This forum dead or dying?

[Schokokeks]

I dunno, maybe Gen X is getting old here, but I'd sure rather push a button on a little RovyVon on my keychain than pull out a fairly delicate $500+ awkward-to-hold-while-grabbing-a-doorknob device and having to tap several times in the right places to get the light to come on.

It really comes down to that in most cases where I use a flashlight. Carrying a bag out to the bin after dark? Really don't want to try to hold the phone in one hand with a heavy bag in the other. Nor do I relish the idea that if I slip, I'll be dropping a light that costs more than $20.

I get the idea that Gen Z has basically glued the phone to one hand, so it's always there. My younger neighbor was setting off fireworks, phone flashlight in the other hand. I guess I can't see phones as something to treat casually vs carefully.

The irony is that my, recently replaced, iPhone 13 mini was damaged in its first year by being hit with the steel bezel of the Rovy. It was on a holder, in the car, and the light swung around after I removed my keys. New car has keyless ignition, so it would be hard to do that again.

I use an old, cheap Motorola cell phone, so I just make a "chop chop" motion with it, and the light comes on automatically. Twisting it back and forth turns on the camera.

It's the greatest UI I've ever used, haha. So, for inane tasks, I sometimes will use my phone, because it is easier than fishing a light out of my pocket at work. But, if I'm expecting to use my light, I do just fish it out of my pocket first, because the phone like it the worst mule ever made, haha.

A ridiculous policy, unless its a very strict NDA "state-secret" style information controlled environment.

Limit phone usage? Sure. They're distracting and people shouldn't need to be on them at work

Ban phones? Nah, I'd rather work somewhere else. I like to contact my family, check emails etc.

It's pretty common in industries that have access to customer personal information.
Phones are like the primary way people steal customer info for identity theft, etc. I'm sure you wouldn't love the idea of random employees taking screenshots of your banking information, etc.

You just do like the old days, and give your family the emergency contact number at the office for something real.

I've worked at secured facilities that had such rules, and it was no big deal, except for the young people addicted to their phones. Phone policy violations were the number one reason we terminated people. It was hilarious and insane.

It's actually great for people's mental health to get away from phones. My current job doesn't care about phones, but I still prefer to take it out of my pocket as I get into the office, and just leave it aside save for breaks and lunch. It's great for maintaining focus.

 

[aznsx]

This thread title suggests that the answer is subjective, and perspective dependent, and I'm not posting to give mine, but...

When I awoke today, still half awake before my first cup of the day and waiting for it to brew, I clicked to the site and selected the 'new posts' filter. When I saw this thread in the list, I figured one mostly objective perspective would be to do a quick count of 'new posts since my last visit', by category.

New posts: 19
Posts I consider core site on-topic/related to flashlights and ancillary equipment: 8
Posts in the 'Cafe' section: 9
Posts I personally found of interest to open/read: 2

I'm not a math guy, but I guess this is my 'perspective', which will be no doubt be viewed subjectively, and each will do their own 'math';-).

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

This thread title suggests that the answer is subjective, and perspective dependent, and I'm not posting to give mine, but...

When I awoke today, still half awake before my first cup of the day and waiting for it to brew, I clicked to the site and selected the 'new posts' filter. When I saw this thread in the list, I figured one mostly objective perspective would be to do a quick count of 'new posts since my last visit', by category.

New posts: 19
Posts I consider core site on-topic/related to flashlights and ancillary equipment: 8
Posts in the 'Cafe' section: 9
Posts I personally found of interest to open/read: 2

I'm not a math guy, but I guess this is my 'perspective', which will be no doubt be viewed subjectively, and each will do their own 'math';-).

I see your point, and observe that because this forum has been around so long, and contains so much information already, there isn't really a whole lot of info to add to it. I mean, it's like how much info is there to add to an encyclopedia each year? Not a whole lot, but that constitutes everything, whereas this forum is only focused on light sources. It therefore makes sense to me that the largest number of posts nowadays will be social in nature, rather than technical.

 

[Schokokeks]

I see your point, and observe that because this forum has been around so long, and contains so much information already, there isn't really a whole lot of info to add to it. I mean, it's like how much info is there to add to an encyclopedia each year? Not a whole lot, but that constitutes everything, whereas this forum is only focused on light sources. It therefore makes sense to me that the largest number of posts nowadays will be social in nature, rather than technical.

You know, I think that's one thing that might not be a bad idea to get away from.

We should encourage people to pull zombie posts back from the dead as much as possible.

There IS so much great information, but at the same point, LOTS of things HAVE changed in the last 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years. That was the insanity I had looking into hot rodding a Maglite with an incandescent - most of the companies and products are just...gone.
It was interesting how many like entire lines of bulbs are long-since discontinued.

It's also funny reading older posts about some topics that are maybe just better understood in 2025; CRI, battery chemistry, component longevity, etc.
On the opposite end, it's just crazy to look at how much "needs" have changed; the hedonistic treadmill in action, haha.

So, sometimes I think it'd be fun if people who had random thoughts on things they see in old posts would just resurrect those zombies.

 

[Buff]

I don’t post as often as i did when i first joined the forum but i get an email everyday and always save it and when inspired pick a thread that interests me hence why i am posting now.
I am very late to flashlights other than using the D-cell Maglights in my 28 year career that always started in the morning darkness and more than not ended in the late hours of the night.
I thought buying the 4 packs of cheap ($19.99)
Led lights at the big box store was great as the Mags were heavy and not as bright.
Until a few years ago i was and to some extent still illiterate when it comes to all the new and awesome technology.
Thanks to CPF I am learning and having fun.

 

[Buff]

I was late to the Iphone thing still using Motorola flip and Razors.
Started with a Iphone 4 and went from a new one every 2 years to now waiting 4 years between phones. Currently have a 15.
I do my best to stay off of it but do like keeping in touch with wife and sons.
i almost never use the phone light and when needing to check the time i use my wrist watch that too a dying practice. I swear when my kids inherit my watch collection they won’t know how to set the time? Lol or how to tell time.

 

[nbp]

So, sometimes I think it'd be fun if people who had random thoughts on things they see in old posts would just resurrect those zombies.

I think so too.

 

[dc38]

I think so too.

You mean like the threadkiller?

 

[Monocrom]

I was late to the Iphone thing still using Motorola flip and Razors.
Started with a Iphone 4 and went from a new one every 2 years to now waiting 4 years between phones. Currently have a 15.
I do my best to stay off of it but do like keeping in touch with wife and sons.
i almost never use the phone light and when needing to check the time i use my wrist watch that too a dying practice. I swear when my kids inherit my watch collection they won’t know how to set the time? Lol or how to tell time.

Unfortunately, more and more celebs. are confessing they have no clue how to tell time using a watch that isn't digital. This is something they used to teach children in Elementary school. And, I mean fairly early on too.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

Unfortunately, more and more celebs. are confessing they have no clue how to tell time using a watch that isn't digital. This is something they used to teach children in Elementary school. And, I mean fairly early on too.

That tears it. I'm going to try to always wear analog watches in public. I'll get a feeling of superiority, knowing that the younger gens won't know how to use it, but I do. Yeah, I suppose that analog watches will become a stereotype of the "older generations", but that kind of applies to anyone that wears a wristwatch now, since the smart phones make them redundant/unnecessary.

I wonder at what birth year/age the wristwatch wearing really dropped off? I'd love to see some charts. Maybe the watch companies already have them. I would love to see the stats.

 

[Schokokeks]

That tears it. I'm going to try to always wear analog watches in public. I'll get a feeling of superiority, knowing that the younger gens won't know how to use it, but I do. Yeah, I suppose that analog watches will become a stereotype of the "older generations", but that kind of applies to anyone that wears a wristwatch now, since the smart phones make them redundant/unnecessary.

I wonder at what birth year/age the wristwatch wearing really dropped off? I'd love to see some charts. Maybe the watch companies already have them. I would love to see the stats.

I know kids 10 and younger who can read analog watches, and I know people over 60 who can't.

I don't think it's as much an age thing as much as the person. Note he said "Celebs." I think the real determiner here is, "Does this person follow celebrity nonsense?" They probably can't read an analog clock, haha.

Kidding aside, reading analog clocks is a spatial skill, and so it does tend to track with the general IQ and "nerdiness" you're expect. People with really bad spatial skills tend to struggle with analog clocks, at any age.

Ironically, I tend to have a digital watch on, but I usually have to visualize the time on an analog clock for it to really mean anything, hahah. I had recently noticed how hard it is to see ANY clock in buildings, and how rare analog clocks have become, though. Even on devices, over the years, I've noticed the OPTION to have an analog clock has disappeared...

 

[Monocrom]

Ironically, I tend to have a digital watch on, but I usually have to visualize the time on an analog clock for it to really mean anything, hahah.

Honestly, I do the same thing when wearing ANY of my digital watches.

 

[Schokokeks]

Honestly, I do the same thing when wearing ANY of my digital watches.

Especially when I am calculated time, I simply NEED an analog clock to visualize things, haha.

I was recently talking with my niece and nephew (after getting them some sweet Casios), and I was surprised to hear they did that, too. I knew there was a reason I liked them (and, maybe because we're related, haha).

 

[AZPops]

Especially when I am calculated time, I simply NEED an analog clock to visualize things, haha.

I was recently talking with my niece and nephew (after getting them some sweet Casios), and I was surprised to hear they did that, too. I knew there was a reason I liked them (and, maybe because we're related, haha).

Although I don't need it, I find it's easier with an analog as well. ... (y)

 

[jtr1962]

Analog is easier to use to get imprecise results at a glance (i.e. it's a few minutes before 7). Digital is better if you're looking for high precision (i.e. time to the nearest second).

Analog is also better for getting an intuitive display of rates of change. It's far easier to get an idea of acceleration rates on an analog speedometer simply by seeing how fast the needle is sweeping along the display.

 

[aznsx]

The last time an analog watch graced my wrist was ~1975. Just another perspective. It may be 50 years since I made that transition, but in retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing. My time references are almost entirely based on a 24 hour clock, and I do use my chron many times each day (double digit, on and off the job)). Perhaps that influences things in my case. Analog time displays are laborious to me, and I can barely remember using them. I'm plenty old, so it ain't an age thing. I'm old, but very practical. That's a job requirement for me;-).

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

Digital is better if you're looking for high precision (i.e. time to the nearest second).

20 some years ago, I asked a family member why he wore a digital watch. He was a LEO. He told me that when he needed to check the time, he didn't want to have to count the minutes at 3 am. He needed to know exactly what time it was. Police reports must be accurate.

 

[NotRegulated]

20 some years ago, I asked a family member why he wore a digital watch. He was a LEO. He told me that when he needed to check the time, he didn't want to have to count the minutes at 3 am. He needed to know exactly what time it was. Police reports must be accurate.

Additionally, when working swing and midnight shifts most digital watches let you choose the 24 hr clock vs the 12 hr. It is much easier to use a digital watch that tells you it is 1832hrs or 0317hrs rather than you having to convert the time for paperwork.

 

[jtr1962]

Additionally, when working swing and midnight shifts most digital watches let you choose the 24 hr clock vs the 12 hr. It is much easier to use a digital watch that tells you it is 1832hrs or 0317hrs rather than you having to convert the time for paperwork.

I always choose the option of 24 hour time. It just seems to make more sense than AM and PM.

 

[Schokokeks]

I always choose the option of 24 hour time. It just seems to make more sense than AM and PM.

Hahah, I made the change to a 24 hour format on my Casio watch after missing a train in Germany, hahah.

It was a LOOONG time until the next one, haha.