What are you people bitching about!?!?

I don't understand this. 2 years ago when I first got my 6G Celica, I was able to talk about my car in any of the "Celica" related threads and got answers right away, if not immediatly. Too this day, I can still get those same answers immediatly. I don't see where anything went downhill in those Forums, are you people just crazy?

Off-Topic is SUPPOSE to be "Off-topic". I thought the Topic was 6G Celica's, am I right? So why is it a hassle to have "off-topic" conversation in the "off-topic" forum? So OT creates a little controversy, it would be completely boring to visit this site and not have anything else to talk about - alot of times I visit and there are no questions in the 6G Celica related Forums. Then I navigate to OT and find something to jump in on. No matter WHERE you go, OT is a no-holds-bar Forum. Thats the POINT to OT, its ALWAYS going to be the POINT to OT. You have to deal with it as long as its there, and you can't get irritated about it. If it does get out of hand, you simply do what needs to be done about it and forget about it. Thats how OT is, thats how it should be.

Also, I admit that i've made some stupid comments in the 6G Celica related forums just to get a rise out of people, but that's maybe 5% of the time I do post in the Celica Related forums. I've helped ALOT of people in those Forums, and I still do. 95% of the time i'm completely serious in trying to help them, if I go from being stupid and silly in OT, i'll go to being serious and trying to help people in the Related Forums. I've helped alot more people on the Forums than most of you, i've been a member since before we even had body kits. And look, I don't even have a 6G Celica anymore (<3 my GT-S), and i'm still here - because alot of the people here are good friends/family.

Leave Off-Topic to OT people. It gets opinions out, it gets controversy going, which gets very good opinions from people, and lets people share their honest views on some things. It creates arguments, arguments are good as long as its healthy, and not "**** you, **** your mom, and **** your wife.. twice and we are having a condom baby.". The world is based on arguing and debating, and thats what OT is 50% of the time.

This post has been edited by Jason: Jun 10, 2004 - 8:46 AM

Here is my $.02.

Although I agree with the comments about O.T., I also think its harmless - its off topic. People that do not want some mindless distraction need not visit that section of the site.

The real problem from my perspective is the hostility in the on-topic sections. We need to recognize that not everyone has the same level of expertise with these cars. The longer you are on these forums, do other research, and talk to others, the more you learn. However, we all start with knowing nothing. What is really discouraging to me is that the most knowledgeable and talented members are often times the ones who are the most critical of questions from new people. Quite frankly, this site needs you guys. That is what automotive enthusiast forums are for - to obtain and share information. If the answer to a question is "this has been asked a million times, use your search button you idiot", a number of things happen. (1) the guy will probably not come back - and if you dont care about that then; (2) you sound harsh and mean; (3) no useful information was shared; and (4) others that have a similar question in the future will find this thread when they are searching and not get any useful information.

I have noticed that when a question is asked that has been asked dozens of times before, it usually comes from someone very new to the site. These people simply do not know the importance of searching yet. Also, it can be difficult at first to even know the proper terms (e.g. whats the difference between a strut and a shock?). If a guy needs to learn to use the search button, lets tell him but not degrade him. Better yet, lets get him started with the answer and point him in the right direction.

As a girl its hard to go to any Car site cuz it feels like "hey forget waht your car looks like. Show a picture of yourself first"

ill admit ive staged selling my car cuz i didnt wanna be on the boards so that maybe a month later i could sign on as someone else most likely a guy from oregon and people wouldnt know. it feels like im the most mistreated girl on the site. How bad is that that i would think of doing that so then i could maybe get a lil respect??!!
Ive also thought about PMing coomer a few times int he past week to just erase my account cuz some guys get pretty rude with their comments. Im not the only one who feels that i get the most crap. I have people form this site I IM with who also recognize that i get the most trash talked to.



i also recognize that some of the downright OT topics stem from me. I.E. my day of 15 topics. I think a lil bit better moderating needs to be done. if its down right OUT THERE - please see DO YOU IRON YOUR MONEY! then erase it!!!

i know the moderators sometimes shouldnt have to go in and moderate. Most of us are over the age 16 if not over the age of 18 and should be a lil more mature even though it is off topic (me included)

also i think we need a delete your own topic button. I know a lot of my topics would be gone cuz they start to get out of control

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Jun 10, 2004 - 10:12 AM

This is just a suggestion, but maybe you should have a 3 strikes and you're out rule or suspended or somethin. If Coomer or a Moderator sees a member on the site that is being disrespectful to another, you give him 3 strikes and depending on the severity of the penalty, you guys could either kick that member off the site or just suspend him for a week or so. Each member could have a lil bar under their name that keeps count of their warning status or something. Its just a suggestion that i think could help keep things under check.

The main reason why i think that the off-topic section is gettin out of hand is simply because more and more people are getting more knowledgable of the 6g celicas and cant find much to talk about in the other sections of the forum, so you should feel good about that Coomer cuz that means your website is doing its job. Just my suggestions.

ive been to alot of forums and this forum is def one of my fav's

mainly b/c of the people. i now got to a integra form b/c i have one and everytime you post something you get flamed for not searching. you search then post, you still get flamed for not searching "enough". in my opionon some new topics are stupid....but sometimes they go too far. here tis not like that. we help them out THEN suggest using the search.

just put some restriction on OT.....

uhh yea some people on here really need to get some a$$ for themselves, b/c u cant live off of 6gc girl posts....

I love this web site.....

The off-topic forum to me should have "off topic" things in there....isn't that the whole point? If you don't want random things being posted in there...then it should be called "off-topic, BUT dont post anything off-topic!" or something like that lol...Someone mentioned labeling it "garbage"...um thats the same thing as off-topic! lol

Anyway, aren't web forums a place for people to express their ideas & opinions w/ eachother?.....If ya dont want to hear peoples random,helpless, AND OR pointless (but entertaining ) opinions then you mind as well just get rid of the site

With that being said....Coomer.... please forgive us for our childish/highschool ways, I agree that the fighting & "my car is better than your eveything" needs to stop....But I think that has to do w/ a lot of the members on here being teenagers......(i guess thats where acting like high school kids comes from lol) Yet I agree, there is still no excuse for any of it!


I like the 3 strikes idea! I was thinkin the same thing
OK......thats my opinion..... lol

I don't post much, but I read and am entertained by this site religiously on a daily basis. Personally, this site is incredible. Questions can be easily answered, most people are friendly and cool and know tons of information. I've both bought and sold stuff to people I've met in the forums - the whole concept is amazing. A couple things I've picked up on that kinda bother me are:

1. Reposts. Please read the stickys in each forum. People post a lot of the same question and a good majority of them can be answered in the stickys or in the databases.

2. Newbies and how they're treated. We all had to be one at one point! Most of #1 comes from new people and the way that they're answered with trite one-liners, ie "learn how to use the search function" really gets old. Understand that people aren't as well versed with the etiquette or abilities of the site when they're new...it happens, don't jump all over people for making a mistake.

3. "Photochopping." For God's sake! Quit telling people that their stuff is photoshopped. I can't count how many times somebody posts pics of something cool they've done or found and then their post gets all ripped to shreds with people attempting to figure out if its real or not.

4. I was waiting for someone to bring up the female situation. I also noticed most new females who come to the site aren't greeted very nicely. Yeah most of us are guys (my guess is just about everyone is 23 and below or so) and we all know how we can get. But yeah, most of the time a girl joins or posts a topic or a pic is posted of a girlfriend or a meet with a girl happening to be in a photo etc. the topic gets kinda out of control.

5. We can't hear each other. You've got to take just about everything with a grain of salt. We can't hear how people are saying things or what mood they're in when they type something. I'm extremely sarcastic, but that's way hard to pick up in just typing. It helps with escalating problems to not retaliate, just move on...or better yet, if you think you might be posting something hostile...maybe refrain???

Anyway, I agree we need some cleanup around here, hope those can help a bit. For the most part though, I tip my hat to Coomer for the awesome Celica community he and other's have created. Keep up the good work.

-boosted_K2+Jun 10, 2004 - 12:46 AM

we do have a warning system, but i guess only the mods see it, is that right coomer?

i agree OT has its purpose, but the posts in it need a purpose. just because its off-topic doesnt mean it doesnt need a topic, if you want to mindless chitchat hop on the chat room. Off topic is for topics other than a 6th gen celica. just because the forum is named off topic does not mean it will be run like every other messageboards' off topic forum.

-Andason+Jun 10, 2004 - 12:12 PM

Honestly speaking Coomer... I think there are many areas of the site that are fine. I'm willing to say that the engine/performance forum and the suspension forums are great, in that there are knowledgeable people there trying to help out. In my honest opinion, OT isn't a necessity, it's more like a privledge you're allowing the fellow members who post their drivel there, however correct or incorrect that term may imply. In other words... enforce reprecussions onto those who blantantly take advantage of that privledge. I personally have stopped visiting there, mostly because I'm sometimes the confrontational type... and would rather not piss off other members. I'll be another to say, that there are many many knowledgeable people here in many difference aspects relating to our cars and this site is by far, one of the best in terms of relating information on our generation of Celicas, and beyond. Overall, perhaps a slight decline, but that comes with growth in the community. More people, more different opinions and ideas...

I have been on this site almost 2 years now. I have to agree with coomer that there are many more pointless topics arising. I don't read half of them b/c they sounds stupid. I think there should be a limit to the number of OT related posts b/c they do take up space on the server.

People have been mean to some newbies in the past few months. I figure we can tell them the answer then tell them to use the search function next time. Just don't be an ass about it

As far as degrading the few females that we have here. I haven't seen it(prolly b/c its deleted before I get on), but that is down right asinine. Why would you degrade females on this site. People should be happy that there are females that like cars and celicas and want to know more about it. STOP being a cocky pig when it comes to talking to females. (you know who you are)

I just think that the maturity level needs to increase much more when it comes to replying to posts and being nice to people.

Jeremy

-Jeremy1210+Jun 10, 2004 - 6:12 PM

Well i think the age of most of the users here explains it >> To me though this board is pretty tame. I like it here >>

On the point of telling people to use the search function - the hostility of it to newbies, I believe, could be lessened with a reply like:

"Next time, use the search function, but here you go: LINK TO THREAD"

Just a quick search and all can be good from both ends of the tunnel. Just an idea >>

yeah...man i hated when on 3si all i saw were people yelling "search newbie!!" thats all you ever saw!! it was freakin retarded. There would be virtually no posts if thats the case. Now for topics like "whats the best struts for me?" JESSHH!! how many times has that been on here? Maybe we need some more sticky threads?

molt, somtimes it's not a single thread, sometimes it's almost eveyr single thread in the engine forum. Like: what information is there on the 3sgte swap?

I fully stand behind my bashing of the newb who asked that question- first I just said politely: You should do a search and you'll find the answers.

everyone else did too

then he asked the question again

then I bashed, and I was justified. the end.

I do see your point Shid, but I think that if someone has the time to post: "You should do a search and you'll find the answers" then you might as well link the forum, which contains the needed information, to the end of the your post. It's simple, helps the newbie, and lets him know about the search function. Not to start a debate but its just my opinion.

EDIT: In answer to cooms question......dont be affraid to use the warning system. I've seen you type to people to have them to follow rules but i dont think any warnings have been issued. If you feel necessary to issue the warnings then by all means, please do so.

This post has been edited by LatinKraze: Jun 10, 2004 - 2:31 PM

We should have a FAQ sticky in every on topic forum. If you want I cant start writing one up. >>

Otherwise, you'll still have people saying search. I think it would be great to have a thread like the bodykit guide in other forums. The suspension guide, The engine guide, The interior guide so on and so on.


Sorry for my statement earlier It was immature. I was provoked but did manage to work out the disagreement.

I come from a forum called www.indycarz.com I've never met ruder people. You can register and check it out. People on that forum make fun of you for whatever you do, and really hate on you if you have a S13 cuyz youre a "bandwagon jumper". When I came to this site, I was so impressed with how nice everyone was, and how laidback it was. A little guff and arugments makes this interesting. But there should be a limit. Coomer, You've done a fin job with this site. If this site wasnt avaible with all the info it has, i wouldnt have bought 6g due to lack of support.

Coomer i would not worry in which way the site is going. I just love how the site is setup especially how the fourms are. its hard to explain but whenever i goto another form other than this one i feel like im in a cage and cant really navigate easily either. plus the colors are traditonal and easy for everyone to see and read no matter what computer they log in from. as far as how the off topic goes just be a little more aware of whats going on in there like pics and videos that could be taking up large amounts of space and just delete them or lock them up so they dont get out of control. As far as people bashing others for not searching, i personally am not a huge fan of searching for old fourms and would rather just have someone with the knowledge just politly tell me the answers then say crap such as go search and what not. What you could do is for a time where a guestion has been asked a million times, make a faq page that would answer it for every new person that comes to the site as they can be directed twords that or have the thread be answered and delete the old one where it was answered earlier that way you dont have 18 threads on how to find the fuse boxes or what not. Other than that i would say keep it like it is now and remember that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions.

inherently this site is perpetuating the import car culture. And one of the main aspects of that culture is socializing, interacting, and meeting new people you would normally never get to meet. This is what i believe the O/T is there for. Sure, some of the topics and posts may be stupid, but people are stupid as a whole, its bound to happen.

The problem as i see it is not the site, but rather the people in it. The site has stayed true to what it was founded to be, but the problem is that many of the members have been around for so long that the posts in most of the topics have been covered. theyve read the arguements of turbo vs swap a thousand times over, theyve read what people think of 'X' brand shocks and 'Y' brand pads. Some of the people have gotten bored, and thus they have unfortunatly turned to making immature comments and harrassing others without provocation just for, the only reason i can see, attention. I do not think the site needs more policing, i just think that people need to think before they post. Its as simple as that.

Although i also believe the behavior of some of the members here to be delporable, i am glad to see that the majority of the site remains true to the reason it was created. Look at all the information that this site has, the knowledge that it contains, the influnce it has had in bringing together people from all over the world and bringing light to the wonderful cars we all have and love.

I love this place there way that it is.....u want a bad site go to dgtrials, man..those guys will really make u feel unwanted...if people are tried of **** then dont log on anymore....things change..in fact in that constate thing in life is change..forums will change people will change, doesn't mean that it's a bad thing

First off, I read Shawn's post in the Off Topic forum rules thread, and it made me realize that what doesn't irritate me the most is the garbage threads in off-topic, but rather the threads that are just plain inappropriate. Posts that reference sexual stuff, drugs, cussing, posts with inappropriate images, posts attacking others, etc.

Again, we'll begin working on some new rules for the site, and more strict ways of enforcing them. Hopefully we'll have those online sometime during the weekend. Also, we'll make new registering members read the rules before they register, and we'll emphasize the rules more on the site.

what about some sort of FAQ section coomer ? can we get that going too

This post has been edited by defgeph: Jun 10, 2004 - 3:30 PM

-defgeph+Jun 10, 2004 - 1:30 PM

-Coomer+Jun 10, 2004 - 4:31 PM

-Coomer+Jun 10, 2004 - 3:31 PM

Yeah, FAQs like that would be nice...if you're willing to make a quality FAQ, then feel free to do so, and then we can sticky it and lock it once it's done. >>