How do we make a good forum better?

TestTransmission

What direction would you like to see the motors forum go in 2014?
What would you like to see more/less of?
Anything you'd change?Anything you'd keep the same?
How can we attract new posters?

If you would like to remain anonymous you can PM one of the mods and we'll post on your behalf.

Please also note that bringing back banned users isn't a option/topic to be discussed.

Cheers

tw0nk

Couple of suggestions:
- move stickies to sub-forum, they take up lots of space on front-page
- create a 'help me pick a car' sub-forum as they clog up forum
- create a 'topic of the week' thread each week, encourage a bit of banter

That's all I can think of at the minute

Supergurrier

More structured dating for potential national regional meets and rolling road days.

More group buys

More positive posting and a crackdown on high horses told you so's and general smartasses when a newbie asks a question.

Also what twonk said

challengemaster

On the topic of "attracting new posters"... It's a wee bit nonsensical when you think about the purpose of the forum. A motors forum will attract two types of people: People inherently interested in cars and people with car related issues. That's not something that will ever really change, nor is it something that can be influenced much.

If you're asking about getting more active users out of those in the aforementioned groups, or "repeat customers" essentially, make the place less hostile:

Less nazi-style modding in the chat thread. A bit of non-motors related chat by motors regulars won't cause the servers to explode or the next world war.

Everything having to be "on topic" has really sucked the life and friendly banter out of this place, IMO.

Aside from that, there's the odd troll/baiter that regularly takes the opposite stance to everyone for arguments sake plaguing the forum. S'all I'll say.

Mycroft H

Move the high horses to a stable. They've gotten worse in the last while.

pa990

Discussion is stagnant and repetitive same old topics over and over.

Threads get shut down if there is even a hint that it may be illegal, ie radar detectors.

Relax the rules a little, we might get some new topics.

Just because an item / topic is banned, discussion shouldn't be censored.

Also, how about a fog light mega thread, put all fog light threads in there for the moaners.

A group buy section

A bargain alert section just for motors.




I'll think of more later.

pa990

How about giving all the main mods two weeks off, and let natural selection do its thing.

Bigus

Don't have inaccessible private forum areas that take experienced away posters from the public areas.

Stavros Murphy

How about a "How to.." sub-forum with posters banging in picture-sequences for common jobs? Kinda like Nissan doc used to do occasionally and a great read they were too. If kept chat-free and modded then it would be a very handy recource and there's a lot of very knowledgeable people knocking around. People could suggest what they'd like to see and if someone was doing it, voila. Encyclopedia Boardtanica Motoforumii.

RustyNut

pa990 wrote: »

A bargain alert section just for motors.

+1 for this.

MetzgerMeister

tw0nk wrote: »

create a 'help me pick a car' sub-forum as they clog up forum

Supergurrier wrote: »

More structured dating for potential national regional meets and rolling road days.

pa990 wrote: »

A group buy section

A bargain alert section just for motors.

All great points lads!


Overall it is a pretty well run forum, the mods do a great job considering they do it all in their free time and don;t get paid apart from coke and hookers.

I think that a traders sub forum would be a good idea where business owners can actually talk to and help people with their products etc. rather than it all having to be done via PM. This would benefit everyone.

Scortho

lots of us would have spare parts etc etc knocking around. Would a buy and sell section be of use in a similar way to the buy and sell section on the airsofts forum. The watches forum has a buying and selling thread as well, but I think it works a little differently. Might be worth pming the likes of wibbs (who's a regular in motors as well) to see how it works.

Another thing that bugs me is the picture of your car thread when a mod comes along and gives out about people chatting (in a good way) about other posters cars.



And em the ott reaction to posters talking about banned posters. But I've feck all chance on that.

Miscreant

How about locking threads once there have been no posts in them for more than 3 or 6 months? This would cut down on the zombie threads being resurrected.

A sticky about Motor Tax might be an idea too. Every day there seems to be a new one created with some days even having several on the front page asking the same thing.... Usually about paying back tax on a newly bought vehicle.

imurdaddy

Maybe more regional and national meets and days out like the karting, track days etc.

coolbeans

Bah clichés like ''high horse crowd''. It's a mentally lazy phrase often used by those who don't think before they type.

toastedpickles

imurdaddy wrote: »

Maybe more regional and national meets and days out like the karting, track days etc.

I'm all for this, them kind of things are one of my favourite reasons for being on this forum, maybe even a few workshop days or something

Atlantic Dawn

A group meet where a diy fix is done on a car, fitting a fan belt, timing belt or other task that the skills could be shared with others.

MetzgerMeister

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

A group meet where a diy fix is done on a car, fitting a fan belt, timing belt or other task that the skills could be shared with others.

That's all well and good but what happens when someone decides to give it a go on their driveway and they do it wrong? Kaboom kaboom!

pa990

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

That's all well and good but what happens when someone decides to give it a go on their driveway and they do it wrong? Kaboom kaboom!

That's the problem with society today.

Take some personal responsibility.

MetzgerMeister

pa990 wrote: »

That's the problem with society today.

Take some personal responsibility.

If you showed a group of lads how to change a timing belt and they went off, attempted it and made a dog's breakfast of it, would you be ok with them blaming you for it going wrong?? Because I can tell you, that's what will happen.

cabb8ge

Bigus wrote: »

Don't have inaccessible private forum areas that take experienced away posters from the public areas.

Is there private forum?
Who posts there, how does access be granted?

ba_barabus

cabb8ge wrote: »

Is there private forum?
Who posts there, how does access be granted?

Yes there is and if we knew we wouldn't be posting here

Apart from that I think ChallengeMaster said everything I would have said myself so there is no need for me to repeat it.

dgt

Posters begrudging/constantly sniping at other posters out of bitterness pisses me off and is unnecessary. I see this as a contributing factor for good posters leaving and don't blame them

Don't think I could add anymore to that, most points have been covered

Mods are quick to react and take down tripe/trolling posts etc so no problems there

A group DIY fix.... Nono. Observe but that's about it. Who gets the blame if it all goes wrong when someone else tries?

cabb8ge

I think it worth temporary close of chat thead for one month to see if that improve forum. Friends can contact on facebook, pm, email etc.

Supergurrier

cabb8ge wrote: »

I think it worth temporary close of chat thead for one month to see if that improve forum. Friends can contact on facebook, pm, email etc.

You will also see alot of other threads that could have been handled in there and it would negatively impact on what community we have in here.

Every forum needs a general thread

toastedpickles

One thing i've noticed on a few other forums is they have a sort of garage section, where each user has a dedicated slot so to speak, for their car, pictures of the exterior, interior, entertainment, engine and so on, and then an over all spec of said car, I know theres the picture thread and the today i done something thread, both of which are great i think, but this garage thing seems to give a more in depth look into the users cars, I think it could be interesting to see here

MetzgerMeister

Supergurrier wrote: »

You will also see alot of other threads that could have been handled in there and it would negatively impact on what community we have in here.

Every forum needs a general thread

But in the past, the forum flourished without a chat thread. It has often been said that the chat thread actually let the motors forum down due tothe amount of sh!te in it.

cabb8ge

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

===the amount of sh!te in it.

that all it is now I think.

dgt

toastedpickles wrote: »

One thing i've noticed on a few other forums is they have a sort of garage section, where each user has a dedicated slot so to speak, for their car, pictures of the exterior, interior, entertainment, engine and so on, and then an over all spec of said car, I know theres the picture thread and the today i done something thread, both of which are great i think, but this garage thing seems to give a more in depth look into the users cars, I think it could be interesting to see here

It's in the process, sort of, I think. See here

Supergurrier

Nobody makes people click on it, is one thread really making that much difference when you look at all the duplicate/borderline pointless threads that spring up in here at times ?

A good example would be people spending 10k+ on a car and not having the first idea what they want/people asking advice and then ignoring it and telling everyone else they are wrong.

If it's that big an issue put it to a poll

MetzgerMeister

dgt wrote: »

It's in the process, sort of, I think. See here

That's kind of along the lines of it but in the garage thread, everyone can post about their car, not just people who are doing a build.

toastedpickles

dgt wrote: »

It's in the process, sort of, I think. See here

Yeah I know but if it doesn't take off, like here's one taken from a forum I just joined



Something like this?

dgt

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

That's kind of along the lines of it but in the garage thread, everyone can post about their car, not just people who are doing a build.

Would it be a thread or subforum with member threads?

As if it's just all in a single thread, it gets very hard to follow

MetzgerMeister

Supergurrier wrote: »

Nobody makes people click on it, is one thread really making that much difference when you look at all the duplicate/borderline pointless threads that spring up in here at times ?

A good example would be people spending 10k+ on a car and not having the first idea what they want/people asking advice and then ignoring it and telling everyone else they are wrong.

If it's that big an issue put it to a poll

Look man, I don't mean to be a pr!ck by saying this to you but if you have 10k to spend on a car and you don't buy a 1.9Tdi Octavia, forget about owning a car at all :pac:

dgt wrote: »

Would it be a thread or subforum with member threads?

As if it's just all in a single thread, it gets very hard to follow

I'd say each member gets their own thread. I like the idea a lot.

Supergurrier

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Look man, I don't mean to be a pr!ck by saying this to you but if you have 10k to spend on a car and you don't buy a 1.9Tdi Octavia, forget about owning a car at all :pac:

What if i want to be a fancy dan and buy a 1.6tdi Superb.

Shurre the neighbours won't know if i debadge it

MetzgerMeister

Supergurrier wrote: »

What if i want to be a fancy dan and buy a 1.6tdi Superb.

Shurre the neighbours won't know if i debadge it

Can't happen, the 1.6's are seriously underpowered and ya won't ever sell it on which is why most people buy cars in the first place, so they can do everything in their power to not enjoy it so they can sell it on!

toastedpickles

A good one would be a thread for off topic chat, that way everyone wins, people get to spout crap in that, and have a bit of a laugh or whatever, and the mods dont have to throw a wobbler every time someone mentions something non motor related

dgt

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I'd say each member gets their own thread. I like the idea a lot.

Agreed, very easy to follow progress that way

MetzgerMeister

dgt wrote: »

Agreed, very easy to follow progress that way

Yeah except when it's your thread :P

dgt

toastedpickles wrote: »

A good one would be a thread for off topic chat, that way everyone wins, people get to spout crap in that, and have a bit of a laugh or whatever, and the mods dont have to throw a wobbler every time someone mentions something non motor related

That was the way it was with the original off topic thread, then it got complicated and hard to moderate.....

Hence the modern day motor related off topic chat thread has to be motor related, some of the rules in the first post stem from the learning curve of that thread

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Yeah except when it's your thread :P

Touche :pac:

Chris_Heilong

More meets.

Less 'I had an accident...who is at fault',
'how much is my car worth?'
and 'I was speeding, driving the wrong way up the motorway in a car I stole, will I get any points?' type threads.

I know motors is the most active car forum in Ireland and alot of it is due to these type of threads but you would almost want a subforum called everyday driving and all these type questions could go in there.

toastedpickles

dgt wrote: »

That was the way it was with the original off topic thread, then it got complicated and hard to moderate.....

Hence the modern day motor related off topic chat thread has to be motor related, some of the rules in the first post stem from the learning curve of that thread



Touche :pac:

You learn something new everyday :P

MetzgerMeister

The thing about more meets is that the more of them you have, the less people turn up to each one. I'll never forget the first meet I went to in January 2012. There hadn't been a meet for ages before that so there was a huge turnout. Then when the meets got more regular, we had less and less people at them.

Now bare in mind, I am only talking about the Midway meets.

imurdaddy

My own 2c on it lads, I dont post here much or on boards at all and the honest reason is it can get petty and a sense of one upmanship at times or lads getting shot down for asking a question! but like I say thats only my view.

Garage sub thread would be nice!

dgt

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

The thing about more meets is that the more of them you have, the less people turn up to each one. I'll never forget the first meet I went to in January 2011. There hadn't been a meet for ages before that so there was a huge turnout. Then when the meets got more regular, we had less and less people at them.

Now bare in mind, I am only talking about the Midway meets.

Remember this was tried in 2012, a monthly meet? The last one ended up with a monstrous crowd....

MetzgerMeister

The only gripe I would have with the garage forum though is that it would be too easy for car thieves to find out about your car.

Maybe a little OTT but it's an issue for me and I would assume others too.

dgt wrote: »

Remember this was tried in 2012, a monthly meet? The last one ended up with a monstrous crowd....

My point exactly

NickDunne

There seems to be an obsession with trying to blame an OP for their problem or finding "holes" in their story and make up wild non-existent theories to somehow point the finger at the OP.

From illegal overtaking being perfectly ok because the OP was "dawdling(at the speed limit)" to items being stolen out of the boot of the OP's car, "they shouldnt have parked there" :rolleyes:

Its getting rightly fcuking annoying and its the same posters every time :mad:

Giddy up rant horse awayyy.....

Supergurrier

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

The thing about more meets is that the more of them you have, the less people turn up to each one. I'll never forget the first meet I went to in January 2011. There hadn't been a meet for ages before that so there was a huge turnout. Then when the meets got more regular, we had less and less people at them.

Now bare in mind, I am only talking about the Midway meets.

In relation to meets i didn't mean myself MORE meets.

Just more structured timeframes for them

For a Forum this busy meets should be on a pre determined dates (working around holidays/big matches/etc) and not something sporadic that comes about from a comment or two in the chat thread.

It would be great to know in XX weeks there will be a meet @XX so people could plan ahead and the whole thing is more newbie/infrequent user friendly.

3 maybe 4 a year is fine just nice to have a date in your head

toastedpickles

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

The only gripe I would have with the garage forum though is that it would be too easy for car thieves to find out about your car.

Maybe a little OTT but it's an issue for me and I would assume others too.



My point exactly

Good point, so make it private to people, regulars if you like on the motors forum, or does that defeat the purpose entirely?

MetzgerMeister

Supergurrier wrote: »

In relation to meets i didn't mean myself MORE meets.

Just more structured timeframes for them

For a Forum this busy meets should be on a pre determined dates (working around holidays/big matches/etc) and not something sporadic that comes about from a comment or two in the chat thread.

It would be great to know in XX weeks there will be a meet @XX so people could plan ahead and the whole thing is more newbie/infrequent user friendly.

3 maybe 4 a year is fine just nice to have a date in your head

That's all well and good and I appreciate that you took the time to reply but I was actually replying to Chris Heilong's comment of "More meets"

ba_barabus

toastedpickles wrote: »

does that defeat the purpose entirely?

That would make it a private forum which some have earlier blamed for harming the main forum.

People could always block their regs too. I learned to do that the hard way.