Other "small web" forums that are good on specific topics

[jp10558]

I know I recently said I disliked Facebook and preferred the "older style" independent topic based forums. I have haunted several other such forums in the past and one just reminded me they existed today -
Automatic Washer forums.

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

The website and social network for experts, collectors and fans of vintage and brand new automatic washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and wringer washers.

automaticwasher.org

I remember reading it a lot before I decided to get my Speed Queen set in around 2016 or so. If you want to know about vintage, older or modern decent washers and dryers, you would struggle to find more interested and knowledgeable people than there. Kinda like TUG for washing machines IMO.

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?board=13.0 - Swiss Army Knife (and multitools in general) forum for aficionados. IDK I kinda liked them more back when I was really keeping up, but also https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/multi-tools-multi-purpose-knives.786/ was good, and again, all sorts of specialty knives etc. I just personally think for most people who aren't "knife enthusiasts" multi-tools and specifically SAKs are the most practical and useful. YMMV of course.

https://groups.io/g/Mixer-Owners - a migration of a Yahoo group I have been in since 2008 or so. Sold me on the Bosch Universal Plus mixer line after "will it blend" sold me on Blendtec. If you want to know about stand mixers and all there is to know, reading the historical threads and getting on the current forum is a good way to do so. It's slower now since Yahoo shut down - IDK how many moved to groups.io, but if they did get the history, many models of stand mixers don't change that quickly so worth checking out IMO. Or just get a BUP lol!

So - where do you like to go that isn't a "platform" other than TUG? (i.e. not reddit or facebook or X or youtube)? What for?

 

[easyrider]

I'm on a bunch of forums but many have disappeared over the years. Most are or were similar to what you see on Tug regarding platform. Many have been replaced by Facebook groups. My first forum was a c-band satellite signal testing forum in the late 80's. With a few tweaks we were able to get ppv sporting events. I still have the ten foot dish out back, lol.

Bill

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

I use 3, one is CadillacForums for owners of all years of this iconic carmaker, and I have just begun using PhotoForums which is for all photography (including cellphone photography). A third one I use if I have a concern is Linux Mint. The problem with Facebook Groups is, it's timeline-based, so if you want to see a post from a certain time ago, you need to either scroll or search. With a forum, it's all in front of you, organized by subject.

TS

 

[TUGBrian]

garagejournal!

 

[jp10558]

I use 3, one is CadillacForums for owners of all years of this iconic carmaker, and I have just begun using PhotoForums which is for all photography (including cellphone photography). A third one I use if I have a concern is Linux Mint. The problem with Facebook Groups is, it's timeline-based, so if you want to see a post from a certain time ago, you need to either scroll or search. With a forum, it's all in front of you, organized by subject.

TS

Oh yea, I used to go to subaru forums based on the model I had. Haven't found the piloteers forum as interesting - seems like even with the TrailSport packages not as many people do light / medium offroading as subaru people do. I probably need to go back there thought to decide if I should replace my tires with the stock ones or go back for geolander G015s like I had on my Subarus and used on a truck. The stock tires seemed pretty good on the trailsport pilot, but aren't snow rated like the geolanders.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

For e-books there is mobileread

MobileRead Forums

MobileRead - the resource for mobile geeks seeking information and advice for keeping their gadgets happy.

www.mobileread.com

For PD e-books there is project gutenberg (Mobileread also has a good PD library)

For aging research, there is Josh Mitteldorf

Proposal for Enhancing Experimental Anti-aging Treatment with Young Plasma

Large doses of young exosomes, delivered intravenously, have been shown to have extraordinary rejuvenation power in rats. We have known this for 5 years, but translation to human trials has been slow, not for technical reasons but because of trade secrets and intellectual property law and the...

scienceblog.com

 

[magmue]

For anyone interested in vintage (at least 20 years old) clothing, jewelry, and accessories, I highly recommend the public forums of the Vintage Fashion Guild.

Vintage Fashion Guild Forums

Vintage Fashion Guild Discussions

forums.vintagefashionguild.org

Disclosure: I am a longtime member. We do not offer authentication services, or pricing/value for sellers.

 

[dioxide45]

I am a member of a number of different interest based web forums, DISBoards, Cast Iron Forums, Cancun Care, Cruise Critic, FlyerTalk. I don't frequent them very much, at least not as much as TUGBBS.

 

[magmue]

Ah, Cruise Critic, yes! I have spent a fair amount of time in the TripAdvisor forums in the past as well. Over time, both those travel forums seem to have de-emphasized their community forums to focus more on selling bookings. If you don't know they exist, you might not notice their existence.

 

[dioxide45]

Ah, Cruise Critic, yes! I have spent a fair amount of time in the TripAdvisor forums in the past as well. Over time, both those travel forums seem to have de-emphasized their community forums to focus more on selling bookings. If you don't know they exist, you might not notice their existence.

I would agree. I use TripAdvisor forums in the past when planning a visit to a specific location. As for Cruise Critic, I can't really use that anymore. I don't like their forum style and as you've said, it seems to have lost some of the community focus. I also think Facebook groups seem to have decimated their Cruise Roll Calls.

 

[claraj]

I used to be on BroadwayWorld.com everyday when Broadway was my hobby before it was replaced by TSing. The prices they are charging for plays with movie star actors these days is ridiculous.