There is some worth in knowing the context - the thread from which this one was extracted?
Post number 6 therein refers.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...tion-rtw-82152

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Dave

It might (or not?) be of interest to observe that once the off topic ramblings of a minority were move from the thread linked to by Walkabout to here, the volume and on-topic-ness of others' contributions on that thread increased dramatically.

Maybe good contributions breed good contributions? Maybe new contributors are attracted and old contributors are reinvigorated once all utterances are parked in more appropriate places/ communicated in less offensive ways?

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TBS.com

I don't anyone who doesn't 'Dig the hubb'. A few people spit their dummies and leave or get offended when people don't say thank you for them posting a reply.. But they're the minority.

You'd have to be a highly sensitive soul to actually be offended by a travel forum.


I know what you mean though. It's not as 'busy' as it used to be. But I think only in a 'social network' way. I don't think that's down to the HUBB though. I think that's down to the MASSIVE dominance of Facebook, twitter and other social media. Horizons Unlimited has a huge Facebook group which people use a lot now too.

On the bright side, the information on the hubb now tends to be more 'relevant and useful'. Instead of the really useful information being lost in threads of rubbish.

Just look at website forums like ABR. They're all about "Post a pic of your cat" or "What's your favourite pie".

That's fine in it's own way but hardly useful information when you need to find out the current Visa Situation for Russia...



Like Chris says too. It's summer. Everyone is out riding, camping , on holiday. (I'm packing my bike for a weekend at haggs bank right now). And also it's winter in South America, Australia, Africa so it's kind of 'Off season' as far Overland travel goes.

I use the hubb a lot more in the UK winter where I am dreaming instead of riding.

The hubb is a great place and it's in the hands of it's members and supporters to keep it going in it's current format.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I can't comment on whether the hubb is less or more busy than previously, but when I was talking to Grant a while ago, he offered the view that the hubb has a huge proportion of "lurkers" who read for pleasure or are researching trips.

They browse sub-forums and use the (now highly efficient, since Google algorithms are being used) search function. Just because they don't reply to a post (maybe they don't have an answer or don't feel the need to spout hot air?) or ask the same question that has been asked 10s of times already (maybe they have browsed or searched the site?), doesn't mean the traffic (useful traffic that attracts advertisers...) is poor/falling or whatever.

Look how popular the HU meets all over the world are. The brand HU/HUBB is doing just fine, I believe.

I also agree with Ted regarding social media. I occasionally dip into the HU group on Facebook and it is what it is: predominantly froth and chit-chat, just like the rest of Facebook and Twitter et al. No one expects to find/see anything factually useful on social media, do they?

I "lurk" on Facebook regularly. I use it to stay in touch with real friends and Facebook-friends and talk BS.

ABR may on the surface have a lot of traffic, but it just seems to be a social forum used a lot by a few. You wouldn't go there for useful information. When people do ask useful information about motorcycle travel beyond the UK they invariably get told to read the hubb... e.g. http://www.adventurebikerider.com/fo...ke-abroad.html

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TBS.com

I've been a "lurker" since 2006 but only recently began posting as I step up the research for a future RTW trip my wife and I have been planning for the last few years.

I've spent most of my lunch breaks at work for the last 9 years looking on the HUBB and love the 24hr link on the homepage. It's the first site I visit when I get in from work.

The site as a whole is excellent for research and you only need to have a quick browse through the HUBB to find tonnes of like-minded overlanders and a plethora of useful information. There is often no need to post anything as the answers to any questions are all there and easy to see.

I also go on ADVrider but only really use it when I want to look at photos of a 3 legged cat sat on a motorcycle in front of a red brick building with a black door. Even then you have to trawl through pages for a decent one. Plus they're mostly from USA.

The HUBB has accurate information from people from all over the world and that's what I like.