Yes, it is down. Perhaps more people will migrate and settle here to a far superior set of boards and site.
Hmm, while I get "cannot find server or access denied" when I try to get on the Atlas N scale forum. I have no trouble getting onto the Atlas website. Possibly someone was trying to hack the forum. I find it interesting that others continue to belittle the Atlas forums. No one forum is superior to another, they each have different strengths.
Don't you know? They've started their annual Thanksgiving break!!! After that, they'll open for a week, then start their Christmas break! Actually, both the Forum and the corporate site were down earlier. The corporate site has been back up for about an hour or so... still no Forum. Guess it gives TrainBoard something to talk about, huh?
Thirdrail- I am not belittling the Atlas forum. There are many, many more separate and distinct boards and areas of interest here at Trainboard. Strengths and weaknesses are measured, in these instances, by three factors, and please remember, I am only speaking of the N scale board at each site. 1. The reliability of the board. All boards can be temporarily interrupted. To be interrupted for a month or more each year does not lend itself to reliability. That simple fact is what drove me away from the Atlas board in the first place. 2. The number and contents of posts of interest. Upon analysis, I believe it will be found that the only reason Atlas seems more popular is that it has an existing viewer base far in excess of this board. The contents of the N scale board are remarkably similar to the Atlas board. The number of active posters is greater at the Atlas site, but there is a large increase in posts and topics here at Trainboard. The posts made to evoke responses and advice are generally answered, with small exception by the same individuals on each board. 3. Duplication of topics. There are many, many threads that run along the same lines on each forum, whether it is about trackwork, scenery and weathering techniques or whatever. The same information is disseminated in both places. I feel people remain at the Atlas board because they probably feel more comfortable there and do not want to try something new. I dare say that there are, or should be, almost equal visitations between the two by active posters daily. The only weakness I saw on this board in the past was the number of topics and responses. That is rapidly now changing. As a last comment- there is a censorship issue. I am not talking about using foul language, but censorship in the past about posting announcements, self serving or not, by those in business for themselves. I understand Atlas is in business and does not wish to provide a forum to promote someone else's products, but what it demonstrates is that it is a board controlled by an enterprise with its own sales goals as a paramount consideration. That simply is not the case here. Other than a larger "member" base, I see no reason to possibly use the Atlas boards.
The Internet can be a fickle friend. Sometimes sites are there and sometimes they are not. All sites seem to have problems every now and then. I just visited the Atlas site and was able to get in. Everyone can now get back into their normal routine.
I guess it is just human nature. Like sports, autos, politics, etc., people pick sides. As for model railroad forums, as long as they are promoting the hobby and helping to keep it healthy, there is room for all. Just have fun.
Why all the fuss about Atlas forum ? Just stay with Trainboard and let the cream come to the top. Atlas should concentrate on making the great N scale trains that they are turning out. Cheers !
In the last few weeks there has been a proliferation of what I would call "noise" threads on the Atlas N Scale forum. By that I mean threads that have, in my opinion, little or no discernable modelling purpose but exist only to generate posting traffic as an end in itself. This same trend had reached epidemic proportions just before the shutdown and I was thinking that maybe the Atlas folks decided to pull the plug. Not this time, but my intuition is that it will happen.
The "plug" will not be pulled since Atlas in the forefront of the mind when purchasing equipment and track.
I think there's room for everybody. I certainly enjoy the Atlas forum--while I can't usually keep up with its pace, I admire the volume, and the willingness of its members to share information. Until this summer, it was the place to go for a quick answer to just about any question. I think this forum has stepped up admirably since then. I also believe I'm getting quick answers from about the same group of modelers on either forum. I have my two local newspapers delivered every day, and actually read them--one over breakfast, the other when I've finished work for the day. Via the Web, I also scan the Boston Globe (great sportswriting), NY Times, Wash. Post, LA Times, and others as appropriate. While the forums do not cover breaking international news (or Boston sports), I like being able to peruse more than one. Duplicate posts? What is the Associated Press all about!? In the short time I worked as an AP stringer, the idea was to get your story/photo on the wire and in as many newspapers as possible. Each forum has developed its own character. I think that's good. Speculating about what is to be with any forum is like trying to divine the future from tea leaves--interesting patterns which have nothing to do with the price of tea in China.
There seems to be more "solid" model railroad talk here rather than what seems to be a lot of psycho babble and topics which seems directed to elicit confrontation with anybody. That is not the case here and never was. I don't post all that often but try to contribute here where and when I can. Also this is the only forum that I have posted photos to for a number of reasons; comments both positive and negative are always constructive and outwardly display genuine respect for the poster AND it is so much easier to post photos here rather than muck around with sizing and file size requirements. For those that think the activity level is lacking here; I'll take quality over quantity any day. Of course this is only my opinion and each forum seems to suit it's own clientele and purpose. Brian
But isn't that what a forum is? A place for debate? Cicero, Seneca . . .did that fifth year of Latin go to waste?
Seneca ??? Was the Indian tribe named after the Roman or the Roman after the Indian tribe? And- Yes it is.
