Is There A Better Solution Than Forums?

Earlier today, I posted a response in a thread on the Model Railroader forum that was started by a member who was unhappy with a reply to a post he'd made. A number of responses basically told the guy to grow up and get a thicker skin, and that might be part of the problem. But I said,

Isn't there a bigger question here? Forums as they exist leave a lot to be desired, including the fact that there's no good way to screen for the maturity of participants. A number of forums have disappeared in the past few years, including the one that was sponsored by a manufacturer, a very good one that ended when its main sponsor passed away, and one focusing on west coast railfanning. When I saw the title of this thread, I almost thought this one (or another) was going out as well!

One reason they're going away, it seems to me, is that they don't meet the needs of many participants. One thing that was good about traditional model rail magazines is that they had/have editors, who set the tone and screen material. The articles by authors that repeat are arguably worthwhile. Not always the case with forums. Several of the survivors are dominated by "Hi from newbie!" posts, which keep the overall level too low for more experienced hobbyists.

[Model Railroader Video Plus] seems to be moving toward an innovative format of fairly frequent updates with well-produced, stimulative material, with a paid subscription. This may be a better direction to go -- at least, some sort of editorial screening might be a useful addition. Another approach might be the one the late Carl Arendt took, frequent updates with general, but screened, interaction.

I've had ups and downs in my experience with forums. Occasionally, the interactions are rewarding. More often, they represent the difficulty with social media: I can be a 55-year-old overweight guy who posts as a 22-year-old named Ingrid, and things can develop as they develop. Most people who post on model railroad forums post under pseudonyms, and they can give whatever personal issues they have free rein.

I'm still looking for a more productive way to spend hobby time on the web.