Facebook NOC Web site.

Hi Peter, You may be recieving scam messages on Facebook . But they are not from me or AJD . Please make that destinction and stop posting  incorrect information . Robert Tuck Chairman SNOC.

Hi Peter,

I understand you are unhappy with FaceBook, but it's not something the Club can impact, other than not engaging with FaceBook.

Like it or not - social media is a part of modern life and mostly the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

You ask that I do something about it – what do you suggest, apart from deleting our accounts?

I see that you have opened three new forums on this same topic – I’ll delete two.

Regards – Paul R Smith Chairman.

Can I ask if the Facebook members are verified members of the NOC?

Hi Gino - the FB Chat page is an open page and not restricted to members of the NOC.

It would not be possible to restrict the page anyway.

The idea is that it’s an open page for all Norton enthusiasts and a place to promote the Club and encourage others to join the Club.

Regards – Paul.  

It seems to me that it’s a free entry into the expertise Of the club. I’m am not and never have been on Facebook and don’t feel the need. Do we pay a fee to FB as a limited Company ?  I’ve seen this on another club I am a member of, FB takes over and the forums stop being useful.  So playing the devils advocate will FB eventually take over as the preferred medium for club activities and if so what is the point of spending thousands of pounds continuously upgrading the website.   

If you are a very "savvy" social media user ( I am not !), you can restrict access to a limited  field of contacts ?. But its all too easy to open up to all manner of dubious  attentions. I wont be doing it. . 

Hi Gino,

The new FB Chat page is just another method of getting the Club's existence out on social media and allow the ability for anyone to ask about Norton's or post their photos. 

It's never going to replace the website - it can't, the website has many rich functions, none of which can be replicated on FB, plus those functions are for members only and protected by the Club.

No fee is paid by the Club to FB for the page.

Lastly we don't spend thousands of pounds continuously upgrading the website, I take the spending of the Club's money very seriously and we only spend what we need to.

Regards - Paul.

I am no fan and am not signed up either, to Facebook; but when needs must. 

From what I have seen on these forums, NOC officials are alive to the demographic of classic bike clubs. The age of ownership of Classic bikes is rising and the consequences due to old age are inevitably impactful on the numbers of members long term. Using the likes of Facebook to advertise the NOC shows proper right thinking in my opinion plus a smattering of business acumen dare I say!

Clubs of all kinds need to spread their word across many forums or they will have to inform the last member left, to turn the lights out before leaving the building!

 es·prit de corps

Dear all

Thank you for taking the time to voice your comments here.

I have added a Norton-related 2-question verification for anyone newly wanting to join the group before they are able to post and comment.

I have updated the welcome message to the group to help those who aren't fully aware of how best to "protect" themselves whilst using the group.

Firstly I would point out that many who have had an issue with being contacted by unwanted people have very poor privacy settings on their profile page which are completely open for anyone in the world to see (not just those in the group)  I would initially recommend setting your profiles to private so as only people you accept friend requests from can access information on your page and also contact you!

Secondly, you have the option to "create a post" or "comment" anonymously.  This way your identification and profile information is completely hidden from anyone in the group.  The post or comment you make will have to be approved by the admin when using the anonymous feature which may cause a delay in it appearing and your identification will be visible to the admin team.

Lastly, I would say, if you don't like an open chat group then you don't have to be on it so don't use it, or if you are nervous and want to "protect" yourself on social media then I recommend familiarising yourself and adjusting appropriately your own privacy settings or use the Anonymous feature that has been in place since the page was created.

All the best

Dom Loram

Publicity Officer, Norton Owners Club

There are two issues here. The first is whether the FaceBook page is the source of the scam emails, I doubt it. What happens is that some unsuspecting individual opens a link on their email enabling the sender to gain access to their contact list. Further scam emails are then sent out using the acquired list. It is only broken if no-one opens the links. If you look at the sender you will see that the email address does not relate to to the person whose name appears. I know this because I have received the emails referred to and have checked. You can mark as spam but these scammers have many email addresses.

The second issue related to open facebook page. First of all anyone misbehaving can be removed. As is rightly pointed out we could exercise control as to who should be admitted but unless you only allow people in who you know (or members) then vetting will achieve little.

I don't actually use F/B etc myself though I am often sent links. Then again I don't use apps etc either (Cloud actually means some other computer)  but take the trouble to find out by other safer means (Safe and effective) what the story is, even by word of mouth or sites such as this, when a thread is not taken down, such as the last time I posted. But when a thread is taken down, one has to wonder who decides what members can or can't see?

Having both an interest in Norton motorcycles and politics, I find myself at a dichotomy. When F/B etc is updated and new personal information might be added, where does that information and data etc go? once out there who controls it and so on. I'll leave those interested to join the dots.

Peace on Earth and good will to all Norton enthusiasts.

Neil  (The show stopper)

Webmaster, & Scribe of NE Section VMCC.