RGM
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Most people simply don't understand the technology. If you USE the internet for anything at all, there are hundreds of entities out there gathering information about you. Sometimes (like China's ability to track nearly EVERYONE through their phones) it can be employed to help protect everyone - but mostly that's not its real purpose. The anti-trust action against Google (and perhaps Amazon and Facebook and Apple and others) is largely based on their domination (and syndication) of the market of all kinds of infrastructure as well as price fixing and other actions. Many people think Amazon is a giant retailer but the truth is that they make vastly more PROFIT from internet services (mostly to other businesses) than from any other business. Some good protections - (1) avoid "smart phone" use [flip phones are safer] (2) surf ANONYMOUSLY - which means (2a) use "incognito" or other modes that hide your identity and (2b) use a VPN - virtual private network - service. This service encrypts EVERYTHING you do so that neither your ISP nor anyone else can see which web sites you visit -- the web sites themselves cannot tell who you are unless you LOG IN and tell them. Your VPN service can tell, but that just means you should get a trustworthy VPN service. They do exist. Yeah, Facebook knows I like trains (especially FREIGHT CARS), knows I'm a Democrat, and knows who my friends are. Whoop de doo. Good luck getting any money from me from any of that. (Money is the primary purpose I alluded to above.) They're welcome to sell the information to others since it won't do the buyers any good either. Many people create fake name profiles using private (but not your personal) email accounts. Then the "trackers" can only follow that fake person - who as long as you take the other precautions above, will not resemble the real you. I have never gone this far - although I have yahoo & gmail & comcast profiles - but the idea has appeal. :-) On 10/27/2020 1:19 PM, Schuyler Larrabee via groups.io wrote:
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Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts |
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Tony, I agree but it's the only way to keep up with the grandkids. I hate the arrogance of the leadership of the company however, Fenton On Tue, Oct 27, 2020 at 2:27 PM Tony Thompson <tony@...> wrote:
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Tony Thompson
I'm personally not enamored with FB, but more importantly, my wife, a computer professional, distrusts it mightily. If I were to want to join any FB groups. I would have to begin by having a "discussion" with my wife.
Tony Thompson |
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Eric Hansmann
Anytime you go online to a website or search engine, your data is being harvested. You don’t need to be on Facebook for this to happen.
You can put as many apps on the browser to restrict these actions, but data seeps through. Same when you watch a streaming channel. Same when you use an Alexa device. Heck, I’d be very surprised if Groups.io is not collecting data.
If you want your info kept off line, then don’t go online. Even then, marketing companies use public records to target audiences for robo calling and US mail deliveries. Auto registration, property details, voter registration, and more are part of the public record and regularly requested by marketing firms.
I’m online and enjoy staying connected with this bunch, and others, to discuss steam era freight cars and other hobby topics. How else will you find out the next releases from Exact Rail, Rapido, Resin Car Works, Southbound Modelworks, Speedwitch Media, Tangent, Yarmouth Model Works, and others without being online? Not all of them advertise in print media, and many times the models are nearly gone by the time you read the magazine and decide to order.
Eric Hansmann Murfreesboro, TN
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Schuyler Larrabee via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 12:20 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] RGM
Complete agreement!
Schuyler
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Thomas Evans via groups.io
IMHO facebook is still as evil as ever! |
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Schuyler Larrabee
Complete agreement!
Schuyler
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Thomas Evans via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:42 AM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] RGM
IMHO facebook is still as evil as ever! |
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I agree with Dave Parker that groups.io is superior for most functions. What I have found Facebook useful for is developing sources outside rail-oriented people for historical photos and information. I have a web site on the A&Y (since the '90s) and an groups.io email list dedicated to the A&Y to document and share. I resisted using FB for the purpose due to all the reasons cited. I shared some of my research in the io list, but got very little feedback. And most of the questions asked on the list from railfans had answers that have existed on my web site since the early 2000's. There was some appreciation, but not much energy.
However, on FB I found a few individuals were interested in the towns served by the railroad. I joined a few of those FB groups and saw some interesting info. So I bit the bullet and created a FB group dedicated to the A&Y. And wow! I got a LOT of interest from town historians and those into specific industries (I knew about those collectors of the petroleum industry, but who knew people were obsessed on brick kilns and other industries?). I have developed a number of new sources of info, received quite a few new historical photos (I model 1934, so it's hard to find anyone alive but relatives to interview these days). I got confirmation of some ideas and theories I had about photos of steam era freight cars that may or may not have been on the A&Y. I even got a photo of the switcher, confirmation of switching operations, and more info on a photo of the only apparent revenue freight car ever lettered for the A&Y. Turns out it was likely MoW, but it still came from the steam era (though too late for 1934). Still I now have a steam era A&Y box car to model! So for those interested in getting the data they need to model freight cars accurately, FB is one more tool--with all the positive and negative aspects any one tool has. When researching and building data on the steam era, I'm willing to take advantage of every tool available. Just because groups.io doesn't have explicit data harvesting reputation, I would still wonder what is the financial model that makes this service available? I don't think there is ever a free lunch. As always, whether buying a "rare" "historic" photo or using a "free" resource to help with your steam freight car modeling needs, caveat emptor. Dave Bott -- ____________________________ David Bott, modeling the A&Y in '34 |
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Thomas Evans <tomkevans@...>
IMHO facebook is still as evil as ever!
Their sole purpose is harvesting your personal information to sell at a profit to whoever wants it with no known social responsibility. If you're OK with that, go for it, but, as for me, I'd rather do without the information. Luckily, you can still get into most facebook sites without being a member & harvest what you need, but I understand that still opens you up to some extent to their data harvesting operations. (I'm not sure exactly how?) Tom E. |
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Jerry Michels
I agree Dave. Facebook has too loose of a structure. Jerry Michels |
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Dave Parker
I'm OK with Facebook but, let's face it, groups.io is a vastly superior vehicle for sharing information, contacting individuals, archiving photos and files, etc., etc. Search functions work great.
I now belong to 7 groups, and they all have something to offer (despite widely differing levels of activity). Accordingly, I just can't see investing any time in Facebook groups. It's hard enough already to carve out adequate time at the modeling bench. -- Dave Parker Swall Meadows, CA |
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Dave Nelson
FWIW, Facebook has rapidly evolved from its origins as a college social board and now is a top notch site for hobby enthusiasts of all stripes.
I’d say there is a group for every steam era railroad as well as some modern stuff said to be about railroads… and if that isn’t enough there are loads of historical groups, game groups, silent movies, birding, native plants… the list goes on and on.
It’s not very good for archival purposes – the search is pretty lousy – but for casual viewing, say, once a day, it is very nice.
Dave Nelson
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of mel perry
same name/web site? or different? sorry i don't do any social media thanks mel perry |
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mel perry
same name/web site? or different? sorry i don't do any social media thanks mel perry On Mon, Oct 26, 2020, 12:35 PM Scott <repairman87@...> wrote: Bill S, Rio Grande Models posted it on thier Facebook page. I am excited to see it I still need a NG ballast spreader. |
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erieblt2
I guess I’m gonna have get back into Facebook(had a bad experience). Everyone is migrating to FB. Bill S
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On Oct 26, 2020, at 12:35 PM, Scott <repairman87@...> wrote:
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Scott
Bill S, Rio Grande Models posted it on thier Facebook page. I am excited to see it I still need a NG ballast spreader.
Scott McDonald |
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Lloyd Keyser
There were some people that tried to purchase Sunshine but Trisha would not sell and as far as I know she still has everything. LK On Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 09:25 AM, radiodial868 wrote: |
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Tom Madden
On Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 09:25 AM, radiodial868 wrote:
Just noticed that Eric posted on his FB page that a buyer has been found for Rio Grande Models, and the transfer to new owner has begun. This is good news for Steam Era Modelers as many of the kits make ideal flat car loads. RGM, PSC, SSLtd, NWSL, Sergent, JL Innovative, the list goes on of small RR companies doing the right thing and preserving their products and Legacy.I know your comment is rhetorical, but Martin, unlike Al and Eric, wasn't given the gift of time. Tricia tried to carry on the business, and she contacted several of us about doing the casting, but as far as I know she wasn't looking to sell.With resin casting the only unique asset would be the patterns, and even those deteriorate. Frank Hodina's Resin Car Works line has included several models previously done by Sunshine (from Frank's patterns), but all those patterns had to be recreated or highly modified to bring them up to current standards. And "current standards" means one piece bodies, which Martin never did. Tom Madden Tom Madden |
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erieblt2
Great news! How do you all get this info? Happily, Bill S
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On Oct 26, 2020, at 8:29 AM, radiodial868 <radiodial57@...> wrote:
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radiodial868
Just noticed that Eric posted on his FB page that a buyer has been found for Rio Grande Models, and the transfer to new owner has begun. This is good news for Steam Era Modelers as many of the kits make ideal flat car loads. RGM, PSC, SSLtd, NWSL, Sergent, JL Innovative, the list goes on of small RR companies doing the right thing and preserving their products and Legacy.
Why the !$#$@$% couldn't Sunshine have done the same $!##@! thing???? (Rant over, thank you for humoring me) ------------------- RJ Dial Mendocino, CA |
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