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.

Mis Dos Aromas
 

If the "OT" traffic is causing or significantly contributing to some kind of overcapacity, then go Stalin on it.

But otherwise, I don't need to read every thread and it doesn't bother me when someone brings something not strictly technical to the clubhouse. In fact, I doubt I've had more than a handful of technical advice to give in the year or so I've been coming here.

The OT stuff is a bit of clutter, but it's also flavor. I can use the search engine and click through to see other pages to sort the wheat from the chaff.

In all honesty I think Jack's idea is good, and would've succeeded if it was part of the BBS from launch. I doubt many folks would migrate there. I think the CG would always be here.

The silver lining of this board going strictly technical, is that there will no longer be a need for the smilies.

JP

It depends on what the defintion of the word is, is.

"Technical only" would be pretty tight and reduce the posts by probably 50% and IMHO would hurt the community that is so strong here.

My vote would be to keep the topics "911" focused and move everything else. I guess, the same as we see now, including the moves Jack made yesterday.

Speaking of Jack, for example, I think everyone very much enjoyed reading his OTC posts, but were they really 'technical'?

Is, is.

The point is that there is a line between "911 Technical Forum" questions and "I got screwed buying on ebay". There have been too many posts lately about people crabbing about this or that, and these type of posts actually diminsh the sense of "community" here in my opinion. Athough I find value in being warned about a vendor or product, the recent thread between an ebay customer and his vendor selling him 993 brakes...and all the nonsense and salty language that ensued isn't necessary here.

Personally, I like it "just the way it is". I think the moderators do a fine job of moving the OT posts to where they belong (...but at least I can see them as being moved). As others have indicated, the search engine is more than adequate for retrieving the archived technical information. I too would be concerned that the current environment (...warts and all), would become stale if it were limited to 911 technical info only. To me, this place is really more of an 'online community' instead of just an information resource...just my .03 worth (...I added a penny due to inflation)!

Well, I think its working. The reason the 911 BBS is so popular it that there is something for everyone interested in the 911. I don't mind wading through some drivel to find a pearl. After all we are all at different points in our 911 journey. I enjoy a good laugh and would hate to see that aspect of the BBS vanish. Let's dispense with the flame wars, personal attacks and whatnot are not needed here, but keep the rest. I think you and the other moderators are doing a great job here and that's what keeps me coming back.

I agree Wayne, move them to another thread that is listed at the top. Jack's idea of a Driver's Lounge might work, but put an explanation that it is for non 911 tech and other car related comments. Just make sure we can tell its working, because for some reason, the Classifed thread has been showing Jason from 2/18 as the last post. It never updates and I know others have posted there (myself included). Maybe a computer glitch. I dumped my cookies a few times trying to get it to reset but it does not.

I've been here quite a while and one thing that keeps me coming back to this board and posting is the feeling that some of these guys have become my friends. I don't always agree with them, but I can't think of a better group of guys and gals that I would want to hang out with. So I would rather put up with some "off topic" than start messing with a winning program. I've been a member of the Rennlist board as long as I have been here, but the board itself doesn't have that sense of community. I've posted on Pelican over 1900 times. My postings to Rennlist in the same amount of time is around 145 times. I think that says alot about this board. My advice is let the moderators you have make the call. Some things may appear off topic, but the moderators know that the majority of the group wants it to stay (like Nostatic's wife problems and his eternal search for the 911 of his dreams, or who can forget Leland's postings from the middle east?). Keep things the way they are!

Like a Harley...if it ain't broke, don't fix it....leave it the way it is.

Aside from technical changes I agree with keeping it the way it is...I appreciate the Board's leniancy. To Kurt's point if the guidelines for posting are too rigid then many people (including myself) will be aprehensive when posting a "grey" topic.

BTW, the moderators are doing a great job!

My guess is that world events have challenged what is a good structure for quieter times, and that the 911 tech forum will settle down in the weeks ahead. Maybe temporary strictness just to teach us all a lesson would help slow things down until quieter times return.

Maybe Off-topic needs to be a little more visible or renamed. I didn't even look for it for the 1st year I was here.

It would be good to find a way to slow down the technical posts as the tougher questions take longer to get a satisfactory answers, and often don't get the chance because of more basic questions, politics, etc.

I think the thing that sets the board apart from others like "Rennlist" which is essentially at a standstill, is the fact that it is a community where people get together and just conversate and share experiences...generally about Porsche related material but also other slightly off topic automotive stuff. I do agree that the political stuff should be reserved for somebody elses web space, but the reason I tune into Pelican is to get a smile and pick up some valuable info at the same time. It can be very entertaining in here at times. That is why you are growing in leaps and bounds. You have created a Porsche community in here. Wayne I say dump all political and confrontational threads but let some of the other stuff slip through to keep your site enjoyable and hence on the cutting edge of PORSCH'O'MANIA :)

Whatever you do, please do not add another link at the top of the page. Even with my high res display the posts start toward the bottom of the first page. If you find you must add more links, then put something in as an option that allows the user to designate what is on the top of the first page.

I only have the time to visit you all HERE
 

:D
........ And now "I'm" biased.
A recent O.T. about my broken bones and Harley was allowed to be posted here - three pages of well wishes from my Pelican buddies overwhelmed me.
I vote to keep it as it is.
SmileWavy

I like your current system of moving the OT messages and leaving a link for a little while on the main board to let everyone know that a message has been moved. It gives the OT posts the exposure they seek, and it serves as a sort of reminder of the fact that the board should be focussed on Porsches.

I'm kinda new here but I believe it's just about perfect the way it is now. Plenty of technical know how and advice when you need it and at other times very entertaining in many other ways. The off-topic area is a dungeon...not alot of action there. Like many others on this thread have said, this board is more like a community than a heartless, sterile den of information. I look foward to logging on and reading the threads of my fellow posters on a daily basis. This board is unique...look at your traffic compared to Rennlist! Mike

I vote no change, a little seasoning is welcome to me.

Gah! Wayne singled me out as the Gestapo. And I'm the *last* person in the world to want to censor anyone. As a matter of fact, I was one of the people who'd yell at Wayne for being a board nazi.

There's a fine line between an anarchistic forum, where 90% of the posts are off-topic, and a sterile, boring one, where 100% of the posts are *on* topic. When I move off-topic threads, it's typically a thread that is indeed off-topic, but if it's interesting to the "car guy" set I'll leave it up for a few hours.

It's a cyclical thing. We go through periods of lots of off-topic posts. People see them getting moved, and they chill out. It seems to work.

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.

I'm with Chuck...very well spoken btw. This is "The Pelican Community Forum" the fellowship of the Porsche ring if you will.

im with chuck too, unless there are drinks served in the drivers lounge and taxi's home, on wyane.