I no longer have the Subaru but do drop in sometimes to see what’s going on, and if there’s anything organised close to home of interest. I have to admit to rarely posting as I feel I have a lot less to contribute being Scoobless. I would like to return to a Subaru and this site one day so time for a reply.
Can’t remember the numbers but sidc does I believe have a decent following. Have to pick up on mctwistuk’s point of why it is quiet at times (not as bad lately though??).
Whether you agree or not I am posting really to see if it helps more people join in, but will mention the net connection as well given it's what gumball asked originally.
Last year I had a clear out of all the leftover Subaru parts and found net a bigger more needing audience to sell the parts (and search for a cheap 2nd car ), and of course be rude not to have a wander around the site. To be honest the general chat wasn’t for me, so never really took part in any topic discussions beyond the posts needed to allow me to get on to sell my parts. In the process of researching some of the cars that came up for sale and selling the parts I messaged a few folk, most of who have to admit came across fairly decent folk. I find it no different here. Why wasn’t it for me – not easy to answer – perhaps was an age thing and the chat kicking about, perhaps just cause felt more out of it not having a Subaru & knowing no-one, likely a combination of a few things and not just one main thing. Sure there’s going to be a few b@wb@gs on net, more there if posting numbers are higher, but you get that on every forum - deal with it or ignore it and move on. I didn’t even find the set up any better or worse, just slightly different, a preference thing no doubt.
Been mentioned in a way already but try this and prove me wrong (sorry if already been done and I missed the post). I use google as my search engine, perhaps others return different results. A new Subaru owner from Scotland, I want to find out more about my car/tuning/local meets/etc. Search on-line for anything Scotland/Scottish Subaru/Scoobies club/forum - any guess which site appears first !? – so in this fancy fangled day-n-age of the World Wide Web, what’s in a name – quite a lot I’d guess given it will be the main starting point for a lot of potential new members. If not the name then how does sidc move up the list ?? If you take yourself out of Scotland then scoobynet appears first, not to mention competing for members against some well established regional clubs. Just a thought out loud.
A note to the several hundred of the readers only to this thread (yes I was nearly one of those). One thing I know from experience is that you feel a lot more part of the group if you get yourself along and meet people face-to-face. When I first joined sidc I did feel there was a bit of a clique on the forum amongst the more established members, but have to say that when I finally got myself along to a meet it never felt like that and found most welcoming, realising more that it was a group of like-minded people who simply used the forum to have a laugh, and to be honest didn’t really know who I was till I said hello face-to-face. No doubt net is the same.
If you take the Kames meet in a few weeks time – guarantee that the names down on the a.m and p.m list all know as a minimum at least one other person in advance of turning up, vast majority knowing everyone. So a.m 16 people more or less same as last time there will turn up and have a chat/laugh/drive – been there a few times with the sidc folks with and without my Subaru and it is a decent few hours out. If you haven’t been to a meet but are thinking about it just do it – hey you won’t leave with a new best friend but it does help in getting more involved on the forum chat. The drivers are usually quite accommodating in taking a passenger (just don’t have lunch and irn-bru right beforehand....almost guilty!! ) so you don’t need to just stand about the whole time. The forum activity exists largely through a main core group of people pushing it along, through the years parts of that core move on for various reasons, it is up to All to contribute to any forum success.
Possible point that might point towards encouraging people to join in the topics, no doubt there are more. On net you have to log in to view posts (well I do anyway), so when searching for info your logged on – sidc you don’t and so someone simply looking for a quick bit of info doesn’t even need to be registered. Would joining and logging onto the site encourage some chat ?? Appreciate arguably may also discourage some as well but can’t see it has gone against net. As blobeye noted people have to post 5 times before much happens in which time they are met with a wall of "welcomes" and "show us yur motor" requests.
To those organising & attending Kames (and other events) – about the week of the event post up on the main section of the Scottish section basically highlighting it is taking place – the event is tucked away (correctly) in a sub-section that perhaps not everyone ventures into too often.
The rolling road day in a few weeks – nice one mctwistuk (twice you’ve been mentioned in this post without any “p” even attempting to be removed) in getting both sites together for a bit of joint banter through friendly power rivalry. I think “them and us” does exist for some, but some people lose the way where in a grown up world of common Subaru theme it can so easily stay friendly – and that goes to both sites (plenty of bitching examples from both sides)! I for one didn’t initially know net existed, no doubt for some on net it is the same just now and perhaps highlighting there is more than one Scottish site they might try here out and, like a lot on here, find sidc more to their preference.
The above is just my opinion, and I know I have waffled on. I have no doubt some will agree with all/some/none of it, but if it in any way pulls even one person out from the background or gets positive discussion going then job done.
Off back into hidding now