PCGB Cayman Register - New Facebook page

[Ray]

Andrew,

Spot on. I had a Facebook account but ditched it as social media can be fraught with danger. Loss of details, hacked accounts and other events have put me off opening another account.

I like PCGB as it is. Just my personal viewpoint.

Ray

 

[Contraband]

I feel this is getting a bit silly now. I really don’t think the Facebook page has been set up as an alternative to this forum, just an add on for people who like a bit of social media chat and banter.

Its not compulsory to take part.

This forum will always be the place to share and store any technical knowledge that is gained through working on our cars... we might have a chat about it on Facebook as we do it, but the technical write ups would always be posted here. We are all PCGB members after all !

Unless you are a Facebook fan, you are not missing out on anything... Don’t panic.

 

[Deanoc123]

I just requested access. Read the debate, personal choice in my opinion and you can take it or leave it. Facebook is easier to use than this forum I know that much and I won't complain at a few more Caymans in my news feed.

 

[Motorhead]

Dean,

Leaving aside communication aspects, I'm intrigued to know why you consider FB easier to use than the forum? Accepted that the forum format's a bit old fashioned, I have no problems navigating it quickly and efficiently on a tablet or laptop. Perhaps your comment relates to using it on a smartphone? I don't, but would imagine that there are visual limitations.

As a non-FB user it's been interesting to read comments both for and against.

Jeff

 

[Deanoc123]

Dean,

Leaving aside communication aspects, I'm intrigued to know why you consider FB easier to use than the forum? Accepted that the forum format's a bit old fashioned, I have no problems navigating it quickly and efficiently on a tablet or laptop. Perhaps your comment relates to using it on a smartphone? I don't, but would imagine that there are visual limitations.

As a non-FB user it's been interesting to read comments both for and against.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, yes mobile exclusively. One obvious one is posting images. I can only do 1 and I need to shrink it on my phone. If I want to do more I have to host on my Google drive, go on another site and convert each image URL to a sharable format and then paste them in one by one.

 

[ralphmusic]

Hi Jeff, yes mobile exclusively. One obvious one is posting images. I can only do 1 and I need to shrink it on my phone. If I want to do more I have to host on my Google drive, go on another site and convert each image URL to a sharable format and then paste them in one by one.

I have found posting images easier than the process you describe. I have posted images held on my iPhone, on my iPad and on my Mac Laptop and Desktop. True, the load from one of these into the PCGB website is limited to one image per post but I have not had to resize any iPhone originated images. If you are trying to post multiple or really big file size images then you need to put then onto a site that will allow the PCGB site to download them on the fly. I have again never had to resize image files uploaded to postimage.org. On that hosting site you can set save to a particular screen size when uploading.

So it maybe that your (and others') issue is more about large size image files than the PCGB site.

I'll start another thread to try out various file sizes/posting methods so perhaps we can understand issues people run into.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

So for me improvements would be:

[ul][*]Reduce the multiple posts limit to something like 15 seconds - if only members can make posts or send PMs it may not even be necessary to have the timeout thing.[/ul]Andrew.

Hi Andrew,

I think 1 minute was the minimum time limit. The previous attack on the system was from a Club member. I can't believe anyone would find it too onerous to be limited to a minute between posts? You have to finish the post you're currently writing, then go back to the menu, find something interesting, read it, come up with a reply, open a reply and write it, then hit "send". I couldn't do that in ten minutes, let alone one!

 

[Buddy]

As Archie says, the Facebook page is there in the main for social chat between members and when we have an event such as a drive to Stuttgart etc people will want to stay in a closed page, after all there is a case for personal security and the knowledge that a group have all gone away for a week or two is not to be broadcast on a public page. Since Facebook users tend to use their own names it's easy for someone to look them up and eh ho burglary. In my view Andrew is missing out when running his Cayman and Coffee events in that he can't post the excellent photos which he took of each event, they may be in the next PP or the one after, we'll see. Of course he could post them on his own FB page if he had one and tell attendees to friend him in there. Anyone can ask to join when they have a reason to join and then disengage at a later date but several parts of the club have pages and not all are closed groups. There are quite few car interest and other closed groups on FB for members security and the avoidance of trolls ( do they target Porsche owners ) I think that the closed route is the best way to go. In fact I don't like to see guests on the forum, it demonstrates a break in security.

 

[ralphmusic]

As Archie says, the Facebook page is there in the main for social chat between members and when we have an event such as a drive to Stuttgart etc people will want to stay in a closed page, after all there is a case for personal security and the knowledge that a group have all gone away for a week or two is not to be broadcast on a public page. Since Facebook users tend to use their own names it's easy for someone to look them up and eh ho burglary. In my view Andrew is missing out when running his Cayman and Coffee events in that he can't post the excellent photos which he took of each event, they may be in the next PP or the one after, we'll see. Of course he could post them on his own FB page if he had one and tell attendees to friend him in there. Anyone can ask to join when they have a reason to join and then disengage at a later date but several parts of the club have pages and not all are closed groups. There are quite few car interest and other closed groups on FB for members security and the avoidance of trolls ( do they target Porsche owners ) I think that the closed route is the best way to go. In fact I don't like to see guests on the forum, it demonstrates a break in security.

Kevan,

A couple of points:

"can't post the excellent photos" - not true

"I don't like to see guests on the forum" - are you going to raise this Club policy as an issue at the Conference?

Ralph

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Kevan, I don't understand your concern at all?

How do guests on the forum constitute a "break in security"??

That comment makes absolutely no sense. Do you lock yourselves in a sound-proofed room at your region meets, in case a non-member overhears something? Talking that way about prospective Club members, or ex-members, is just nonsense.

 

[Nick_USA]

Kevan, I don't understand your concern at all?

How do guests on the forum constitute a "break in security"??

That comment makes absolutely no sense. Do you lock yourselves in a sound-proofed room at your region meets, in case a non-member overhears something? Talking that way about prospective Club members, or ex-members, is just nonsense.

I agree with Paul, there is no need to have secret hidden groups that only a small number of invited and approved members can see. We 'London' have had an open facebook page since 2011 which welcomes members and non-members alike. Over 2500 Porsche enthusiasts 'like' our page. We've never had any issues with non-members viewing and contributing to the page content. Over the years many have joined the Club because of the public 'noise' we have made about the things we do.

I strongly discourage any region or register setting up a private group.

 

[Buddy]

Well Paul, given that some members don't like social media probably due to the occasional troll and the forum is run and paid for by current members, why should others have access? Like many on here I do from time to time use Planet9 which started out as an exclusively Cayman forum across the globe, it has since extended the range of models but as far as I know everyone has to be accepted to access, has a username and a password, I don't recall seeing any guests there although as it has diluted to all things with a Porsche badge they may have become more lax on such by now and I know that it is possible to post a link to an article on their website.

 

[Buddy]

Ralph, on the subject of my preference not to see guests on the forum I have never been uncivil to any and when they are simply asking for advice on buying their first Porsche I have given them a fair hearing and answers, they have even phoned me to discuss their requirements, no problem. It is my preference that the paid for by members forum be for members. As for photos, I take it that Andrew T didn't post his excellent photos as there were several and the forum doesn't lend itself to that or posting an article. I have forwarded his photos and write up to the magazine a little over couple of weeks ago to be placed in the magazine when and if possible. Our region meets in a large room which is full of members and their personal guests, visitors are allowed and usually do get approached as a new face to welcome them to see what goes on at a meeting etc. Hardly secret but then not out in a public place either just like every club I have ever been to.

Nick, for the members to be able to discuss things such as trips in advance it does need to have some level of security and privacy ask your house insurer but if you state on public media about a trip you are taking in advance or post on media that you are away and get burgled insurers say they won't pay out, it is purely for members security.

 

[tscaptain]

Well Paul, given that some members don't like social media probably due to the occasional troll and the forum is run and paid for by current members, why should others have access?

I guess for the reasons Paul gave in his 18th Nov post. If security is the issue I don't see why potential future events can't be discussed on the forum and then go private when you start taking names. If the closed FB group is used at the discussion stage won't the majority of Club members be excluded?

Like Paul I don't understand why non members access to the forum constitutes a break in security. Only non members are the potential bad guys? Personally I don't regard FB a secure platform regardless of whether it is a closed group or not!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Well Paul, given that some members don't like social media probably due to the occasional troll and the forum is run and paid for by current members, why should others have access? Like many on here I do from time to time use Planet9 which started out as an exclusively Cayman forum across the globe, it has since extended the range of models but as far as I know everyone has to be accepted to access, has a username and a password, I don't recall seeing any guests there although as it has diluted to all things with a Porsche badge they may have become more lax on such by now and I know that it is possible to post a link to an article on their website.

Kevan, perhaps your concerns are due to you not being fully aware of how a forum works versus a Facebook group?

The "guests" you see here are simply not Club members. They have to register for the forum, and in exactly the same way as your group Planet9, they give their details before they are allowed access. Even then, they have restricted access unless they join the Club. It is significantly more "secure" than talking in public, for instance in a pub with staff and strangers who might be looking to hear about unoccupied houses so they can do a bit of mischief. You'll find that people on forums or Facebook aren't all tealeaves out to 'alfinch your motor, or rob your rat & mouse if they overhear you're going on holiday. They are simply normal people communicating via different means, and so long as you use the same sensible precautions you would in real life, you are not at risk from guests using the PCGB forum!

Don't forget, the only direct attack I've seen on this forum in 15 years was from a Club member.

Regarding "paying for", the Club's website has advertising on it, and if you scroll down this very page of the forum there are sponsor's adverts. If we fail to bring in the traffic via means such as an open forum, we simply lose large amounts of revenue. You have to look at the larger picture here: non-members DO contribute towards the forum, and to the Club's coffers, but bring zero extra cost. Seriously, it costs zero to have non-members using this forum, but they bring in revenue.

 

[Nick_USA]

Nick, for the members to be able to discuss things such as trips in advance it does need to have some level of security and privacy ask your house insurer but if you state on public media about a trip you are taking in advance or post on media that you are away and get burgled insurers say they won't pay out, it is purely for members security.

Kevan, obviously you've police checked everyone in your group. Your facebook private group is no more secure than any other forum.