we expect people to post builds if they just don't have the stuff to build with?

The saddest part is that the admins and moderators have been taking lesser part/ interest in the discussions every day. I can't remember the last time Anwar sir posted about some interesting new RC technology in the chatter zone.

[shobhit17]

well yes.... lot less input from members..... the forum is somewhat getting a bit jaded.......

Ok to build some interest will post a few picture of my flying what I do tomorrow.... I plan to take my Kaiser Mk II and Vortes RC Speedster for flying.... and if i do get time... will try and maiden my Glider......

Well to me it appears that in the world of Instant Noodles..... every one wants to get a ready made plane or a multicopter and start to flying it instantly.... well the hobby is not this..... the hobby basically means that one makes his own planes and flies them.... free flight or controlled...

Lets see how does my tomorrow goes ......

[manojswizera]

I feel , still there are many new people, building new planes and enjoying the hobby. But only very few, post the works here.
More response and encouragement is required from members, so that people continue to post their work on RCI.

[sanjayrai55]

+1 Manoj 

Very true

[shobhit17]

Well.... I have posted my pictures in the thread called "What RC activity you did last week"..... one is a modified Vortex RC Speedster.... and the other is modified Kaiser Mk II..... now made in HD Thermocol......  Not many make their models these days..... as its laborious and time consuming.... but this is what is Aeromodelling.....

[rastsaurabh]

Felt very sad even on the thought of that this forum may/might see end....

This as mentioned by Gusty is the truth "Young generation dont like, rules, decorum, and they need everything quickly !!"

I was on WhatsApp group but exited later but recently again invited to join. This Forum is my Homepage and real satisfaction I get to see this.

But off-late what gusty tells is true.

[shobhit17]

Till date I am not on Whatsapp or on any other such forum.... I enjoy this blog as one who is really interested gets a whole lot of idea, knowledge and support from the seniors and can also support the new comers.... Well.... off late the traffic on this blog though has reduced.... but I am sure a lot of people are still reading a lot of issues discussed here..

[Sukhpreet]

Summer holidays are coming, and a few contests can bring the charisma back

Students are mostly busy with their exams, while people like me are busy with there jobs......

And newbies (again like me) are thinking about, whether if we should invest in the rc components......I mean spending money on the hobby(i would love it) which is likely to get banned/or is banned......!!! is little riskier. .... Sorry i am talking this way......)
(Irony may be----- I was the one who was one thinking about making career in this field)

Hoping to see a lift-off from the ban, of flying these rc planes/The so called drones

[girishsarwal]

Gusty sir,

Yes it has outlived, Video killed the radio star, and then CDs killed VHS  .
I vote in favor of continuing the forum and pumping some life into it.

"Be the change you want to see", so speaking for myself, I will build more, and I will participate more.

[sanjayrai55]

Precisely. Build more, participate more. This is not the result of technology progress

As WS said, "The fault my dear Brutus is not in our stars, but ourselves. That we are underlings"

[vineet]

Or is the hobby itself dying in India? It might be mostly because of the ban. But, the impatient newbies today just want to fly stuff without giving much attention to the learning process. This leads to frustration and they start losing interest in the hobby and quit.

About, the forum...
Well, we've seen many 'die-hard members' leave the forum in the last few years. Were they tired of answering newbie questions? Did they eventually get fed up with the hobby? Only they know.

The 'wanted' threads give another clue. There just isn't enough availability of primary RC parts and accessories even with new RC shops starting every other month. So, how can we expect people to post builds if they just don't have the stuff to build with?

The saddest part is that the admins and moderators have been taking lesser part/ interest in the discussions every day. I can't remember the last time Anwar sir posted about some interesting new RC technology in the chatter zone.

right ..

also ,there are less colleges of aeronautical engineering compares to other stream like cs etc and they have to even shut down few of them in uttar pradesh (heard from a student few months back )

[sanjayrai55]

Vineet, I don't see why an aeromodelling enthusiast has to be an aspiring or qualified Aeronautical Engineer. Some of the very good fliers and builders I know are Doctors, Lawyers, Business Executives. Love for the Hobby rules 

[shobhit17]

Well..... guess.... its one more issue.... Most of us have been involved in Board Exams.... for our children... my son is doing his 12th and most of my time goes into finding solutions for him or supporting him.... so are many of us who now sport grey hair and have children old enough... for the student community well.... if they wish to be doing Aeromodelling.. they got to pitch in.

I have been out of construction for a few months.... mainly since Dec last year.  have not made any new model.... the second reason I have told you... is my son.  The first reason is that somehow I have become a decently safe flier and have stopped crashing my models.... well with grace of god... yes have not had a crash in the last six month.... and have flown everything I made or my friends wanted me to maiden.

Anyway.... I still keep my fingers crossed..... I know I need to build one more.... a full size Ugly stick or a 50 in Mustang (which I have been wanting to build for a long time)..... well lets see when the time comes for all this.....

Incidentally.... i got only one reply on my posts for the flying I did on the day as mentioned earlier......

[shobhit17]

Dear Vineet,

TO give force to what our dear Sir Sanjayrai has said..... He is absolutely correct.. one does not have to be involved with Aerodynamics of studying aerodynamics or be a qualified engineer to be involved with aeromodelling.  Aeromodelling is a hobby and it is open to everyone who has the inclination of getting involved into it.  One need not be so well read or qualified to be an aeromodeller. 

In my case.... I used to stand outside the Aeromodelling room of the Jodhpur NCC Air Wing Unit when I was in my 3rd and 4th standard.... spent hours standing there and watching the NCC Cadets make their models.... in the field I used to call them Didi or Bhaiya.. as I was a small kid as compared to them... Used to run after their free flight models to fetch them.... clean their models by wiping off the burnt fuel from diesel / Glow plug engines.... and was happy to get my hands on the model... My Mother... the driving force got me some chuck gliders... made then with the NCC Cadets with help from the Instructor named Mr Hukum Singh.... when I was in 5th I asked my Mother to get me some wood from India Hobby Centre in New Delhi... which she did... I asked Mr Hukum Singh to help me make a Tow Line Glider... Well... that man had so much of confidence in me that he gave me a Plan of a 40in span Glider called Martin... and said... "Go you make the model yourself... you have seen us for long enough to make it all by yourself..."  Well he did help me maiden that glider...

I was in 5th with no formal knowledge of Engineering or aerodynamics.... had just been introduced to a book called How and Why Aeroplanes fly.  That was my formal knowledge of aerodynamics.

In todays environment anyone who is interested can get far too much of knowledge from the internet.... one just need to get their minds and hands into it.