FerrariChat.com Community Improvement Plan...

I like the FerrariChat.com merchandise idea. Id buy it.

 

Great job Rob! It looks like a plan to me. Thanks, from a sample size of one, for all your work.

But I just have one question. With all the money that you are making from F-Chat, how come you didn't buy a 360 challenge car instead that junker?

DrTax

 

Rob, you have obviously put some thought into this, and i hope others, with considerable "chat" experience in other fora will weigh in. My initial resistance to a subscriber based board was that it limited the opportunity for new users to get the full benefit, but if theirs is a "read only" and "limited post" function, perhaps that solves the problem. The only real impediment i could intially identify is that, for the price of $15, anybody can still flame away. Perhaps they should meet a minimum posting requirement, too, so that their mettle can be tested. In saying this, i realize that it puts you and your "staff" in the position of judging content. However, that's apparently what alot of people want you to do. To be sure, you will have to take on the job of toning down pure spitefulness and obnoxiousness, while giving a pass to those whose posts, while thorny, are still of some value. I have no problem with contentious posters, or even provocative ones, so long as something substantive is gained by the process. Name calling, alone, is not too stimulating after a while, and that's what, i think, alot of people are reacting to. Those are the easy ones. Allen, too, while provocative, does actually contribute, so his is an easy case too. But, there may be alot of middle ground that is neither hate speech nor of any real substance, and those- that vast middle of mediocrity, is the stuff that we should be loath to censor, even if it seems worthless. Like this post, perhaps.... You get the idea. Its a tough call, but it seems like alot of nonsense will continue without it. I will be interested to see how this comes out. Regards, Bill.

 

Rob nice plan I like everything you mentioned. The only complaint I have is that non subscribers should be able to have a profile. This gives them a place to list their email address so they can get involved with local events, and in turn it might cause them to subscribe when they otherwise wouldn't have. Also, it is a way for a user to contact them without post an attention so and so thread. I like the subscription idea and even though I am a highschool almost college student you have to be crazy to say you can't swing $15. It is the same price of a CD and you get to use it 360+ days a year not just 16 tracks. I have gotten way more then $15 out of f-chat and don't mind giving back in the least. Just my .02 cents worth.
Erik

 

glad you're implementing the fee, i really think it will eliminate many of the issues.

HOWEVER, re trolls, i just don't understand why people can't ignore the trolls and their threads????? i'm amazed how many people complain about "x" but continue to engage in "conversation" with "x".

regardless, great job keeping your patience and continuing to work on improvements!

 

No one would argue that lately the board has degenerated somewhat. My feeling is you do need to be more vigilant with respect to personal attacks and flame wars. More moderators would be welcome so long as they do not become censors of opinions regardless of the negativity toward Ferrari.

I would not be too bent out of shape if a post is in the wrong forum i.e. technical as opposed to general.

Stay with what has made your site successful. Many of the proposals you list strike me as someone using an axe to trim a rose. Implement nothing radical and change, if any, should be gradual.

 

Great ideas, Rob.

One question just popped into my head though - with the hierarchy that you specified below, what will be the difference between someone stumbling onto the site for the first time (a guest) and someone in the "free user" group?

IMO, for the free user group, just strip the posting ability (or minimize posting ability), but leave the rest. That way, there is still an incentive to register as a user. Otherwise, most of the people viewing the site post-change will either be paid subscribers or guests, with nothing in between.

I, too, am willing to subscribe and buy merchandise.

 

Well,one thing that I noticed is that most of the "Flamers" never put in any information in the "Public Profile" making it seem easier,(to them) to get away with their antics. Makes them feel "Anonymous". And,being able to keep starting up new username accounts to continue their actions. I think that if someone puts in Verifiable info into their profile,then,perhaps,more,or,easier "Priveleges". Or just make it mandatory. Just my .02cents.

 

there's a monthly newsletter?

 

ideas,
new users can have read only access but MUST fill out a profile to post or PM.( number limited by moderators or Rob Lay) we dont want to discourage new users no matter if they are fcar owners or not. by having a profile they will be able to show where they are and what they have or like, and perhaps meet up with other members and share rides or go to meets.
also a full use short term option, with the caveat that " troll behavour" will get you banned. more moderators would be a great idea. t shirts, coffee mugs, REGIONAL fchat calenders, regional patches or FCHAT name tags would be super cool. its taken me 30 minutes just to get this typed with the phone ringing off the hook. more ideas later i hope. thanks for all the hard work Rob and for giving us " wanna be" non owners a place here in your community. michael

 

Looks like a plan to me

 

I think the quality of the board will certainly go up after we go to a subscription format.I have a feeling people who just want to clown around and annoy people will probably not waste the $15 bucks to do it.There are plenty other free boards around.I like the merchadise idea as well.

 

Looks good to me.

 

I absolutely agree with red81308! If people post on this site, they should be responsible enough to have verifiable information, especially if we go ahead with a Ferrari Registry. The way that some of these "Flamers" jump in and out of legitimate threads and contribute nothing but discent is not appropriate, and certainly not welcomed by most. My .02cents also.
WilliamR

 

Thanks for that,Flashman. Also,yes Rob. FChat merchandise would be VERY cool. I'd be glad-and proud-to display your site on a T-Shirt,or Hat,all around Chicago and the surrounding 'Burbs.

 

Rob, I agree with your changes. This site was very helpful in the purchase of my 360 on Jan. 26, 04. I made new friends and purchased the car from a fellow f-chatter. Without this site none of that would have been possible. Now with all the flames I've stopped reading as much and reply very little.
I really hope the changes make a difference. You've done a great job keep it up.

Buy the way how did the duck hunting end up for you this year. Did any of my suggestions help?

Dave

 

Rob - you have done a great job with this site. However, it is my opinion that trolls have recently degraded the quality of the site. I realize that people have different opinions and that variety is good, both sides of the story - etc. However, when trolls hijack every thread with incessant Lambo is better posts and 308s are sh!tbombs, etc. it gets tiresome and detracts from the site quality. Yes we can encourage members / sponsors to ignore them - but generally this does not work and their posts turnoff potential new members and sponsors. Ignoring the trolls does not work on any forum. The only way to fix a troll problem is to ban them - period.

We have 2 or 3 members that are trolls and everyone knows who they are.

One troll Mako99 has several hundred posts half of which desecrate most Ferrari models - the very models that our members have and our sponsors provide support for. The other half of his posts are dedicated to Allan's ego. In addition Mako uses invective language which makes this Forum offensive to many members (members families) and sponsors. If anyone does not believe we have trolls - search messages by author - type in Mako99. Read the posts - this is a classic text book troll.

Another troll - AllanLambo is a known troll on over half a dozen forums. Why he feels the need to post 90% of his lambo dribble here on the Ferrari forum has never been answered. To top it off he makes racist comments on this Forum. Occassionally he will reform and post a few meaningful posts - but he quickly slips back into his "Look at me I have a Lambo and it is better car than your Ferrari cr@p."

I have gone on record here before - I would gladly pay to belong to a Ferrari owner / enthusiast forum. I will not pay or frequent a site that is ruined by trolls. I believe you do need to take the steps you mentioned to return the quality to this site. You have lost some valuable contributors lately. I know it is no big deal to anyone - especially our trolls, but I am one more member that will leave this forum unless the content quality returns to its pre-troll levels.

Finally, from the first straw poll almost half our responding members want these trolls banned - yet that is ok with you. You are losing members by keeping the trolls. You would not lose nearly as many members (if any) by banning the trolls.

Would your position be any different if almost half the sponsors wanted the trolls banned? When it hits you in the wallet vis a vis sponsors or members that do not pay for a troll ridden site you may rethink your level of troll tolerance.

My hat is off to you for creating this great Forum and putting in all the hard work you do. Don't let a few idiots ruin it.

 

Mike550,

Very well said. Thank you for speaking up. I whole heartly agree.