Why Is It That...?
 

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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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

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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