sheesh guys, sheesh! I think this is also pretty good precendent of what would happened if Atlas or any forum charged membership...I still remember an OLD name of Photopoint...sigh, good times, good times.
No reason not to believe Paul. I won't be here much this summer as my workload is just too much, but everybody have a good time. The advantages of this place have been decribed by others. Pete
Well, it does take a lot more time and involvement monitoring this list and all. However, I now have a lot more time since I can't lurk on the Atlas Forum. I miss Atlas and hope they get back going again and are able to harness the "monster" a little better. It served as an outreach to many folks who may not find any of the other forums for whatever reason. The more people involved in all segments of the hobby, the better. More information, more interest, more participation, more buying the various products, more profits for the manufactures, more products for us to spend money on. We just don't want folks to get fed up with all the flaming on any forum and bail out of the hobby all thoghether.
Michael, if you had read carefully, much of what you are saying was most certainly discussed on the Atlas Forum, but it was about the Micro-Ace Mogul, which as it happens, is the same as the Atlas model, except lettered for the original US built Porter Moguls shipped to Japan. I certainly discussed the speed and the tender trucks problem, as did Randgust. Paul never told us not to criticize Atlas or other products, but not to "bash" other manufacturers without giving a reason. Boy, Ken "steamguy" Willaman sure "ripped Model Power a new one" over the Pacific and not a peep was heard - because he had a legitimate, specific, complaint. I posted exclusively on the Atlas site because it was the only one I could go to and find fresh commentary whenever I brought it up, and usually get an answer to a question in short order. Sure, there were some RPITA's on there, but I suppose that's the price for activity. It is my fervent hope that your hope comes to nothing. If you don't like the Atlas forums, stay off them when they go back up, but please don't wish to deprive others of them.
Well, thanks, Obviously they have a lot on their plates for the summer, and perhaps with the heat some of the threads were generating, they musta taken this software change (which seems to be company-wide, not just the forum) as an added incentive to cool things off for a bit. I have no problem with the Atlas forum- very few manufacturers provide such a service, and I know for a fact that more than a few regulars here go over there from time to time. The forum seems to get heated from time to time, and I'll bet Paul & company are getting tired of locking threads first thing Monday morning. In a way, I feel for those guys. I belive Paul's email, and I agree that yes, the timing was not very good, but there you are- they're closed for the summer. As a Trainboard moderator, I'm glad to see you here, and offer any help I can to make your stay enjoyable. Should you go back to the Atlas forum when it starts up again (and I believe it will), I hope you remember to check in often. 'Til then, consider this Summer Camp (without the mosquitoes). [ 07. June 2004, 22:37: Message edited by: friscobob ]
From Paul Graf today... Atlas Forum Temporary Shutdown As we have noted on our web site, the Atlas Forum has been temporarily closed for upgrades to the Atlas Forum software and maintenance to the servers. At the same time, Atlas will also be carrying out a major upgrade to our internal business software, requiring the detailed attention and training of Atlas staff. In addition, the extremely busy schedule of the NMRA convention, preparation of new catalogs and other publications, overseas business travel, normal day -to-day product preparation and the staff summer vacation schedule, necessitated this temporary condition on our popular Atlas Forum. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing and hearing from you on the new Atlas Forum sometime this August. Best regards, Paul Graf Atlas Model Railroad Company Atlas O, LLC
Maybe the "maintenance to the servers" was as a result of a crash and they just decided to get the upgrades done while they were down. I have to believe that they will be back better than ever in August.
As an Atlas board regular, I sincerely hope they come back better than ever. I rely on the Atlas forum for info, and while more timely than here, I still hang my hat here, because it is so friendly, informative, and well, I'm a moderator here, so I need to pay more attention to what's going on. With Atlas down for the summer, this place has gotten incredibly busy, and ensuring order here is a big job, hence so many moderators. We all do hope you decide to stay, and enjoy yourselves!
Thirdrail: the point is, the Atlas forum is where many of the most active modelers are used to posting. I think everybody feels the restrictions of using a vendors site for general discussions. point taken about the MicroAce (and I have one of those too), but you DIDN'T make those same comments about the Atlas version. Why not? and I don't think that anyone should need to feel a restriction for trashing another vendor's product if they feel it needs trashing. having to worry about the other vendor sueing Atlas is absurd even if a very real threat. I think all discussions would be better if they would not feel the restrictions that occur because of being held on a vendors site. why should't everyone be congregating on Trainboard or one of the other forums where these problems don't exist? I for one RESENT that Atlas closed down without warning, and last year it seems like they erased all the archives of the discussions - at least my searches came up empty. I hate it that all the lessons from OC seem to be gone, not to mention all the other info carefully stored by you and others. I don't think Trainboard or any of the other forums would survive if they did these kind of high handed things... however, these other boards suffer by lots of modelers spending time on the Atlas forum. I repeat, I think it would be best if the ATLAS forum NEVER reopened, and we all had our discussions at another site. I expect that this may be what Paul hopes for too. tell me: why shouldn't Trainboard be able to completely replace the Atlas forum? Is it a technical thing that the Trainboard staff could fix? I note that they already host most of the images we use on the Atlas forum....why not the whole discussion? Michael
Michael I didn't make the same comments about the Atlas Mogul because I didn't buy one After buying the Micro-Ace, I bought another Mogul, but it was the MDC Roundhouse one! I, for one, usually don't comment on models I don't personally own. I might comment if I've observed others at a show "in the flesh" as it were, but not usually.
Hey!!! Way Cool!!! that never happened on the Atlas forum! the page I had up automatically refreshed itself when Thirdrail posted his reply to my reply!!! we can practically flame each other in real time! Michael
I posted this in the "inspection pit" but I'll repost it here. This is from Paul Graf, and I quote: Welcome to the Atlas E-News Flash! Atlas Forum Temporary Shutdown As we have noted on our web site, the Atlas Forum has been temporarily closed for upgrades to the Atlas Forum software and maintenance to the servers. At the same time, Atlas will also be carrying out a major upgrade to our internal business software, requiring the detailed attention and training of Atlas staff. In addition, the extremely busy schedule of the NMRA convention, preparation of new catalogs and other publications, overseas business travel, normal day -to-day product preparation and the staff summer vacation schedule, necessitated this temporary condition on our popular Atlas Forum. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing and hearing from you on the new Atlas Forum sometime this August. Best regards, Paul Graf Atlas Model Railroad Company Atlas O, LLC "
Wow, I didn't think there was that much hostility towards the Atlas forum/company. Personally, I'm with VARR, Hemi and the others. The Atlas forum was a great place to learn, kibbitz and learn some more. I would never have learned half of what I have about N scale without having found it. Frankly I was rather happily surprised at just how much criticism they allowed of their company, other companies and even the forum itself. I think Paul and the others put in a lot of time and energy to that forum and I for one am not going to start denegrating it or mistrusting their word. That being said, this forum is also a great learning tool and resource. Why look a gift-horse in the mouth? (In either case) Thanks to the moderators for showing us all so much courtesy. Coming here and talking for 10 pages about another forum is sort of like going on a date with a girl and doing nothing but talking about your ex.
No probs Jacob i guess a lot of Atlas members are frustrated and I can understand that. I'm glad a lot of Atlas members have adopted our site and I'm sure are visiting other forums as well. We will doour best to be able to deliver to the needs of all our members.
I certainly do not feel "the restirctions" you allude nor do I appreciate your presumptiveness in speaking for the entire Atlas board while offering absolutely zero arguments to back up your position. Excuse me, exactly who are you to call into question the personal postings of any forum member other than "jmhewitt"? Based on my experiences on the Atlas board, I find your statement totally and utterly false. Specific examples that come to mind are the questions posed on the decision making behind the Canadian C630 models. While Cory and Paul may have been none to pleased with some of the postings on this subject their responses were entirely straight forward and professional. At no time did I feel restricted in any way whatsoever as to what I was allowed to post. There is a world of difference between "objective critique" and "all out bashing". Perhaps it would be best for you if you were to search out a find a MR forum geared more towards trolling. Given the comments I have read here and on other boards I think it is safe to surmise this is one point that is a real thorny issue and will haunt the Atlas moderators for sometime. What confirmation were you able to obtain that archived forum information was erased? What factual evidence do you have to offer that this info has gone permanently offline and will no longer be available when the forum re-opens in August? Do you have the list of the "high handed things" you referred to? What analysis did you perform to reach your conclusions and what results can you present to back up your claims on other boards "suffering" and "survival chances"? What knowledge do you have to base your expectations of what Paul hopes for or is this yet more wild speculating on your part? Simple, people will congregate in the place and at the time of "their own choosing" for their own personal reasons, technical issues are not the real deciding factor here. Lenny
Can't we all just get along. LOL Sounds like whatshisname, has a personal issue with atlas. So be it. Then he needs to keep it personal and not flame on here, enough said, reading that has ruined my day, geez,adios wyatt
