I came to this hobby a few years ago and knew nothing. I had a few
cartoons from the 90s and otherwise only watched family films from the
60s to the 80s. I can't remember what lead me to thinking about films
again, but I started googling and ended up wanting to buy a
projector. I have been active at other forums, and searched for forums
and found one in Norway (now ended) where I met Vidar. It was
fantastic to meet someone with a fond interrest and who was willing to
share his knowledge.
For me the film collecting is one of my main hobbies, but I have
others (like beekeeping, programming (and other technical related
things) and photography). I don't use as much time on film like others
here in the forum, but it gives me great joy, and I check the forum
daily.
For me the forum is most of all the possibility to share the joy. That
can be someone sharing their excitement of a new film (a totally red
200' silent or a flawless LPP stereo). Whatever makes THEM happy. In
the same way I like to share what makes me happy, and post screenshots
as often as I can. Not because I feel I must, but because I want
to. When others write about their new films I learn a lot about what
is out there, what is a reasonable price, which is commonly faded etc.
I have had great help many times from experienced collectors with
technical problems too. I hope to help others, but I am still quite
new to this, but I help as often as I can.
For me it is crucial that the forums has a positive drive. I post
because I want to share. And for me it is not important if the forum
has 100 new posts/comments a day or 5. Off course it can't be dead
silent, but the main thing is that there are at least a few of us
sharing, not that it is the biggest. For me it gets problematic when I
feel I SHOULD post to do my share. I agree that we must all
participate, but this is a hobby, not work, and at the moment it is
not driven by just fun I am out of the hobby. This is what hobbies are
for or else it would be work and I would get paid. I am a family
father, and the time I use for film and forums is the little time I
have each day, and I won't use that for things that don't feel like
just fun. The moment we demand that others do more I am afraid we end
up with the opposite effect: It feels like something I must do = work
and no fun, and they are out.
So what can we do to get more posts? I do believe that the most
important thing is to welcome all that writes anything and encourage
them to write more. For someone with just a few scratchy red films it
can feel scary to post when there are others with impressive
screenshots. Make them feel that their posts are welcome and positive
to the forum! Luckily we don't have anyone that writes negative
things, so that is not what I mean, but it is easy to forget those
small encouraging words that makes newcomers want to write more. Or
just a click on the "like" button (a great feature of this
fourm). There are many posts where I don't get a reply, but I do get a
thumbs up from Andrew, Vidar, Tim, Tom and many others, and it feels
worthwile. I know there are big collectors not writing anything that
could have had many great things to say. I don't want to waste my
thoughts on that, but focus at the positive sides. In the end I think
we are better off with that.
The subjects we write can't be interesting to all. Like Tim said, we
are close friends, but he loves horror films, and I don't care much
about that. In the same way I don't think he gets as excited as me for
WWII documentaries, not to mention Norwegian educational films :-) But
that is OK :-) It is OK if most of the members skips my posts about
that. So write about something that excites YOU! Even though I don't
care much for horror films, I DO like to read about someone getting a
horror films and is excited about that, though.
The technical advice is off course invaluable, and I allways read
everything I see about technical advice. Who knows when I need that
advice next. I wish I knew more and could help others more often,
though.
I do collect both Super 8 and 16mm, but I try to focus mostly on Super
8 because of space constraints. I have also shot a few reels with a
camera, and found that very exciting. I like many different things,
but I most of all look for cartoons. I love Donald, Mickey and
Goofy. Those I can watch with my son, and I hope I have a few more
years where we can share the joy.
I do agree to keep the forum to reel film only. Not because I don't
care about digital as such. In this very moment I just helped my son
with a media server streaming films from a server to the TV here at
home. I could also talk a lot about photography and beekeeping. But
this has nothing to do with the forum. The only thing we have in
common is film on reels. If we write about all other things it would
clog down the forum and make it hard to read what I came for. What is
certain is that we most likely have VERY different political views,
religious views, etc etc. And that is OK, but here I am in for the
films. If poeple get close because of this forum, that is just great,
but there are other places to talk about the everyday life.
I have noticed that the activity has dropped, but I don't waste my
attention too much on that. The forum lives as long as it does. If
people leave, then the forum is no longer needed. We can't pressure
more activity, only encourage in a positive way. The best suggestiuon
I can think of is to keep the positivity and let people write about
what excites them! It is like men I have met in life who really really
wanted a girlfriend. When they talk about how dreadful it is that no
one wants them, they get no one. Those who spread positivity and don't
think too much about being single are those who get a girlfriend. If
we post a lot about that it is a shame that no one want to write
anything here I am afraid we just push people off. It is natural to
think this (I have thought this too), but I don't think it helps to
write about it too often. If no one wants me, I am better off not to
think too much about it :-) (I wasn't the quickest to get a girlfriend
by the way, so I don't know what that tells about me :-)
This thread helps me understand what excites others, and I will try to
keep that in mind when I write and comment. And I will try to be
better at expressing that I apprecaite what others write. So thank you
for all inputs here! It is much appreciated!