Why Is It That...?

[Dean Romig]

Why is it that there is more activity on the FB group "Parker Collectors" than there is on our own PGCA Web Forum?

Any thoughts on this?

I posed this same question a few years back and the response here to my question was disappointing.

Over on the FB Parker Collectors page I've seen comments to the effect that the PGCA is a group of rude snobby arrogant old guys who never help out newbies who ask questions...

If this is how we're regarded, we really need to change that perception of us.


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[Stan Hillis]

I can't answer for anyone else, but I have never gone to the Parker site on Facebook. I would much rather be here with you guys than put up with some of the crap on FB.

I'm sorry to hear that this is the case. Forthcoming answers should be interesting.

Score: PGCA Forum 100
Parker FB. 0

[Jim DiSpagno]

Facebook has too many misinformed trolls and I myself have NEVER taken part in and Facebook forums. They are just baiting us to respond and then skew our answers to make their FAKE NEWS POINTS.

[Craig Larter]

Many buddies are serious Parker and Fox collectors that never post on the collector forums or FB. The feedback I get is they just want to stay below the radar and don't feel they have anything to contribute, which I don't understand. Some feel intimidated, just human nature in my opinion, it is what it is. FB groups are free and don't require a paid membership which appeals to a different audience. I just try to be welcoming and non judgemental as do the vast majority of Parker/Fox forum users/posters. Some people just want to complain/bitch because that is their nature. I'm just one of those that loves to share my guns and hunting adventures with other like minded folks, many of which I will never meet in person.

[Dean Romig]

I visit the FB Parker Collectors page and see a LOT of uneducated misinformation. I will make polite corrections to those posts that just incorrect. People have thanked me for my contributions and I will often post the www.parkerguns.org site and suggest they join.





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[Dylan Rhodes]

Ease. A couple clicks and bobs your uncle you have a post made and can get right back to scrolling Tik tok. If you only expect to have one question or maybe limited follow ups, why register here when the FB group is guaranteed to provide an answer on a platform you are already registered with? Plus if you look hard enough you can get the answer you wanted to hear from someone, as Dean pointed out, who knows not what they say.

[Brian Dudley]

Facebook is free. And easy to ask dumb questions on and easier to get dumb answers.
It may get more activity, but it isnt quality activity. 9 times out of 10 it is just someone wanting to hock some POS.

[Mike Franzen]

Obviously someone posting or saying there are just a bunch of snobby, rude, arrogant old guys on the PGCA website is just gaslighting. I would say that most of the folks using FB for gun talk are low information enthusiasts. Two things make us the better choice: 1) extremely knowledgeable people are sharing legit information and 2) the people using this resource are expected to and do behave in a gentlemenly manner. Those FB forums get very tiresome quickly to someone just wants to seek or give legit knowledge. The best solution is what Dean is doing - politely suggest they check us out. The good ones will. We don’t want the rest. If that sounds snobby, rude, or arrogant I don’t care. And don’t forget this site is FREE to use as well. You only pay if you want to be a member and get all the perks.

[Pete Lester]

I think part of the answer is Facebook overall is easier to use with a phone and simple to add pictures and videos to a post. Facebook is also not as narrow, people belong to multiple groups and see what their friends are posting in one place.

As far as the reputation of the PGCA on Facebook, it could be there is more focus on the higher grade, unique and originality here that comes across as snobbish but who knows.

P.S. As far as rude, arrogant, snobby, old guys goes, they got the last part right :rotf:

[George Davis]

Young vs Old!!!!
The younger generations grow up with FaceBook and their means of communication.

[Garry L Gordon]

I'm just one of those that loves to share my guns and hunting adventures with other like minded folks, many of which I will never meet in person.

And I, for one, am glad that you do share with us, Craig!

I think we can see by the recent loss of our Forum that is is an important link to others and to significant information.

[Clark McCombe]

Fortunately, years back, I got busy and never found the time to sign up for Facebook.
Now, if someone suggests I contact them through FB I can happily say that I can't do that.
My quiet revenge for all the noise that is out there, is to tune it out. We don't have a television. The few publications that come to the house are "Parker Pages" (at the top) "Lancaster Farming" and a few other farming magazines.
I can't remember the last movie I went to. So when all the stuff come out about the decline of the film industry or the print newspapers, I am immune.
When I drive the truck at night, the radio is mostly off. I have 68 years of thoughts to ponder. I hope I have another 20 or so to add to them.
The phrase "Life is short" keeps coming up as I get older. I am thankful that I have found truly wonderful friends here on the Parker site.
Honestly, Beverly and I look forward most to seeing those friends at the Southern, or Ernie's or Mike's. It's like family. There is much love amongst us, even if we don't say it out loud.

[Pete Lester]

Fortunately, years back, I got busy and never found the time to sign up for Facebook.
Now, if someone suggests I contact them through FB I can happily say that I can't do that.
My quiet revenge for all the noise that is out there, is to tune it out. We don't have a television. The few publications that come to the house are "Parker Pages" (at the top) "Lancaster Farming" and a few other farming magazines.
I can't remember the last movie I went to. So when all the stuff come out about the decline of the film industry or the print newspapers, I am immune.
When I drive the truck at night, the radio is mostly off. I have 68 years of thoughts to ponder. I hope I have another 20 or so to add to them.
The phrase "Life is short" keeps coming up as I get older. I am thankful that I have found truly wonderful friends here on the Parker site.
Honestly, Beverly and I look forward most to seeing those friends at the Southern, or Ernie's or Mike's. It's like family. There is much love amongst us, even if we don't say it out loud.

Facebook is a double edged sword and it is what you make it. FB has allowed me to reconnect with many people I served with in the USAF 40+ years ago. I have also connected with distant relatives, some of whom I didn't know existed. In spite of it's negatives I am glad it exists.

[Garry L Gordon]

Fortunately, years back, I got busy and never found the time to sign up for Facebook.
Now, if someone suggests I contact them through FB I can happily say that I can't do that.
My quiet revenge for all the noise that is out there, is to tune it out. We don't have a television. The few publications that come to the house are "Parker Pages" (at the top) "Lancaster Farming" and a few other farming magazines.
I can't remember the last movie I went to. So when all the stuff come out about the decline of the film industry or the print newspapers, I am immune.
When I drive the truck at night, the radio is mostly off. I have 68 years of thoughts to ponder. I hope I have another 20 or so to add to them.
The phrase "Life is short" keeps coming up as I get older. I am thankful that I have found truly wonderful friends here on the Parker site.
Honestly, Beverly and I look forward most to seeing those friends at the Southern, or Ernie's or Mike's. It's like family. There is much love amongst us, even if we don't say it out loud.

Clark, you are, as my Pop would say, “Livin’ Right.”

And…what the heck is Facebook???!:rotf:

[Bill Murphy]

If you want to see misinformed, low information posters on a gun website, look at the "shotgun" section of the Winchester collectors forum (WACA). Even the chief moderator is way down on the knowledge ladder. NO, I do not post to correct their errors. I let them stew in their own juices. True Winchester collectors deserve better than what they get on their forum.

[Dave Noreen]

This Geezer with a flip phone has never been on Facebook.

[Paul Ehlers]

My take is this is just the way it is anymore through the evolution of the internet & web browsing.

Most of us here are of the age where we started out in web-based chat rooms & discussion forums on our PC devices. Then along came Facebook & more importantly the advent of the smart phone.

Once Facebook took hold the old discussion forums got pushed to the side & now almost everyone except a bunch of us old guys are spending hours everyday doomscrolling on their phones. A contagion of this scrolling is an endless stream of negativity & false information coming from keyboard experts who only know what they have seen on their phone, plus a pile in this misinformation is coming from Bots as well.

Then through the maze there's a common dislike & hate that been generated towards us boomers in general and there is an attempt being made within the youngsters to rename the boomers and spilt us up into two different generations. I only point this out, because it could be a reason for why this site is looked at as nothing but a bunch of old geezers. Take a look at the some of the posts here so far about I don't Facebook, never have never-will type comments. I'm not knocking anyone because I feel the same about Facebook and other platforms like Instagram & Tic-Tok but when someone of the younger generations see's these comments we instantly get stereotyped as a bunch of old grumpy boomer geezers.

I don't like the thought of the negative misinformation that being posted on Facebook not only because it is false, but more importantly because now in the age of AI which scours the internet for its information this false misinformed information about Parkers will explode exponentially.

I could be wrong, but IMO it's just the way it is and there's nothing we can do to stop it or slow it down. The best we can do is post good solid factual information about Parkers & hopefully it can cut through the fog & AI will use some of it when it's asked a question about Parkers

[Craig Larter]

I'm a geezer and really like the closed FB groups.The closed groups have an administrator that has control over who joins. I set up a closed FB group for 8ga shooters and collectors and enjoy the people who post and contribute. I also joined FB groups that are in my collecting interest areas, vintage Illinois River decoy collectors, vintage duck call collectors, SASS and others. FB is not all bad if your selective on what groups you join. My experience has been generally positive. I view it as just another way to connect with others u would never interact with otherwise.

[Mike Koneski]

Craig is spot on with his comment on closed FB groups. That's the only way to go IF you choose to dabble in FB. For years I was on it for hours a day because it was more entertaining than TV. Not only that but I was the admin for our Rock Mountain page. When the shrill shrieking of the left began in earnest in 2016, I started phasing out my FB hours. It got to the point that I'd get thrown in FB jail for 30-60-90 days for reposting a meme or something unheard of- TRUTH!! I did make a work-around so I could still manage our business page, and still post in the open forum if I chose to, but I'm not sharing that info. :cool: Since our son came back to run the range, he can admin the FB page and he rebuilt the website and started an Instagram page. That's what the Millennials and Xers do. He and our D-I-L refer to us as "Boomers". I said don't get to cocky as this Boomer can sell the property and move away to AZ or NC and leave you to fend for yourselves!! I call that WINNING!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[Jerry Harlow]

a/k/a FAKEBOOK

[Dean Romig]

I agree with most of what folks here are saying about FB and I'll be the first to admit i'm probably on FB too much... but it truly IS entertaining and if we can weed through all the CRUD that is being posted on FB and form our own conclusions I think we'll be ahead of the game.
I refuse to watch any television news stations because THAT is as much lies and misinformation as some of the FB stuff is.
I will share posts on FB that I believe are relevant and have a modicum of truth but everyone else can decide what to look at and believe for themselves. AND if i see or read something over there I believe is untrue, I will say so.





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[Bill Murphy]

Mike, I have no idea what and whom you are talking about. I am only able to post on this site and hope I don't hear any strange noises on the property after dark. You guys are way above my pay grade. Murphy

[Rich Stearns]

I went to the facebook site (one of them) and it is easy to use and and more fun to look at. This site is perfect if you want real answers to question. AI actually uses this site as FACT. The facebook site is like reading a magazine (sorry browsing the web) just looking at pictures. Both are good for what they are. This site is not interactive or easy to use but if you want an answer it is probably here. This site looks and like a site made 15 years ago.

[Dean Romig]

I can't answer for anyone else, but I have never gone to the Parker site on Facebook. I would much rather be here with you guys than put up with some of the crap on FB.

I'm sorry to hear that this is the case. Forthcoming answers should be interesting.

Score: PGCA Forum 100
Parker FB. 0


It isn't the "Parker Gun Collectors Association" website that's on FB, it is a site named "Parker Collectors" and that can be very misleading to folks who may think they're reaching us here.




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[Stan Hillis]

I probably wasn't clear in my post but I knew it wasn't an official PGCA site, because it there was such a thing John or others here would have made it known on these forums.

[J. Scott Hanes]

I visit the FB Parker Collectors page and see a LOT of uneducated misinformation. I will make polite corrections to those posts that just incorrect. People have thanked me for my contributions and I will often post the www.parkerguns.org site and suggest they join.


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Dean, I commend and encourage you to continue this approach. I have been am member of the Trapshooters.com site for many years and try to keep all the discussions on track specifically on Remington ammo and some guns; there are a lot of misconceptions on that site.

There are many 'members' on that site that don't think they have anything to contribute and that keeps many away from fully participating even though the moderators are always encouraging same.

One thing that may be keeping 'newbies' from this site is the level of expertise on the PGCA site, which is perhaps intimidating to them. We can't change that but your inclusion getting on FB is a good place to start the welcoming process.

I am not [never have and never will be] on FB and this joke illustrates why!:rotf:

https://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=144124&stc=1&d=1790538085

[allen newell]

Well I'm an old guy now and have been a member of the pgca for a long time. I'm happy to get my Parker gun and related info from this site. Go PGCA!
Meanwhile what happened to the Patriots today. They folded like the birds I shot last season.

[Phil Yearout]

I joined Facebook because there was purported to be a local VW group and I was trying to keep the wife’s bug convertible operable. I never did find the group and then we sold the bug and I haven’t looked at it since. My wife is on it some, just to look but she’s never made a post. I find it annoying that some retailers have Facebook pages instead of a web site. As someone said earlier, if Facebook is part of the deal I’m out.

[Don Anderson]

As a new member here I can attest that I received zero negativity and tons of helpful information when I first posted here seeking information. Several members reached out with private messages and I have spoken with them on the phone. Again, all positive and helpful.

With regard to Facebook, I use it all the time. It is great way to keep up with friends and family and share pictures. As has been mentioned there are some great private groups that are well moderated, which is the key to any forum or Facebook group. Anyone can start a group and you don't have to have a server to host it. Facebook also has a pretty good search function which directs a lot of traffic to the private groups. Many are local specialized groups like Chattahoochee Tailwater fishing or North GA Kayak fishing.

On Facebook you can limit who sees your information (only friends and family) and what information you get in your feed. Of course you are going to see advertising, but that is on most web forums as well. I just scroll past.

Also the marketplace on Facebook is a great place to buy random stuff. In the past few years I've purchased 2 Yamaha dual sport motorcycles, a John Deer 650 diesel tractor and multiple 3 point implements, 2 fishing Kayaks, multiple flats of shotgun shells, 2 MEC reloaders. 2 Champion WheelyBird traps, a couple deer stands, etc etc. The marketplace has a good search feature and you can limit how many miles from your location it searches.

Oddly, the younger generations claim that Facebook has been taken over by us Boomers :)

[David Safris]

I have some thoughts in terms of the usability of the forum and making it sustainable into the future. This post doesn’t address the tone of the forum - but usability and accessibility are of course important to gain and retain users. I had wanted to write something on this when the site was down for a prolonged period but I held back. Seeing this thread - I am going to give some ‘free opinions’ take them as you will.

First - Great job in getting to where we are - many people must have put in a lot of work to get the Parker web forum from a concept to where it is today. From a bit of research there are 11,000 uses of the system and almost a half million threads on the site. That’s impressive. We have a great foundation to build from -

Now the challenge is keeping it running well into the future. Please keep in mind this is not an attack on all the hard work that has been done in the past. It is a call to action on where to go from here.

There are many discussions to be had, decisions to be made and dollars to be spent to address the future of the site.

Where are we now:
- The software running the site - according to a quick search - is vBulletin 3.8 which was released around 2009. vBulletin 3.8 was formally considered end-of-life by 2012.

- The age of the software makes me worried about the age of the physical server and the age of the software running the server. The entire stack - hardware., operating system , firewall, etc etc should be documented and discussed for vulnerabilities.

- The fact the site went down for an extended period suggests there may not be a strong redundancy, backup plan , recovery plan - etc. the organization should discuss if this is something can be tolerated going forward and what planing and spending could take place to build a more modern system.

Quick thoughts on where we should be headed - remember …. free advice !
- start a tech committee - Ideally run by the person currently running the site as the knowledge of the system you have is very important - and that person is in the best position to assist going forward -

- figure out how important the site is the the association and what kind of budget could be allocated for modernizing things. - $5 per user one time would give you $55,000 budget. That’s a nice budget

- hire a company that specializes in vBulletin upgrades - this is a big project - I would pay someone who has done it before, will guide the upgrade, and be there for ongoing support

- The vendor should have some clear goals for the future. Something like :
- must be on cloud hosted server on large platform . Ie AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. - \
- newest versions of operating system, web service, and firewall - etc and pay for ongoing updates to the software so it never goes end of life again
- newest version of the vBulletin software and pay for ongoing updates so it never goes end of life again. You could go bigger and assess other platforms than vBulletin - but I suspect the easiest upgrade path is through the same company.
- etc

A quick search of ‘what do you get upgrading v3.8 to modern version was incredibly long. Imagine - the current software was written prior to iPhones, cloud services, etc, etc.
- more modern user interface - this could be expanded to many bullet points
- much faster overall and improved search capabilities within the site
- remove all the single points of failure - site is running when you need it
- greatly improved photo management tools - one of the big hang ups on the current site could simply just go away
- increased security at all levels - login, server security, etc etc
- much better experience on phone/ tablet
- there are likely new tools in the new version that have note even been anticipated … payment systems, photo adjustment on the site, better profiles, knowledge base systems, etc etc.

Facebook spends unimaginable amounts of money on their interface, etc. We will have to spend ‘some’ amount of money annually going forward to provide a modern interface and a safe and reliable platform for the users.

Reading this is step 1 of 10,000 steps. I hope the organization takes the journey…..

[Phil Yearout]

I will have to say that this site is one of the most welcoming sites I've ever encountered. When I first came here I felt accepted right away. I don't know where anyone got the idea that the site is arrogant and/or unhelpful. It's also one of the most civil sites I've found; even disagreements are usually carried out without the name-calling and one-upmanship that happens on many sites. And even though it's Parker-centric it's very accepting of things outside that realm and very entertaining.

[Dean Romig]

Thank You David for your astute suggestions - they are certainly worthy of consideration.

Best, Dean





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[edgarspencer]

Why is it that there is more activity on the FB group "Parker Collectors" than there is on our own PGCA Web Forum?

Any thoughts on this?.

Referring to your original question, above, has turned into more of a commentary on Facebook. There's lots of validity in the comments, but my simple take on the original question is, simply, Facebook has a vastly larger audience than our forum.
While I agree there is a lot of unsubstantiated info on the Facebook "Parker" group, our members have the benefit of, in my opinion, our vastly more well informed wealth of information on the PGCA forum. Like anything else on the internet, one has to use their own judgement as to the worth, and validity, of anything they read on the internet. Anyone with a computer, can say whatever they like, with nothing to back it up. Here, I have trust in the fact that the cumulative knowledge base filters out much of the heresay.
I frequent several public and private groups on Facebook because it's a universal meeting place for people with similar interests. Those groups I follow are for interests I have, many of which are lifelong. I'm pretty knowledgeable in those subjects, but it's easy to see where someone completely new to the subject won't have the experience to 'filter' the good info from the junk. I just shake my head at those who don't use the old fashioned resources, like people, and books, to begin building their knowledge base.

[Dean Romig]

I agree completely Edgar....:shock: Did I say that??

You're the best my good buddy !! :cheers:





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[Brian Dudley]

I honestly dont think the subject Parker FB group is really even all that active. There is only 1500 members and not a lot of new posts. There may be a few posts in a day and then nothing for weeks.

I stayed away from it for a long time. When I joined I made several posts just to share interesting photos of guns that many people may not get the chance to see, for conversation starters. It took a couple months for the admin to actually approve my posts so that they would display. Some of the admins in those groups are asleep at the wheel.

[Mike Koneski]

This is why it’s beyond my pay grade!! David, I think you have very good points.