Veerzigzag
New member
Very well spoken...
Where do we go from here?
- Thread starter pauljmcnulty
- Start date
I think this is a great forum... but I'm going to make a few comments:
The forum contents not being 'public' (indexed by google and visible without signing in) is a very good thing in my opinion. I would not be using my real name otherwise.
Closing it to non-PCGB members would be a very bad thing. The reasons have already been well stated already...
The 'forum rules' I'd never read before and it's a bit formal and hard going. How about a very short 'code of conduct' that gets emailed out when you sign up. Just to remind people that this isn't the usual bunch of anonymous internet angry people but a small helpful community, many of whom have met in real life. I've seen mailing lists before where people have to put a key word in their first post to indicate that they've read some FAQ or code of conduct.
A bit of housekeeping would also be good... for example the same questions (oil, rusty fuel lines, sills) come up all the time. How about we take these common topics (I'd happily volunteer for one or two) and index links to all the most interesting threads in the FAQ? A better search feature would help, but you can't beat an experienced 'editor' going through and making the most of the information that we have on here.
The forum contents not being 'public' (indexed by google and visible without signing in) is a very good thing in my opinion. I would not be using my real name otherwise.
Closing it to non-PCGB members would be a very bad thing. The reasons have already been well stated already...
The 'forum rules' I'd never read before and it's a bit formal and hard going. How about a very short 'code of conduct' that gets emailed out when you sign up. Just to remind people that this isn't the usual bunch of anonymous internet angry people but a small helpful community, many of whom have met in real life. I've seen mailing lists before where people have to put a key word in their first post to indicate that they've read some FAQ or code of conduct.
A bit of housekeeping would also be good... for example the same questions (oil, rusty fuel lines, sills) come up all the time. How about we take these common topics (I'd happily volunteer for one or two) and index links to all the most interesting threads in the FAQ? A better search feature would help, but you can't beat an experienced 'editor' going through and making the most of the information that we have on here.
I think the 944 section is probably the best section out of the whole forum, friendly and useful.
Things never stand still and so the forum can't be kept as it is, it is a reflection of the members and owners and so it will change as they do. I can't ever see it becoming a max power area, but then if it does then it will be serving the members who contribute and that can't be a bad thing.
Things never stand still and so the forum can't be kept as it is, it is a reflection of the members and owners and so it will change as they do. I can't ever see it becoming a max power area, but then if it does then it will be serving the members who contribute and that can't be a bad thing.
Paul,
The 944 forum is one of the greatest sources of information on our cars for me. It covers all the areas, is relaxed, active and welcoming supporting owners who may be club members, guests, traders or prospective owners.
I think you have it just right.
Mike
White 2.7 automatic
The 944 forum is one of the greatest sources of information on our cars for me. It covers all the areas, is relaxed, active and welcoming supporting owners who may be club members, guests, traders or prospective owners.
I think you have it just right.
Mike
White 2.7 automatic
944 man
Active member
I disagree: it certainly can be kept as it is. It is a fundamnetal error to suggest that change is always for the better. Take a look at the TIPEC forum, which is now ruined by a massive banner ad. Thats pretty much the last nail in its coffin for me, as I cant even see what little there actually is to see there.
Id welcome more technically knowledgeable posts from a couple of specialists and an 'ad' signature is plenty in return, I believe. I dont want forum spoiling banner ads and people with nothing to give being allowed to spam the forums for their own benefit and nothing else. We already have one clown doing this!
Id welcome more technically knowledgeable posts from a couple of specialists and an 'ad' signature is plenty in return, I believe. I dont want forum spoiling banner ads and people with nothing to give being allowed to spam the forums for their own benefit and nothing else. We already have one clown doing this!
944 man
Active member
Id like to suggest that people are obliged to add at least their christian name either in their profile or in a signature, along with the model of car that they own now (sold is of no real interest) and they should be forced to add the location too.
This is a closed forum, so first name, town or city and model of 944 should not be a secret. People who I object should be directed towards TIPEC.
This is a closed forum, so first name, town or city and model of 944 should not be a secret. People who I object should be directed towards TIPEC.
George Elliott
New member
That would be a nice touch Simon, I agree
George
McLaren MP4 12C
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George
McLaren MP4 12C
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]Greg James
New member
Hello I'm new to the forum and love the way it all works everyone is really nice. Hey I can't spell to save my life but I still love my car does it really matter?
As Andy says, 'tis an ongoing (minor) frustration. I don't spend my nights awake and worrying about this, but reducing the time-out to a minute or less would make my life a teensy weensy bit better. Particularly given the amount of time I seem to spend on here ....ORIGINAL: Hairyarse
Hi Paul - sorry to resurrect this one again but has this been looked at again yet? I just popped on here to make a few posts and have been sat waiting for 2 minutes between each one, very frustrating [
Oli.
pauljmcnulty
Active member
ORIGINAL: Hairyarse
Hi Paul - sorry to resurrect this one again but has this been looked at again yet? I just popped on here to make a few posts and have been sat waiting for 2 minutes between each one, very frustrating [
Approved to give it a go at the minimum of 1 minute. [
]
pauljmcnulty
Active member
*shudder*......
Hairyarse
New member
ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
ORIGINAL: Hairyarse
Hi Paul - sorry to resurrect this one again but has this been looked at again yet? I just popped on here to make a few posts and have been sat waiting for 2 minutes between each one, very frustrating [
Approved to give it a go at the minimum of 1 minute. [
Yay - I can be only half as frustrated now [
]Seriously, thanks for sorting Paul [
]
Indi9xx
New member
Just my 2p worth of text as a specialist mentioned in this thread.
When I first got involved with offering advice in the online Porsche community it was purely for selfish reasons.. My business was based in Cyprus with all my customers in the middle and far east, it was around the millenium, there were not many/any Porsche enthusiasts in Cyprus and none of my customers were the kind of people who liked to talk technical and Porsche.. So it was my only way of having a good Porsche natter without my wife and kids getting that "glazed Porsche talk" expression on their faces.
Back around then until 2002 I was in Cyprus and offering advice on the Tipec and "924 Owners" yahoo groups, as well as the Titanic mailing lists.
I must also admit that it was not just because I liked to "talk Porsche" but also back then members of these 3 forums were not heavily technical, so it did used to give me a buzz whenever someone explained a problem that had foxed several OPC's and Specialists and I helped them diagnose the issue remotely..
So I guess you could say it was "Porsche loneliness" and Ego motivated... But never in the interests of self promotion, all of you were far too far away to ever be potential customers.
In September 2001, the world became a different place due to terrorists and the attitudes of my customers in the middle east towards me also changed.. I love working on Porsche, but I am not going to be regarded as "the devil" just because of being British, so later in 2002 I had moved back into the UK to restart my business over here... And I have to admit, the couple of years work I had put into the forums, did come home to roost at that point, we people in the UK already being aware of my existence, but that was never the plan.
Back then, I used to give honest advice, join in with the banter, and felt part of a community of people who were enthusiastic about Porsche.. All was good.
Stephen Taylor, the then chairman of TIPEC asked me to be the official club technical advisor, but nothing exclusive, I offered advice in their yahoo group, I ended up being the owner of the then 924Owners yahoo group, as well remaining part of the titanic community.
Titanic started getting some aggressive marketing from someone who sold tuning parts, there were lots of complaints, and eventually the crowd from there migrated to this forum... TIPEC moved to the corner of someone elses web forum and the 924Owners Yahoo group started to fizzle out.
About this time I was involved less and less with forums, the community had changed the person who was spamming the titanic mailing list seemed to be doing the same here in the PCGB forums, and I was asked by an officer of the club to keep my presence here to offset the problem with "the spammer", which I did for a while, until that person, and some of his fans started taking every opportunity to get personal and assault my business.
What I think I am trying to say is, my involvement with forums has always been driven by an honest desire to help people out. Originally for the reasons posted above, and then later to thank the community which made my move back to the UK easier.
If it was ever about winning customers I would have stuck around to slog it out with "the spammer", but for me, it was not worth the agro, to help people out and get "stick" in the process just isnt worth it.
From a business point of view, it would be nice to have a URL of my business in my signature, not just for promotion, but so people can see where I am coming from and judge if I know what I am talking about.
But also I think all businesses involved in a forum have a moral obligation to make it clear who they are, so other members know what context to take their advice, to be wary of traders who might be advising something which might make them a buck, rather than might actually benefit the member.
So, I think it might be a good idea to at least let specialists or traders have "Specialist" or "trader" either in their signature, or under their name to the left... A URL in their signature, well, it might be nice, but for the forum, I am not sure if it helps the forum or not, even though it might benefit the specialist or trader (see, there's honesty for you)
I do also think that moderators should edit a "specialist" or "traders" post, without shame, if the information in their posts seems to be selling more than helping. It should be ok to say "I have those in stock" perhaps, but not launching a massive sales text about their business and how they can diagnose anything for just £XX per hous, just as a response to someone saying they have a rough idle on their 944.
I also think that a business breaking those rules too often should be kicked, banned or whatever.. The moderators need to have the tools and right to do what they need to do, otherwise the forum is no good to anyone.
I also think, from a community point of view, people should at least have their christian name in their username or in their signature, and if the forum had the facility to have peoples location, even if just "county" and "country" it would help the community.
I think that the 924, 944 and 968 communities are shrinking.. As such, the 968 and 924 areas of this forum are a lot quieter than they could be, and lets face it, requests of "how to change a wheel bearing" on a 924 are relative to a pre 86 944, and likewise the same for a post 86 944 and a 968... Besides, I think a little cross pollination of ideas and cars can make for good reading.. who on the tipec forum has not enjoyed seeing Steve's 924 Turbo project unfolding? I think a little of that in here would be interesting for everyone and it is hard to think of many issues with the 924 or 968 would not be relative to 944 owners.
So what is my lengthy post all about? I don't know, but what I think I would like to say is I can sympathize with the chap who posted he would be leaving the forum because things had changed with the people in it.. I can relate to that, it is why I can be a bit of a stroppy chap if my offer of help to someones post turns into a troll fest.
Back in the Titanic, TipecYahooGroup and 924OwnersYahooGroup days it was not just that I felt part of a community, I also felt like my advice from experience was appreciated, without those two key things it is not worth my sticking around.. Signatures with URL's etc, nice but not what would make me help out here.
Maybe my not feeling part of this community is out of date, and stems from actions of the Spammer and his trolls from 3 or more years ago, who knows.
What I will say is, like other forums, the moderators here do a good job and thankfully they don't have to do it too often from remarks in this thread, so as long as they keep up the good work, this place will continue to be a community... But it might be a community which dies out as the cars become more rare in time, unless perhaps the 924 and 968 chaps get consolidated into it with welcome arms.. just my personal feelings.
I am more often than not in the tipec forum, and am still their technical chap (unless I was sacked at some point without knowing it), but am more than happy to pop in here more often as long as you chaps play nice! []
When I first got involved with offering advice in the online Porsche community it was purely for selfish reasons.. My business was based in Cyprus with all my customers in the middle and far east, it was around the millenium, there were not many/any Porsche enthusiasts in Cyprus and none of my customers were the kind of people who liked to talk technical and Porsche.. So it was my only way of having a good Porsche natter without my wife and kids getting that "glazed Porsche talk" expression on their faces.
Back around then until 2002 I was in Cyprus and offering advice on the Tipec and "924 Owners" yahoo groups, as well as the Titanic mailing lists.
I must also admit that it was not just because I liked to "talk Porsche" but also back then members of these 3 forums were not heavily technical, so it did used to give me a buzz whenever someone explained a problem that had foxed several OPC's and Specialists and I helped them diagnose the issue remotely..
So I guess you could say it was "Porsche loneliness" and Ego motivated... But never in the interests of self promotion, all of you were far too far away to ever be potential customers.
In September 2001, the world became a different place due to terrorists and the attitudes of my customers in the middle east towards me also changed.. I love working on Porsche, but I am not going to be regarded as "the devil" just because of being British, so later in 2002 I had moved back into the UK to restart my business over here... And I have to admit, the couple of years work I had put into the forums, did come home to roost at that point, we people in the UK already being aware of my existence, but that was never the plan.
Back then, I used to give honest advice, join in with the banter, and felt part of a community of people who were enthusiastic about Porsche.. All was good.
Stephen Taylor, the then chairman of TIPEC asked me to be the official club technical advisor, but nothing exclusive, I offered advice in their yahoo group, I ended up being the owner of the then 924Owners yahoo group, as well remaining part of the titanic community.
Titanic started getting some aggressive marketing from someone who sold tuning parts, there were lots of complaints, and eventually the crowd from there migrated to this forum... TIPEC moved to the corner of someone elses web forum and the 924Owners Yahoo group started to fizzle out.
About this time I was involved less and less with forums, the community had changed the person who was spamming the titanic mailing list seemed to be doing the same here in the PCGB forums, and I was asked by an officer of the club to keep my presence here to offset the problem with "the spammer", which I did for a while, until that person, and some of his fans started taking every opportunity to get personal and assault my business.
What I think I am trying to say is, my involvement with forums has always been driven by an honest desire to help people out. Originally for the reasons posted above, and then later to thank the community which made my move back to the UK easier.
If it was ever about winning customers I would have stuck around to slog it out with "the spammer", but for me, it was not worth the agro, to help people out and get "stick" in the process just isnt worth it.
From a business point of view, it would be nice to have a URL of my business in my signature, not just for promotion, but so people can see where I am coming from and judge if I know what I am talking about.
But also I think all businesses involved in a forum have a moral obligation to make it clear who they are, so other members know what context to take their advice, to be wary of traders who might be advising something which might make them a buck, rather than might actually benefit the member.
So, I think it might be a good idea to at least let specialists or traders have "Specialist" or "trader" either in their signature, or under their name to the left... A URL in their signature, well, it might be nice, but for the forum, I am not sure if it helps the forum or not, even though it might benefit the specialist or trader (see, there's honesty for you)
I do also think that moderators should edit a "specialist" or "traders" post, without shame, if the information in their posts seems to be selling more than helping. It should be ok to say "I have those in stock" perhaps, but not launching a massive sales text about their business and how they can diagnose anything for just £XX per hous, just as a response to someone saying they have a rough idle on their 944.
I also think that a business breaking those rules too often should be kicked, banned or whatever.. The moderators need to have the tools and right to do what they need to do, otherwise the forum is no good to anyone.
I also think, from a community point of view, people should at least have their christian name in their username or in their signature, and if the forum had the facility to have peoples location, even if just "county" and "country" it would help the community.
I think that the 924, 944 and 968 communities are shrinking.. As such, the 968 and 924 areas of this forum are a lot quieter than they could be, and lets face it, requests of "how to change a wheel bearing" on a 924 are relative to a pre 86 944, and likewise the same for a post 86 944 and a 968... Besides, I think a little cross pollination of ideas and cars can make for good reading.. who on the tipec forum has not enjoyed seeing Steve's 924 Turbo project unfolding? I think a little of that in here would be interesting for everyone and it is hard to think of many issues with the 924 or 968 would not be relative to 944 owners.
So what is my lengthy post all about? I don't know, but what I think I would like to say is I can sympathize with the chap who posted he would be leaving the forum because things had changed with the people in it.. I can relate to that, it is why I can be a bit of a stroppy chap if my offer of help to someones post turns into a troll fest.
Back in the Titanic, TipecYahooGroup and 924OwnersYahooGroup days it was not just that I felt part of a community, I also felt like my advice from experience was appreciated, without those two key things it is not worth my sticking around.. Signatures with URL's etc, nice but not what would make me help out here.
Maybe my not feeling part of this community is out of date, and stems from actions of the Spammer and his trolls from 3 or more years ago, who knows.
What I will say is, like other forums, the moderators here do a good job and thankfully they don't have to do it too often from remarks in this thread, so as long as they keep up the good work, this place will continue to be a community... But it might be a community which dies out as the cars become more rare in time, unless perhaps the 924 and 968 chaps get consolidated into it with welcome arms.. just my personal feelings.
I am more often than not in the tipec forum, and am still their technical chap (unless I was sacked at some point without knowing it), but am more than happy to pop in here more often as long as you chaps play nice! [
]
Indi9xx
New member
Just out of interest.... After seeing my own post.. Did someone else change my signature at some point to say "independent Porsche specialist" and my "from" to be "JMG Porsche, Bournemouth"?
I could have sworn it used to say just "jon mitchell" and my from was just "bournemouth".. Although, it could have been me in one of my cantankerous moments.
I could have sworn it used to say just "jon mitchell" and my from was just "bournemouth".. Although, it could have been me in one of my cantankerous moments.
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