Our Social Network

What is it? How does it work? Why have it?

To explain this I've put together the following. I think it makes sense and I hope you do too.

Picture this Scenario

A large number of people all enter a large room, the room is especially for people with the same interest or hobby. Hardly any of them know each other so its basically a large room full of strangers.

There is a lot of helpful information up on all the walls of the room and the people look around a lot of it gathering knowledge as they go. Some people stay doing that but many others congregate to the space in the middle of the room and stand around looking at each other, only knowing who each other is by the name tags they display.

Now if it stays like that it’s a bit like being at an awkward wedding !

But human nature being what it is people like to communicate and different people will deal with this in different ways - they do all have something in common after all. There is usually some sort of greeting or handshake when people first meet.

Because people are different you would see this work in different ways. Some would circulate around the room meeting everyone they could, whilst others might just overhear something that’s said and then introduce themselves to the person who said it so that they can talk to them about it themselves. There will be those who only want to speak if someone else makes the first move and there will also be some who don’t really want to meet others as they just came for the information they could gather.

Whilst this is happening new people are entering the room wondering what its all about and are keen to learn from those already there. Inevitably a few who have been there a while leave because its not for them of they have decided to give up their hobby.

With the people already in the room being enthusiastic about their interest it would be natural for some of them to say hello to the new people and start talking to them too.

So, in the real world….

Hopefully you can see by that scenario, there are similarities between the 'room' and the ‘virtual’ club that is Club Motorhome. The website provides that ‘room’ and you, the members, are the 'people’. Now because there isn’t a physical presence of people its easy to remain quiet and isolated behind a keyboard. You may even identify with a type of person in the scenario. Whatever type is absolutely fine, what’s important is that all are members and most are interested in what’s going on, but its not as easy to meet and get chatting….. or is it?

It’s actually very easy - a handshake greeting with another member is just a ‘click’ away.

6a00e54f92340888330133f08d102d970b Every member has a ‘Profile’ and these can be looked at by other members. These profiles provide some (some more than others) relevant information about the member themselves. For example, their home location, their motorhome, their hobbies and interests. A record of their Forum postings and their Social Activity etc.

You get to the profiles by clicking any member's name that is highlighted on various parts of the website or you can look through a list of them in our Membership List. Each profile has a button to ‘Add Friend’ - by clicking that you are saying hello and offering a handshake just as you would to someone in the ‘room’.

Key to the 'scenario'

room = club
interest or hobby = motorhoming
people = members
information on the walls = stopovers, classifieds, articles, reviews etc
people’s name tags = usernames
greeting or handshake = 'Add Friend'

What’s the difference between the Social pages and the ‘Forums’ ?

Simply, Social pages are just that. More of a one-to-one but others who are Friends can join in. Whereas a ‘Forum’, to use the ‘room’ scenario, is like someone standing up in front of everyone and saying what they want and then others standing up in the room and giving their individual answer or comment - while everyone else looks on. So you can see that Social pages are more personal and informal.

Each type of communication has its own uses and both help to bring members together.

Now, in answer to the original questions....

What is it?

The Social Network is just a way for fellow members to make friends and communicate with others easily.

How does it work?

Members simply make 'Friends' with each other - they use the feature to say 'Hi!' and offer a virtual handshake allowing communication between themselves.

Why have it?

The 'scenario' explains this

As more features are developed and added to this facility I will put together a more detailed guide as to how to use it and by then more members will be using it making its operation clearer.

In the meantime please just carry on and make Friends with your fellow members