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SolaraGuy.com • View topic - Moderators: A Request
Stock talk about the Generation 1 and 1.5 Toyota Solara which were produced from 1999 to 2003.

Moderators: A Request

Moderators: A Request

Postby cdssolara » Mon Dec 02, 2002 1:30 pm

To all Moderators:

Would it be possible for you to take a more active role in monitoring these forums? There are a lot of threads that get off the intended topic and then just become the equivalent of chat room conversations between a few people. I think it's great that this forum has become popular over the past 6-8 months; I remember when there was very little input on Solaraguy. However, there just seems to be a lot of superfluous postings that have nothing to do with the original topic on many of the car related forums. If people on this forum feel the need to just have a conversation, they should take it to the General Discussion forum or even to regular e-mail. Otherwise, I feel that the Moderators should remind people to stick to the topics or close the thread.

I realize that everyone has different ideas about the use of forums like this. Many people are probably very happy with the way things are. I'm sure that there are others, however, who would be happy if some of the "less useful" posts could be eliminated.

If this request proves to be unpopular, I won't mention it again. I just thought that, in the interest of retaining a wide variety of posters, this might make some sense.

All responses are welcome.
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Re: Moderators: A Request

Postby NASTY » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:00 pm

cdssolara wrote:There are a lot of threads that get off the intended topic and then just become the equivalent of chat room conversations between a few people...I feel that the Moderators should remind people to stick to the topics or close the thread.

I just thought that, in the interest of retaining a wide variety of posters, this might make some sense.


i agree with you about the whole turning into a chatroom thing completely off topic, but i think thats ok, as long as its in the general talk anyways, otherwise it does get annoying. i think we've been doing a pretty good job of keeping it on topic lately though. AND i blame the useless posts on people tryin to get their post count up (im guilty of this too...)!

by the way, flips been remindin people to stick the topics (maybe he should be the solaraguy cop)!
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Postby NASTY » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:02 pm

AND speaking of off topic, this should be in the general talk!
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Postby tainted » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:23 pm

I agree.
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Postby nkx1 » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:33 pm

I have to say, I disagree with cdsolara's request. I don't understand how a thread developing into an enhanced version or even slightly different version of the original topic is detrimental. In fact, I think it can be looked upon as an opportunity to learn more than simply what the original topic allows. Additionally, I feel that the forum is already tightly moderated, and could stand to be a little more liberal. I actually like the way the acura-cl.com site is, which allows members much more freedom of discussion. I still love this site, but I don't think rediculous amount of enforcement is necessary, or beneficial. Just my $.02. Btw, I realize not everyone shares my "liberal" thinking, but can hopefully understand the luxury of being able to simply say what you want, even if it is slightly off topic. I mean, were not in the military here. :-?

*****PS - I completely agree with EricTDallas' thoughts below. Well said.*****
Last edited by nkx1 on Mon Dec 02, 2002 4:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Yanks0114 » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:56 pm

I think threads should be allowed to deviate a little bit as long as its still about cars (mainly solaras). If its completely off topics like what your brother had for dinner last night in a thread that is about brake upgrades, that is unnecessary
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Postby ericatdallas » Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:57 pm

It's really irrelevant that a thread goes off-topic when it's purpose has been served.

For instance, someone asking about oil changes ALWAYS receives an intelligent well thought out response from several members of this forum. This may lead to a discussion on sludge which turns to anecdoctal evidence of why sludge develops and eventually leads to a story about why it sucks to have smoke come out of your car while on a date. While this is not a true example I've found here, it's very representative of the process. How this in anyway adversely effects the content and usefulness of this forum is beyond me.

I think the "problem" isn't necessarily that this forum has gone off-topic but that it's evolved into something more than a Solara forum. There are a lot of threads that are not related to Solaras and a lot of discussions that aren't either. A lot of the threads truly lack any point whatsoever and were never intended to be serious (see "Do you Shift Yourself" for an example).

The fact that this forum has grown into a place that people can socialize and at the same time learn and discuss their cars is something that should be encouraged. This would be a dull place without the random off-topic posts that we have and it encourages a prompt response to more serious topics by keeping regular members active. The alternative would be for people to visit once a week or less and people to wait several days for an indepth discussion on what may be a time sensitive request.

So let's embrace what this forum has become and learn to accept it. However, I would agree that OT threads should be kept in GT but I see no reason why a thread that's lived a useful life not retire to more trivial ramblings.
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The problem is...

Postby SKYravefever » Mon Dec 02, 2002 5:00 pm

that some people, I for one, rarely ever checks the "General Discussion" forum. I suppose that is why the threads usually swerve slightly off-topic. However, I agree a slightly stronger hand in moderating the posts would be helpful. Nonetheless, I give moderators and admins props for maintaining SolaraGuy.com
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Postby cdssolara » Mon Dec 02, 2002 6:41 pm

NASTY wrote:AND speaking of off topic, this should be in the general talk!


You're right, it should be in General Talk. I put it here purposely because I figured more people would see it. I could be wrong, but I get the impression that not everyone regularly checks the GT forum.
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Postby ericatdallas » Mon Dec 02, 2002 7:55 pm

See, that's a perfect example of self-governance. The GT goes off-topic so people don't visit them. Solution is solved. GT is not expected to stay on-topic.
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Postby nkx1 » Mon Dec 02, 2002 8:26 pm

ericatdallas wrote:See, that's a perfect example of self-governance. The GT goes off-topic so people don't visit them. Solution is solved. GT is not expected to stay on-topic.


Thank you. Good to see some intuitive thinking for once in this thread.
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Postby Flipside909 » Mon Dec 02, 2002 11:30 pm

I check the GT forum because it's my job as a moderator to keep things from getting out of hand. I usually don't chime in but lately it's been getting pretty out of control. What's the use of putting all those moderators there if you can't even have them enforce simple guidelines...whether off topic, topic specific or whatever? You might as well make a dedicated forum for just a select group of people so they ca see their post count go higher with every nonsense post they make. It's kinda like those people that love to hear themself talk for no reason.
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Postby ultramookie » Mon Dec 02, 2002 11:55 pm

In a sense I'm finding the growth of SolaraGuy.Com pretty interesting. It's good to see how growth causes things to change and how different people react to it. I'm glad to see so much feedback from you all lately. Maybe I should put in just one more new forum named "Suggestions and Complaints" just for these topics?

Off-topic posts, heavier moderation. I agree with both cdssolara and ericatdallas on this topic.

I do think that in the end SolaraGuy should stay a bit more liberal like nkx1 says, but I do think that mods should step in when topics get wildly off-topic.

I am glad that I have such a diverse group of moderators -- from FlipSide (who is the SolaraGuy cop) to Blaze (who is the SolaraGuy comedian) -- and I think it's why things work out here.

In the end, I think the moderators here are just guides steering the different forums and conversations. But it is you the SolaraGuy members that actually make things change, in a somewhat democratic way I think.

Please do me one favor, I will post a poll in the Polling Booth on whether or not to put up a "Suggestions and Complaints" forum. Please take the time to go vote. I want to find out if that forum would be useful.

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