How many posts....

[nimike]

How many posts do you have right at the moment?

Basically why I am starting this thread is to ask another or the real question...

do you post just for the sake of replying to the threads or... are they proper replies?

So many threads, just not on this BB but other sites, seem to go off track and trying to follow a thread which is basically hijacked, I just give up and dont bother using it as a point of reference. I go elsewhere! This basically takes away from the proper content of the site. Its not about quantity but about the quality of the information being provided - it starts off on a certain subject and then turns into a personal chatting exchange thread and sometimes duplicate threads are started by others asking the same question, as previous threads are 1 too hard to follow aka full of crap posts and 2 they couldnt be bothered sifting through the waffle. Dont get me wrong, I think this site is a brillant resource of information and knowledge but there are so many threads where I have lost interest and went elsewhere to look at other stuff.

I dont know how you all feel about this and how to see if the "post for the sake of posting" can be reduced v's taking the thread way off topic can be removed or reduced by all/any individual(s).

Do I need to reply? Is it relevant? Is it off subject? Are we all quilty of this? Is it not for the good of the site? Take general conversational material and start your own thread? If you were a new user looking for information, would you use "a" site if it was off topic/hard to follow? Would you recommend it to others?

Add a facility on the site to mark replies as being off topic, especially when they are on a specific direction?

Thoughts....

[DaiRees]

I tend not to reply to a fred unless I've got something useful to say on the subject ('praps that's why I say comparatively little on here ), but I don't have an problem with this site at all, I think we have an almost perfect balance of info and chat. Sure we get a little bit silly now and again, but If there's no chat or banter it becomes too sterile, you've gotta keep people interested.

Let's face it, what conversation that starts with cars doesn't eventually go off topic (usually in the direction of women and sports)? That's what being a bloke is all about! My favorite hot topics of the moment are; The whole Formula 1 breakaway thing, who gives a f*ck about Michael Jackson? and did you see the dress Lady Gaga was wearing when she did "Just Dance" at Glastonbury (there's a whole underwear debate accompanying that one too! )?

There's nothing worse than a technical forum where peolpe are immediately flamed for passing comments that may not be directly on topic, that's a great way to lose members.

As an aside I hate it when we give newbies a hard time for asking something that's been asked before, bit of help and guidance is all they need.... We don't want people to be scared to post!

[Doggy]

I agree with both views. Dai is right about a balance between technical info & opinion, though I have been frustrated when searching for info as Mike describes.
More 'How To's' might help....
Dai is right though, we do tend to criticise people for not using search, when a more helpful and complete, "Try serching for xxxxx in such & such section", would be more useful and less off putting. I recognise also that many members put in a fair bit of effort providing really helpful inks to the best previous posts.
I joined this site to learn about my car and hopefully minimise avoidable expense by gaining from everyone's experience. I'm also happy to relate my own blundering exploits for the same reason, but it's the banter that keeps me coming back.

[neildavies]

I hate it when we give newbies a hard time for asking something that's been asked before, bit of help and guidance is all they need.... We don't want people to be scared to post!

I agree completely. And no matter how its written, it always seems a bit aggresive.

[puggy]

Totally agree with Dai Neil and doggy ,especially doggy's last comment .
I too come here for the banter but have also learned a lot about my car,
and hope that some of my mis-fortunes or repair stories have helped others .

[jasper5]

Personally, I think i'm wasting my time posting at the moment, lots of my posts seem to be ignored or contradicted.

I'm going to leave it to others for a while, whether I come back soon, or not, we'll have to see.

[DaiRees]

Don't be like that Jasper, can't say I've noticed a great deal of contradiction but if people chose to ignore you they do so at their own peril. You're clearly a very knowlegable and experienced bloke who's an asset to this board and even if it's not always fed back I'm sure most of our members find your input invaluable, so don't you go going anywhere!

Besides, I want you around when my car goes TU!

[mjb]

Don't be like that Jasper, can't say I've noticed a great deal of contradiction but if people chose to ignore you they do so at their own peril. You're clearly a very knowlegable and experienced bloke who's an asset to this board and even if it's not always fed back I'm sure most of our members find your input invaluable, so don't you go going anywhere!

Besides, I want you around when my car goes TU!

Hear Hear!

Don't you dare bugger off, especially since I'm going to attempt my clutch next weekend, so I'll probably end up desperately praying you reply when I go around saying "What's this bit I've got left over?" or "What's the best way of removing a gearbox from your rib cage?" or "Why have I now got 5 reverse gears and only one forward?"

[Doggy]

Couldn't agree more. I really value jasper's posts - not just because he knows his Pugs, but the other snippets and suggestions he slips in are worth their weight in gold.
If people don't want to listen, that's their lookout, but please don't abandon us true believers.....

[eoin27]

Don't go jasper. There isn't too many of us regular posters on here. I'm tired of the people who come here for a week and then feck off.

I can get paranoid sometimes if one of my posts isn't responded to but sure its not really that big a deal because i know everyone on here loves me deeply.

Anyway, in response to the first post on this thread (going of subject just there ) i think there is a degree of truth behind it even if i am an offender of useless posts sometimes. I wouldn't have been able to do half the stuff to my car if it wasn't for this site.

[eoin27]

"What's this bit I've got left over?" or "What's the best way of removing a gearbox from your rib cage?" or "Why have I now got 5 reverse gears and only one forward?"

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doggy]

i know everyone on here loves me deeply.

Eoin, as a true friend, I have to tell you something....

PLEASE loose the wallpaper.

[eoin27]

fiiiine. gimme a couple of days.

[Welly]

I've never got on well with the search thing but I think you have to be a bit crafty with your keywords sometimes with surprising results.

The banter in these threads tends to (hopefully) follow the completed answer to the original point.

To be honest, knowing what other car forums are like i.e. you either get ignored or just one or two blunt answers then this place is quite refreshing and friendly. Heck I stay around but don't have a 406 anymore but figure if I can remember a thread to help someone or even offer my own advise then at least I've tried to help.

*goes off to search for Lady Gaga on YouTube*

[puggy]

I've tried welly and the ones from Glastonbury have been removed

and dont you dare leave jasper i've got you down for doing me engine mount
and you are too knowlegable to loose