I've taken the past week to step away from this site a bit. I wanted to assess the way things ran without being in the thick of it.
What I have come to realize is that this community needs an attitude adjustment. Badly.
Starting with myself.
In my time away, I got PMs from two members that I hold in high regard saying they just aren't happy here anymore. I'd like to blame their unhappiness on the "quality of the new members"... but that's really not the case.
The overall vibe of this site has gone from that of a tight knit community to one that is full of judgmental sarcasm, intolerance, and exclusivity. I don't like it.
Perhaps I'm to blame, somewhat. I intend to change the way I interact on this forum, and I hope most of you will follow my lead.
There was a time when the guy with the 600hp car would gladly give a new member friendly advice on how to change a headlight bulb, or explain the Maintenance Required indicator. There was a time when the entire community would encourage enthusiasm for the CB chassis, even when the wonder of the simple things has long since worn off. I want to get back to that time.
I will be talking to the moderators to determine some ways we, as the staff, can organize things to perhaps prevent some of the more annoying issues (such as unintelligible gibberish posts, txt-speak, etc... that seems to turn an otherwise valid thread into a grammar/spelling lesson...)
I will gladly hear any suggestions from members as well (via PM, preferably... I'd rather not turn a suggestion into a public discussion, especially if it's something that I can't or won't do.)
Until we actually get some organized effort behind this, I ask you... please respect your fellow member. Help when you can, politely. If you don't want to help, or don't want to be polite, don't post. Just click away. Remember that we're all in this together. We're fans of the CB chassis. More than a few have moved on and are simply fans of this community. That alone shows that there's something here worth fixing!
You were all new members once. You were all new to cars once. You all had to figure things out, and if you wanted to do it all on your own... well... you wouldn't be a part of a forum in the first place. Remember that, and help out the new kiddos when they come in asking about their legend lips, black/yellowhoused headlights, or cheap ebay suspension components. You can educate them without belittling them!
What I have come to realize is that this community needs an attitude adjustment. Badly.
Starting with myself.
In my time away, I got PMs from two members that I hold in high regard saying they just aren't happy here anymore. I'd like to blame their unhappiness on the "quality of the new members"... but that's really not the case.
The overall vibe of this site has gone from that of a tight knit community to one that is full of judgmental sarcasm, intolerance, and exclusivity. I don't like it.
Perhaps I'm to blame, somewhat. I intend to change the way I interact on this forum, and I hope most of you will follow my lead.
There was a time when the guy with the 600hp car would gladly give a new member friendly advice on how to change a headlight bulb, or explain the Maintenance Required indicator. There was a time when the entire community would encourage enthusiasm for the CB chassis, even when the wonder of the simple things has long since worn off. I want to get back to that time.
I will be talking to the moderators to determine some ways we, as the staff, can organize things to perhaps prevent some of the more annoying issues (such as unintelligible gibberish posts, txt-speak, etc... that seems to turn an otherwise valid thread into a grammar/spelling lesson...)
I will gladly hear any suggestions from members as well (via PM, preferably... I'd rather not turn a suggestion into a public discussion, especially if it's something that I can't or won't do.)
Until we actually get some organized effort behind this, I ask you... please respect your fellow member. Help when you can, politely. If you don't want to help, or don't want to be polite, don't post. Just click away. Remember that we're all in this together. We're fans of the CB chassis. More than a few have moved on and are simply fans of this community. That alone shows that there's something here worth fixing!
You were all new members once. You were all new to cars once. You all had to figure things out, and if you wanted to do it all on your own... well... you wouldn't be a part of a forum in the first place. Remember that, and help out the new kiddos when they come in asking about their legend lips, black/yellowhoused headlights, or cheap ebay suspension components. You can educate them without belittling them!
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