Shut Down the Site ? Or?

[UWone77]

I know we've been off and online recently, but as some of you know, John Hwang at Rainier Arms owns WEVO. I know some of you probably thought I owned it, but I don't.

Anyhow, there's been discussion about just shutting down the site or passing it on to some new ownership.

In my opinion, forums have been dying since I would say the early 2010's. Back then I'd be actively watching snipers hide and HKforums as a lurker. Once in awhile I'd give my 2 cents on m4c and arfcom. There was some good old bickering going on at m4c along with a healthy dose of better stake that castle number and Rob's chart. Facebook groups have largely taken over this arena though. Traffic on all of the sites I've mention have been down and with my perceived lack of innovation in this industry for the last 5+ years, the existing talk has centered around just rehashed arguments. I actually like the forums, they are easier to search than Facebook groups IMHO and easier to write out longer drawn out posts with pictures attached.

Personally, I haven't been on as much either, but not because I moved onto Facebook groups. I am apart of a few, but rarely interact. My absence here has been mainly I've got 2 kids that are growing up and I've been spending more time raising them and being a dad. I'm sure many of you can relate. The other part has been, I've lost a lot of my interest in firearms. Some of that has to do with the fact I own a lot of them and some of that is because I live in a state with a AWB and that really limits what I can purchase. I still have a paid for but non-transferable Sig MCX at Rainier.

So I say all this but ask the membership who still stick around... what say you? Do we keep this going?

[FortTom]

Keep it going.

[Jerry R]

I would like to see this forum continue.

[gatordev]

I understand it takes money to keep this running but other than occasionally going on HKPro to find an answer to a technical question, this is the only firearms venue I frequent. If it's able to be kept running, that would be great. If the plan is to close it down, is there any chance we can get a heads up? I want to pull a couple of technical discussions that have been had here and it will take a couple of days to do that due to my schedule.

[alamo5000]

I would vote to keep it going as well, if possible. Not sure how much is involved in that though. I am not on Facebook or any other social media and I too prefer the 'forum' format by a long shot. That said I would understand whatever route is taken. At least in the online world (YouTube etc) I have seen/felt a major shift in the past few years as to who as well as 'what type' of content is being made. Some of the same concepts apply to other areas of the online firearms community as a whole. At some point it will probably re-invent itself but who knows when or if that will ever take place.

YouTube especially has come down hard on the content creators in 'our' space, but that's not even 'it'. I mean if your full time job is to make firearms videos, after 5 to 7 years of making a video or two per week it probably gets increasingly difficult to create something as exciting as it was 'back in the day'. I think those same general concepts apply across the board to all online content as well.

[Aragorn]

I occasionally lurk now but rarely post. It seems most topics to be covered have already been covered either here or elsewhere and that I just don’t have much to contribute anymore. That said, I’ve been here since pretty close to the beginning, though under a different username until 2009, and view this as my forum “home”.

But…. it HAS been pretty quiet around here.

I vote it stays if it’s practical, but it could use a few breaths of life lest it fades to obscurity.

[UWone77]

I understand it takes money to keep this running but other than occasionally going on HKPro to find an answer to a technical question, this is the only firearms venue I frequent. If it's able to be kept running, that would be great. If the plan is to close it down, is there any chance we can get a heads up? I want to pull a couple of technical discussions that have been had here and it will take a couple of days to do that due to my schedule.

It doesn't cost a lot to host the site. There's also a back up, so no worries, I'll make sure you get whatever you need if in the event we decide to call it quits.

[Former11B]

I like this group of guys

I also would like to convey to Mr Hwang my appreciation for him keeping the lights on for us for this long

[gatordev]

I like this group of guys

I also would like to convey to Mr Hwang my appreciation for him keeping the lights on for us for this long

Both are excellent points.

At the end of the day, a big thank you to Mr. Hwang and Rich.

[Joelski]

Can't disagree with anything that's been said. I like our small group and if it's not much trouble to keep, considering the hosting in place for all the RA stuff, we're probably a blip. I feel I've made some pretty good friends here, and we all support each other within our microcosm of enthusiasm. It's comforting knowing this group is still responding.

If things do go dark, I want you all to know I appreciate the education and commaraderie from this humble site. I'd much rather chat here than pretty much any of the TOS options.

[UWone77]

Can't disagree with anything that's been said. I like our small group and if it's not much trouble to keep, considering the hosting in place for all the RA stuff, we're probably a blip. I feel I've made some pretty good friends here, and we all support each other within our microcosm of enthusiasm. It's comforting knowing this group is still responding.

If things do go dark, I want you all to know I appreciate the education and commaraderie from this humble site. I'd much rather chat here than pretty much any of the TOS options.

We'll always have Instagram Joel LOL

[UWone77]

So since I've had less time to devote to the site, FortTom has stated he wants to take a whirl at this and moderate the site and make some changes. We're going to see how that goes, so Fort Tom, you have the reigns for now.

[FortTom]

So since I've had less time to devote to the site, FortTom has stated he wants to take a whirl at this and moderate the site and make some changes. We're going to see how that goes, so Fort Tom, you have the reigns for now.I'll do my best to try to fill in for UW who has done a heck of a job along with the members here building this forum. Nothing I do will mean anything without more member participation. So feel free to get those camera's out, take some pics and review your current build/purchase/activity and let's breathe some life back into WEVO.New members, time to introduce - reintroduce yourselves participate in some of the various area's you're interested in, and more senior members please bring us up to date with your projects/activities. It'll be a few days, but I plan to update a few areas and get them going again. Also, new item reviews, firearms related articles etc., let's get this Forum going again, lest it gets shut down by the powers that be.I hope I can count on some of you to share some of your valuable time and knowledge, interests, news, views and whatever and pump some blood back into the forums. I'm also open to any ideas you may have, grandois or not and you can share them in the open forum and PM me anytime, Only our members can make this forum breathe new life. I hope I can count of some of you for your ideas and support.Thank you and hope to hear from some of you soon, and some of you who haven't been around for a while.FT

[Joelski]

We'll always have Instagram Joel LOLHey, don't look at Me. Mustang started that. I'm just reaping!

[Joelski]

I'll do my best to try to fill in for UW who has done a heck of a job along with the members here building this forum. Nothing I do will mean anything without more member participation. So feel free to get those camera's out, take some pics and review your current build/purchase/activity and let's breathe some life back into WEVO.New members, time to introduce - reintroduce yourselves participate in some of the various area's you're interested in, and more senior members please bring us up to date with your projects/activities. It'll be a few days, but I plan to update a few areas and get them going again. Also, new item reviews, firearms related articles etc., let's get this Forum going again, lest it gets shut down by the powers that be.I hope I can count on some of you to share some of your valuable time and knowledge, interests, news, views and whatever and pump some blood back into the forums. I'm also open to any ideas you may have, grandois or not and you can share them in the open forum and PM me anytime, Only our members can make this forum breathe new life. I hope I can count of some of you for your ideas and support.Thank you and hope to hear from some of you soon, and some of you who haven't been around for a while.FTSome of those areas are locked, or just not accessible to me and Alamo! [:D]

[Stone]

FT, congrats brother! Yeah, lets keep this place going! UW, you've been a rockstar over the years and hope you still chime in once in a while...

[Stone]

@UW, is Eric still behind the scenes doing the IT stuff?

[Stone]

@FT, sent you an email through regular channels...

[Stone]

If any long term members are still lurking out there would you mind posting up something simple like "still here" so we can gauge real world interest? TIA

[MonkeyBomb]

I say leave it up. I haven't been by in a while. Some major life changes over the past few years.

With YouTube and Facebook killing off gun channels and pages I think forums will make a come back. They just killed my Page on FB. Their algorithm unpublished it and I'm still waiting on a decision for my appeal. The censorship is a reality. Especially Pro gun, Pro LE pages and channels.

[Uffdaphil]

I hope WEVO can stick around. Perhaps some of the better members from the suicidal M4C debacle will come here.

My posting is down since I may have only one new build in me and have upgraded all my ARs enough. Maybe a new scope or two down the line. I still enjoy keeping up with what others here are up to. And the (mostly[:)]) relaxed atmosphere appeals.

[Tyrannosaur]

I'm still here. I'm definitely a lurker just taking in info. I've been busy since I moved fro. NY to SC. Many bumps in the road but I still stop in here. I would like to see it stay up since it's the only forum without dipshits arguing and showing their complete lack of knowledge

[Joelski]

FT, congrats brother! Yeah, lets keep this place going! UW, you've been a rockstar over the years and hope you still chime in once in a while...

Thanks for stepping up, Jim!

Like I said, I'd much rather have an independently operated FORUM where open discussion is welcomed, than to be on a FACIALBook group to talk guns, and you'd sure as hell think more gun enthusiasts would come around. There is a depth of knowledge here that you can't find on ANY other forum because the best ones said "Hell with it" altogether. They're not on Facebook, or Instagram, most of them have never seen YouTube, much less gotten into being an influencer, although there are a handful of decent video makers, I'd still rather be here and not live in fear of censorship, or fact checking, other than one of you guys calling BS on a guess I might make on occasion.

If that sounds fuddy, FUCK YOU! I like my forums free of globalist influence. Sorry for the french but I do speak non-trans French fluently because my Great Aunt was the head of the French department at OSU.

Anyway, I think those guys on facebook wear skinny jeans and pose, rather than build, load, and shoot evolved sporting firearms!

[Stone]

"Anyway, I think those guys on facebook wear skinny jeans and pose, rather than build, load, and shoot evolved sporting firearms!" Hahahaha! Yeah, I avoid facebook like a plague... Looks like the general consenses is to keep things going here and AFAIK it seems we are headed in that direction!

[Joelski]

Good to hear, Stone and congrats on your elevation to assistant minder of the inmates! [:D]

Man, I stopped by M4C and that place is hard to even look at, let alone read. Kinda feel like the desire to kill that place is intentional, or the admin staff is colorblind. Either way, I'd like to see some of their few level headed guys make a showing. A couple that I have always thought of as worth reading are Papabear and MarkM4. There's a lot more, and I can't imagine they read the site with sunglasses..

[Stone]

Thanks brother!

[SINNER]

I still stop by and read some threads occasionally, but the bullshit required to just post a pic really ruined it for me. I think you could plot the drop off directly to that. It's just easier on other forms of social media

[Stone]

Thanks for the intel Sinner. I've had the same issue for a while and was just able to get resolved yesterday. The upgrade to Vbulletin 6.0 that's being worked on right now should resolve it. I fixed it on my end by downloading Duckduckgo as a stand alone browser, Firefox and Edge just didn't work and to be honest I am having other sites I visit work better with DDG than the other two ever did. Now, when I post here I once again have the full option option box above this box^ and even more options than I did before. DDG has come along way, their stand alone browser works really well but its the stand alone browser that people need and NOT the app or plug in.

[Stone]

This is another possible fix for members here but you have to be logged in. Click on settings> top of page, right side> click on general settings, left side, middle of new page> scroll to the bottom and under misc. options you have 3 different options under message Editor Interface, there is an explanation there of what they do. Also please go through your settings and adjust things accordingly as it will only enhance your experience here.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Two months ago the forum administrator asked WEVO members if the forum should be shut down. 12 members answered... about the size of a small AOL chat room 30 years ago. There's your answer.

At one time this forum had a stream of stunning firearm photography. No more. Absent that.... yawn.

Good luck.

[FortTom]

Two months ago the forum administrator asked WEVO members if the forum should be shut down. 12 members answered... about the size of a small AOL chat room 30 years ago. There's your answer.

At one time this forum had a stream of stunning firearm photography. No more. Absent that.... yawn.

Good luck.

Phil, don't give up on us yet. We have some things in the works. Right now I have had Covid for 2 weeks and Jerry has pretty much been busy swatting down spammers and bots. Damn near a full time job in itself. It took a while for forums to go down hill, and to bring them back isn't going to happen overnight. But if valued members such as yourself keep bailing, it's not going to help....drink some coffee, to keep from yawning, keep posting, it's the members who make the forum, not the admin's and mods. We hope you stay with us.

FT;)

[Stone]

Overall, we get somewhere between 2k-3k views a day. So there is traffic coming our way but actual participation seems to be fairly low. I get that people want to read and research stuff but without actual participation like people starting threads and posting photos its hard to have the appearance of a popular forum. Theres maybe 20 or so members that are doing their best to play along but in the end it probably wont be enough. We definitely need ideas and suggestions so dont be shy guys... Its not just online forums but the entire firearms market seems to have peaked from its frenzy a few years ago and has been in a decline.

[BoilerUp]

My sense is that things tend to be slow over the summer months, too, as folks tend to stay busy with family life. I know I haven't spent much time at the range or the reloading bench this summer as a result of staying busy with personal life, but hoping to be able to enjoy the sport more as we get into fall.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

We have some things in the works.


Whatever is in the works... this might not be a bad idea to address.

Chrome browser.

https://i.imgur.com/J5wSTa3.png

Competitors don't display such warnings:

https://i.imgur.com/6nnpV1o.png

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Overall, we get somewhere between 2k-3k views a day. So there is traffic coming our way but actual participation seems to be fairly low. I get that people want to read and research stuff but without actual participation like people starting threads and posting photos its hard to have the appearance of a popular forum. Theres maybe 20 or so members that are doing their best to play along but in the end it probably wont be enough. We definitely need ideas and suggestions so dont be shy guys... Its not just online forums but the entire firearms market seems to have peaked from its frenzy a few years ago and has been in a decline.

Yup, looks pretty slow. Other than than myself, there's been no new postings in the past three days.

14 members at least clicked on the forum for some reason in the past 24 hours. Perhaps to use PM or just click on the What's New button to find nothing new.

Will check back occasionally to see if what's in the works materializes.

Good luck.

[Skymark2]

I re-registered after some difficulty with an old email account. I've always stopped by to check out the site, not as frequently as I did several years ago, but still quite often. I'm also one that is more a lurker than a contributor on any site. That being said, I hope the site keeps running. After seeing what happened to M4carbine.net, I'm hoping that more will migrate over here. This site looks good, it's easy to navigate, easy to search, easy to post. I hope it does continue.

[Stone]

Thanks for the compliments, glad your back and the new staff has been working hard to update everyhting and trying to make this place a great destination... We definetely like feedback about how we can improve and grow the site.

[Pyzik]

I feel a little bit like a zombie..... Hello!

I fell off long ago, January of 2021!? That was when I moved and life got exponentially more crazy. Went through some rough stuff. Not too long after that I lost my job and subsequently my locations for dark and grungy photos.
God had a plan though. I got a new job, which is great. But my commute is insane. They make it worth it for the most part.

Anyway, I'm here because in the last few weeks I've decided I needed to get back to enjoying things again. Guns, shooting and taking photos. Often, if you don't look out for you, who will? It takes effort to make sure I make time to do these things.
Also, turns out social media REALLY doesn't things I think are cool.... So I thought I'd stop in here. I think I'm going to move back to forums, at least somewhat. Facebook is easy, but it's a cesspool. For the most part Reddit sucks too. I don't do twitter.
I think forums are going to come back, at least partially.

[Jerry R]

Hello!

I fell off long ago, January of 2021!?

Welcome back! You and your craft have been sorely missed.

[Mustangfreek2]

All forums have been dead for over a decade.

Most have moved to gheybook, but it's not as good their as shit gets lost and attitudes fly more then info