Amen, brother. - Og

 

I agree here about the searching.

I have tried the seach feature many times and most of the times I get so many hits that it's impossible for me to get the info I'm wanting.

Maybe I'm using it wrong.

But to answer someone with 0 or 1 post with, "it's a little button called search buddy, use it" or along those lines is just rude.

 

Nah, I think you're spot on. It's tough to use. Unfortunately, I really doubt that this is something that can be upgraded/tweaked/fixed as it's really 'in' the software, I believe. Honestly, it's lousy and I concur that it's not real helpful to simply say SEARCH!, and not really help. Explaining is one thing, being a yutz is another...

You can use booleon (sp) types of search strings, I believe. That being, if you want to search for blinker fluid, you can type in "blinker fluid". That may make it a bit more narrow...

-RP-

 

Structurally speaking, I think the site needs to be redesigned. I mean the whole F150online is biased towards the 1997-2003, but if you go in any of the threads, most of them are about 04+ trucks. I spend about half my time here visiting threads I cant relate to. I say we need to add a 1997-2003 sub section, change the "2004-Present" to "2004-2008" then do a "2009-Present" section since the new Fords are coming in soon. Then rearrange everything under those sub sections. Maybe keep some things that relate to all years above them like the audio section. Here's a quick example off the top of my head(stick with me, its complicated)

i.e:

Pre-1997
...Powertrain
.....Engines
.....Suspension
.....Trannie

...Body
.....Care & Detailing
.....Electrical
etc

1997-2003
...Powertrain
.....Engines
.....Suspension
...Body
.....Care & Detailing
.....Electrical
etc

2004-2008
...Powertrain
.....Engines
.....Suspension
etc

2009-Present
...Powertrain
etc

Lightning

Expy

all other models and whatnot...

so on and so forth. It might be complicated in the beginning, but I think it will save us time from trying to help people and find out its not our year, we dont know crap about it, etc. Its just an idea, so blah. Just putting it out there.

I also agree with getting rid of the trolls and lets sticky a FAQ on top of each sub section cause I tried searching for a simple fuse problem but nothing came up, but just clicking on some semi-related threads right next to mine I found the answer.

 

Great stuff, Raptor.

There has recently been some chit-chat about a little bit of a different structure. I'm not sure that the entire site would get an overhaul but, I do think that there is a need for a little bit more of a 'break out' of some forums.

As you touched on, the site was originally set up for 1997 - 2003 F-series vehicles. As we've evolved and have gotten older, the site has emerged as a leading site for not only that age of F-series but also for the newer body (and we're getting ready to get yet another).

Because of that, I concur that it'd be advantageous to really think long and hard about the structure.

Great suggestion... spot on. I'll point IB to your post as a good starting point for the next steps.

 

I also think some people around here are a little wound up about SEALTH being a Mod.

Ya he has always been kind of known as being the resident F-150online "*****" (sorry).

Thats what I thought when i first joined.

But then I realized that's just his way and I don't think he ever means anything personal.

He has always been that way and most people come to expect it. He has always had a kind of "high and mighty" air to his posts. I don't think he is that way more to some than to others. He wouldn't be STEALTH without it.

One thing he is, consistant, that's why I think he'll be a good Mod.

 

It gets pretty old tho when a newby pops in and says, "I am about to change my plugs in my 2004, anything special I need to know?" Or, " I want more power, I have heard there is a chip".

What I try to do is give them a liitle info as to what they are facing and most of the time, I do a search, find a link and give that to them and then tell them to use the search and they will find a lot on the subject.

Point out the search feature, which they are most likely unaware of, but do it gently.

 

When a noob comes in and asks a repetitively asked question I now just link them to a like thread. It doesn't take too much time and is very helpful.

 

Ya, A lot of times people will reply with "that has been discussed many times here, search for plugs, or tuners, or whatever".

Nothing wrong with that.

I was just talking about the ones where people reply in a rude manner like they don't really want to help them. If someone doesn't want to help them they just shouldn't reply at all.

 

Yep, I knew the ones you meant. Just rude. I agree.

 

As someone who was a very active member for years until this past year I've seen the site change dramatically. Forgetting the site upgrades or changes to forum layouts, the active membership is what makes a site great or bad.

About a year ago I finally grew tired of the newer members and what I perceived to be their immaturity. Yes Hersh had his T&A threads, they were great by the way, got me through computer training classes but we never really pushed the line too hard. The members back then generally understood the site's purpose and limits and we stayed within the rules.

We argued, got along, made lasting friendships. To date this is the only forum where I actually met up with people in real life. I met a bunch of guys for lunch in NJ and a bunch of us went off-roading at Paragon.

As the membership changed to a younger crowd who seemed to respect the rules less, the moderators had to start cracking down harder. To be fair us older members had to be hand smacked for stuff that would normally have been ok in the past if the mods were to be balanced.

As a site mod for other places I understand what mods go through. It is a hard and thankless job.

To me the mods are much more strict now then they were in the past but I think that is a direct outcropping of the change in membership.

A bunch of us have moved to other sites and forums to try and rekindle the fun we had years ago.

Not sure if this helped at all but it shows my feelings on the changes here and how the mods (who do screwup sometimes) are almost forced to be thread ***** by the childish members that we have.

Jim

 

I somewhat agree with you Vader. However, there are some exceptions to your theory. The immaturity can be seen through some of the older members here too, not just the teenagers. I do believe the change of membership has a lot to do with the increasing immaturity levels...but the fact that existing members (not all) are kind of putting up with it/going along with it is not helping the case. I do think additional Moderators can help with this issue.

I too love that people on this forum can go out and meet each other. I've been out camping/off-roading with multiple members on this site...hell tomorrow I'm going to a fellow member's shop (who i met on here) where he is going to help me install a lift kit on my truck...how awesome is that?

I just hope this place can stay the way it has been in the past and that we get past this little speed-bump or whatever you want to call it.

 

As with all generalities there are exceptions, I agree with you 100%.

I was making a rather blanket statement as some of the young guns were great guys and some of the older ones were the troublemakers.

In general I stand by what I said but you are correct.

 

ive been a member for a little while, even though my post count is low (i use the search button alot)

i just think people are not respecting each other on here as much as they used to. maybe its because its an election year and everyones on edge, i dunno. people get real whiny and rude when they are proven wrong in discussions and then they just resort to personal attacks. this isnt cool

i just think everyone needs to grow up, follow the rules, and respect each other. you agreed to the rules when you joined. if you dont like them, leave.....

 

I just want to take a minute to say "thanks" to the mods and owners. Honestly. I'm not trying to kiss ****, I don't want a "thanks" back or anything...

I know that a few times I've made snippy comments toward the site and owners and after I've cooled off the next day I've come to realize what a jerk I must sound like. What it all comes down to is that this is a FREE site to all of us, including me. I'm not going to elaborate more into that because, frankly, I don't want to. Just remember that some forums require you to "donate" in order to have certain rights / privileges.