General - Forum going uphill

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 19 Nov 2010 12:28
General - Forum going uphill - ForumNeedsModerating

Shame I missed the last thread about forum going downhill, as I wanted to make a few general comments on this theme.

I prefer HJ because I think it's moderated in a way that more suits what I look for in a forum - it's polite, not cliquey & not too disparaging of 'newbie bloopers' or patronising. I make no comparisons with any other motoring website/forum in saying this - just a statement of what pleases me & encourages my return.

The 'critical mass' & number of 'expert type' posters that give a forum its interest & utility will increase over time - I don't subscribe to the view that once a forum has faltered in some way, that it's mortally wounded or will be forever bereft of 'stars'.

The plain simple fact of the matter is that HJ has a huge archive motoring related information (Car-by-Car, Reviews etc.,for example) that will always draw interest & visits & is 'hard' information that serves anyone - not just forum subscribers, but casual click-thru'ers etc.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Edited by woodbines on 19/11/2010 at 12:31

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 12:49
General - Forum going uphill - Armstrong Sid

it's polite, not cliquey & not too disparaging of 'newbie bloopers' or patronising

True. I always found HJ quite civilised and genteel, unlike some of the ranting and insulting forums which inhabit the net. One person's joke is another person's insult, and nobody will ever be perfectly happy with what they find

I don't subscribe to the view that once a forum has faltered in some way, that it's mortally wounded or will be forever bereft of 'stars'.

Prophets of doom often say that. After a few months of change, anyone posting here will have forgotten the names of former visitors, whilst new members will never have known "the good old days" so will treat the site for what they see it today.

Do we need stars? They only people who think a site has or needs stars are those who imagine themselves as the stars, and they can be the most annoying and patronising contributors

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 13:16
General - Forum going uphill - Chris M

Agree, this site is definately on the up. Have popped in since around 2000. The year or so before the big shutdown was, for me at least, the worst. Fortunately, the causes have gone off to the other side and those left here, along with the new posters, are slowly building a new community.

The technical forum is still very active, unlike the other place, and I believe that demonstrates that those that left were only interested in idle chat. If that's what they want, fine, they did the right thing.

Long live the Back Room!

Edited by Chris M on 19/11/2010 at 13:17

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 14:37
General - Forum going uphill - Pica

I like this site too and I have received excellent advice on issues/problems that were of great concern to me at the time.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 14:40
General - Forum going uphill - turbo11

Agree Chris M. I stopped visiting this site for 18 months, as the arguing was getting tedious.Some of the BR's who have departed will be missed, as they were very knowledgable and helpful to all. There were however a few who seemed to revel in being confrontational and very derogatory to others, in particular new posters.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 16:39
General - Forum going uphill - Fernando P

I reckon that the "motoring" discussion part is now better focused on the topic and, for me, there is a welcome absence of what I would describe as rather frivolous "pub talk". The technical matters section is certainly on the up again, judging by the number of requests for assistance and the sound technical advice being provided by a cross section of experienced contributors. Long may it continue.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 15:34
General - Forum going uphill - John F

Is it just me or has this site got a helluvalot slower? The on-screen 'eggtimer' is constantly 'waiting for adserver, pubads', etc etc........so I shall probably be driven away soon as well.

[No-one ever 'moderates' me ....we'll see what they make of 'helluva'.....]

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 16:48
General - Forum going uphill - ForumNeedsModerating

Is it just me or has this site got a helluvalot slower?

No problem for me, speed is fine - and I don't suppress/disable anything - browser or ISP maybe?

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 17:37
General - Forum going uphill - Max Headroom
I have looked in at the other forum today.
It is fine if you want a chat room, and can tolerate or filter out the banter from one or two posters who are constantly bullying and picking on others.
There is very little real motoring discussion there, and they seem to be obsessed about how HJ's forum is doing.
This forum is perfect for what it is, a motoring forum with quality technical and legal advice. If you want to learn English and how to spell and use grammar correctly, then head over to the other forum.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 17:43
General - Forum going uphill - bathtub tom

>>they seem to be obsessed about how HJ's forum is doing.

Unfortunately, this forum seems to stamp on any mention of t'other.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 18:59
General - Forum going uphill - ForumNeedsModerating

Unfortunately, this forum seems to stamp on any mention of t'other.

No disrespect BT - but why shouldn't they? Would you expect 'adverts' for ITV on BBC1?

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 19:09
General - Forum going uphill - bathtub tom

>>Would you expect 'adverts' for ITV on BBC1?

We seem to be getting 'adverts' for BBC1 on ITV. ;>)

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 20:11
General - Forum going uphill - Max Headroom

>>Would you expect 'adverts' for ITV on BBC1?

We seem to be getting 'adverts' for BBC1 on ITV. ;>)

ITV is a commercial company. BBC is a public service.

HJ's forum is commercial web site. The other forum seems to be a free public service paid for by a generous benfactor.

So if you feel flush with your cash, or you can persuade your friends at the other forum to pay, then contact the Ad Agency which places ads on this website. You might then have your paid for advert here extolling the virtues of the other free public service web site. Go on, see if the other forum can raise the cash.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 20:53
General - Forum going uphill - piggy

I have to agree the forum is improving,hopefully it will get back to what it was like a couple of years ago. Legal advice from Lucy BC is excellent and very interesting. However,I do miss the "I have a Question" section before the forum was updated.With a bit of luck,it might come back (hint,hint).

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 21:19
General - Forum going uphill - Alby Back

I'm mildly disappointed to find, on both HJ and "the other place" a slightly partisan view expressed by some posters. It is simply not necessary to wear a pink or a blue shirt when contibuting to a forum. If you enjoy or benefit from either or both then tuck in to either, or one only or indeed none I say. No need to disparage in either direction.

You don't have to support a team to enjoy a sport.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 21:50
General - Forum going uphill - foxmoth

I do miss the great 'LUD' who was always worth reading in the past.

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 22:08
General - Forum going uphill - Avant

As always, Humph has it right.

As I've said before, there is room for more than one forum, especially if one is a place where people come for advice about cars and motoring and the other is a more general chatroom. I post happily on both, and the more that do so the better. Both are better places if contributors to one don't complain about the other. Some of us post on one-make forums, but we don't use them for the primary purpose of rubbishing other makes.

Purely as a personal view, I think both are better for the more easy-going moderation that both now have. Thread drift, for example, is fun and reflects real conversation. But I will always come down hard on advertising, offensiveness, and (my particular bete noire) unhelpful putting-down of a new or inexperienced OP.

'I have a question' - I confess to being the one who wanted that changed to 'general discussion' because some people felt that there wasn't a place for general non-motoring issues unless they had a question to ask. You can't win 'em all, but you can of course ask any question you like in whichever section is relevant.

Edited by Avant on 19/11/2010 at 22:08

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 23:34
General - Forum going uphill - John Boy

I think this discussion forum has become more focussed.

In the past the discussions often went off at a tangent all over the place. I think that was because there were a few members who seemed to have nothing better to do than argue about minor points. The result could be extremely funny, but it could be very tedious if you wanted to learn something useful from the experience of other people.

Onwards and upwards!

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Fri 19 Nov 2010 23:36
General - Forum going uphill - bathtub tom

>>Onwards and upwards!

To infinity, and beyond? ;>)

Edited by bathtub tom on 19/11/2010 at 23:37

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Sat 20 Nov 2010 22:20
General - Forum going uphill - rtj70

Unfortunately, this forum seems to stamp on any mention of t'other.

After all this time one would hope mention of c*******.com is permitted.

Edit: No the swear filter removed the mention of c a r4play.com.

Edited by rtj70 on 20/11/2010 at 22:27

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Sat 20 Nov 2010 23:52
General - Forum going uphill - Avant

I don't personally have a problem with this, Rob, as there is no actual advertising: but if HJ sees this and thinks it should be edited I'll go along with him. I think we're all agreed that the forums are different enough in identity and character for them not to be in competition.

That said, anything that does constitute advertising will have to be removed: this is why certain names are blocked by the swear filter.

Edited by Avant on 21/11/2010 at 01:51

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Sun 21 Nov 2010 00:07
General - Forum going uphill - rtj70

Might want to ask HJ et al if this thread should be in the archive too:

w3ww.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=1791

Edited by rtj70 on 21/11/2010 at 00:13

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