It's Facebook. While it may be reallyreally convenient for today's fast-moving gogetters to drop a quick note to each other, it's another format that doesn't promote any depth or real thought, nor any preservation of discussion threads. I glanced; I'll pass, thanks. Bin thr, dun tht, GTG.

Seriously, I think I have pinpointed some of the differences between, well, me and the rest of the Heinlein online continuum. After almost thirty years, there's rarely anything new brought up and some of us have been through these discussions, brain-flash to last belated thought-post, a dozen times. Another point in a forum-style site's favor is that the discussions can be compartmented, so the newcomers and new-thinkers can hash over the tired old topics and enjoy making those discoveries, while the grizzled oldsters can huddle in Advanced Heinlein and deconstruct Bill's historical notes.

All of the formats that are basically linear and single-threaded work against any differing groups: oldsters can't stand chatter over the novice topics, and newsters are confused or intimidated by the esoteric discussions. The model comes with fractures and limitations built in.

Oh, and I completely hate FarceBork, too, so let's not factor that out.

Thanks for the reply, James. I'm not sure where I fit in your spectrum, though. I am old and have read a lot of what's been printed about Heinlein, but I often find things on this forum that are new to me, so I'm sort of a newbie and sort of not. I tried Facebook for a short while, using it for it's described purpose of staying in touch with friends and family. Turns out I'm not that interested in what my grand nephews and nieces are posting and don't really have anything to say to people I went to high school with forty years ago. I read a.f.h for a number of years (I made a few of those posts you saw there this past month) but can't argue that it's going if not yet completely dead. And I was often frustrated with the inane and childish bickering I saw there so I skimmed it rather than followed it closely. I generally enjoy what I see on this forum and find it more than adult enough for me and certainly more sophisticated. But it seems like the number of people actively involved is very small. It probably is enough Heinlein discussion for me, to be honest, but the idea of two hundred fresh voices sounds interesting. I know, though, that quantity does not equal quality, which is why I asked.

It's an open group so you can read, but not post, without joining.

After I hit the button I saw that James and "Oscar" had made addditional posts.

To sum up, James's description of the Heinlein Forum on FB is generally accurate. I've enjoyed some of the discussion, but quite a bit is of the "speakeasy" variety; politics and such. This forum is certainly better for deeper discussions of directly RAH-related matters.

For whatever reason there has been a surge of interest, activity and new memebers on the FB Forum recently. I will take it upon myself to make sure that they are aware this forum is available as well.

The FB discussion is shallow, but there's enough of it to be entertaining. Fills a different niche.

Thanks, guys. Maybe I should take a look, since I don't have to rejoin Facebook to do so. Is this the page we're talking about? https://www.facebook.com/heinleiners

I just gave it a quick scan and must admit the "sequel" to The Cat Who Walks Through Walls made me chuckle.

No, it's this one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/41168255694/

Peter, that link takes me to a login screen with a statement that says "You must log in to see this page." Apparently, you do have to be a member of Facebook to view that discussion.

"Inane and childish bickering" was not unknown in alt.fan.heinlein. There were a few [OK, quite a few] memorable flame wars in a.f.h over the years.

Hmm, Geo Rule just posted about this there a couple of days ago and invited comment on whether to keep it "open." I'm wondering what's up? Geo?