Topic: Two more cents

[johngenx]

I, like many I'm sure, belong to a variety of forums.  The others of mine are mostly about climbing and skiing, plus a Miata forum and a Toyota forum.

The skiing forum in particular has pretty much no moderation.  It's the Wild West, and as long as you understand that, it's possible to glean great info if you're willing to put up with the hate, the homophobia, the racism, the abundant porn and the personal attacks.  There's even some cases of forum members meeting and engaging in physical fights.

My car-related forums see the heaviest moderation, and are the most civilized, by far.  Given the lack of brand focus here, I'm surprised at how active this board is.  It's probably my favourite board thanks to the diverse viewpoints, brand ownership (though it does seem to be turning into a Miata forum lately, lol) and regional diversity.  Also, we're Canadian.  We're just like that.   

The sense of community is strong here.  That's why it's not taken well when someone continually posts negative nonsensical junk that contributes nothing and just distracts from the topic and clogs otherwise excellent threads.  The attacks might not be personal, etc, but the vast majority of forum members take a lot of pride in the content of this board and the tremendous amount of positive contributions that take place.

Over the last 12+ years the community has ebbed and flowed, but this culture has remained steady.  A big part of that culture is that we have grown to expect forum members to interact and behave as they would in person, not as in an internet setting.  It makes the forum much more enjoyable (I suspect most would agree) and I believe it's one reason why this forum has thrived.

Where Snowies going is that one-note-negative-commenters don't contribute to the building of our community and while not behaving outrageously, that lack of contribution is seen as a very negative thing here.  Maybe not on other forums/boards/etc, but based on my long tenure here, it's not appreciated in the slightest and many members find it very off-putting.

We're not being overly sensitive.  We're just keeping a great thing great.

[Snowman]

Wish I could articulate like you John. I just use a club. Thank You.

[Allen]

well said John, 

[JacobBlack]

I'm sad that one f***wit is enough to turn you guys off this place so much. I guess my time in motorbike forums has given me too thick a skin.
Fixer just returned from a nine-day ban for a personal attack.
I'm prepared to give him a final warning, but I don't want to go down the road of running everyone the main guys disagree with out of town - that's not positive community building, it's enforced homogeny.

[EV-Light]

I find the forums fairly civilized here. MT is the worst, brand blind people are all over it and they bash each other like no tomorrow...I was actually banned for a week there because I was telling people to get out of their bubble and see what else is out there... it was totally worth it.

[quadzilla]

I'm prepared to give him a final warning, but I don't want to go down the road of running everyone the main guys disagree with out of town - that's not positive community building, it's enforced homogeny.

From what I have seen here its only people like Fixer that make these one line negative posts ALL the time the regulars don't like. None of the regulars have issues with people that can form a actual opinion even if its not what they like.

[johngenx]

the road of running everyone the main guys disagree with out of town - that's not positive community building, it's enforced homogeny.

I don't think that's the case.  We often have spirited conversations and lots of the regulars disagree about all kinds of things.  The difference is that we can tear a car down based on actual observations or opinions that have some foundation.  It's very different when someone says "BrandA sucks!!"  Why?  "Cause it does!!"

And as I noted, I too belong to some pretty "skin-thickening" forums and I'm fine with that.  That's the culture there, and like this one, it's been developed over time and there is a formal/informal contract among the participants that has helped shape it.

[JacobBlack]

And as I noted, I too belong to some pretty "skin-thickening" forums and I'm fine with that.  That's the culture there, and like this one, it's been developed over time and there is a formal/informal contract among the participants that has helped shape it.

I'm with you, but his comments this morning were more nuanced than that. His complaints were that the S2000 is slower than a Cobalt, and has a cheaper interior too. That's not "brand a sucks, because it does". Is he wrong? Yes. But this one example that people have chosen doesn't actually fit into the box properly. Can you see where I'm coming from?

[HeliDriver]

I don't get it. No, trolls don't contribute anything of value to the forum, but so what? We're here yakking about cars, not trying to save the planet.

Why get so bent out of shape because someone says Honda sucks? Ignore it and move on.

[tooscoops]

some of the trolling is just so obvious that i don't see how it can actually bother anyone... meanwhile, there are many on this forum who don't technically troll.. they are just mean, which is even worse.

trolling is just to evoke a response, whereas many on here type things that really seem to be an attempt to belittle the other people posting.

while i personally agree with much of what jacob says, i will say as a moderator, it should be handled with a little more tact. nothing against you at all jacob as i really do enjoy your posts!... but i will say when wearing the moderator hat, you should at least attempt to be more bipartisan in those particular posts.

i've generally enjoyed my couple years+ on here, but there are a few members who seem to follow the adage do as i say, not as i do.

just my two cents... and i'd probably get change... even with us not using the penny anymore.

[sailor723]

I haven't been very active here in recent weeks and so haven't noticed these posts. I guess I'm kind of with HeliDriver in taking an "ignore him, he'll go away" approach.

[JacobBlack]

you should at least attempt to be more bipartisan in those particular posts.

That's what I was trying to do though. It would be easy for me to go, "You guys are right, Fixer is a bloody clown and I'm tired of him too", but as a mod I have to try and be fair and even with the guy. 

[Snowman]

I don't care what other site are like, I have been here on a daily basis for 12 years. I am a stakeholder. If I don't like what I read because someone is being a dik then they will hear about it. I changed my mind Jacob 

[JacobBlack]

I don't care what other site are like, I have been here on a daily basis for 12 years. I am a stakeholder. If I don't like what I read because someone is being a dik then they will hear about it. I changed my mind Jacob 

I'm actually okay with that, you want to unload on someone being a knob, please do.

But understand that if you in one instance call someone a "facking idiot", and then report their post, yours is coming down too.

[Snowman]

I don't care what other site are like, I have been here on a daily basis for 12 years. I am a stakeholder. If I don't like what I read because someone is being a dik then they will hear about it. I changed my mind Jacob 

I'm actually okay with that, you want to unload on someone being a knob, please do.

But understand that if you in one instance call someone a "facking idiot", and then report their post, yours is coming down too.

Excellent.

Can I use this:

[JacobBlack]

Think of it this way, If someone pushes you at school, you can't go punch them in retaliation and then go "teacher, he shoved me!"
If you want to punch them and then leave it at that, teacher doesn't need to be involved. 

[Snowman]

Think of it this way, If someone pushes you at school, you can't go punch them in retaliation and then go "teacher, he shoved me!"
If you want to punch them and then leave it at that, teacher doesn't need to be involved. 

Happened to my son today in gym. Some future 99%'er yelled "boom" then checked him into the concrete wall. He punched him back but that is what the teacher only saw. Good thing he is 6'-3" for a geek.

[sailor723]

Grade school metaphors seem strangely appropriate for this thread's topic 

[JacobBlack]

Grade school metaphors seem strangely appropriate for this thread's topic 

 

[Snowman]

Grade school metaphors seem strangely appropriate for this thread's topic 

Exactly. Worse year of my life was grade 9, glad I was 6'-3" as well  jocks hate smart kids, but want to kill big smart kids who remind them how stupid they are.