20 years of GBodyForum? What's Next?

[Ribbedroof]

I still see new users pop up pretty regularly, so I don't really buy into the " forums are dead" thinking. I see it a lot like automobile insurance....

Back in the 80s-90s, insurance companies saw incredible growth as states began to mandate insurance coverage to register/maintain registration of vehicles. There came a point where everybody that was going to buy insurance had, and from that point on it was ebb and flow as insureds moved around seeking better rates/service, and the natural dying off/incoming new drivers that struck a sort of balance.

Sidebar:
Now, in the insurance business this was a problem, as they got used to phenomonal growth (and it's resultant fat paydays) and ever since have whined about earnings being down, despite the HUGE fortunes they built.​

My point being that like the insurance companies, I believe we have settled down into a rythm of people aging out, while new blood comes in. Will likely never see huge growth in forums, but will soldier on.

I also think that as things like tri-5s become unobtanium, there will be more interest in more-affordable (relatively speaking, though that has changed as well) alternatives will be more likely to grow. Despite the muscle-era expense, it seems the forums for them are strong, and in my mind, this bodes well for this forum. I was originally on MR and eventually called this site home as there was a broader base of experiences.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

This is an unpresent subject, but have you thought what will become of the forum when you are unable to administrate it anymore?

Last year, another forum I was a member of for 20 years shut down and nuked after the administrator passed away unexpectedly. Luckily his friends where able to preserve the information he had gathered to another site but the forums were lost. Thankfully another forum invited us former members over but it's not the same.

 

[JimmyD]

So GP403 ill ask the question......

What type of changes will help this last another 20 years?

I too would like to ask GP403 what do we need to do. I've only been on this site a relatively short time and it is the best when it comes to our g -bodies. Do we need more funding, do you, "GP" need some help with running the site. I get that it's extremely hard nowadays to compete with all the Facebooks, Twitters, TikToks, and the like. I'm sure people far smarter than me have some ideas on how to make this work for the next 20 years I'm hoping. When I left high school in 1978 I entered the automotive business as a ASE Master Tech.(18 years old) Spent my first 15 years in the automotive repair industry as a Cadillac and Mazda, if you all can believe that master technician. I've own numerous g-bodies back in the day and I evolved into loving the elkies, I've had four so far just saying. I'm also a member of the El Camino website and because I am not politically correct I have been kicked off of it twice now, quite frankly they are some stuck up folks, but hey it's their website and they did not like my comments lol. Regardless this is the best and the last of the g-body websites forums whatever you want to call it I found.

 

[gbodytoys]

This is an unpresent subject, but have you thought what will become of the forum when you are unable to administrate it anymore?

Last year, another forum I was a member of for 20 years shut down and nuked after the administrator passed away unexpectedly. Luckily his friends where able to preserve the information he had gathered to another site but the forums were lost. Thankfully another forum invited us former members over but it's not the same.

This is why I download entire sites, sql databases and all. It's not to try to use the content and repost it, it's just for me to have an archive....a complete archive. The admin, owners, hosting sites, etc.. anything could just cease to exist. I remember what it was like 20 years ago when I developed a website and a "hacker" injected some java in my code and I didn't have a backup.

 

[asgeirogm]

I don't know what should or 'needs' to change to keep it going for another 20 years, but I, like JimmyD, would like to hear if you GP403 have something concrete you know you need or is lacking or need help with etc., because no doubt there are lots of us that would be willing to help in some way, shape or form.

I also think Clone TIE Pilot's question about the future of the forum whenever the time comes that you GP403 cannot administer it anymore; maybe it could make sense to have a fallback plan in place, e.g. a trusted senior member that would be willing and able to take over (or at least handle a transition) in case anything happens.

I love this forum, it's my first resource when I need more information on anything related to what I'm doing or planning on my MC, I love the community vibe and I like seeing the same names/handles pop up on different threads and you start to get a feeling what kind of people are living behind the handles, what they drive/own, etc.,and I think that's nice. Even though I don't comment all that much and don't have a build thread of my own (yet), I lurk a lot and I appreciate the hell out of this forum and its members.

It never occurred to me to be a supporting member before, but I've just become one minutes ago, because I want to support this forum, because it would be an absolute tradegy for all of us gbody lovers and havers if this forum would seize to exist.

Congrats on the 20 years, kudos for everything GP403, and here's to many more! 🍻

 

[asgeirogm]

Oh btw, it took me 5 minutes of looking around to figure out how to become a supporting member; I would suggest taking a page out the ol' corporate playbook and making it as easy as possible for people to 'part with money' , i.e. support the forum - e.g. add a 'Support GBodyForum' button or something to the header next to the profile-notification-etc icons, or something. Just a thought 🙂

As a sidenote, I'm a software engineer and I feel I have a pretty good feeling for usability and making software interfaces intuitive and user friendly, so if you ever want a second opinion or to spar on something related to the layout or functionality or what ever of the site, just holler 🙂

I also really like the idea to have a 'suggestions box' sub-forum where people can post ideas about improvements, new features, etc., and members can discuss the idea and give input and improve upon it. I think it's an excellent, free resource for how to improve and stay relevant, even if you don't end up doing most of if.

 

[jiho]

Yeesh. Photobucket. I've never been spammed more than when I stopped using it. I started over 20 years ago using that dumpster fire. Was ok at first. I left a few hang-on photos on there when I gave it up seemingly forever ago, as they kept threatening to dump all the photos when they were going to start charging everyone for using a bucket. They were simply copies anyway, so I didn't GAF what they did with them. Sure, close my account. I don't care. Got messages for months with that threat. Ok, the close date came and went. To THIS DAY (acutally YESTERDAY- see deleted email below) they randomly send me a message asking if I want to keep my photos. WTF, phototrashcan? Anyone else getting these emails? I got their messages rerouted to trash. 😏

Exact same here. Now yet another site that seems to have some kind of bot mindlessly spewing out spam, but this one is unusually annoying for some reason ....