Since Dirk was always against it (as well as against updating the site ), but I think it would allow the site to grow considerably

many members come here only to ask a tech question, they get an answer and then they're gone for ever.

There's really not much to keep them here unless they hare few of the hardcore ones that are truly into modifying their cars and need constant updates on new parts or advice... for those that like their cars mostly stock there's little incentive

Just pondering... Every other car board has one and there's a reason for it.

 

First- there is a sticky at the top of this forum regarding a non-tech board.

Second- There is a locked thread about it a few posts down.

Its not going to happen, there really isn't a reason for it.

 

Dirk, and many TGO staff, was against the non-tech board due to the issues it created for the site when TGO did have one. When Dirk sold TGO he wanted TGO to remain down it's current path. To my knowledge, TGO will still remain a tech-only website.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/prob...-non-tech.html

 

I don't mean to cause a disturbance or anything, but this has always sat uneasy on me.

I really think any forum should have a lounge or non tech board where members can discuss other topics. I think its healthy for the board.

I'm not sure what the deal is with everyone being so hardcore about this being tech-ONLY. Aren't you guys friends with eachother in the sense that you could talk about something non car related?

I want more peoples opinions. I just want to do what everyone would want.

 

I agree that bad things could happen, but I'd be willing to give it a try. I'd even be willing to help mod an OT section.

 

Plain and simple, Non-Tech here is asking for trouble. Been there, done that, don't wanna do it again. That's not what this site is about or what it was meant to be. I'm against it without question and I think you'll find most of my Mods and long time Members feel the same.

 

IROC -

I'm a little more interested in the past of this. What are the bad things that happened before which everyone is referring to?


I'm only interested in something that could possibly better the board.

 

PM sent.

 

I've heard stories about what happened before. I'm going to have to say no.

 

Well now I'm curious too. I know on other sites sometimes the OT attitude starts to spill over onto the other boards, maybe that's it. I think if the rules were laid out and enforced well, it should be ok..?

Well, like I said.

 

I too have heard of what happened before, and I vote no.

The thing so many like about this site is that it is no bull**** (well, mostly). If you have a question about your third generation f-body, this is the place to find the answer.

If I want to talk about movies, sports, games, girls, etc., I will go elsewhere. The reason I don't use the other Camaro forums is because they have a lounge and don't have a very strict tech-only policy.

I think having a lounge would give TGO a less "professional" feel

 

if you want a lounge hit up camaroz28.com they have a HUGE lounge and because of it the tech on that board is lacking a bit.

 

Absolutely. That's where I go. I go to Thirdgen.org for tech, CamaroZ28.com for fun and tech, and www.michiganspeed.org for when I want to hang out, meet up with folks at the restaurant once and a while, and have fun online.

I dont see any reason for a lounge on thirdgen.org since there are plenty of other places that do it. Another good fbody hangout is www.mifbody.com and I also like posting both tech and non-tech on the forums of www.hotrod.com

So there you go. Putting in a lounge into thirdgen.org would be like putting a McDonalds in the middle of the pit row garage--- Plenty of people would stop by to drop half-eaten french fries in your snap-on tool box...

I prefer to keep the fast food and lounge posts where they belong.

--
idea: How about a link on thirdgen.org to an affiliate board where non-tech could be discussed? Management could find someone willing to handle it and "pass off" that stuff.

 

I've been here since Christmas 1998 (even though my join date says otherwise), and through several revisions.

I witnessed the near meltdown with non-tech forums.

I'm older than most here and have seen many "young-whippersnappers" get their "panties in a wad" over just slightly older folks telling them the truth on situation solutions the youngsters did not want to listen to.

And that is just tech issues.

I'm of the belief a running feud on a non-tech board (and they WILL happen) is asking for trouble and could spill over into the tech portion.

There are VERY wise folks here that can rub someone the wrong way if a reader is not used to their "style" of communication.

Now imagine some of those wise folks getting into a "fuss" with someone else (on a non-tech forum) and causing either themselves or the other person to get p.o.ed enough to leave the site.

We don't need either to leave as both may have something positive to contribute to the tech site.

In my opinion, a non-tech forum is asking for trouble. I've seen it happen here already.

Besides, we all need to be working on keeping our cars running more than keeping our mouths running on a non-tech board.

jms

 

I heard all about what happened here with the old non-tech boards. It was an unfortunate experience. But IIRC, the reason dirk is so against OT boards, is because the unfortunate experience was personally against him. If I'm right, it doesn't seem fair that just because some idiots got out of line, the rest of the people here who are friends shouldn't have time to talk to each other, and show off their rides (that aren't thirdgen related). That's what we're all here for basically, our love of cars.

Take a look at websites such as camaroz28.com or ls1tech.com, they both have GREAT OT sections. Fbody.com has a wonderful OT section as well. It's like being in a garage with all the guys bull****ting about cars and whatever else comes to mind.

I'd LOVE an OT section here.

On LS1tech and Cz28 there is no "feuding" that spills to the tech boards, everyone is well behaved. People that troll and start the feuding either have everyone rail on them, and they shape up, or mods temporarily ban them for a week. Anyone that is starting something, doesn't want to be here, plain and simple. For the most part TGO is occupied by mature people, many of which would love the chance to bs with other members. A forum like this would probably attract more visitors to the site, and allow people to feel alot more like a community. That's good for business as well.

I give my full support for an OT section, and like someone said above I'd be more than happy to volunteer to help mod. Especially since it seems the new owners are taking TGO down a good path after all (refering to the recent updates and abolishment of the google ads)! They've updated the forums, updated the main page and generally made everything a much nicer place. The only thing missing is a good OT section.

What I do suggest however, is that posts in the OT forum do NOT count toward your post count.

 

Dirk got into a hissy fit when someone made a comment about his wife and shut the entire board down for a week. Then took the lounge out of TGO and it has been like this ever since.

 

What was he thinking!? He should have promoted him to Admin!

 

If somebody made those kind of threads against my family, I'd have shut the board down too. The difference is, I would have pulled the plug permanently. No Internet website is worth that kind of crap.

 

I say put it up and try it out. While I agree with JMS with regard to many of his points, however, we already have a bunch of non-tech kicking about the forums and people take posts the wrong way all the time. Look at the appearance boards. Where's the tech there?

As for non-tech here is asking for trouble, I think rather the lax accountability of allowing people back continually after being banned is much worse than having a non-tech board. Granted, however, if there were a non-tech board, things could spill over to there much easier and provide an outlet for the idiocy that permeates the boards now. Perfect example would be Mikey. Rather than banning him all his crap could have gone over to non-tech. If anything it's entertaining.

That said, were it I that bought TGO for the purpose of making money, the non-tech would have been back on day one. It makes fiscal sense with regard to running a BBS for profit.

 

Agreed. I'd also like to add that if we had a non-tech board we could also make sure that ALL of the OT stuff goes there, which could greatly improve the rest of the board. It's like a glass of beer with sand in it. You wanna get all the sand out. Best way to do that? Give the sand a place to... Ok, that doesnt make sense. But I'm sure you get what I mean.

 

I would not have. I thought that was a really weak move. It is his board, you just remove the threads and ban the offenders. The board was pretty big at that point and shutting the whole thing down because of one thread was dumb.

He is lucky that the board recovered after that stunt and no else started a competitor. I have seen this happen with plenty of other sites. LS1.com is one example that has not quite recovered and actually made other boards- busier.

The Lounge was only as good as the people that policed it. It collapsed because the mods at the time were not efficient and assertive enough to curb problems. Over at corvetteforums.com, the mods there keep a close watch over everything and it runs pretty well. The types of people are rather different between these two sites, but it can be controlled.

Even if it is "tech-only", opinions will still creep in and you simply cannot run a discussion forum like a socialist government.

 

I like how some people say we cannot do this and that. This site has had no non-tech for 5 years. It grew faster without it than it ever did with it and became alot more credible. It's not necessary and there are many places you can go if you want to discuss nothing. Dealing with personal arguements and things like that are always the lousiest kind of problems to deal with on boards like these. You're not the ones that would have to put up with that kind of idiocy. Since this was mentioned, I had one Mod refuse to be a part of such a thing and one tell me he's leaving if it happens, and they are both good Mods that have been here for a long time. (and there will be more joining them if it even gets seriously considered, bet on that)

 

Keeping the board tech only is the way to go. I find I don't have time for the crap that happens at all the other sites that have non tech. I barely have time to moderate the History board where almost everybody stays on tech. There aren't enough hours in the day to monitor it all so it will get out of hand. Just like other sites.

There are more posts in the lounge of any website than there are posts in the tech section. Why do so many people have so much time on their hands to just shoot the crap? Camaroz28.com, LS1Tech.com and LS1.com and many others all have non tech. Visit them when you want to BS. I have seen other sites' 3rd gen sections telling users to visit TGO to get an answer because they had too much non tech spilling into the forums and questions go unanswered. TGO has a reputation now as being tech only and other websites know it. We are known for being able to answer technical questions and leave the BS at the door.

 

Amen IROC.

 

I agree with you to a point Scott, TGO does have a rep for being a great tech site. However I believe that we should at least TRY it.

It was tried once before, but Dirk, instead of just banning the idiots involved, decided to shut stuff down and get rid of the OT forum. The board is alot different now, I definetly think it's possible to have a non-tech forum.

You pointed out that other sites with non-tech portions have unanswered areas in their tech forums. Yes and no... Perfect example is ls1tech. They have GREAT tech forums. Yes they don't have a good 3rd gen/Gen 1 SBC section, but that's because they were originally LT1/LS1 forums. It's LS1tech for goodness sake. CamaroZ28 is predominantly an LT1 forum (thus a somewhat lacking earlier gen tech section), and they have a GREAT LT1 tech section. I love cz28 and read the tech forums all the time, same with ls1tech.

This forum has ALWAYS been about thirdgens, and will continue to be about them. I seriously think the OT board won't detract very much at all from the tech boards, and instead give people a way to make more of a community.

 

When people feel so strongly against it, like moderators and long members that have contributed SO much knowledge i think we should go by that. I love this site and have always thought a lounge would be nice, but if we are going to lose great mods, and great members its not worth it. I started reading here in '03 and joined in '04. I have not been here long enough to know lots of the past and what went into this site and what troubles have come and gone. I just have learned the importance of this site, and to not lose whats going for it. The knowledge/tech part from this board is worth more then shooting the ****. Id normally say the same thing TRY it, but if we gave it a "try" and members left, id say it didnt work.

Long live TGO.

 

Why would members leave? I don't understand that at all. They can simply decide to not visit the new OT forum.

 

Because anyone that knows what it will cause and what it did cause wants no part of it. They know it would be the wrong decision.

 

 

There was no non-tech board here more than once, for the same reasons as the last time it was pulled. I dont see how trying it again will magically work this time around.

 

And when the OT floods into the rest of the board then what ?

Ban people ?.. good idea... for a static IP


.. research the name Dean... see why banning doesn't do jack.


Just as people can choose not to visit the off-topic forum.. you can choose to visit another board for off-topic BS.

 

Actually I believe the statemend by RD about non-tech being important to running a board for profit to be true. The key to generating positive cash flow from a board is keeping your members online on the site and keep them coming back.

A non-tech forum increases that retension rate. My site, LS1LT1.com has a non-tech section for that very reason. It is well-modded however and we have clear rules about what is acceptable.

Third gens are welcome there by the way

--Personally, as some one that was here way back in '97 and lived through the melt-down, I think the time has come to bring back a lounge here...with some well structured rules...

 

my thoughts exactly...and I really do wonder how many threads there are on this topic here...anybody keeping track? :P

 

Yup, it won't work. Which is why it shouldn't even be considered.

 

Just say no to the non-tech boards

 

Wait so you are saying that we are bound to repeat the same mistakes again? I don't get it. So many other boards are succesful and thrive with an OT section but this one will melt down if it has one? I am a mod on several different boards and all of them have an OT section. I will even go as far as to offer to help mod an OT section here if it comes to be.

 

Pay attention to the history of war much ?

 

So You have no faith in your fellow man then? This is not a war or even global politics. It is a message board and the comparison does not apply. i would love to see some insight into what others on this board who I know only by screen name and tech do outside of thier thirdgen.

 

If you want an honest answer... No, I don't.


No kidding...
You asked about repeating mistakes..
I gave an example of mistakes your 'fellow man' is best at repeating.

 

I have no faith in my fellow man either. (Already there's a difference in opinion...going deeper into this would start a discussion (as it's religiously biased in my case) I've had too often and usually leads to a war on the boards betwen members).

In an off topic section, politics comes up...amongst other highly charged issues.

If you set up the conditions for a mistake, people will fall into that mistake. It's practically a rule of human nature, that we all slip into temptation at some point. With enough people around, at least one will...and once one does...then another, and another...until it's a giant clusterf***.

I, too, am against an OT section. Even if there were one implimented here, I'd avoid it in the majority of cases.

 

Most definetly. It's not worth the hassle.

 

So you have no want or need to know anything about your fellow board members besides thier knowledge of thirdgens? I have been here for years and have almost completely walked away from this board that I used to check daily now that I do not have my thirdgens. It is because I have no need to read tech about a car I do not own. If there was a non tech board I would be iclined to stop by more often and I can say I would browse the rest of the board.

 

want? sure but I can get opinions and such anywhere...to be honest, I don't know any of the people on this board to really want to dive deeper. I certainly don't intend to put effort into finding out about people I don't know...I'd be on the computer indefinetly and end up turning into a vegetable if I tried to do that equally to everyone. There are enough demands on my time in real life and to be honest (and this is just my opinion), the desire to find out about new strangers to keep in touch with and such is really not there.

So do I have a "need" to know anything about my fellow board memberes? No. I have friends outside the boards...to be honest, I think a life outside the boards should be encouraged. If you read the regional sections (I've only read the "West Coast" section but I think it's safe to assume the others can be similar), there *are* people who find out more about each other, hang out with each other and meet each other...in real life! (You don't have to dig too deep either to find the not-as-techy posts either...some of it exists but the guise of a tech board, I think keeps a lot of flamebait out of discussions).

 

I have left two boards b/c of the bs that goes on in the general topic area. I used to visit the impala ss board, but when it came to tech issues with our '92 Roadmaster, I was recommended thirdgen.org! Another point is the individuals who like to hang out in the ot area are generally those who are least helpful with tech issues b/c they prefer to running their mouths to running their cars. I have not been back to the impala ss board since after Katrina. Why? Because I live about 300mi. from the affected area and volunteered to help with the clean up and relief. I saw and heard firsthand what was going on, and to have someone from some where like MI or CA go on and on about race issues, or how they would be a "looter shooter" made me !!!!!! And then, when you and some other member are well and truly pis*ed off with each other, are ya'll going to want to lend a helping hand if it is the person that you had the problem with? I think not.

As far as retention goes, remember that if you retain 100% of 14 year olds who can say "ur a looser", it is NOT going to help you convince sponsers that your members will buy their product. I have bought Headers, exhaust, wiring products, even OIL based on recommendations that I found here. I plan on continuing that trend with future upgrades. I think that the majority of my fellow members are the same way. That is something that sponsers WILL pay for!

My , please do not have a OT forum! My personal opinion is that it would "dumb down" what is THE best resource for thirdgens on the internet!

Sorry for the novel, this is something that I do feel strongly about!

 

The last 2 posts were excellent guys, thanks. I'm glad to see that most people do get it.

 

I have talked to several members via AIM and I have met others in person through the Regional Boards. An off-topic section wouldn't turn into a personals section. It would turn into a flame board and we don't need that crap here.