Social Media in general

[john hall]

I got bored this winter (and it got colder than normal, or maybe I'm getting "soft"), so I started looking around on Facebook. Joined several groups--not into posting what I ate for supper or that my shoelace broke this morning and made me late for work. Joined a lot of groups for antique farm equipment and some for older machines as well. Let me just say I have come to realize there is some great stuff out there on social media (be it pictures, stories, or even technical help) but you have to wade through a LOT of chaff to get the grain. Yeah we chit chat on OCC and annoys some, they can just get over it as far as I am concerned. But this group primarily stays on topic and digs in deep to help each other. Some, but not all of the sites on Facebook, well they can just leave you banging your head.

I'll toss out one example. Guy trying to get a Farmall tractor to run, had it wired wrong. Told him how to wire it, also that the firing order is on the side of the block right by the magneto. He posted more wiring pics, still had it wrong--obviously can't READ. Also warned about the internal gearing on the tractor may be put together wrong and cause the mag to be out of time. Also warned that there is internal timing of the magneto itself and being an IH mag it could be for a diesel (yes old IH diesels cranked on gas and switched to diesel--no I'm not talking 20's era machine cranking on gas and going to kerosene). Anyway, every genius on the planet starts talking about sticking valves, carb issues, you name it--never mind the wires are on wrong. Finally the guy found the gears inside the mage were wrong. 24 hours later same guy is telling people rebuilding a magneto is easy with no special tools required. So in 24 hours he went from unable to put plug wires on to gutting a magneto. Needless to say I quit posting pretty early and let the experts take over on that one.

The antique groups as a whole are pretty darn neat and do some impressive work. There is a shop building a 150hp Case steam engine from whatever pictures and brochures they can find. Its truly an impressive endeavor, I just check in periodically and hit the LIKE button a lot.

Anyway, just some Sat. night ramblings.

[R Bedell]

Yeah I hear you and agree.The amount of so called experts is simply amazing. Of the few Cub Cadet forums that I frequent, there is no structure and anything goes on any given day. Best as I can see, grab a beer and a bag of popcorn, for you evening entertainment.

[green 4 acres]

I , somewhat gave up on farcebook
After the page getting hit with spammers or turning my page into their page , never got any supportive/interested comments on what I posted , just others 180 degree opinions . Plus the posting tabs have changed ?

[J-Mech]

And this is why I avoid the Social media scene. Too many "weekend warriors" that know it all because they did it once. "Mechanic-ing isn't hard. Anyone can do it. Nevermind that guy who's done it for 20 years, he's just being a jerk. Here I'll tell you how to do it. It fixed my tractor, that must be what's wrong with yours too."
Yeah... I don't mind a good debate, or a tough problem, but I'm not going to argue with mechanic wannabe's or hobbyists. Everyone is an expert, few are experienced.

In my opinion, the poster's are just as bad. They don't know anything either, so when someone is FOS they don't know. It's everywhere though. Not just FB.

[jbrewer]

There's good and bad FB groups. I prefer forums but I'm old too! There's some value in each and the reality is that FB has siphoned a good part of the traffic off of many forums (some more than others).

Facebook and social media is here to stay. It has the advantage (and disadvantage) of being immediate and platform-neutral. It's also a disorganized random mess that seems impossible to effectively mine for information like one could in a well organized forum.

Both forums and Facebook have the advantage of being a great equalizer. Everyone has the same voice and access to the discussion. This is a good thing (if it wasn't so, forums would each have about 5 active posters). Those who have more experienced should view this as an opportunity to draw n00b's into the fold, and to make them welcome and part of the family. All of these online technologies exist by providing a sense of community, more so than by simply providing instruction on which direction to turn a wrench, or how to use a voltmeter.

If not, the forums (and any particular FB group) will wither and die.

[drglinski]

I like it for the pictures/action and ignore the what's it worth/pic for attention/how do I fix this posts.