Cool idea!! I will get mine added.
+1 when I was gauging interest for a 308 meeting a few years ago I had a list of 26 interested 308 owners in The Netherlands and Belgium alone!
We've got 6 continents represented now, and 140 members so far on the map. Quite a nice turnout- thanks for signing up! I hope the map is interesting and useful. Perhaps this could evolve into a resource for: a) finding help if you need a pre-buy check of a Ferrari, or b) getting local recommendations for a service shop, or b) aid and support if you breakdown along the road somewhere. Best to all, Jeff
Greg, you are certainly entitled to your opinion...and whether you participate in this exercise or not is not up to anyone but you. But, I think your sense of security is a little skewed. You don't want to put a little mark on a map because it's too much information that thieves or other undesirable characters that happen to stumble upon the map may use to harm you or your car? Do I have that right? BUT...you will put information about where you live, the cars you currently own, your employment information, other toys you have (i.e. lots of musical instruments and software), and even your October birthday on a public forum? Houston, TX appears as your location on every post you make and under your PUBLIC PROFILE it lists the other information I mentioned above. It's not hard to take that info and see the Darling St. address that may be your place of employment. AND, LinkedIn has more detailed info about people than this map. Now you might say that people on Fchat are good people and bad people don't come here for nefarious purposes...but are bad people more likely to go to a map that was created by an Fchatter that lists owners of 3X8s in a non-detailed format? I think thieves are more likely to come to Fchat to gather info as there are more expensive cars listed than 3X8s...and there's a thread here showing what other cars people have (which you already listed in your profile). If "thieves are smart and know how to case a general area and pinpoint exact locations on their own", do you think they were at a loss until this map was created? Are we who participated in the map now at greater risk than you who merely lists even more personal information publicly? That said, to each his own. I respect your decision not to participate and really don't care...I'm just not sure your justification is sound. If security is important to you, you shouldn't be on Fchat with ANY information other than the minimum that is required to sign up. Personally, I think it's a cool map. It offers a visual of where like minded folks are...connects us across State and global borders. If someone here sees that I'm in the Charleston area and has a question or is coming for a visit, I'll be happy to engage that person. And if someone is going to try and take my 30 year old car instead of all the Mercedes, BMWs and Hondas driving around the Charleston area... then they'll have to get past some other obstacles that currently stand in their way. I think my personal vehicle is at more risk than my 308...and by people who might not even have internet access. Heck, if you shopped at Target you are more likely to be a victim than if you put a mark on a map. Just my $0.02.
...or even questions about the local area. I am thinking of taking my wife on a trip (dang it, I just let out personal information that could be used against me) and the drive will take me through an area that has a couple Fchatters with 308s. While I won't be driving the 308, I hope they won't mind if I contact them and ask them about local hotels for an overnight. And for anyone coming to Charleston, let me know...first round is on me. (For the record, I typed this while wearing a mask so no smart thieves can identify me as owning a Ferrari).
First of all, who says my car is parked in Houston? Second, you're right, my profile here is too public. I've known it for some time but I need to edit it down a bit. Hardly anybody else on here provides as much profile info on their posts as I do. Soon. Greg Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
...and now we all know you have an SGH-M919. It doesn't matter where your car is parked...If my car was "parked" in West Palm Beach, but I lived full time in Charleston, I'd list Charleston on the map, as I think members coming to the area don't "need" to see my car as they already have one...they're coming to see me (please call first lol). And if you live in Houston and your car is not (let's just say it's far enough away that it wouldn't be considered in close proximity to Houston), then you're missing out on being near your car. I don't drive mine much, but I get to see her every day...that's enough to put a smile on my face.
This is a neat idea I like the visual of approximately where owners are. It's a great way to connect with others. While this is new and current how can it be kept current as owners sell or move? I read about the edit option, but what about the people who forget and never remove their entry? Just saying so it is still accurate 5 - 10 years from now.
I dropped my pin in the middle of a freeway interchange fairly close to my house in case anyone wants to keep a look out for my car. And I dropped a red pin for my yellow car - oops. In Silicon Valley we are knee-deep in high-end and exotic cars, I don't think there's anyone who would put special effort into stealing a 308 around here. And in my case they'll need a truck and some time to gather up all the parts spread out across the garage anyway. Cool map!
I signed up days ago. I agree with other posters, it's silly to think that thieves would target you based on a pin on a map. They can glean far more info from a screen name than they can the pin on a map. It doesn't matter if your location is public or not.
I'm in too. Very cool map. Seems to me to be a large concentration of cars east of the Mississippi River.
