| Author | Message | ||
| Chris A. (Asianbond)
Junior Member Username: Asianbond Post Number: 89 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey Rob, it's your site, you can run it anyway you please. But I have no problem with the current format. Needless to say, all internet public forums have individuals that express opinions and views that the majority may not agreed with, that goes to the nature of free speech. If one doesn't like what they read they can ignore it and not respond, it's not like the guy's in your face. I'm just afraid that if you proceed down the path of moderating and to a certain extent, censoring the content, it creates a who's in and who's out club like atmosphere. Even a private thread concept projects an elitest image. If guys want to talk private they can always email each another. Besides, do you really have the time to moderate this forum full time. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2807 Registered: 12-2000 |
I agree, those guys would just pay to get in. | ||
| Bart Boonacker (Sharky666)
New member Username: Sharky666 Post Number: 48 Registered: 9-2002 |
I think paying for this site would affect the way it is now. Less members will mean, less posts, less information and eventually a dying of the site (OK, maybe a bit to negative  ). No more hundreds of answers on your posts and less sharing all of the Ferrari passion. As for me, I'm not sure if I was willing to pay for the site (I know i'm new here and that it wouldn't mind that I would be lost in the way, but that's not the point). For me it's a fun way to read about Ferrari's and learn more. But before I got to this board I still enjoyed Ferrari's as much as I do now. I'm just a student, and as I probably could spare the money, I think it's a lot of money for a site ($60 a year). As far as a private section goes, I don't really have a clue about that. Maybe it's a good thing, as long as the "regular" members don't know about it because otherwise you'd get ranks etc. which would again affect the way the site is now. Now even the "leader" (Rob) is at the same level as everybody else, even newbies. That's what makes the "family"-feeling even greater. I still think ignoring the idiotics ones is the best way to act against them. I know I didn't really acted that way, but that was just once and I kept myself from replying again. This all is just the opinion of a "dutch" newbie. - Bart PS. Sorry for the lenght, just had to get it out PSS. It's not that I aint willing to pay to Rob or something, because Rob is doing a great job, providing this site to us, but I think paying to get rid of some idiots, which can be ignored aswell, is just a bit idiotic itself. And if someone wants to support Rob it would always possible to send a check I guess | ||
| Angelo Aureola (Cnotd)
New member Username: Cnotd Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ernie strikes again  | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 899 Registered: 2-2001 |
You can also have a registration system where the e-mail must be confirmed (ie the user has to respond with the registered email to be activated). Many sites use this to prevent people from providing fake emails and addresses. Baning hotmail and yahoo mail accounts would be another idea. I would definitely pay $5 a month to stay on (and have a right to post). Anybody could read and lurk for free. Another last idea would be that in order to fully register and be able to post on FerrariChat, users would have to provide credit card info with verifyable emails. Although their cards would never be charged, the true identity of the users would be known and prevent the "Angelos" and "Sawyerrs" from coming in and posting crap. The private info would be known just to Rob. Just some ideas ... Ernesto | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 610 Registered: 8-2002 |
I would not think that a paysite is a bad idea. Sure it would suck to pay for what was free but I can tell you, the information alone is worth whatever price would be charge. It would also cut out the riff raff that chokes the servers. Five bucks a month kinda thing. Also with the added income for Rob, He could be less dependant upon advertisers and the focus more on system needs rather then on chat board patrol. My 5 bucks.... | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3264 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eric, I could not agree more with you, except that I believe that everybody has something to share and you do not have to be an expert, a Ferrari owner or historian to be able to share on this board. If you onw one you can share comments about service, what happened to your car, what the fix was etc. If you love Ferraris but not yet have one you can ask questions, share information you know, share the passion. In all this is about sharing a passion. What do I care what somebody else thinks that has nothing to contribute than throwing insults. If you have a problem with your car you can post it here and get litterally hundreds of answers in a matter of minutes that you can diagnose. | ||
| Eric Hawley (Eric)
New member Username: Eric Post Number: 33 Registered: 8-2001 |
If you had a private topic, would I be included? I'm no expert on Ferraris: I�m just a car nut who is fortunate enough to own Ferraris, and appreciates being able to connect with others and get information about the cars. This forum is a great value to me, and I�d hate to see it either moderated or somehow restricted. I've been mostly lurking here for quite a while. I contribute a few tidbits now and then, when I think I might have something to offer. So, I�m a �rookie� still after hanging around for a couple years (monitored board under different ID for a while before this one). Am I one of the �in� crowd? Probably not. How would you decide who to include, or not, in a private topic? I suppose it doesn�t matter. If I wasn�t invited in, I wouldn�t even need to know it, and could just continue to monitor the topics I am allowed to visit. So go ahead and create a private chat topic (I mean this sarcastically). I suppose it�s just part of that natural evolution of a chat room/email alias. I�m sure many on this forum already have their own personal aliases in which they share private asides about the goings on here. This has clearly happened on the Flist email alias, and that forum holds less and less of value to me as it continues to �evolve�. I suppose ferrarichat is going the same way as it grows. I�m sorry to see that. I encourage others to do as I have managed to do, ignore the noise and enjoy the great resources this forum makes available. There are really no good alternatives, and this one is really not broken. Rob, please leave it alone. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2787 Registered: 12-2000 |
I just have this feeling that Angelo isn't going anywhere. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2929 Registered: 2-2001 |
I think this site works better than any other site on the net, hands down. I would keep it just as it is, it really is the head of the class when it comes to exotic car sites. These guys pop up, say some ridiculous things, make some random accusations, then in a week or so they fade away. All the guys that have been around here awhile know the ropes. Obviously none of us believe or read into anything some random guy comes in and starts saying about Martin, Matt, me, Edward, Magoo, Art, etc (too many people to list), I usually just laugh at them to be honest. It's funny that someone could be so f-cked up to feel the need to come in and rain on our parade, I mean you gotta wonder about what goes through these people's heads. I just say don't take anything too seriously on the internet, we all know by now what is what on here. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 509 Registered: 4-2002 |
One problem with private threads is that newbies with legitimate tech questions could be squeezed out, or not responded to because the 'serious' posters will only be monitoring the private threads. Also, I'll be bummed because I'll be excluded.  | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 439 Registered: 8-2002 |
Rob, Tom Yang had a similar issue on his site a few months back with some ignoramus that had 20 different identities. He changed the format of the forum and, in some way that I don't comprehend, it eliminated the problem. I know you post there every once in a while, so why don't you drop him a message and find out what it was that he did. Maybe it will work here, maybe it won't. As for private discussions, that would exclude a lot of newcomers and lurkers who are potentially just as valuable to this site as the long-time F-chatters. If nothing else works, then the simple solution is to just stop responding to the idiots. I know, that's funny coming from me after my previous "blowout" and all!  | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3256 Registered: 5-2001 |
Rob, I can deal with the Angelos and Greaseballs. As I said, makes me smile. I do not see a need to moderate either, nor to have private discussions. That will desolve the purpose of this chat room. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 598 Registered: 8-2002 |
I forgot....Private posts. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 597 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'd pay. Rob, you could upgrade from a 328 to an 575M..... | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 395 Registered: 12-2001 |
Rob, private and public threads might be a good idea. I hate to bring it up again, but another way to eliminate these inflamatory postings is pay access. Maybe free to view but you have to pay to a yearly fee to post. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2779 Registered: 12-2000 |
Moderating does not work and it's too time consuming. Every other board in the world moderates and it just makes it worse. You delete an id and they just reregister (Tony to Angelo), you block an IP and it may block good users, you delete and edit messages and they just post another one. I will never heavily moderate this board, go visit all other boards and the low noise and flaming on this board is refreshing. Small private boards are the only ones that have any hope to be noise and flaming free. FerrariChat.com has grown past that point, however, think of all the benefits to our growth. When ever has FerrariChat.com had more vintage owners and historians? When have we had a more diverse representation of model ownership? When have we had less shop owners and knowledgeable technicians? When have we had less users with real world racing experience, many in Ferraris? Even if all users hear this message and learn to deal with Angelo, we're always going to have the 100 new members a month where 99 don't know how to deal with an Angelo and maybe 1 of those is even a new Angelo. They're not dumb, they know exactly what to say to press your buttons. America is becoming more and more like Israel where terrorism is just an unfortunate reality of life. Well, Angelo's are just an unfortunate fact of our online community. In one minute I can create a private topic that only users of my picking can view or post. I wouldn't care if they're owners or not, just that they're enthusiasts and have proven over many messages on the public board that they deserve to take part. I can then remove anyone at any time back to the public level. What does everyone think about a private thread? The public threads will always have Angelos though. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3248 Registered: 5-2001 |
Also I feel kind of honored. Greaseball has 14 posts and all of them insult me. The guy must really like me I feel kind of important now. Not just Pam Anderson alone, no, I have a stalker too . Next thing you know he is breaking into my house going through my underwear ..okay that was not a pretty mental picture, sorry ! | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3247 Registered: 5-2001 |
10-4 Matt, no more responses, although I admit these guys are funny. It is the maturity level that is really making me smile! | ||
| Jonas Petersen (Karsten335)
Junior Member Username: Karsten335 Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'm pretty aware of, that I am/was one of them types.. I hope my apoligy (don't know how to spell it) was enough, because I've followed this forum a long time. But I'll stay on the mat this time.. | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 280 Registered: 2-2001 |
I'm with Hans and Dan on this. I think the site moderates itself fairly well. I'd prefer the option of scrolling past stuff that I find irrelevant versus having posts (and posters) yanked based on somebody else's criteria. If anyone is to "moderate", it should be Rob, IMO. It's his house. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 771 Registered: 3-2001 |
I agree with the "ignore" aspect... although with 1000 plus users and an open forum, it's going to be nearly impossible to get everyone to ignore these rare but occasional drifters who are out to fuel the flame. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 592 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'm with you on that Hubert. I'll volunteer | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 313 Registered: 1-2002 |
Personally, I think we should implement a feature standard at many other 'forums': moderators. People with ban, post editing and deletion privlidges that lock, delete, and ban obnoxiuos and otherwise negative 'members', clicking the ban button is easy, I've done it more than once. Simple, neat, tidy, and 100% effective in shuting up jerks that come online to spat their bullshit. I'll volunteer. -hubert | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Junior Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 109 Registered: 9-2002 |
Matt, I feel that the problem lies in the fact that it is Ferrari - not exactly an unknown car, and so you attract some bad apples into the mix. To me, this rates as the second most mature board I've ever visited (bmwm5.com being the first) - but given the kind of people you will attract here, I am very impressed wiht the overall decorum. I think the most important thing, as you mentioned, is to NOT react when someone causes problems. Don't respond, and they can't stir anything. --Dan | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 506 Registered: 4-2002 |
I suspect it's just a temporary anomaly (sp?). If they are ignored, they'll eventually leave. It takes a give-and-take type of discussion for anyone to stay interested. Just don't give or take. They'll get bored. Hans. (The semi-obnoxious one who won't leave.) | ||
| Matt Karson (Squidracing)
Junior Member Username: Squidracing Post Number: 240 Registered: 3-2001 |
Guys....I'm sorry, but I have to get on a soapbox for a moment. To be honest, I have only visited one other 'car chat room'. Once. I didn't like what I saw, and I never went back. I have always felt that FerrariChat was a civilized forum for discussing all things Ferrari (and other O/T issues as well). Granted there are differences in opinions, but by and large, we are a respectful and interesting bunch of enthusiasts. There have been a couple of threads as of late, where I think things have gotten out of hand. What is all this 'kiss my ass' animation? We have had several newcomers come in lately, and really try to stir things up. I think this lowers the quality of this chat site. We should not let it get out of hand. We should acknowledge that we have a fool amongst us, and then ignore them. Newcomers are always welcome to help enrich our knowledge and enjoyment of our marque. Newcomers should also shoulder the responsibility of proper behavior. I think we cheapen this site by getting into pissing matches with these fools. . And please, to those valuable longstanding FerrariChat members who were involved, this is not directed at you, it is a general statement. Personally, I think those of you all had good points. . If a new FC member comes on, and starts to 'poison' the quality of 'our' site, he will go away if we ignore them. All this posting of crap by these asses will cease if it is not engaged by us. If they cannot rile us up, and they are not confronted (MAYBE JUST TOLD TO LEAVE, AND THEN INGORED), we will not see them again. There are many other sites I can go to for immature crap......NOT FERRARICHAT. Thank you for listening, and I will now step off the soapbox. |