Just want to get something off my chest...

[MrPT]

Having been on many many many forms of internet comms since the 90s i can vouch that this forum is pretty tame and sometimes sickeningly friendly.. hence why i'm still here!

Not wanting to sound insensitive, but this is my view as well. This forum is very friendly and welcoming compared to most. I’ve had death threats before (as a moderator), and witnessed interventions like forum members going to another’s house to check they hadn’t committed suicide. And that was a forum about computer graphics!

Some are utter anarchy, but they have their appeal too - the whole thing is one big slanging match so it’s impossible to take things too seriously. Genuinely hilarious to read as well, in the same way that some YouTube comments are priceless, even though they’re racist/narcissistic/obscene if taken at face value. The main issue there, of course, is that young kids grow up on this stuff. Luckily not a problem we have!

 

[buzyg]

I feel the anti whippy brigade hound us whippy owners and good help you if you have wood, I do have wood and am proud of polishing my wood.
My wife loves my wood and often comments on how smooth my wood is. There are members on here who, I feel are jealous of us rare wood owners...you know who you are
Sometimes the typed word can read totally different from the spoken word and people get the wrong end of the stick.

I keep my only polished wood to play with on the Golf Tee. I tried playing with it on the furway a few times but friends told me it was embarrassing to watch, so I had to put it away. My whippy on the other hand is always on display and proud.

Haha,nice one.....mad me laugh,after what has been one awful day!!

Good deed for the day done then. Glass of wine and some shut eye.

 

[GuidoK]

I feel the anti whippy brigade hound us whippy owners and good help you if you have wood,

I also dont get the aversion to wood or a longer aerial. Next thing you see is a discussion whether red is nicer than blue or not.
Thats all a matter of taste, not facts.
But it seems that there is no end to discuss matter of taste on the internet :lol:

 

[pvr]

Dont tell everybody your life story. It is there for the world to read if they want to.
I do sometimes think that people share a bit too much here at times.

This

There was a muppet on here a few years ago that went out of his way to find out what I did and made some stupid comment about it. Can’t remember what exactly and don’t want to. Surfice to say my profile now edited.

If they had done it now, I’d have just banned the b@stard :lol:

Is that the same muppet that looked up my business / turnover / shareholders etc whose name started at one type with a K ? Good riddance to him anyway.

 

[MACK]

Dont tell everybody your life story. It is there for the world to read if they want to.
I do sometimes think that people share a bit too much here at times.

This

There was a muppet on here a few years ago that went out of his way to find out what I did and made some stupid comment about it. Can’t remember what exactly and don’t want to. Surfice to say my profile now edited.

If they had done it now, I’d have just banned the b@stard :lol:

Is that the same muppet that looked up my business / turnover / shareholders etc whose name started at one type with a K ? Good riddance to him anyway.

Bloody hell that sounds a bit extreme. What was his problem?

 

[TitanTim]

Simply put its one if the best forums I've ever joined, everyone always pitches in if you need help with car, diy and most sex related issues that have saved me many a trip to the doctors. When I first joined in 2012 I did get off on the wrong footing with Carol but really she just wanted me and was in denial but I worked through it and still here, hopefully for a long time to come

Tim.

 

[Crazy Harry]

I've joined a few car forums and this is the first one where I have been an 'active member' and I put this down to two initial reasons - people communicate in full sentences with no 'text speak' and its OK to be enthusiastic but not knowledgeable. I'll have had my Zed and been here a year in January and I'm enjoying both.

I made a long post earlier in the year when a lot of us got involved in calming down a discussion about which was the most desirable / collectable / rare Zed combination. I make no apologises for pasting a section of my comment here again - its why I've stayed and contributed my bit and why I'm looking forward to my next year

My Zed is blue because I like blue cars (my last three have been blue) and has what must be a common options list but I love it because it drives well and because of that its my daily. The value for me is how it makes me feel pushing into a tight corner and I can see it on the drive now and recall that feeling. Having read posts and meet some of the guys from the forum the interest here I suggest is owning your own thrill machine - we all have different circumstances so our ideal Zed differs you only have to look at past threads about roadster/coupe; 2.0/3.0; E85/E89.

As soon as you have options every car is rare but it just makes every car the same as they are described by the universal common denominator. You could have had a Mini Cooper or a Mini Rio and everyone knew the spec - but an E89 is an E89 if you get what I mean.

I can assure you that the next time I'm braking full on for a tight corner what will be foremost in my mind will be either 'did I make a good tyre choice?' or just screaming; not 'how many other owners have the same configuration as me?'

I'm sorry that this forum hasn't given you the answers you were looking for but its (IMHO) about loving the Zed here. This is the first forum I've joined where members are pleased for other members having a nice car - just look at the responses to new members posts and pictures. We celebrate owners good fortunes and look at their cars and think 'maybe mine would drive better with that done'. Members might tease others and already I realise there are some long running gags in the threads but there's nothing to prove here.

 

[Buckz]

I'd say this forum is 50/50. I'd say more but they way I had my support to the members viewed put me off saying anything.. it's great for resources and knowledge but some people here are off the rails.

 

[z4pilot]

This forum is a wonderful place, whether directly or indirectly it can be a place where people can feel a belonging, to learn and share all aspects of life and their passion. I personally appreciate having this space and all of the people who contribute to it. I have learnt a ton, made friends, shared experiences and offered my own advice to others. And on the whole, I haven't felt judged.

However, this shouldn't be a place where one should feel the need to clarify their personal circumstances to another to justify or seek approval for the decisions they make or for the things they choose to share. As great a place as this is, it isn't free of the odd twunt and as with anywhere on the internet, the odd troll.

It's the internet.... It's real life - condensed. The whole spectrum is here - from bullies, right through to people with a victimisation complex. Take what you need, contribute if you want, but don't take any of it seriously. If you stick something into the public sphere, expect someone, somewhere to comment on it. Only you are responsible for what you post and not everyone is going to agree with it or have the same opinion, so be prepared for the bad as well as the good and you won't be disappointed.

 

[tomscott]

I have to say that the forum has certainly changed since I joined. Some bad some good. There is a lot more bickering and general keyboard warriors than there used to be but then the cars are super available to anyone so you have to expect it.

Saying that I haven’t owned a Z since 2014 and still here too.

Probably because I do like talking to a lot of the friends I made here along the way and still love the Z and chatting about it.

Great place and a credit to the guys who keep it a balanced place.

 

[sp3ctre]

Interesting to read the comments on here. I am not on here as much as I used to be as I have a more intensive daytime job and we also have a 1 year old that takes a lot of my time. I am aware we are going through a phase of some negativity at the moment but this forum has always been largely self-moderating.

I am a member of another group where the admin takes it upon themselves to censor everything that may potentially offend anyone, and that is extremely frustrating, especially when that admin has strong views one way and biases the forum immensely.

Sure, there are times I see threads that could be better shut down, but I really want to use that as a last resort. This does mean that we tend to get more threads go awry than we could, but like Tom said, it's all about balance.

Also, as several people have stated, it is a public forum, and as with all forums people can hide behind their keyboard (so to speak), so you do need a fairly thick skin.

I have been a user of forums for many years before setting this one up in 2007 and despite the ups and downs it does seem a pretty friendly place. Looking back over the years these things are cyclic, so I can only look forward to what the next cycle is... or where the next marius / ElTaco / Enfield (for the forum old-timers who remember) will come from!

 

[chrisgreen]

for what my two cents mean - I find this forum very friendly, open and helpful - and a lot less 'catty' than other BMW forums I'm on.

 

[dans6490]

*goes off to search for “Enfield”

 

[ph001]

I agree - it's the best car forum I've ever been on. And I've been on a lot. I find the generosity of some members on here particularly admirable. You only have to look at the threads re: the hardtop (OK that ended bad but the sentiment was there) and people like Smartbear who sent me a N52 water pump for investigation (I also had offers from others too).

What really makes a great forum I think is the right balance of technical help / info / banter. I think it's spot on here.

 

[thanatu55]

Revisiting this thread as it seems to have taken off far more than I had expected.

I don't think the forum needs any changes at all. It's a friendly and informative site and an outlet for anyone with a deep interest in the subject matter to debate and discuss their interests with like minded people, those of whom might not have anyone with similar interests in their individual walks of life.

When I wrote the initial post, it was a knee jerk reaction to a single comment. Sometimes matters in our personal life can influence or intensify a reaction of which another wouldn't understand because they aren't living that persons life at that point in time. It is not a reflection upon the the comment that influenced the reaction, nor is it a reflection upon the person who made that comment. We are all human, we all have personal lives and every once in a while we all do daft things.

I visit this forum every day. The mods do a great job and the community couldn't be more welcoming.

I'm not too proud that I can't hold my hands up and admit that I made a mistake, or at least an over reaction. However it has formed the basis of a new debate for people to open up and share their own experiences, which is what we're here for.

I apologise if any of my comments reflected badly on the forum or could be considered insulting in any way. I wouldn't have the forum any other way and I'm the sort of person who can have a cross word and tomorrow it's yesterday's news. Today is another day, keep loving your Zeds and be happy

All the best everyone.

 

[pvr]

*goes off to search for “Enfield”

Most likely in Syria now

 

[Marlon]

This is an interesting read and has many views I agree with – also a nice reflective post from the OP above.

I joined in Jan 2015 so don’t have the experience of the early years of the forum, in fact I’m a relative newbie in terms of ‘time served’.

I felt right at home here from the beginning and immediately liked the vibe - the members gave me a warm welcome and it was obvious we shared a passion for these great cars.

I soon realised there was a huge wealth of knowledge here and members only too willing to share their experiences and help out fellow members. I immediately started benefitting from forum advice, and when I started retrofitting and modifying my car I was astounded at the lengths people went to help me out. I could list numerous individual instances where members have gone out of their way to help me and I can see that’s not uncommon.

I’ve been on many meets over the years (not as many as I’d like) and really appreciate and thank the members who put in the time and effort to organise them. Meeting fellow members adds another dimension to the enjoyment of the forum and I’d like to think I’ve made some good friends along the way.

This is the only forum I’ve been part of so I can’t compare, but the general consensus seems to be that it’s bigger, better, more informative and friendlier than others out there.

Now that I find myself with the honour of helping to moderate the forum I will do all I can to continue its success by following the lead of those who have been here from the beginning and have, in my opinion, set just the right balance and tone regarding its administration and moderation.

 

[john-e89]

. . . . No he didn't

Now that I find myself with the honour of helping to moderate the forum I will do all I can to continue its success by kicking out those hangers on from members who don’t even have Zed’s anymore and constantly abuse other members, you know, those who have been here from the beginning and have, in my opinion, set just the wrong balance and tone regarding its continuation...

....ESPECIALLY the foreign ones..... :evil:

Nicely put Marlon, I applaud you sir..... :happyclap:

 

[Smartbear]

This is an interesting read and has many views I agree with – also a nice reflective post from the OP above.

I joined in Jan 2015 so don’t have the experience of the early years of the forum, in fact I’m a relative newbie in terms of ‘time served’.

I felt right at home here from the beginning and immediately liked the vibe - the members gave me a warm welcome and it was obvious we shared a passion for these great cars.

I soon realised there was a huge wealth of knowledge here and members only too willing to share their experiences and help out fellow members. I immediately started benefitting from forum advice, and when I started retrofitting and modifying my car I was astounded at the lengths people went to help me out. I could list numerous individual instances where members have gone out of their way to help me and I can see that’s not uncommon.

I’ve been on many meets over the years (not as many as I’d like) and really appreciate and thank the members who put in the time and effort to organise them. Meeting fellow members adds another dimension to the enjoyment of the forum and I’d like to think I’ve made some good friends along the way.

This is the only forum I’ve been part of so I can’t compare, but the general consensus seems to be that it’s bigger, better, more informative and friendlier than others out there.

Now that I find myself with the honour of helping to moderate the forum I will do all I can to continue its success by following the lead of those who have been here from the beginning and have, in my opinion, set just the right balance and tone regarding its administration and moderation, and if you don’t comply I’m banning you.

I’ve just fixed that for you Marlon, no need to thank me
Rob

 

[ph001]