OT-The "good ol days" of Pelican

[john70t]

I've noticed a trend over the time I've participated in this forum (please give your opinions) that began with a small group talking totally tech, to a larger group with a wide variety of topics, to a diffferent small group talking friendship combined with an extreme amount of OT variety, to ?

Having read -and greatly appreciatied the shared knowledge-some of the 1000+ postings by members of the "community" during the last years or so, I've been wondering:what was it like when this BBS/buisness starting out and who were the characters who stood out in peoples minds?

[cegerer]

If you go to the 'Last Thread' function, it will bring up the very first posts. It's interesting. Lot's of questions, very few answers/replies - just like most BBS's. Not sure when, why or how it all jelled and took off, but there's no doubt it's one of the most informative, friendly, and fun BBS's anywhere. -- Curt

[johncj8989]

I love this board. I have always been a Porsche nut but only took posession of my first one about 2 years ago. Its great having a place to go and get any answer you need and also get to know a few guys along the way. Whenever I'm bogged down at my ofice (im a broker.......boring!) I log on and get my fix.

[Oldporsche]

Probably what I've seen as the common thread beyond the obvious ownership/maintenance/modification stuff is the outlook and approach to life that the contributing members espouse.

The common likes and dislikes of this board gives all of us a touch/fix for our participation.

Good luck,
David Duffield

[expat]

Wow..interesting to go back and check out who was around early on that is still here and posting.

Ahhhh....memory lane, when I first came here 7/00 I was asking about buying a 944. Ended up a year later (after much shopping around) with a 911.

Thankyou all

[RarlyL8]

I was just thinking of this same topic!
Wondering what has happened to the "regulars" that were around when I first came on board -
Andras Nagy
Brian Kumomato
Warren (still here but mostly silent)
many others...

We have lost many of the old "techies". The board has changed, not nearly as much tech. Maybe all the normal problems have been solved?

One thing that happens (and should not) is when someone new asks an "old" question they are rudly told to look in the archives. This will kill a tech board. Turns it into a FAQ question and answer service. We need constant input from new blood, not stale old canned answers to the common problems of a 20 some year old sports car.

Keep it comming!

[juanbenae]

i have noticed that if you sour some senior members they dont forget anytime soon and you may get less input, blackballed if you will. but all in all, im still here everyday, work day that is. the list of charcters is great, there are people that intrest me because they are funny, others are invaluable in their knowledge and others because they are just plain here. another thing i think is cool is the worldly flavor, we have euro-trash (by the way, where is the pound {$} sign on my keyboard?), a bunch of roo hunting Quwigely downunders (is roo good eating?}, the kiwi contengency (do kiwis back home drink mickeys big mouths like they do here in the states), and of course a country wide US flavor (i so am ready to visit places i never even had imagined going). it makes it like the smallworld ride at disneyland.

i belong to a karting forum and it will be days, even weeks before you may get a reply or comment on a post. i can only hope that the kart forum is like this place someday. i was one of the first 100 or so in, i wonder if i will be a moderator there someday, like many of my heros here!

[racemor]

I think part of the reason there are not as many tech postings is because it is just as easy to look up most problems in the archives. Just about every problem has been covered at some point and answers are easy to find, if you enter the right keywords.

[old_skul]

A lot of the same folks were around then that are around now. We know more now, thanks to the likes of Wayne and Warren and JW. We have the cast of right-wing flamers, left-wing treehuggers, smartalecks, movie stars, and surly moderators .

It's a pretty good BBS, and it's really just bigger now than it was a couple of years ago. There's not a lot of difference. The forum software sure is better

[NapTownSpeedy]

As a realtive newcomer (<1yr, approx 100 posts), I LOVE this board. It the most valuable tool I have for my car, and lately my sanity.

I wouldn't be able to have the car I do without you guys. I like everyone, asked the newbie questions without checking the archieves (ie fuel pump noise). And I probably ask some stupid now too. But the information here is invaluable.

I tend to get long winded and like some of the OT stuff, but the beauty is that if you're not into that you don't have to look at that thread.

Thanks to Wayne and all of you guys that make Pelican a special place.

[APKhaos]

When I first started lurking in mid-2000, my time was spread between the Bird, Rennlist [still a paid-up member] and the rennlist email listserver traffic.

After time [and experience] its almost exclusively the Bird. I check Rennlist every now and then, but Pelican is the staple.

It seems that some of the real studs of yore are less active these days - Roland Kurtz, Warren [Oily S Man] and others. Not sure why. Still, the new blood and new studs are fun to watch. Great board, great resource, great community, great service.

[juanbenae]

oh the bird,,, i get it!

[pbs911]

I remember finding this site and thinking what does a Pelican have to do with Porsches?

[ZAMIRZ]

I betcha there's a relationship between Pelican's business and the popularity of this board. I think once Pelican really took off and gained notoriety in the Porsche community this board started getting more and more popular. I think this BBS is the most informative and fastest in responding of all of the Porsche BBSs out there. There's rennlist, but you have to wait days, often weeks to get only a few responses. I can post something here in the morning or night before and within 24 hours there will be plenty of replies and that's what makes this place great. Everyone adds their little .02 and the questions get answered in a timely and intelligent matter.

later,

amir

[Nickshu]

Traffic has increased substantially since I joined and for awhile now I've stopped posting on technical questions b/c the answer to my question can usually be found by searching the archives. Its sort of inevitable that more OT's will pop up because many of the technical issues are well covered many times over in previous threads.

The Regional Boards idea is good to distribute traffic, but one of the things that I like about the board is that its a convergence of great people from all over the world who have one thing in common....an addiction to cars, especially Porsches.

Nick.

[stealthn]

I have only been here for awhile, but I check in everyday. There are no dumb questions, only archived answers

It's really the people that make a board (and yes the technology), and this board is the best.

At this time I would like to wish all the Pelicans members, staff and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!


My cyber home away from home....

[Superman]

I've been here a long time and am still terribly fond of this Board. but I continue to have the same concerns (Wayne and I usually agree on stuff, but not always). I don't think the software has anything to do with it. Sure, it moves a lot more bits and bytes now, but I'm not more fond of this software than the old stuff that ran faster on my home dialup.

No, the magic of this Board is its magic. It has been here the entire three years I have been a Board Member. Mercifully it has not gone away.

I did not read the 'regional forums' thing, so I probably should not comment, but I have made the opinion in the past, and I make it now, that LESS IS MORE. I've believed that the 'hands off' approach is best, and I cringe when I think I'm seeing an increase in moderator-activity. To me, that is what will make the magic vanish. It is largely because Wayne and the other moderators have exercised restraint, that this Board has flourished. Having said that, I know there are times when daddy has to put a stop to certain behavior.

I love this Board. I am very impressed it has kept its magic all this time. I hope Wayne benefits greatly. We have.

[Gordo2]

Having been a 911 owner for a short period there is little I have added to tech questions. Great answers on everything I have asked. Look forward to the day that I can start to return the favor.

Hope the archives never go away. What a wealth of information!

I've owned an '87 Toyota Landcruiser since '86 and participate on a TLC board as well. My cruiser is in top notch shape and there is little that I haven't encountered or dug into. Started out asking questions, now most of my time I answer questions there.

It's a great thing to be able to help out others who have common interests, then again may be the booze and holiday spirit talking.


Enjoy, Gordo

[Gordo2]

If anyone read that, it was an '87 bought in '96... oops.

Gordo

[Jack Olsen]

...and I cringe when I think I'm seeing an increase in moderator-activity

Look, Sup, I don't really have a choice about all the new activity. I crashed my car. As soon as it's fixed, I'll get back to napping all day.