Getting More Strict with Off-Topic Posts...
 

Mark mentioned that he thought that some of the posts here were getting a bit off topic from the "911 Technical Forum" theme. I tend to agree with him. Posts like the ones on the Enzo Ferrari are indeed off-topic.

My guidelines in the past have been to move anything that wasn't automotive related. "Public Interest" comments and discussions like the Enzo one were alright in the past, but the traffic is growing so much on this board that OT posts are beginning to help push good tech topics quickly to the second, third, and fourth page.

This forum is not a democracy (I prefer Enlightened Despot), but I do value everyone's opinion, since the traffic here is made up of everyone's contributions. Please let me know what you think.

-Wayne

Move away. I am a frequent traveler here and Rennlist email and I love the community and the fact that other interesting stuff comes up, but I agree, the traffic is so much that we could benefit from a little tighter OT policing.

It might help to make a forum with a name like "Driver's Lounge" and have it linked right at the top of the page, like the Engine Rebuilding Forum and Classifieds are now. It could include "car guy"-related topics, but not things like sports scores or political rants.

"Off Topic" as a forum name sounds like its more of a penalty box than a discussion area.

Of course, you tried "Porsche Talk," I think, and it didn't get any traffic.

I like Jack Olson's idea about the "Driver's Lounge." The problem with the OT forum is that it barely get any traffic compared to the 911 technical forum. So many people post OT stuff in the 911 tech forum to get the exposure. The only way to make the "Driver's Lounge" forum work is if the members of Pelican participate in it. Getting them there will be the problem, a link at the top will be helpful.

I think the appropriate area is probably "Off topic" and it's so far removed that it probably doesn't see much traffic. And it fills with political stuff. I see a need for a middle ground, in the 911 area, as jack suggests.

Wayne, I'm pretty flexable as you and your Moderators have been,
I too have noticed more off topic posts lately. I also think that you guys have been more than Lenient but, I don't think your recent attemps to inform the guys and gals have been less than fruitful. it just happens
I also think that newbies have been more apt to falling in the off topic threads on the technical board I know there has been a few Senior guys sliding one in here and there but it's probably more to do with the fact that we have become more than just screen names and have developed more into a very well aquainted group of guys and gals that sometimes post something that we all can get a quick response from. Maybe you need to set some guide lines when new guys or gals sign up..

Ok..thats it..

Jorge (Targa Dude)

Well Wayne, I'm gonna agree you with this time.

Get really tough on the technical aspects being kept and move everything else off somewhere else.

It'll be tough for a while for everyone to get the hang of checking another area of the system but it'll catch on.

I think you need to be really specific though - posts must be technical and directly related to the 911 series.

No conversations of selling/buying cars, t-shirts, group buys, fascinating facts about new books just published, ebay comments, service grunts and goans, war related issues, political or social comment, photos for sake of 'showing off' you car unless its technically minded, no race results unless it pertains to specific technical changes that wish to be shared, no more endless comments about feature articles in magazines, what other cars do you own, how many other cars do you own....it could go on.

Would be real hard to monitor I think with only three moderators who at times are guilty too but...yeah go ahead and be tough about it.

I'd be interested to see what would happen. My thoughts have always been that the reason this board works is

a) simplicity of its operation
b) people are invited and welcomed openly
c) people get to know each other and form some form of ummmm....errrrrr...... 'bonding'
d) ultimately its flexible catering to different levels of interest/knowledge/experience
e) there is a critical mass of highly knowledgeable people
f) there is a critical mass that you'll nearly always get a few answers to your concerns/questions within a very short time

Good luck

Except when a major political event happens, a week or two ago, the Pelican OT forum was on fire. (In more ways than one, unfortunately). http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/rlwhore.gif

And FWIW, the OT policy isn't broken at this time, so it does not need fixing. You guys are doing a good job of moderating, IMO. :cool:

The great attraction about this place is that one actually feel that there are real persons behind the screen names. It's like a club only online instead of real. I think (most) off topic posts only add to the quality of this place.

Still I fully understand how off topic posts are becoming a problem. So how to solve the problem? Well I don't know, but I've been to forums (european) that are kept in a way similar to the former east German Stasi police. These forums can feel "sterile" and rather boring. Don't do that to Pelicanparts whatever you may decide to do.

I've been here for more than 3 years and all I can say is:

Thanks Wayne (and all others). Keep up the good work. :cool:

I think there should still be an OT forum where political and other non-car related stuff get sent to, but I like the idea of a driver's lounge. I will visit such a forum frequently, because it will contain info about new models, Porsche gossip/news, new equipment, and other car related posts that I always find interesting - all bundled together.

My only sugestion is to second the link at the top like the rebuilding forum for the drivers lounge

This thread is "Off Topic"

I agree with keeping it to the tech stuff. There are plenty of BBS's out there that have all kinds of OT stupid stuff where it shouldn't be. Create a drivers lounge or keep the OT forum, but let's steer it back towards tech on this side of the site.

Be ruthless Wayne!........make this forum totally technical only and if people don't want to post in the 'Driver's Lounge or 'Off Topic' ..tough...they are either too lazy or they haven't got anything worth saying anyway......there a few forums out there that have eventually degenerated into rather silly flames about which car is the best etc. and if you don't get selective over content now then this forum may suffer the same fate . This is the best place on the net for people who like to do their own Porsche servicing and mods and also a great place to learn , a bit like a class online . Thanks

What I like about this forum is that all the Pelicanheads are family, even the ugly redheaded step child.
It's that sense of community that keeps me coming back. I mean who can forget Nostatic's quest for the perfect 911? ;)
Keep it the way it is.

I vote with the minority here. The occasional not-strictly-technical posting that meets the criteria of being Porsche related and of general interest to the board is what makes this a community.
Tech only would be pretty sterile, I fear...;-)

People go where the action is and it's on the 911-Tech forum....not Chat, OT or others. Part of the magic of this board is the fact that your hangin with friends with a common interest...911s. Unfortunately, we have a lot of other common interests. It's natural to stray from the tech path as you value the opinions of your peers. And you're not going to ask a question on a Forum that is dead.

That being said, <i>Can a split screen option be devised where one can view two forums simultaneously?</i>

Well obviously there are grey areas on posting but it's ultimately with the moderators to say what's 'on' and what isn't . The first time I came here there apperared to be a raging flame going on between Carrera 3.2 owners and SC owners but it was actually an 'in' joke relevant to the owners on this site but I wonder if it would be 'on' or 'off' topic now?

I agree that recently the O.T. posts have been increasing in numbers. I am surely guilty of responding to such posts if I have an opinion about the subject. What I do like is that when it is off topic with a little Porsche content it adds to the forum in a community way. I believe that the moderator do a good job of sending the threads to the O.T. forum when necessary. When I see a topic has move to the O.T. forum and I am interested in it's content then I would click on it. I usually only go to the 911 and 356 forums on a regular basis. I have never been a fan of chat rooms or instant messanger. Actually I have never used either one, I guess I like to take my time while reading or answering to a post. My preference is to leave it as it is and allow the moderator to dump the junk to O. T. forum as necessary.