Hi everybody.
sailordan, in regards to your above comments, I appreciate that the development of social media has provided many various ways for persons to communicate via the Internet. However, I do not believe that video sites such as YouTube provide a platform for discussion in any way comparable to a forum and are not in any way used in that manner.
In regards to social media sites such as Facebook then I have little experience with that media, but on the two occasions I have ventured into that " cauldron" to comment on the an industrial safety matter, I immediately had 61 people wishing to become my friend. Had I accepted any of those "friendships", doubtless I would have received numerous people posting on my page in regard to what they had consumed for breakfast each morning or others informing me of all the sordid details in regard to their husbands/wives/partners torrid affair with the checkout assistant at the local supermarket. However, in the foregoing when I did visit Facebook (which was sometime ago) despite searching I found very little on that social media site of any consequence or discussion in regard to N3V or Trainz.
I believe it has to be remembered that Trainz and rail simulation is a niche market within the much wider IT gaming market. As with all who have interests in the products of a niche market, they tend to congregate in forums or media sites which identify strongly with their niche interest. By example, those of us who work or have interest in industrial safety congregate on the IOSH website and forum. The foregoing I believe is very much the situation with this forum, for those who have an interest in the Trainz rail simulator undoubtedly congregate in the main to post and discuss that interest here. Therefore, I believe that the numbers visiting this forum would very much represent the level of interest in the Trainz simulator and those numbers must be looked at in terms of a world wide user base.
Bill (who is lurking while he is working).
Because of the silent caveat 'All other things being equal'. Which, of course, they aren't. The number and variety of ways of socialising over the internet has grown massively over the years, and for many people forums are considered old fashioned. YouTube, in particular. is attracting a lot of Trainz enthusiasts, but facebook pages have also grown, as well as private blogs for smaller groups.
If you judge by one social media format you are going to be misled. You have to consider all the forms that are available to people.
sailordan, in regards to your above comments, I appreciate that the development of social media has provided many various ways for persons to communicate via the Internet. However, I do not believe that video sites such as YouTube provide a platform for discussion in any way comparable to a forum and are not in any way used in that manner.
In regards to social media sites such as Facebook then I have little experience with that media, but on the two occasions I have ventured into that " cauldron" to comment on the an industrial safety matter, I immediately had 61 people wishing to become my friend. Had I accepted any of those "friendships", doubtless I would have received numerous people posting on my page in regard to what they had consumed for breakfast each morning or others informing me of all the sordid details in regard to their husbands/wives/partners torrid affair with the checkout assistant at the local supermarket. However, in the foregoing when I did visit Facebook (which was sometime ago) despite searching I found very little on that social media site of any consequence or discussion in regard to N3V or Trainz.
I believe it has to be remembered that Trainz and rail simulation is a niche market within the much wider IT gaming market. As with all who have interests in the products of a niche market, they tend to congregate in forums or media sites which identify strongly with their niche interest. By example, those of us who work or have interest in industrial safety congregate on the IOSH website and forum. The foregoing I believe is very much the situation with this forum, for those who have an interest in the Trainz rail simulator undoubtedly congregate in the main to post and discuss that interest here. Therefore, I believe that the numbers visiting this forum would very much represent the level of interest in the Trainz simulator and those numbers must be looked at in terms of a world wide user base.
Bill (who is lurking while he is working).
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