Rules of which to aspire to:
I have compiled this list from visiting the various sites and noticing some general points that need to be expounded on. I have shamelessly plagiarized some sentences and/or points in their entirety but I hope this will help some people in putting in perspective their experience here. It’s a quickie thread and is just to get people to hopefully post more responsibly. And no this is not technically ‘tech’. Hope it helps!


1) Relax, take a deep breath and CHILL!

2) Don't post questions with titles like ‘Need help’ or ‘newbie question’ or ‘question for you’ or ‘hot babes inside’ or ‘Not running right’ etc...BE SPECIFIC FOR GODS SAKE it helps out those that want to help you out, and it will generate more responses.

I must confess that sometimes my curiosity does get the better of me and I take a look at an ambiguous thread. Generally, though, the more specific the thread title is, the more likely I am to find something I actually know about and can help with. Lord knows I already spend waaaaaay too much time online each day, so I (and I imagine most others) don't have the time or energy to check out every ambiguously titled thread

3) The "HELP - URGENT" threads.
Don't cry wolf! Just because you are in the garage and can't figure out how to check your fuel pressure at that instant is not a valid reason to plaster ‘HELP NOW!’ or ‘NEED HELP ASAP!!!’. A car stuck on the side on the road IS. Don't ruin it for the rest of us when there really IS an urgent need for help. Oh yea, and kill the full line of exclamation points.

4) PLEASE don’t post "I'm ordering {fill in the blank} TODAY! Which should I get"

I really dislike people who not only procrastinate to this extent, but are ignorant enough to leave the decision to others they have not met. And I have no empathy for those that don’t even begin the process of thought and initiate a thread asking for someone to pick out something for them for their application.

5) DO NOT try and sucker free stuff from people, this is generally for the PROM boards. If you keep doing that, it will go back to a private board and then you won’t even have the opportunity to pop in and learn anything.

6) Kindly note that most of us are not at the computer 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (Although I think Vader, Ede, RB and a few others try), it actually CAN take more than 5 minutes and sometimes up to a couple of days to get your question answered.

7) Posting a question and then bit*hing and crying that nobody cares after saying "ANYBODY????????????" 15 times an hour, curling up into a little ball and punching holes in drywall will NOT get it answered any faster. Doing this plants a little kernel of negativity in the minds of the readers of the post, and this will do nothing in the way of inspiring them to help you. (Remember the CHILL part??)

8) Don't forget the "SEARCH" features of ThirdGen or the “TECH” and “FAQ” articles either... I've been guilty of that one in the past myself. Nobody wants to answer the same questions every week, so use the search. It's VERY helpful.

9) If you have a HUGE sig. try and only use it once per thread and/or try and cut it down a tad, it doesn’t help when you try and use the SEARCH option (say for RAM AIR or MAF etc.).

9) As experienced as many of us are, the more arcane the question the less people will know the answer at any given time (let me tell you I know this!). Hell I could respond to every single post but my guess is even the biggest crybabies would prefer that only those who really do know the answer to any given question respond.

10) If you don't get a response, let it sink to the next page before you ‘TTT’ it. Some of us look for zero-response questions before answering general questions because we assume if it's got responses it's being taken care of. So don't "ttt" it until you've given it a chance or it looks like you're not going to be responded to. Others look for the posts getting tons of responses thinking maybe there's a controversy they can help clear up.

11) There is no conspiracy against new people or any sort of clique that dictates that new people won't get answers. but if you throw a hissy fit you can guarantee you won't be taken seriously until people forget you threw it (I myself have been guilty of this once (and only once), and even though I apologized immediately I sure had a cold week or two first!). Remember this if nothing else.



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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson

 

NON TECH!!!

Heh...

Hey, you have 2 number 9's. Which one do I pay attention to?

 

He must work as a vote counter in Florida.

 

Non-Tech! Non-Tech! (See #6)

I'll second the notion presented in #10 - or is that #9C? (Just jerkin' you around a little.)

Nice one, Andy.

And #9A makes a good point.

And you forgot an important one, #12, naturally. Some people need to keep the graphics format/size small enough so that the page doesn't scroll across the full width of a 30" plasma monitor and STILL not fit.

Oops! Um, never mind.

Heck, they're all good points. This should probably be added to the "New User" section of the site guide. We don't have one of those? Sheewt! Somebody needs to get with Dirk on that one. It's your post, RD...

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------

My Mods:
86 TA TPI
Original red paint;
Original "Pimp Daddy" red interior;
Synthetic Rubber Tires;
New oil filter;
30HP "Red Line" stickers on both sides (is that 60HP total?)
All synthetics, including some parts of the passenger;
High-performance keyboard;
Improved idler arm;
Full Exhaust;
Upgraded PROM;
200W subwoofer w/factory stereo;
Racing belts;
Dex-Cool;
Auxilliary fan switch;
FPR;
Ported Plenum/Runners;
Bilstein shocks;
Gutted air cleaner;
Wells MAF;
4) 100W lamps;
Removable steering wheel;
Trans drain plug;
Custom air deflector;
Lowered side air skirts;
1.6:1 rollers;
I washed it recently.

------------------
"Is that a digital camera in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts
(And about twenty other site links)

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited January 29, 2001).]

<h1>Does THAT make the need for #9A a little more apparent?</h1>

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited January 29, 2001).]

 

Haha, the Problem Is Vader, That there are a few on this board that have Actual Sigs Longer than that. I personally Prefer the "Sleeper" Signature


RD, very good points, I think That as Good as this board is, Everyone Who posts here ( with very few exceptions ) Could stand to Read Those over a few times, and take them To heart.

Alot More gets Done that way.


BTW NEED HELP ASAP MY CAR SUX!@
Oh yeah, Duh its a Lg4...

You Should also Add # 13, the Caps lock Key Is Not Your friend.




------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

Hey, 442 posts

This is NOT your fathers oldsmobile...



------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

Actually, this IS tech, I was thinking of doing some of Vader's mods. Check out my sig. I should prolly be running in the low 12's, right? What else should I do?

 

Sorry, here it is.

------------------
87 IROC
Fast Giga-Jet PROM
Dual Quad Serpentine Headers w/ Flowmaster 80
160 Thermostat
Relocated CTS
Gutted Air
Gutted MAF
What's a Code 34?
20 Inch Wheels, 18 Inch Tires
Kraco/Bose Sound w/ Explode Woofers
4th Gen Seats
BM Shift Kit w/ Pro Street ****
1 of 32,753 IROCs with 350 and TTops

Future mods:
650hp Crate Engine
Dual Blowers

 

ROTFLAMO!!

BUT!!

You do all that and don't do the most important mod, the one that might even put you in the 11's.... all that money and hard work go to waste if you don't bypass that damn throttle body!! How many times I gotta tell you guys it's worth at LEAST 11hp???
I did it!! Look what it did for me!

------------------
Kevin Irving
85 Trans Am WS-6, 305 TPI, custom burned '86 PROM with '87 "165"ECM, Accel Supercoil & 8.8 Wires, MSD 6AL, Aluminum Driveshaft, TB Coolant Bypass, Ported Plenum, Modified MAF, Syclone Fuel Pump, JET Airfoil

15.556 @ 86.65mph, Nov 10, 2000.... I know it sucks.. but it will get better!

http://www.geocities.com/transam85tpi/

 

it's not tech but it's good to have it posted here. one thing that always seems to pi$$ me off is for some to say "vader need help". i know i don't know everything, and i know vader knows way more than me, and even if i know more than vader he puts it all together way better than i do, but it's still a good way to keep me from ever answering a thread by asking for some one by name when any one would do, on the off chance i could answer it.

------------------
ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

OK it is non-tech but I'm glad the thread was left open. Some things need to be said. I try to keep these things in mind when I'm posting.

1. My posting a question does not constitute a claim on somebody else to answer it.

2. Someone else has gone to the time and expense to host the board, I'm not paying anything.

3. It's obvious that many people that participate (in addition to the moderators) in this forum are professionals. They normally get paid to use their knowledge and experience. Seen any Lawyer's message boards out there? I haven't. When they answer my post, I benefit. I expect they participate because they enjoy doing it. See number 2.

4. Sometimes the best response is no response.

5. There are many things on which reasonable people can disagree. I don't take it personally when someone doesn't share my views.

Pet peeves:
Those that respond to what they consider ignorant questions with belittling and insulting remarks. They reveal more about themselves than anything else.
All Caps. It's hard to read. Normally used to indicate emphasis.
People who can't spell, know it, and are unwilling to use spell check. I don't mean technical words (hyperutectic?), I'm talking about ur for your and the like. No, I'm not an english teacher. It's just being lazy.

 

HEY! I resemble that remark!

I will try to be less whiney in the future...
But i rarely make new year's resolutions this late in the year (i hardly keep 'em anyway)

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
RPO codes point to Recaro version
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

Hmmm... I think I should add a few things, including re-reading your post, eh? Yes I missed a few things, some rather obvious ones too. The caps lock thing completely evaded me.
Ede, you have a good point, and it has been brought up twice that I can remember. One of those times Vader was the one expounding on the virtues of omitting the named requests as this would surely inspire more posts. I fully agree with this, however, Vader has built himself a nice little rep. so I do not find it totally surprising, just remember, it's not meant as a slight, and it won't be viewed as a slight when you don't answer.
87Kev... well there are a few legal message boards, but, not generally open ones, there are far more legal sites for research purposes than for anything else. The environment precludes the need for message boards, as the judges’ decisions and case merits are the things lawyers really need to build their babies. Thus tons of legal research and skyrocketing legal bills. Oh and did I mention most attorneys would rather research in a library? I wonder why that is...
Sometimes the best response is no response. <-- I do like this! And I also do not understand why people would want to waste their time writing apishly cretinous responses when they could continue reading other posts and maybe learn something. Oh well.
I wrote this b/c I have had a very limited amount of time to go online recently, and in the next month I may have a tad less for a time, I really enjoy the site and hoped to smooth out some of my own annoying habits as well as the newer acquaintances to the board. Maybe someone will pass along a complete list that Dirk could list in a FAQ type list for new members. Anyway I'm glad it was taken in the spirit intended rather than in a severe way.

 

Methinks it is time to refresh this. Anyone else have any addendums? I will rewrite and repost soon and also forward to Dirk if y'all concur.

------------------
"Pray to God, but at the same time use your hands"

-Greek Proverb

 

Other than the Caps Lock thing... Not really.

Lets see it across the Top, much like the DIY prom board

------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

Er... not my call, I don't even know if the thing would get used, but it seems to have gotten a good positive response from the other members and a few issues do seem to keep coming up, I'll pop this to the top throughout the weekend and then do a final write up then and forward it on to Dirk. Thanks for the input!



------------------
"HEY laser lips... Your mamma was a snowblower!"

-#5

 

In conforming to the current trend of ressurecting really old threads, I humbly submit this old relic for the following addendum:






http://www.mindlessforum.com/posting/




And yet I actually add something constrcutive and funnny unlike the current trend.

That is all, carry on.