I've been reading the comments on the topic of whether to keep this group running or not.?? We don't exactly have a statistically valid sample, even out of the 58 members that are currently enrolled and not "bouncing" (another 18 e-mails are "bouncing"), but out of the people that did respond there were more requests to keep it going than to shut it down.? Let me respond to (I hope) each comment on the thread:
First, Facebook already has plenty of N Scale-oriented groups.? One in particular is called "N Scale Hi-Rail" which covers A1G and other material from roughly the 1960s to the 1990s.? I belong to it and post to it; at this writing there are over 450 members:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/543086996404531
So I don't see the need for another group there.? Further, my view of Facebook is ambivalent at best.? I very carefully manage my presence there and have no less than seven add-ons to my browser to attempt to keep its intrusive tracking, beaconing, cookie-ing, and especially its advertising, off my PC.? I'm not going to get into any other "features" it has because that makes my trains nervous.? And don't get me started about "the algorithm." ?
Second, I don't intend to expand the group beyond A1G.? But A1G is more than just the rolling stock-- anything before, say, 1980, with the Atlas brand is fair game and that includes buildings, track and accessories. ?
Third, the amount of time I need to spend on this group is close to zero, and I have Doug as a co-moderator, so that's not an issue.? What is an issue is how this group is simply not being used.? If you want to keep the group going... then, keep it going... post something, start a topic, etc.? Don't depend on me to do it.? I'm locking this topic after posting my response so that we can have discussion about A1G, not about this post.
Fourth, my own participation in A1G has dropped off because the A1G website could be considered basically complete at this point.? As much as I would like to add to it by posting the "Life After A1G" rolling stock, that is, cars produced with the same tooling and marketed under other brands (Roco, ER Models, Walthers) my own set of multiple competing priorities gets in the way.? I haven't announced anything new posted to the site because there hasn't been anything posted to the site.? What I have been most interested lately, A1G-wise is the "vintage advertising" in Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman.?
So where does that leave us?? With a rather lukewarm "stay of execution" for this group.? I would not outright delete it anyway since there are files and past posts but I would determine how to "close" it.? No action on my part is needed to keep it open, so for now, we'll keep it open.?? If we go through another few months without any activity, though, what would be the point?
By the way, the activity that most typically happens when a note like this is sent... is that people leave the group.?
Cheers,
George (Your continuing list-owner)
