Site Growth Discussion (Pared from spotted thread)

[Lee]

paradigm shift of the forum kind

This is inevitable as times move on and our cars get older the topics are always going to change, ok the general banter will go on but our cars are starting ot show their age and will always be the main topic of conversation the problem is not many people are dabbling in these tasks. I believe @GazHyde filters this by making the more interesting posts featured.

We just need to make the new members feel welcome and make it clear we have very good knowledge base with Q&A sections. Mabye make them easier to find.

Lee

 

[zedonist]

Good to see others opinions, not do good on the focus of me as an individual (HT). It's an adult conversation, and should've kept St that level. My screen shot was atypical of how it looks right now, so not just a flash in the pan.

I agree with Miller to a certain extent it is like being down the pub, but I have never been moderated by the landlord and asked to move table because I was off topic, we should take note of that.

Also IMHO spending every visit saying hello, welcome, stunning Z3 is for one tedious, b) not truthful, as one vanilla z is the same as another vanilla z and iii) a waste as the majority of new guys never post again, I would actually say less than 3% of the forum population actually post, which means all you get to see is adverts, coupled retreats and singles dating (sarcasm I lnow its not quite like that) which in reality is my point, how do we get more than 3% of the forum posting and add to the diversity, if as HT days all the tech stuff is in the archive, then this site will just turn into specific version of Wikipedia.

I have been here from the start guys, I am also a subscribing paying supporter, so don't think I am being negative, I just think it would be nice to have some sort of steering committee made of moderators and members so that we can identify where the forum can go, and you won't do that with the 1% commenting in this thread, we need to poll the community.

 

[billz]

I can understand where you are comming from, but it would be a hard thing to do. I can only see it working if there are available filters to members so the topics you dont want to see dont appear. But then every individual member would have to be set up so they can set there own filters and that would be a nightmear for Gaz and HT to sort. maybe it could be done that after a weeks introduction the welcome gets locked but then for those who are not on in say a fortnight would not know who has just joined apart from the members list.
Maybe that new members can only access the Tech side and introduction section. But then we have created a Policed and dictatorship forum. JMHO

 

[miller1098]

I agree with Miller to a certain extent it is like being down the pub, but I have never been moderated by the landlord and asked to move table because I was off topic, we should take note of that.

Whoops!welcome to my world,an I live next door to the pub.We also get the chance to ask our landlord to chuck people out,he will at his discretion.he will also refuse entry to known trouble makers,.Its his pub and he runs it the way he wants too .He has the best beer in the county,he has the best craic on a weekend and he has respect.Because you know your boundarys.I should say it's not a brewery/wetherspoons type of pub

 

[GazHyde]

but I have never been moderated by the landlord and asked to move table because I was off topic,

See this is where my life gets so difficult. A real "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario. I've specifically responded to requests on both sides of this one and we have to use a judgement call. Using your analogy about the pub, if someone is being overly loud and disrupting other pub visitors then they will be asked to either calm down or move to another part of that pub (or go and sit outside with the smokers!). Occasionally they are barred for serious offences

Also IMHO spending every visit saying hello, welcome, stunning Z3 is for one tedious

I have a vague feeling there is an addon which allows people to filter out the content they don't want to see via the individual forums. Perhaps a way to switch off that chatter may be an agreeable compromise. I for one love the introduction threads, and see them as the best chance we have of integrating new members to the site.

how do we get more than 3% of the forum posting and add to the diversity

Awesome question! No specific answer though but I think we should all be aware that not everyone who signs up is confident online, and may be nervous to speak up. One big problems with this, and I have documented proof, is the way introduction threads were being derailed in a certain way. That's why I'm protective of them, and why the only person ever to be banned on this site in 3 years was banned.

I'm hoping that, for example, the creation of the "ladies lounge" should help in making one group of members more active by giving them time to build their confidence up before joining in the main forum melee. I've had comments from ladies before that they visit but don't join in because "the boys" get all giddy and drag their posts off topic. Again, a bit like a bar crowded with men and a woman walks in.

so don't think I am being negative,

I don't think you are Rich, and I appreciate you raising it as a discussion point.

steering committee made of moderators and members

Can I be the tea boy? Seriously though, I'm always happy for members to get involved with the running (or direction) of the site. It's quite lonely at the top sometimes and I would really like this site to become the best it can be for as many as possible. Funnily I ended up on a skype conversation with a member for an hour last night (hey Frankie!) discussing things you raised.

If anyone wants to skype me, phone me or message me with ideas then I'm always open to that!

 

[TaffZee]

I really Really REALLY dont know what the problem is? Can someone enlighten me, When this site was formed it was (for a number of us anyway) in response to a over moderated forum. Am I right or am I right? and the idea of a forum where banter and off topic conversation could be had (within reason) without it becoming a problem was refreshing, that is why the forum took off, So Do A Poll. Find out what members think, Please dont discriminate against new members just because you have been here from the start, no one should be excluded from any of the areas on the forum, we want to welcome new members and make them part of the community not isolate them. As for the Hello's, Look at my shiny Zed, happy birthday are not tedious but are part of the forum.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

Well said Jim.
An open forum is great .but recently I have thought" wot the fuk is going on " some of the exchanges between mods an members should have been done on a private basis an not aired for all to see. An I am quite open minded an not easily offended. But I must say that to a new member this open bickering may be a bit off putting
Just my thoughts.
M

 

[metalmickey]

I wouldn't want to change anything. I enjoy this site for what it is. I post when I have something to say but I also read the new posts pretty much everyday. New members are the life blood of any organisation's continuation and from what I read there are a lot of people out there very excited to be Z owners and to have ZRoadster.org to help them with sound advise and assistance given in a friendly way. Personally I feel part of a family. I don't do Facebook, Twitter and any other social networking because I believe them to be intrusive (rightly or wrongly) and also too time consuming. Visiting ZRoadster keeps me up to date with the Z world and I love the banter!
I am sure others share my view.
MM

 

[DavidM]

I'm a novice when it comes to forums and the mechanics of vehicles. Having been on the forum for 2.5 years I have found its contents varied and in the main, interesting and informative. I have referred, in a small way, to the array of technical knowledge available in the archives and from expert members, which is easily accessible to all members through the search engine. In my view, the forum works well!

 

[GazHyde]

exchanges between mods an members should have been done on a private basis an not aired for all to see.

Agree Mozza. Moderation is for want of a better phrase "private" between the moderators and the member(s) involved. It's how 99.9% of forums are run.

The problem is that some people don't like being moderated, and will try and drag it out on to the forum to gather support against their perceived mistreatment. You will also find that others will want to get involved, usually when it doesn't have anything to do with them (case in point the thread started after our first banning last week).

I know other sites which operate on a full disclosure basis, publishing each transgression and any warnings/sanctions given. That transparency would stop some of the games that get played during/after the processes - but as you say people aren't really that interested.

I would also like to point out that moderation doesn't happen that much. It's rare for a member to "moderated" for something other than being off topic - which is usually me posting up to say it's heading OT. Besides, that's more of a nudge than moderation

 

[hard top]

I have thought" wot the fuk is going on " some of the exchanges between mods an members should have been done on a private basis an not aired for all to see.

@MAURICE THE MARTIAN that is the way we try to do things Moz, I could show you lists of PM's as long as both your arms, but for some unfathomable reason, the individuals involved want to air their own dirty laundry on the public forum.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

Fair comment HT.i know its a difficult job an your never gonna make everyone happy .I looked at sum of the exchanges and as I said. WTF .but it all slides over my head[emoji6] However to a new member or someone about to join , it must be a bit offputting .
Thats all from me.[emoji8]
M

 

[billz]

The problem is that some people don't like being moderated, and will try and drag it out on to the forum to gather support against their perceived mistreatment. You will also find that others will want to get involved, usually when it doesn't have anything to do with them (case in point the thread started after our first banning last week).

Would it not be in the best interest if when these threads appear they get locked as soon as. That way new members do not see the negativity and bickering of the what should be behind closed doors issues, instead of them running x amount of time for members to post there feelings on issues they do not have 100% of facts to.
I know folk will spout freedom of speach but if it is not deemed to be in the best interest of the forum then i dont think you would be looked upon as not allowing freedom of speach.
Every one is entitled to freedom of speach but even in the modern world it still has its limits as to what and how things can be said. JMHO

 

[zedonist]

Guys I am not bickering or being negative, this is a discussion based on a perception of what i see, and echoed in some parts by others, so why can't we talk openly in an adult way, if people don't see a problem, then life is fine for you, but we are not all the same, one pair of pants does not fit all. But if the consensus is there is no problem, then as members we can all make choices, we are not hang pressed into this.

That said if the status quo never gets challenged, we would move forward, so we should be aware of Luddite behaviours when having this discussion.

 

[GazHyde]

Agree with you Bill. However locking it on the public forum won't stop it 100%, but would keep it off the "front page" for newbies. That's assuming I don't get called out for restricting "freedom of speech" in doing so.

I've been (randomly) forwarded some screenshots of stuff being posted elsewhere about moderation decisions on this site. I sometimes get people contacting me because they've received a round robin message with "facts" about our decisions (or rather edited snippets of PRIVATE messages).

So all this (mis)information gets out there in the public domain in some form anyway. At least when it's on the public forum factually correct information can be read by the membership... Six of one and half a dozen of another!

 

[zedonist]

I agree Gaz why should it be a dirty little secret (exaggeration again) but you know what I mean, PM should be private though, and you have to question motive for dissemination of a PM to an audience it was not meant. Again it all becomes s little insidious.

I also agree that moderation decisions should be kept private.

But a discussion is a discussion and a forum is the place for one and therefore should be open to all.

 

[TaffZee]

I still dont see the point in all this, I for one am more than happy how this Forum is run and moderated and its content, I really dont see any benifit in this "discussion" and am at a loss to what its aims are?

 

[Gail]

Here is my perspective as a new member….and a woman!

All sorts of people join all sorts of forums for all sorts of different reasons. What I want out of it will be different from the next man or woman and I am fine with that.

I bought my first Z just before Christmas and am here to get to know like-minded people, pick up some general tips and hints and look for opportunities for meets etc.

I bought the Z to drive, not modify or maintain or “play” with. Neither I (nor my husband) are the slightest bit interested in doing anything more than polishing it (and if truth be told, I regard that as man’s work )….we will go to the professionals for that sort of thing. If I wanted a project I’d choose something that wouldn’t chip my nail polish …. and no I don’t pay someone else to paint my nails I’m quite capable of doing that all by myself .

I look at the forum most days, I check out the “What’s New”, I read any threads that catch my eye and if I have the time and it interests me I will comment. I am used to the kind of banter which is to be found when guys get together and it rarely bothers me……30+ years working in the automotive components industry has seen to that….but not everyone feels the same.

So the chances are I won’t contribute that often and never on technical threads but does that make me any less valid as a member?

 

[BMBabe]

I still dont see the point in all this, I for one am more than happy how this Forum is run and moderated and its content, I really dont see any benifit in this "discussion" and am at a loss to what its aims are?

@TaffZee agree agree agree agree!! Feeling at tad worried about the newbies reading this tho

 

[billz]

But to the point you have a zed you like talking about your zed and this is a forum for ZED OWNERS and there cars. People i know have swapped from a zed to other manufacturers but because they KNOW some of us they still occationally drop in to say hi. I would be a lot more dispondant if we were to let people on if they didnt have a zed and had no intention of getting one. But that does not happen. We are a zed comunity and if someone new comes along then whay shouldnt we have a chat. We would all be very lonely if every time and everyone we met we just went Hi and that was it. Then everyone on here apart from Mozz wouldnt have any friends. (He has not got any anyway)