I don't know if you will leave this post up, but I hope you will read this before you delete it, or close it.

I used to surf mainly at another site dedicated to Fords, and one day, thru another link, I stumbled across this one. I read some of the posts, and thought this was a really cool site based on the helpful info. On that particular day and hour, there were quite a few posts on how great things were with the new F-150s. I got busy with things, and forgot about it for a couple weeks, but then found it again, and joined up.

What I have noticed since then is that you play favorites in making your decisions and criticisms.

Just to note, I'm also aware that I seem to be on your shortlist. Que sera, sera.

Anyway, in another post, you hammer someone for poking fun at what they feel is a petty post. You slam them, and then leave it up for all to see. Then you tell them to leave if they don't like it around here.

Yet when someone like Dzervit smarts off, (and dzervit, don't get me wrong, because I see your points and agree 95% of the time) I never see you bash him like that. I've seen you warn him a time or two, but really, you don't shame him like you did EI today.

I've also seen you take a post that actually dealt with issues on the 2004 trucks, and stick them in General Discussion because you felt it didn't meet the criteria of this section (2004-2005), but when a guy with a pre 2003 truck wrecks it, and posts here about it, you leave it in completely untouched.

Message boards are a dime a dozen, and I'm sure you know that. You can micro manage all the posts here to fit into your own happy little world, and ban those you disagree with until the cows come home. But, if you want to have people show up here, and stick around for awhile so that you can keep a growing sponsorship, you better learn to control and hide some of your personal feelings. Consistancy helps too.

Either let everyone express their view, the way they see it, or ban everyone that offends anyone. The importance of each issue is arbitrary to each member that posts, and I don't feel you have treated those members fairly across the board. I really enjoy most of what I see here, and can handle people not agreeing with me, but if you were to suggest I leave, (providing you haven't banned me already) I would be writing the sponsors here and letting them know why I won't be supporting their products.

There's more I could say, but why. I'll leave it here. The repercussions will be interesting to say the least! Hammer away!!

 

Dude, you don't know how good we got it here. If you want to see partisan moderating and micromanagement, check out Ford-Trucks.com and browse those boards for a couple days. I started over there and got sick of it before coming over here. And actually I think a few more threads (like tire or stereo stuff) should be moved to the appropriate forums but it ain't my place to decide. Heck, we have two tire forums and four stereo forums. And since there is no '97-03' forum, many of us late model ford owners post in this forum about general issues. But again, it isn't my place to tell them how to set up or run their forums.

 

To be fair to RP, he cannot possibly read every post. If you think a post needs his attention hit the "report this post" link.


And this should have been posted in GD or QATS.

 

1969Mach:

Thanks for your opinions. They are duly noted however; your conceptions about how I manage the forums which I moderate are very skewed.

Despite your notion, I don't maintain any lists. Honestly, I can't even recall having a run-in of any sort with you in the past (have we?). Naturally, as any decent manager of people would do, I have a very very short list of 'trouble-maker' types in my head but, honestly, only one or two names come to mind.

Maybe consistency is something that I should focus on a bit more within this forum. Point taken there but, if I am to place every thread into an individual forum that rotates more specifically around the individual topic, we wouldn't have much here except threads that read: MOVED:. Further, I think that would disrupt the system. You've alluded that the system is already flawed but, I think this type of 'micro-management' would really disrupt the ease of use.

Honestly 1969Mach, do you think I read every post here? If so, you're wrong. Maybe as a moderator I'm supposed to do that but, common logic will have to prevail here and suggest that I don't. That being said; do I miss things? Sure. Have I missed things? Sure. Will I miss things in the future? Yup.

Sorry man. I'm human. I err.

All in all, I really don't see the level of micro-management that you've described within your post. Yes, I've dropped the ax a few times and maybe I've made an example out of a few but, people who manage people occasionally do that. I have picked and have chosen battles. Again, people who manage people do that.

In short, I don't feel that I'm missing the boat on quite the level that you've described. Sure, I can get better in some areas and, after reading your post, I'll try to make a note to be 'lovable' in some senses. I'll try to be more stern and consistent in others. Bottom line though, I'm still going to screw up and, potentially, not live up to your expectations.

Message boards are a dime a dozen. Hell, they're cheaper than that these days. We value our member base and, as a personal note, I think it's the best one on the web (and I frequent ALL of the F-Series boards). We've got a great thing going here.... great member base, great supporting vendors, and, not to toot my own horn here but, pretty good management.

Thanks for your constructive criticism. I've taken some of your points to heart and further feel that you may be right on some issues. I do, still, take exception to a few of your comments but, I've already touched on a some of those.

I certainly haven't said all the things that you may have expected to hear me say. Further, this is the second of two full posts that I prepared for this response (let's just say the first response was a bit more 'closed-minded'). I don't bend a lot when it comes to the way I handle some things. Moderating is one of those things. I still stand pretty firm on the notion of "if you don't like it, leave..." as it is a free world and I am tasked with helping to maintain this free site (I'd guess it at closer to two cents per dozen) but, I'll bend a little.

Do I really do that horrible of a job though? Ask yourself that. If I do, well, maybe someone else could do a better job.

RP

 

I think RP does a great job. I would buy him a beer if I could.

 

What a crock of crap. Rockpick does his job well, and I feel strongly these boards reflect that. A TON of ideas get exchanged here, and the information flows forth consistently. Sure, there will be some chaff from time to time, but it sure beats being under the microscope of a dictator all the time like other boards seem to be.

Here's another beer bought for Rockpick.

 

Personally, I think perhaps a little too often people get their feelings hurt easily online. Of all the forums I'm a member of, this one by far is the most unbiased and informative and has the least amount of favoritism, whether real or perceived. It's not perfect but neither is anyone who posts and/or participates in this forum.

Now if someone will please help me decide between autospring and daystar

 

I also agree that RP is a good moderator. The other board is much more militant and obnoxious in their censorship of its members.

 

IF you would like to talk about selective banning and sorts of that.... there's a thread in general discussions thats border line softcore ****...... If we're going to really whine about "who did what to who", big-brother tactics of the pecking order, lets just remember why we're here.... To increase our knowledge and to feel a sense of comradery(s/p) I think i've learned more from this whole community then i ever could have learned reading a Off road magazine, etc....

Rockpick is an excellent teacher / moderator... I guess ask yourself if you could do a better job being in his shoes and with the task he has at hand... I, for one, wouldn't give my ego, or knowledge, that much credit. Let the man do his job. He's justified in what he does.

I'm happy with how the forum is, I've been happy with it since ive been here, and i'll continue to be hapyp with it, until rockpick bans one of my threads. haha.

 

I Agree with 69 mach

I see some bias with the management of people, dezervit does get away with a lot of slams against other members while a poor guy posts he doesn't like his wiper thingy placement it gets closed....???

 

IMHO.... for what that's worth.... i'm still just a "junior member".

I'm probably way more active than my posts number shows me to be. I thoroughly read this board (2004-2005) three to four times a day. I probably check in on a few others that I have a minor interest almost as often. I have read just about every post here for the last ??? (check my membership date).

I guess I'must a man of few words. I only chime in when I think I have something constructive to say or have a question that I can't find a direct answer to. I try not to throw too much crap up about things I have no clue about... which happens to be quite a lot. I know that some like dezervit and inbred (just to name a couple) have a lot of opinions and voice them frequently. Not a knock, hell if the membership was made up of guys like me there wouldn't be a whole lot for me to read four times a day.

So now that I have totally qualified myself as completely objective...

Look Mach - RP reads a sh*t pile of posts and a certain % of those post are going to be from guys like dezervit - it's just numbers man. RP is just as interested in some of these topics as the rest of us - he is going to read some threads more closely out of interest. My point here is that it is inevitible that he is going to build a rapport with those frequent posters more so than anyone else. Total objectivity is for computers - it ain't happening here. RP can probably sense better than anyone if dezervit is being too big a pri*k or just having a little fun. We are allowed to have fun here, aren't we? But, on the other hand, when some newbie pops up and jumps straight up another members rear over something trivial, then hell yeah, a little attitude adjustment is in order. You earn the right to poke a little fun. It's no different than a being the new guy in the office - your not going to make a joke about your coworkers ugly *** tie unless you know he will see the humor. Common sense - you either have it or you don't.

Now, I don't know RP and he has never done any favors for me, but seems to me that he is just exercising a little common sense every now and again. He isn't here to censor opinions. He's just tring to weed out the irrelevant and the a-holes.

I enjoy the board and learn a hell of a lot everyday. Mostly I'm just trying to gather up enough of a rational arguement to convince my wife that my next mod is necessary as well as fiscally sound! So for those like me that keep coming back, RP must be doing a pretty decent job.

Every place is not for every person... sorry, but if life hasn't taught you that yet then the rest of your days are going to be full of frustration. Free world - you are free to go. You can either go quietly about your way or kick and screem your way to the door - dignity is also not for every person.

 

RP does a great job! case closed

 

Yo!! Get off Rockpick's butt. He does a great job and is the best.

 

I've been on both sides of RP. But, I ain't wining about it. Grow a set of ball or leave. That the beauty of choice.
RP is doing a good job and one that I wouldn't want.
here's to RP

 

I haven't been here for long, been reading the other one for a while, but now that I have signed up here, I check in often, even reply some.

I think all that oversee this forum are doing a good job, and if anyone else would like to step in, I'm sure they would be willing to let them have at and see what it is like.

The only problem I have is the way it hangs for a while at times.

I say a beer or two or ten to those that keep this sight running smoothly, if you don't drink beer have an Iced tea.

dave