The slow death of the RB forum…

[Jay]

I understand that tech moves forward and so does the future, however besides the forums being dead it seems no one on here even bothers to check their PM’s or respond to questions. I know this site doesn’t give the validation that FB does with likes and comments, but are we all done here? I’m not going to start a RB vs. FB war but if we as a group cannot even answer PM’s or online questions on our home website it just seems futile. I’m not saving cans for a person or allowing members to make deals anymore, even though I had people ask me to. No response or no reply after holding cans 30+ days. Why just ditch this site? Social Media wins validate yourself and others.

[ernest turner]

Well said my friend well said. Don't do facebook,got no use for it.

[MI-Cans]

@Jay
First, unanswered PM's are an absolute insult. I've always thought that PM notifications should be mandatory both for members and registered guests. That way, you can send a PM knowing it's out there and if you get a response or don't get a response, that's on the person you sent the PM to.

Second, summer has always been the slow season on the site. The list of things that occupy people's time can be never ending. Kids are off from school so families plan vacations. Unless you're into winter activities, you generally plan travel and vacations for the warmer months. Watch the news. Record travel at airports despite highest prices ever, record highway travel despite highest gas prices. Mortgage rates at all time highs. It's like nothing is stopping us from enjoying our existence somehow or someway. Hobbies take a backseat to everything in the summer.

Third, you announced picking up a large collection last November. You made a remark about lots of foreign cans. I took a shot and PM'd you about a single can I've been looking for. You did reply that you thought you ran across a couple in there and would get back to me with what you ended up locating if anything. I never heard back.

Yes the Hobby climate has changed drastically. Auctions, social media, personal lives all factor into the effects. It all falls to each one of us to keep this forum alive and thriving. I know sometimes I post a topic that no one here gives a crap about. I think maybe a new visitor might find it interesting or informative and he/she might pay us a return visit. I'll do what I can for my part.

WE are all ultimately responsible for the survival or demise of this forum.

(MI-Cans)

[jacoby4664]

I also lament the significant down turn in activity on the Rusty Bunch Forum. I really found this site as the very best site for learning about things I had no idea of in our hobby.

[bodean]

I've noticed there has been less activity on the RB forum. If I posted stuff for likes and such then I wouldn't waste time. The sharing of information/trading/buying is what I like. Maybe I'm old fashioned. I don't have a cell phone, facebook or any of that fancy stuff, I just like learning and seeing what's going on. Granted this has got to be the worst time of year to dig (heat, ticks, mosquitoes, etc.) so maybe that's why, but I still check in almost daily. Sorry about what you guys in Frankenmuth are dealing with. As someone with asthma it has got to be challenging.

[Summitcan]

I may be wrong but didn’t we used to get an email if we had a PM, of course I might’ve done something stupid on my end that causes me not to receive the messages.
When I seen Jay‘s post I decided to check my PMs - only one I’ve had the last couple years was back in January and it was from a member who apparently paid up but has zero posts

[kamsquared]

I do get an email when I receive a PM but obviously if the folks who are not responding don't check their email or have the wrong email in their profile on this website, they will never know it.

[kamsquared]

I also lament the significant down turn in activity on the Rusty Bunch Forum. I really found this site as the very best site for learning about things I had no idea of in our hobby.

This site is still the best place to search and find great info on all topics beer can. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Facebook posts on the RB Fascebook forum, BCCA forum, or other beer can related forums asking about how to clean rust from cans.
I always reply with the link from this website on how to use oxalic or cleaning in general. The hope is to get some more traffic from folks who might never have known about this website.
FB posts disappear....this website is much more easily searched.

[MI-Cans]

Go to your User Control Panel. Select Board Preferences. Then select Edit Notification Options. Click to enlarge if necessary...

(MI-Cans)

[Summitcan]

Thanks MI-Cans, I got those checked on - I still have my original email from the beginning of time and that’s probably where the issue is.

[hemmings]

I too wish there was more activity here- considering how much seems to be on FB its a shame. The FB vanishing post stuff means whatever new info surfaces it goes away almost as fast.... It is really hard to find a topic that has Not been touched on here in an old, easily searchable, thread.

I have been on a label tear the last couple years and will make a point of posting more stuff myself.... Actually trying to work on a number of articles for the hobby magazines right now so trying not to scoop myself before those are done. Here's an Easter egg..... I can show the 12oz Coke cone was made! Andy

[burgiedave]

For a short time the social media site that aligns with R.B. was public. It then went private. Why the change was made is unknown. I'd never join, to make a post nor to be allowed 'in'.

This flip flop is discouraging. Opposite what I'd feel was the intent.

[keithker]

For a short time the social media site that aligns with R.B. was public. It then went private. Why the change was made is unknown. I'd never join, to make a post nor to be allowed 'in'.

This flip flop is discouraging. Opposite what I'd feel was the intent.

@idigrust Danny can answer that

[idigrust]

For a short time the social media site that aligns with R.B. was public. It then went private. Why the change was made is unknown. I'd never join, to make a post nor to be allowed 'in'.

This flip flop is discouraging. Opposite what I'd feel was the intent.

@idigrust Danny can answer that

Membership wanted it private. I did not.

[burgiedave]

Learning of the answer to my question I feel this is squandered opportunity. With this strategy I'll continue to sway away from what the masses are following.

[Bob L]

I try to double post my stuff in both the RB FB group and here on the forum. Not many users here on the forum anymore though. The decline of the RB newsletter is a corollary to this topic.

The desire to make the RB group on FB private was an overwhelming majority. It has to do with what liberties FB takes with your postings. In a “public” group, FB splatters your postings all over FB-land wherever it wants and to anybody anywhere. In a “private” group, the content is contained within the group. It is a privacy concern, especially if you prefer to keep a lower profile and avoid making friends in Nigeria. I stated previously that if the FB group stayed public, I would no longer be posting anything there. Others expressed the same sentiment. It’s still easy to join the group, you just hafta ask. Lots of other FB hobby groups are “private” including BCCA and NABA, and they all seem to do just fine.

[bodean]

Some of my best friends are from Nigeria and they have promised me they will send me 10M dollars for just a couple gift cards to cover costs... JK... this site is legit and the best for those of us inflicted with this disease known as can collecting.

[Monster]

Some of my best friends are from Nigeria and they have promised me they will send me 10M dollars for just a couple gift cards to cover costs... JK... this site is legit and the best for those of us inflicted with this disease known as can collecting.

[menke]

In only partial snark I'd say absolutely keep this site going because Facebook will not be around forever and it would be a shame to restart this site from scratch. Honestly I'm kind of stunned that advertisers continue paying more and more all the time to have their ads ignored and ridiculed, with so many of the click numbers artificially inflated. If nothing else ever went wrong (did you hear the one about FB selling ad space in front of teen girls so that every time they deleted a selfie they'd get ads for surgery and makeovers?) there'll be a downturn and those advertisers will cut back and leave a husk of a business.

[CMD]

Its time to roll with the changes , My Goodness ,Men , this is 2026 not 1979.....this is just the new fight , forum vs facebook , before, it was paper copy of Rustlings vs digital , Blah Blah Blah
I too, was a late joiner to Facebook for your very same reasons , but the vastness of items pictured is incredible .

"There's cool stuff out there but I'm not going to look to prove a point".

Do you realize the numbers of collectors FB and social media has brought back into the fold, its astounding , not unlike what Ebay did when it first came along

The items Ive added to my collection because of FB is also amazing

If you like to look at cool beer collectibles and the hundreds of groups associated with them , join FB , if not , ...you dinosaurs are truly missing out

OTBW , I do love the forum for research and do come here multiple times a week

And Jay , I did reply to your PM , it was you who never replied back after December 11th

So.... you can't go back home again , stay out of the water and this isn't Kansas anymore !!!

Cheers

Dan

[thatsus02]

Well as Editor of the Rustlings, I have found that trying to piece together members dumping trips from the Facebook page or the RB forum has become a real task and the time invested in me trying to better tell their stories just to have relatable content for the Rustlings is almost not worth the effort.

I sometimes wonder if producing a Rustlings is even necessary anymore. I can only think it helps our sponsors have extra visibility as well as the national chapters. As for the few that do try and add content to this over the past few years, I am not throwing grenades at you, but the others out doing things in the hobby, Rusty or not, could take the time if they felt the Rustlings was still a viable publication.

I thought about sitting down and kicking out the summer issue today, but found that the view wasn't worth the climb today. I guess I sit back and wait for all the great stories and pictures to come in a stock my inbox with content.

If you have anything, you can always send me story and pics to claytonemery32806@aol.com.

[menke]

All trolling aside, I agree with Clayton on the physical publication. I have a couple story projects on back burners so long as work consumes my spare time. I'd love this site to be functional when it comes time to publish but that's outside my control. I'll be happy to post them here whether I'm the absolute last user or not. it'll be available to the general public; I'm not worried about like buttons, hustling advertising income, putting up with spam, bottomless advertising grift, garbage from Russian trolls, or affirmation from the lowest common denominator. I click to post and my mission is fulfilled.

Clearly this site has been left behind. I think there's still a place for it, once something comes along to kill facebook it'll be relevant once again. I have my opinion and others will differ, as it should be.

[kamsquared]

Its time to roll with the changes , My Goodness ,Men , this is 2026 not 1979.....this is just the new fight , forum vs facebook , before, it was paper copy of Rustlings vs digital , Blah Blah Blah
I too, was a late joiner to Facebook for your very same reasons , but the vastness of items pictured is incredible .

"There's cool stuff out there but I'm not going to look to prove a point".

Do you realize the numbers of collectors FB and social media has brought back into the fold, its astounding , not unlike what Ebay did when it first came along

The items Ive added to my collection because of FB is also amazing

If you like to look at cool beer collectibles and the hundreds of groups associated with them , join FB , if not , ...you dinosaurs are truly missing out

OTBW , I do love the forum for research and do come here multiple times a week

And Jay , I did reply to your PM , it was you who never replied back after December 11th

So.... you can't go back home again , stay out of the water and this isn't Kansas anymore !!!

Cheers

Dan

I enjoy the Facebook sites but as I've stated before: It is nearly impossible to go back and look at old posts or search anything.
If you want to view stuff and communicate with other collectors about their collections, Facebook is the place. This website is a great place to post information/documentation on cans and is much more easily search-able.

[Can Dr.]

I could not agree more. I will be on a neon sign page and I make a comment, or someone may want some glass, it is often a pain to find the conversation.

[Jay]

Well it’s been a while. CMD I’m not sure what you are saying about the wizard of Oz reference. I know I’m a square dinosaur, but at some point building a house on rented land is going to hurt. All I’m trying to say is let’s keep posting things here as well as FB. Let’s not forget about all the info and friendships that have been made here. I guess this place means something to me. It kept me going through a few deployments to the Middle East. I just hate to see it put aside for TikTok videos and girls pouring Beer with their breasts. Lastly get out there and DUMP..that is why this chapter was created. No hard feelings just trying to keep this site alive…

By the way I’m not trying to make Danny or any of the members or moderators mad. Just trying to be an advocate for the chapter/website.


RB 713 Out..

[MI-Cans]

@Jay

Just trying to be an advocate for the chapter/website. RB 713 Out..

That needs to be the slogan for everybody visiting and using this site!

The posting and topics generally posted here tend to be informative and interesting. Some might even deserve a chuckle now and then.

I'm probably Hobby dumber than the majority of the visitors here. A day or a couple of them don't go by without me learning or understanding something I didn't know. If I run across something that I can't look up or find here, I'll look everywhere else until I find a possible response and then I post it here.

No question is stupid...

Every post/question deserves a response of some kind.

Nobody knows everything, but everybody knows something.

(MI-Cans)