Update on the Current Forum Revamp and Changes [2025-04-14]

[GTA-Airgunner]

Good Morning Airgunners!  Thank you for being a part of the GTA.

Today's post will be short, as I have a ton of work on my plate and meetings stacked up like crazy. 

Some of you GTA Veterans will have noticed the revamp of the home page, moving topics to be sorted by "make and model" versus country of origin.  I hope that you all have been able to find your favorite threads easily and keep up with the changes.  For the new folks coming on, I hope that the new "up front" approach has made things easier for you to get started.

These changes are really "phase 1" of a bigger plan to migrate the forum to a new platform.  Hopefully, we can start that process in 2026.  While we are working through the change, please feel free to reach out to our admins, moderators, and me personally with any concerns or suggestions.  I want to make the GTA something truly useful for everyone, novice and veteran alike, and there's a lot of catch-up work to do.

One more thing, and then I'll let you go.  When it comes to information about the sport, the products, and the industry, do you all prefer written "articles" or videos?  And with each of those, what length do you find most useful?   I started my time in airgunning reading Tom Barth's daily posts at PyramyAir.  Would something like that, written, video, or some mix of both, be something that you all would enjoy?

Please let me know when you can.

Again, thank you for being part of the GTA!

Cheers
Rick

[happymecanic]

Thanks for the update Rick!

Personally I like to see both written articles and videos, I feel they complement each others.

Cheers!

[eeler1]

I generally prefer written, but I'm old.  Videos are probably more appealing to the younger crowd.  So, yeah, a mix of each probably.

[longislandhunter]

Like Jon I generally prefer written articles but I also enjoy videos as well.  I don't think you could go wrong with a mix of both.

Jeff

[airgunaut]

Ditto on a mix, with the choices dependent on the subject. Some things are better retained with photos or videos, while others are better absorbed by reading because everyone reads at their own speed. Also, if the person in a video does not enunciate clearly or talks too quickly, seeing the words in text prevents misunderstanding.

[Back_Roads]

 I'm in for the mix I enjoy a good read sometimes. I like Minesweeper's post he does on various air rifle experiences he has had, for another example.

[GTA-Airgunner]

Thanks for the feedback!

I thought that a mix would be the better way to go.

I look forward to working out how to get this done.  I have a TON of articles that I've written over the years that could be revamped and posted.  I probably have 200 to 300.

Cheers!
Rick

[avator]

Often times I have to read things twice and usually pick up on things I either missed or misunderstood.
I spend alot of time reading on the GTA as it is already so I would lean more towards videos.
A picture is worth 1000 words.. with a video that number would be astronomical.
How ever, a good video on a specific topic is subject to presentation.

[NCAirLine]

Same as above, a mix is great provided that a video would make sense.  Pictures are also worth 1000 words.  A couple of pictures of a hammer and spring along with a description of their purpose for example. 

LOL @Avator you and I were thinking the same thing!

[avator]

Yep, yep, yep... illustrations in a written review would also be a good thing.
Better yet... imbedded video clips in some cases.

[RichH]

Hate to say this but while the trackers might say I am spending more time on the site, I am actually coming here less and less due to the changes. It takes longer to find things and I guess for the site that's a "good thing", but I am coming here less. Just an FYI for ya. I'm sure that I'm not alone.