Quote:
Originally Posted by LTs1ow
The powers to be are trying to balance shielding the nonsense that is the lounge from future members while at the same time trying hard not to lose the current members. Its a tough call, but I think setting the lounge to private won't hurt either side, if you really think logging in is such a hassle, well I dunno what to tell you. Seems like making a mountain out of a mole hole or whatever that is.
A new member, or potential new member odds are will be joining or stumbling across the site via a search that turned up something tech wise, not based on the awesomeness of the JSFBOA section or lounge. However, if they do then look around and see that the place is just full of whiney, nonsensical little kids... well, its adios.
I dunno, its a tough act to do, you wanna attract older, mature members who know their stuff, but at teh same time not push away the little kiddies with 4th gens.
But hell, what do I know.  |
Matt:
You know a lot, as you basically wrote out what I wanted to say...
You guys want a good explanation? Even though we don't owe anybody anything, here we go. Hold on to your butts.
It is incredibly sobering to have guys laugh at the mention of this place at cruise nights. We work hard to keep this place a friendly atmosphere. A lot of the "joking among friends" is not viewed that way to a lot of members. It comes off as being a 55 gallon douchebag in a public forum, and it drives people away.
We recieve complaints from people you would never expect to hear from about the behavior on here. This isn't a college frat house. It's a car club's online forum. You want porn- go get it somewhere else. It's a billion dollar industry, you don't have to go far. You want someone to stroke your ego about your manly man street racing escapades- go to a street racing site. You want to talk politics? Have a ball with the bloggers. Got a problem with the word filter? Well, go pound sand. I curse with the best of them, and probably can't even describe a newborn puppy without using the F bomb 5 times. Your buddy runs a shop and will cut discounts? Well, that's nice of him to offer but you can't use this place as a free online billboard. Tell him to man up and become a sponsor. He isn't going to make money on our dime here. It's not like sponsorship for a year even costs that much, and we appreciate and respect our current sponsors.
As for the membership demographics:
The balance between kiddies and old guys is an extremely hard one.
On one hand, the younger crowd is much more adept at technology and the Internet and as such are much more prone to being frequent visitors and up on the latest 'net happenings. However their biggest questions are usually about tires, mufflers and other "entry level mods", and they offer little to no help to other people with ramblings and post whoring in the tech section. They also have little money to put towards club fundraisers such as shirts and calendars.
Most of them will not be in the hobby in the next 5 years, and that's being generous. But they boost the site traffic. Places like this can't survive without fresh content.
On the other hand, the older guys aren't as necessarily adept at the Internet or care what the latest Facebook app is. They don't come by nearly as often as the younger guys do. They are here for the cars and some discussions about whatever. Which is good and bad. Good because, well, this is a car club and these guys have typically have been at it for a while. Bad because site traffic from them is low, and some can take the "go away kid I've been doing this since before you were born" attitude- even when they are wrong. But they have knowledge to share, and a few bucks to spend if they like the place.
Somewhere in this madness is a balance we need to meet, to allow younger guys and older guys to frequent this place. Part of finding that balance is through making changes.
We are not trying to be bloodthirsty with our moderating or rules changes. These are rules changes that the members asked for. Maybe not in the pure verbal sense via PM or other message, but sometimes in behavior and member retention.
Also, this is not a government subsidized message board. It's private, and all of its content is property of the site owners. If they don't like it, then it doesn't have to be here. This is also a FREE site, not a paid service. Nobody has ever had to pay membership dues or anything else to be a part of the club.
This place is provided totally free to almost everyone on here, and all you have to do is abide by the rules that were posted- which are not even that restrictive if you compare them to other message boards.
We make decisions as a group, to better the club. Contrary to popluar belief it's not to push our own personal beliefs on you. Not all decisions are unanimous, either. We are car guys and girls just like you all are.
So go ahead and say it aloud as a group- F you WBT you arrogant Nazi bastard.