[Doug]

I
received an email at the close of business yesterday afternoon that stated the
Bachmann will no longer provide press, news and announcement facilities to
website based publications

This has come about after a series of arguments and 'mud slinging' on
RMWeb,
another British online model railway hobby forum.

Bachmann say that they will continue to provide information to paper based model
railway publications. I suppose that advertising revenues play a part in that
argument.

I am personally rather saddened that one loosely moderated online forum has
caused a major manufacturer to turn it's back on the fastest growing method of
communication and a large segment of it's client base

I am even more saddened that Bachmann, instead of trying to find a solution to
this, is just 'sticking it's head in the sand'. It's shortsighted in my opinion
as the Internet is not going away and even the readers of the magazines will
turn to the Internet to find more detailed information about their hobby.

So Pat Hammond's
MRE Mag,
our forum and a few others will now have to trawl for info on Bachmann products.
Right now I'm not inclined to do so. I hope that whoever made this decision at
Bachmann has a good re-think over the long week-end and changes his mind next
week.

 

[Doug]

Just a note on moderation. Andy York from RMWeb has publicly stated that he prefers that his forum is not over moderated and that he prefers a bit of banter. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes when a topic gets out of hand, it needs to be brought under control and shut off.

On Model Rail Forum we have not needed to do much moderating. We have a good bunch of members and have not required to edit or delete posts so far. On our Sister forum (SlotForum) we have had many issues, but this is probably because it is more established and is quite a bit bigger. We have found with experience that any problem that is likely to escalate into chaos is best cut and closed at the start.

The issues at RMWeb dragged on and still do. There seem to be members there who take pleasure in perpetuating arguments that should really be put to rest.

 

[Doug]

Thanks for replying Andy. I agree that it could have been any site, but unfortunately it was yours where it sparked. I think that you were away when some of the issues came up, perhaps a reason to find a couple of other mods to help you manage the site.

I also agree that it was probably not Dennis Lovett's decision to take these steps, but I hope that he doesn't end up being the companies in house webmaster.

I am trying to get Bachmann to re-think their decision. I say to them and all other manufacturers that if news and announcement are sent, they will be published on the forums. We will be fair and open-minded in our opinions and we will be polite and respectful.

We will continue to review products from all companies and we will continue to talk about products from all companies. I urge manufacturers to embrace the Internet and to work with us, not to alienate us.

 

[Doug]

I and Pat Hammond will be talking to Bachmann next week after the long week-end. Perhaps Andy York can join us. Hopefully we'll be able to make them understand that they have everything to gain by embracing the web and working with online sites like our own.

Perhaps they need a couple of young Internet savvy people who can patrol the web and represent the company online answering questions and putting forward company policy when required.

I don't think it is the job of the PR Manager to do this himself, but I'm sure Bachmann could give him an assistant to work with him and do this sort of thing.

 

[Doug]

If you notice someone trying to upset others or to score a few points by shouting down a manufacturer, it is advisable to act quickly. It is amazing how fast a situation can escalate into general chaos.

Quite often a topic could get to be quite a few pages long - quite a few people then feel that it is too much effort to read all what has been said and end up just tacking on a 'me too' post to the end.

MRF is not moderated much. We kick out the spammers and Viagra pushers on a weekly basis, but we have not had to moderate members. We do though have 4 people that look after the board and any disruption is quickly dealt with.

On SlotForum, our sister slot car forum (www.slotforum.com) with over 4100 members we have 9 moderators and 23 club section mods to look after everyone. We find that with holidays and time zones that 2 or 3 mods per 1000 members is a safe choice.

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 29 Aug 2006, 13:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>RM web has been closed.

I have started a thread in the OO/HO section to discuss this.

Peter

I shut that thread now as nothing there seems to have changed and there is no point in multiple threads on one issue.

Also:
I have contacted Bachmann today by phone to chat about the little problem, but nobody is available to comment this week as they are on holiday.

I'll get back to them next week. I have sent an email outlining our position and our collective feelings.

 

[Doug]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 1 Sep 2006, 03:25) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Consider the matter closed.

Hi all,

This topic has run it's course as it is starting to fray at the edges and lead on to other arguments. The last 13 posts have been pruned as they were on another altogether unrelated subject.

It seems we have needed to vent our frustration and we have done that. The topic is now closed. I will get back to you with what Bachmann say to me next week. If anything important needs to be added, please PM me.

 

[Doug]

Update:

We are soon to be meeting with Bachmann to discuss our future working relationship. They are willing to chat and work with us in a manner that hopefully will suit both their business and our forum and online activities.

We'll report on that meeting in due course.

 

[Doug]

Update:

Following a meeting with Bachmann at their head office we can confirm that Model Rail Forum have been granted full media access with the associated permissions.