Getting More Strict with Off-Topic Posts...

[Randy Webb]

Sounds fine, but... what happens if some compares -- say -- suspension design in the Enzo with that in the early 911. Or with that in the early 911 and then the 993, and 996....

[pbs911]

Personally, the arguably OT posts provide a sense of community to this board. They provide personality to an otherwise sterile environment. If it is necessary to keep the OT off the board b/c the server can't handle the traffic I understand. But if Pelican's business has grown in proportion to the web site traffic I would leave it alone. What sets this site apart from others is the sense of community. A sense of community cannot be obtained through a text-book tech section. There is a reason instruction manuals are tedious.

Even Shakespeare realized the need for comic relief.

[Mike Kast]

I think this post should be moved off topic

[johncj8989]

And one time..at band camp......... oh woops..way OT....sorry

[nostatic]

I"m not sure which is the minority or majority at this point, although in an "elightened dictatorship" I suppose any opinion contrary to the tsar is minority. At any rate, I'd have to say leave things largely unchanged with perhaps a suggestion that the moderators step up their moves by 5-10%. As has been said above, there are many things that make this board great, but only a percentage is the pure technical talk. The other factors that make up "community" are difficult to quantify, but I like being able to come here and read either about relays or history or whatever. I like the concept of if it is Porsche or at least automotive related it stays until it strays. And in the midst of many an OT post have sprouted interesting discussions that swing back to 911s in some way or another.

In fact, I believe we have a new motto:

"It stays until it strays"
I'll take my licensing fees in Mahle filters...

[Moses]

The reason the traffic is so heavy is because the present format is a near perfect balance. The technical parts are invaluable, but the personality of the board makes it readable.

It's the best there is.

If you need to re-route more OT posts, I think Jack's idea is excellent.

[real550A]

"The reason the traffic is so heavy is because the present format is a near perfect balance. The technical parts are invaluable, but the personality of the board makes it readable.
It's the best there is.
If you need to re-route more OT posts, I think Jack's idea is excellent."

Moses
I agree! Mike

[CrossT]

Totally agree with tightening up. Good Q&A and other car related post are getting pushed to the rear by the OT - some of which is garb and some not. The 'lounge idea is also a good one for that stuff.

todd
=-=-=-
86 cpe

[911 junky2]

Wayne,
come on now....

the topic of this post is Off-topic discussions, don't you think this is a little OFF TOPIC too, considering you're not talking about Porsche's, 911, 944, BMW, or anything to do with cars.... yea..... so put this is the Off Topic Forum

we really cannot get away from the OFF TOPIC discussions SPECIALLY when the Administrator (Wayne) himself brings up the biggest off topic discussion to date!

I'm out
THEO 99

[Milu]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
I think it's fine the way it is. But this issue keeps coming up and right-or-wrong you want to reduce the traffic.

Past efforts have been to try and give people new forums to offload the "community" discussion. Never works because you don't achieve critical mass needed on the other forums. So everyone comes back here.

I had a former boss that loved to say "the definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing, while expecting a different result".

Maybe it's time to try something new. Stop trying to move the "community" discussion, instead move the "technical" discussion.

Leave this forum alone. Create a "911 Strict Technical Discussion" forum with a link at the top of this forum. Be a total nazi about strict technical discussion only. Put a sticky at the top of that forum that explains the tight guidelines.

I'd look at that forum, in addition to this forum. I believe you'd get critical mass on that forum because it is the core of why we are here. Yet the community would continue un-abated right here.

This (off) topic keeps coming up, so presumably there is a problem serious, perceived or potential in the background. And technical difficulties aside, if we must have change when something isn't broke Chuck's idea is probably the best yet.

But why can't we lose some off the dead forums that see hardly any traffic and then don't seem to generate replies? Far better to have fewer forums with more critical mass.

[john70t]

One of the problems is that there are 20+ postings every day(several pages) and a lot of people post with needing immediate help while they are trying to fix their car. These posts get lost on the 2nd page in an hour or have a few assorted responses.


The technical data (and some of the best advice there is I might add) is often posted by the longtime gurus, but they are sick of responding to the same question that may-or-may-not-be found scattered amoungst many of the archives (because of the volume of posts).

The semi-off topic discussions do introduce people to Gumball 2000, Aircraft discussions and some pretty unique personalities though. No easy answers.
My gripe is each discussion doesn't get covered enough. Color code off topic as a default unless the poster specifies what arena they are in.

[bell]

i personally don't mind going back a few pages to look for a thread..........and i haven't read this entire thread either (4 pages )
is there a way to have more threads show up on each page?
i think a 911 OT would get used being alot of us have pretty wacky senses of humor.......my .07

[wdarner]

As was said recently:
"Far better to have fewer forums with more critical mass"

FWIW I visit PPBB and this forum several times daily. PPBB alllows OT posts as long as they are not offensive. It is the most popular Boxster forum, it is without equal. In the 911 BBS forum realm this place is without equal. I enjoy and indeed contribute to the OT posts. HELLO, it is not about simply nuts and bolts. It IS about the people who care about those nuts, bolts, sheet metal, glass, mufflers, etc. It is about us as people. We feel the need to share with our community more than just technical stuff. No disrespect meant to Wayne, but while it is HIS BBS, it is our community and we have alternatives. One other thing, again not meant disrepectfully it, should be "stricter" not "more strict".

I am expressing my thoughts in the best interest of this BBS. If I am banned because of this, so be it. I am only able to speak the truth as I see it.

[Paco Anton]

I just had a thought I'd like to share with you all.

Wayne created a Rebuilding Forum in order to separate messages specifically related to rebulding engines. Then he needs some input on the Engine Rebuilding Wizard and posts it in the general forum.

Why? Because he needs critical mass and he will not get a lot of answers if he posts it in the "specific" forum.

Some other people do this also. I remember posts about new garages and workshops, discussions on jacks and lifts, advices on where to park the car on a mall. these posts are not necessarily 911 related, just because the owner of the garage, jack or dent owns a 911. These posts might belong to the General Car or possibly Porsche talk forums, but they would not get much attention there.

But I happen to like most of these posts as they contribute to the "sense of community". It is like to talking to your "flesh-friends", sometimes they have an interesting conversation and sometimes they don't, but we tend to listen anyway, just in case.

I also like to know when one of my "e-friends" has had a baby, had an accident or is selling his car (does Leland Pate's thread on selling his car belong to the Classifieds forum?)

What happens them is forum democracy. If we like the thread, we keep it alive. It usually has some connexion with the "regulars" (we all know who they are, and usually respect them because they have earned this respect) keeping the post alive.

Also newbies tend to post more OTs. We all were newbies, we want them (And Wayne likes them too) and we like to help them.

So I say let's be careful not to lose the critical mass of this board and the ability to tap on its "colective wisdom" if we ever need it, even if it is somewhat OT.

[wdarner]

"be careful not to lose the critical mass of this board" I think "collective wisdom" was in there somewhere too. You can divide and conquer to the point where you conquer youself. People, PORSCHES, sense of community, our issues we feel need discussion, technical issues we face. Why that is not a PORSCHE forum instead of 15 PORSCHE forums, many of which have little traffic, I do not understand.

So much could be in a few places instead of so little being in many so many "dead" places. I believe in the "KISS" principle. Keep It Simple Stupid. Works for me. Maybe it will work for Pelican.

[john70t]

"is there a way to have more threads show up on each page?"-Bell
What about smaller font that is as easy on the eyes as the present and more posts per page?
Mabye less links around the edges and a big one to a fast loading main page with all of them?

[billwagnon]

why not just make the tech postings stickier so they don't fall so quickly?

If this is ALL TECH ALL THE TIME I'll spend my time somewhere else, unless I need a tech answer.

[ljonespwc]

Message boards, like retail stores, benefit from "inventory" turnover. Stale message boards, like low-traffic retail stores, will wither and die. I check the 964/993/996 board every week or so, and I can catch up on the new posts in about 10-15 minutes. Just try that with the 911 Technical Forum.

I have some suggestions, some of which may or may not be technically feasible with this board software:

(1) Display more TOPICS per page (not necessarily individual posts per page). I frequent the nsxprime.com boards, and there are probably 100+ topics per page and I think it works well. There is something about being about to scroll down and glance at topic headings--rather than constantly switch pages. You need to find the right balance.

(2) As has been suggested above, somehow change the "rate" by which posts are cycled--create two buckets (technical and not technical), each with its own cycle rate. This would keep technical posts visible longer than OT posts.

(3) Keep the current collection of boards, but allow users to combine individual boards to their liking. The boards selected in a user's configuration would be combined into a single view, allowing people with different interests to view a personalized collection of posts. Responding to any particular post would append the new message to the appropriate board. That would be a cool feature!

Lance.

[juanbenae]

whew, i'm tired,, not like tired of this just plain tired.

[tight as a bull's ass]

yep, post an OT blatant topic and you're account will be suspended for a day....

ask me how I know....