you can also try putting you post per page count up higher, b.c the ads stay up in the top and left, and wont go all the way down the page. Its one way to read more and see less adds

 

I have been a member of FTW since 2002 I was a very active member for a long time there. I heard about this site in 06 and started checking it regularly, I joined in 07 because FTW was going downhill quickly. Now that I have been a member hear for awhile I like this site much more than I ever liked FTW, there are a great bunch of guys on this site. There are some bad apples but that happens everywhere, the mods do a pretty good job of keeping them in check. My main selling point with this site is that I came in and everyone accepted me just like I had been one of their old friends. I pop into post and make snide remarks to people that don't even know me that well and they don't take it the wrong way they know that I was joking. That is the main thing that I have seen change, it seems like some of the newer guys don't have the same sense of humor that we have. I like that I can come in and talk politics and argue and tell someone that they are wrong, and then click on another thread and talk with them like nothing happened. I am a young man (23) and I know how my generation acts, we are a bunch of winy spoiled brats for the most part. For some reason when my generation doesn't get their way they cause problems, and I have seen it on here with several new members. I think the main thing that happened is there was one thread that went way overboard, and that got the mods trigger happy and the members gun shy. I think that things will get back to normal in a short amount of time and I know that I for one look forward to it.

BTW when I first opened this I thought it was a sticky'd Obama thread.

 

This is an example of what I meant when I discussed maturity in an earlier post. Birddog is a young man but obviously has some maturity. It's refreasing to see in todays young people.

 

Guys, I continue to appreciate your insight, thoughts, suggestions and overall observations. I promise you that I'm reading each and every one of them.

A few notes:

1. We are ramping up to more moderators. Because of scheduling and time constraints, it's impossible for just a couple of us to do the job here anymore, in my opinion. The luxury that we formerly had here was that Steve was online frequently and was able to deal with lots of things in an incredibly accelerated fashion. Today, we have guys with jobs that can't necessarily sit on the sidelines waiting for a problem to pop up so that we can deal with it. This is, yet another, luxury that we lost when Steve divested the site. That's fine -- we just have to deal with it now. Running with 3 moderators for a period of about 5 years worked well. Times have changed now... You will begin seeing more and more mods in the coming weeks.

To that point, please don't contact me or IB about becoming a mod. Honestly, several folks have already been contacted and we're working through some of the formalities in becoming a member of the staff... We're hand picking them and there is a LOT of conversation that is ongoing about each of them. This isn't a dictatorship; it's been very democratic and IB has been very supportive and helpful.

2. Ads. I can't do anything there. I don't think that IB has any planned changes in that arena either. If you're anti-ad, the possibility exists for you to run an ad blocking program of some flavor. That's your call. While I understand that some would like to see them go, they do help pay the bills.

As for a 'paying member' type of scenario -- that's way over a moderator's decision power but, it can be something that I bring up with them. I need to get a full listing of the items that need to be discussed and I'll be sure that this is on the list. I will continue to communicate decisions and thoughts, as needed, to you guys on the decisions.

The site was, indeed, around for years without the ads but the Supporting Vendor program was different. The site generated the necessary funding to keep it plugged in via different avenues. As operating costs increase, it's the responsibility of the site owner to either unplug or figure out alternative ways to keep it plugged in. This was an alternative method.

3. Adult material - odd that this continues to come up but, it's not going to happen. End of discussion on that one.

4. Bill - good to see you, man. You get your own numbered item.

I may have missed something that's pressing so, if I did, please feel free to post.

Back to the grind...

-RP-

 

If you want to be a mod, this is the one thing you do NOT do. On my forum, any member who actively lobbies to become a mod goes on the "do not call" list. Mods are chosen by the existing staff using a nominating, discussion, and voting procedure. We (they) are looking for several traits and qualities, and pushing to become a mod is not one of those qualities, we (they) do not want power-hungry people. Forums that are run by power-hungry mods are generally run like crap.

 

Speaking of mods, we just had a guy get the "go home for 2 days without pay time out" for being on forums all day and not working. Turns out he was moderating a hunting forum. Crap, back to work.

 

Im not a big GD lurker, but I will voice what I have seen going on-I read half of the first page of this post too, so sorry if this has already been gone over.

There used to be a lot of guys and gals here that would come here just to BS around about, joke around, have fun-pretty strong crowd and everyone got along.
NOW, many of those guys have left, and its for a good reason. We have newer guys coming in who cant take a joke, are all serious, come to flame people and just be general A-holes. I dont think there is a big moderater problem, but more the tightwads that are coming onto this site now...
There is no fun on this site anymore, just a bunch of bashing and idiots.
While there is a LOT more enforcment from the mods-threads getting shut down, people being banned, not near as many things being able to slide, I think its more because of all the newfound idiots on this site. I can see the mods being sick of it, I am. I wont lie, I can be that way at times too, but with some of these guys its just a constant thing and it annoys the crap out of me...

Like I said, Im not a big GD lurker so maybe there is more going on than what I see, but from what I see, I can understand the mods doing some of the things they do. The quality, dignity, and respect of the people here now just isnt what it used to be...

BUT.......my main beef with the site is that ever since Steve let it go, the site is slow, the galleries are horrible IF and WHEN they do actually work, I get errors about random crap all the time when I try to post, and a lot of times I cant even get on the site.
This site used to run like a top, now it runs seems like a 14 year old designed and runs it.

 

Wanted to say thanks RP, I have noticed a much lighter mood on the forum recently and I am sure you had a hand in it. Seems like the banter has been allowed to slide and no one is taking anything too serious

I know I'm hardly an ideal citizen here, but I appreciate you hearing us out and being open to some changes

 

RP: I do not have much time, so I cannot give a full post, but would REALLY like to show my appreciation for this thread. I would agree with Scott, that some things have recently become "lighter". I have seen some questionable threads go (and are still going). I Have heard less warnings about the "misspelled cus words, along with seeing less threads being deleted. It really shows what a stand up guy you are, when you are WILLING to spell out your thoughts, and not only listen to our whines and gripes, but actually address each one of them. I am only on Page 4, but will finish before typing my "whines and gripes" . Until then, THANK YOU RP, really.

 

What is this all about again? Getting xtreme?


The only thing I'd like to see is a 1997-2004 Heritage Sub Forum made... I realize the site was originated to be for that "late model" but it is no longer the latest model... and in 2 months or so, it's going to even be 2 body styles ago.

I'm on one of the biggest NBA fan forums in the world, if not the biggest and best ( www.clutchfans.net ) and they simply don't put up with riff-raff...

The fact is, a free forum is here to be civilized and the site mods and admins have every right to shut down anyone that does not comply with the rules. They are not trying to run a democracy, per se. There is no "free speech" amendment to protect an internet forum intended to be for a specific topic.

They are being generous enough to even give you a "general discussion" area.

Perhaps the basic idea of "posting privileges" and "ranking" or status, whatever should be more spelled out at the top of the forum's listings.

I know on clutchfans if people fall out of line they get temporarily banned, or placed in time out... they can also have certain privileges revoked or suspended... some have even been demoted to "rookies."

The term for the rabble rousing, attention whoring crowd is usually trolls... and trolls will be trolls... whether right at first, or eventually. They cannot resist.

General rule of thumb on internet boards... don't feed the trolls.

 

I've, genuinely, made an effort to keep my nose in things but to keep it out of things at the same time. In short, you'll note that I've been down here a bit more often and am posting around. Honestly, I have a little better feel for the atmosphere as of late (minus the momentary bouts of absolute stupidity in the recent past) and it's not all that bad.

One thing that I'm going to continue to ask of you guys and something that you'll likely continue to see a little bit of enforcement on is the circumvention of the word censor - specifically on posts that include '***' or some other variation that circumvents the censor. Further, repeated circumvention will, as recognized on a case by case basis, be dealt with.

Obviously, we can't police every post here but, out of respect for the rules and the persons that are on the site, 'F' won't be tolerated in any way shape or form. The red/yellow card system may be a great avenue to deal with this type of thing but, rather than us having to deal with it, it'd be greatly appreciated if folks just didn't go down that path...

Trust me when I say this... we really don't like having to moderate. While we understand the responsibilities, we also see it as a hassle at times and we certainly don't like ticking people off for giggles. It doesn't get our jollies off, so to speak. We'd much rather enjoy the site, participate, and hang out than we would log into the mod panel and deal with stupidity or other things that we have access to...

In short, help us out too.

I concur with you guys though, the mood down here has been a bit more calm, collected, and enjoyable as of late. I like that.

-RP-

 

^^^ When I was a lifeguard after graduating High School, I came to realize that I was nothing more than a baby sitter... Hope you are not feeling that way.

 

RP, Just like to say that I've been here awhile and I've seen the 'good, bad and the ugly' of it and I'm still here, so thanks for yours and the other mods attention and seeking out what the members actually think!!

I don't know how much time I've spent on here, but it's been a lot and while I'm usually pretty much 'passive' on issues and I was not even really going to reply to this thread, even thou I have read thru all of it!, I finally had to post regarding the 'pay' part of it....

If F150Online becomes a 'pay' site, I probably won't spend my time here... I don't mind the ads (other then the ones that made the site look like a **** site!! Thanks again for removing those ads!!), I don't mind the moderating, and see that it's been needed here of late... I enjoy the various topics and the knowledge that gets passed around here!

When I first came here, I thought I knew a lot about vehicles... Heck, my dad had me 'helping' him work on his cars since I could understand the difference between a phillips and a straight blade screwdriver! Once I could read the wrench sizes, I was the "MAN"!

Anyway, my 1997 F150 is my first real 'modern' vehicle and to be honest, I can't and won't do much more then fluids and plugs on the thing!! Now, I've tuned carbs, set points and dwell and remember when a yearly tune up INCLUDED changing the plugs once a year!

Anyway, the site has become more of a 'social' place then anything, but that's fine too... I've noticed the 'new' folks coming on here and being impatient and wanting everything done 'their' way, but I know who I 'respect' and I know who I 'don't' and go from there...

Another site I go to a lot is quite strict with it's postings and that's fine too.... As long as it's fair all around treatment to all, and it's stated up front that "if you don't like it, then you don't have to be here" deal, then it usually works out best for all...

I've rambled on too long here, but just know that I really appreciate the site and I too used to go to FTW in the past, but that's not the case anymore..... Not sure what killed it, but I lost interest in it due to the lack of interesting and entertaining posts...

Keep it free!

Mitch

 

It seems to be better.

 

aw come on ! Ya didn't HAVE to delete the Cali thread, did ya ? Sure, we did "cuss" a lot, but everything else was kept fairly clean, kept between a group of friends, and we even bashed some new guy when he posted a very inappropriate pic. If someone that wasn't our friend jumped in, we would be more then helpful to them, and point them in the right direction, give them tips for whatever they were asking. It was a fun thread.

Now, a more serious note, why can't we have a similiar thread ? One where we just BS back and forth, a place where we can post up pics of other project rigs other then our Fords, a place where we can joke with each other and what not. Will any thread where we just hang out in be deleted ? If we are friends, but we make fun of each other, will it make for automatic delete ? I would like to start another similiar one, but want to stay within the rules, if both are possible. We are not asking to post "****" pics, or even have no language filter, just wondering how possible it is to have somewhere where we can talk to each other as we would in person ?