On Suckering In a New Generation of Spudders

[mark.f]

On Suckering In a New Generation of Spudders

Yes... I realize it's a completely hilarious/original way to phrase it.

Rather than an introduction establishing that I don't think new spudders need to be suckered in, along with other wordy creations, it would be much better to just dive in, givin the limited space I have before the average 'Files reader simply hits the 'Newest Posts' link to the left and fires up MS Paint to draw a diagram of their freshest 6mm pneumatic idea.

If You Look, You Will Find Them

Spudding isn't dead.

Even though there's a thread with almost that same title.

Some of the older member's know, for instance, that they're looking at a new crowd every year... some of the things people complain about prove that spudding isn't dead! As long as there are sexually frustrated 16 year olds without a more destructive outlet, they will turn to flinging objects at high speeds at plywood and water jugs.

The thing is, we just need a new way to define this hobby. It's not people gluing together Latke style PVC combustions or sprinkler valve pneumatics anymore while worshipping Joel Suprise. It's the kid looking at a $200 USD nerf launcher for scenario paintball thinking that somebody, somewhere has built something like that from scratch before (they have!), or somebody choosing their second year's bulk of college courses, thinking that nobody could possibly enjoy Writing for Business (they don't!).

This forum is, unfortunately, not that easy to find. While you may say "It's on the first page when you google 'Spudguns'!", consider, however, that most people's internet exposure doesn't extend past https://www.facebook.com. It could (read should) be simply that people don't have the exposure to our community and are hacking it along themselves and posting their work to Instagram instead of USING THE DAMN UPLOADER.

Which of course brings us to...

Social Media - The Creative Black Hole

First, let's clarify: there is creativity on social media. Only thing is, it has to be liked/shared and spread like herpes before we see it.

On SpudFiles, we see every new project. And, no matter how "mundane" it may seem to you (what is an elitist? Correct, elitist it is for $200), it's their first project and they're obviously excited about it. For the most part, we are also good about congratulating and welcoming these members, and providing constructive criticism.

This simply doesn't happen in imgur.

What can we do about this?

The obvious answer is to advertise. But, recall that people's exposure to the web has shrunk significantly in the last several years.

Yes, unfortunately, (or maybe not), you can see where I'm going with this.

That's right, get on social media.

Get on social media, and ostracize yourself among your peers and family as "that guy"! It's fun, trust me. (Okay, don't, I barely use it other than using Facebook Messenger since I don't have service in this country).

Increasingly, we are seeing this more often on services like Instagram. Don't believe me? When's the last time a random person liked an image of yours, and they turned out to be a personal trainer, nutritionist, {insert budding occupation(alist) here}. Exposure on social media is how we drive people to Spudfiles.

In the Meantime

Stay busy!

Keep building things, and people will keep liking those things. It's true that we all have lives outside of SpudFiles. For instance, I'm not even in the United States anymore, and certainly don't have access to my tools. But, I should certainly be trying to continue my love for the hobby in whatever means I can (like writing this article!).

That's all folks!

Your friendly forum lurker,
mark.f

[mrfoo]

You're probably right overall, but "getting on social media" is about as attractive to me as shoving my finger in a desktop pencil sharpener that's being cranked by an amphetamine-fuelled gibbon.

YMMV

[mark.f]

I used to be the same way. I still rarely use it these days, but it's the unfortunate truth.

[wyz2285]

Well, I am "that guy". When I went to college, people who I don't know knows me, my buddy introduces me as "he went to high school with me, the one that makes guns", and, most cases, they have heard of me, from another school.
It does attracts a lot people's interests, but they are not handy. They expect a spectacular semi/full auto sniper rifle for 30$ made in an afternoon. Once they learn the cost and labor, alcohol, tobacco became more interesting.
Dunno elsewhere but spudding is expensive here. No cheap PVC, only copper and thread piping; A simple sprinkler valve launcher will cost you almost 100$. A lot things you need if you want to go pro the only resource is online, which for a 16 years old would be out of reach.
Also airsoft guns got cheap, real cheap. Back when I started, the cheapest AEG goes fro 350euros. Now for 60 euros I can get a brand new AEG or bolt action rifle. Making a equivalent would cost you at least triple, with tons of research needed plus labor.
Certainly the knowledge we provide here helps pro airsofters and paintballers and 1 out of a thousand there will be one true enthusiast, but in a time when everyone is running around playing Pokemon Go it's not going to be the same, no matter how we advertise spudding.

[Gun Freak]

in a time when everyone is running around playing Pokemon Go it's not going to be the same, no matter how we advertise spudding.

Sums it up pretty well. We are basically a dying breed; the new generations don't care about putting any effort or thought into anything anymore

[D_Hall]

Another angle... Like it or not but 20 years ago if you were playing around with things that went "boom" you were just a rambunctious kid. Now you're a budding terrorist. And while the kids themselves may not realize this reality their parents do, thus, they are less inclined to even tacitly support the efforts of their kids.

[Juggernaut12121]

Another angle... Like it or not but 20 years ago if you were playing around with things that went "boom" you were just a rambunctious kid. Now you're a budding terrorist. And while the kids themselves may not realize this reality their parents do, thus, they are less inclined to even tacitly support the efforts of their kids.

This is pretty true, when I returned from summer break most people asked if I made any bombs. I made a gift for a teacher casted from aluminum and one guy mistook it for a bomb (it was essentially a rectangular block with wording on the side).

[Turbine32]

On Suckering In a New Generation of Spudders

Yes... I realize it's a completely hilarious/original way to phrase it.

Rather than an introduction establishing that I don't think new spudders need to be suckered in, along with other wordy creations, it would be much better to just dive in, givin the limited space I have before the average 'Files reader simply hits the 'Newest Posts' link to the left and fires up MS Paint to draw a diagram of their freshest 6mm pneumatic idea.

If You Look, You Will Find Them

Spudding isn't dead.

Even though there's a thread with almost that same title.

Some of the older member's know, for instance, that they're looking at a new crowd every year... some of the things people complain about prove that spudding isn't dead! As long as there are sexually frustrated 16 year olds without a more destructive outlet, they will turn to flinging objects at high speeds at plywood and water jugs.

The thing is, we just need a new way to define this hobby. It's not people gluing together Latke style PVC combustions or sprinkler valve pneumatics anymore while worshipping Joel Suprise. It's the kid looking at a $200 USD nerf launcher for scenario paintball thinking that somebody, somewhere has built something like that from scratch before (they have!), or somebody choosing their second year's bulk of college courses, thinking that nobody could possibly enjoy Writing for Business (they don't!).

This forum is, unfortunately, not that easy to find. While you may say "It's on the first page when you google 'Spudguns'!", consider, however, that most people's internet exposure doesn't extend past https://www.facebook.com. It could (read should) be simply that people don't have the exposure to our community and are hacking it along themselves and posting their work to Instagram instead of USING THE DAMN UPLOADER.

Which of course brings us to...

Social Media - The Creative Black Hole

First, let's clarify: there is creativity on social media. Only thing is, it has to be liked/shared and spread like herpes before we see it.

On SpudFiles, we see every new project. And, no matter how "mundane" it may seem to you (what is an elitist? Correct, elitist it is for $200), it's their first project and they're obviously excited about it. For the most part, we are also good about congratulating and welcoming these members, and providing constructive criticism.

This simply doesn't happen in imgur.

What can we do about this?

The obvious answer is to advertise. But, recall that people's exposure to the web has shrunk significantly in the last several years.

Yes, unfortunately, (or maybe not), you can see where I'm going with this.

That's right, get on social media.

Get on social media, and ostracize yourself among your peers and family as "that guy"! It's fun, trust me. (Okay, don't, I barely use it other than using Facebook Messenger since I don't have service in this country).

Increasingly, we are seeing this more often on services like Instagram. Don't believe me? When's the last time a random person liked an image of yours, and they turned out to be a personal trainer, nutritionist, {insert budding occupation(alist) here}. Exposure on social media is how we drive people to Spudfiles.

In the Meantime

Stay busy!

Keep building things, and people will keep liking those things. It's true that we all have lives outside of SpudFiles. For instance, I'm not even in the United States anymore, and certainly don't have access to my tools. But, I should certainly be trying to continue my love for the hobby in whatever means I can (like writing this article!).

That's all folks!

Your friendly forum lurker,
mark.f

Je suis totalement d'accord avec toi cette nouvelle génération...

[SpasmoPadds]

While I'm aware that I'm replying to an almost ancient post, I just wanted to say how much it saddens me to see that a site i spent a lot of time lurking on is now seemingly dead, or at least experiencing a coma of sorts.

Way back before 2007AD, maybe even BC depending on who you ask..
I was the kid who sat at the back of the class, scrolling many an online forum. A privilege granted to me in exchange for not being a disruptive little sh!t and getting dragged out of the class and left in a locked room to cool down..
I must have spent hours and hours scouring SpudFiles for all the cool inventions and innovations of both the home hobbyist bodgers and those who likely had proper scientific credentials. Back then, this forum was a busy and bustling site and community..

I got into this hobby a few years back after seeing a QEV launcher on youtube by Swan Donovan, and I then made my own version with a MAPP gas bottle with the bottom hacked off, to use as a tennis ball launcher for our dogs.. At 150Psi it lobs a tennis ball several houses down the road!!
I'm now looking to combine pneumatic QEV launchers with 3D printed parts to make conventional looking launchers that could be used for those involved in airsoft or paintball..

As mentioned in previous posts, social media has indeed sucked everyone into itself and has left online forums almost entirely devoid of life, but I just had a look at the stats for who is online.. 4 registered users and about 800 guests, so it seems that interest in spud launchers isn't entirely dead?
So i cannot help but wonder what it will take to get SpudFiles back to its former self, a busy forum full of interaction and a knowledgeable community?

Considering the wheel has already been invented and reinvented many times here, and new users like myself will likely face the same mistakes and pitfalls as those who came before us, and it would seem that all possible innovations for this hobby were made long ago by people who no longer engage with the site, are my hopes of seeing SpudFiles revitalised possible, or will SpudFiles just remain as a memorial of sorts to those who came before?