Sub Forums and Off Topic

I started this thread because I wanted to dedicate a place for everyone that reads the "EVERYONE READ NOW! change time!" thread to post off topic info. Eclipse RST I know that you've already done this somewhat with a stickie so if you want to delete this I'm not going to be ill with you or anything. My main problem with the off topic stuff in the other forum was the Sub Forums opinions and ideas. Other things, such as the many newb problems (not searching before posting, etc.) and ideas on how to relieve the some of the headace for some of the Mods responsabilities are cool to post here as well. I wanted to start off with the sub forum problem. I think that the sub forums are great. It helps new members find quick answers. Wuman82 posted that he thought that the site doesn't really promote a lot of the things (like the sub forums) that we want used. About using the sub-forums though, I don't think the site is designed to encourage people to use the sub-forums. What I mean is, if you goto the AF homepage, and then click on Forums, and then click on Mitsubishi and then the Eclipse/Talon/Laser it automatically direct you to this forum, so when people to want to post a thread then automatically post it in this forum. Now, say if you click on the Eclipse/Talon/Laser forum link, and then you are presented with choices of which sub-forums you want to goto, I think that would encourage more people to actually start using the sub-forums.I personnally think that's a great idea. A couple of people didn't like the idea because its already difficult enough to navigate to the forum and that they didn't want to have to sort through all of the forums to read all of the new posts. I think that if you're dedicated enough to this forum, that you should have the url for this forum either in your favorites, linked on your desktop, linked to a hotkey, or setup as your homepage. Here's the url.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=343
I personnally have all of the forums and sub forums that I use linked to a drop down menu from a hotkey on my keyboard. It's a lot faster than trying to navigate through the AF home page. As for the problem with finding new posts, AF is already set up to help with that. If EclipseRST or JoeWagon can get the forum set up like what Wuman82 was suggesting then you would know before you ever clicked a link whether or not there was a new post in that sub forum.

The only other thing that I wanted to hit on was the fact that some of the people that were responding to the other post were talking about loosing our more experienced members due to grammer and spelling and some others didn't understand why that it is so important to keep them around. I know that a lot of the more knowledgeable people from this forum hate to see questions like "Can I put a 4G63 in my RS/GS?" and "What's a good turbo for my 420A?". I don't think that it's their responsibility to respond to those questions anymore. I think the regulars need to pickup on that and say "Hey man, there's already a really good post on the subject and here's where it's at." because I know that we have all seen those posts. I'm not saying that you guys don't do that already but in general you should apply the same idea to new posts where someone else has already answered the question if you have seen the thread. I think also that if the mods can get the forums setup like what Wuman82 and Anarchy1114 suggested that We should also have a sub forum labled with those 2 questions. That would reduce the amount of newbs that make the mistake of asking and it would give everyone quick access to the threads. I'm done. Once you guys look at the other thread then please post some ideas or comments here and keep the Off topic stuff from cluttering that thread. You can find the EVERYONE READ NOW! change time! here
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=330572&page=1&pp=15

i think someone just wanted to vent:D

I want to vent 24 hours a day for the last 27 years with all the bullshit going on around me :D It really takes a lot of energy just to control myself. I can sense some controlled frustration in fiber's posts, and I can feel his pain :)

I'm not sure if the grammar thing falls within the intended scope of this thread, but Grammar/spelling/giving-a-fuck is going to hell on every forum I participate in, even DSMlink with all the new members, and it's really pissing me off. The real problem in my humble opinion is the attitude the poeple not adhering to this rule give back when confronted about it, no matter how nice we are about it. I'm just going to simply stop replying to posts that give me headaches. If its the persons first few posts here, I cut them some slack. If the person uses English as a second language, I cut them some slack (you should hear my brasilian wife speak :D). If the person has a good attitude I cut them some slack. If the person makes a serious effort to be as thorough as possible in giving info pertinent to the problem posted, I cut them some slack. So its not like its an all or nothing thing. But we have to try to maintain some standards before it goes completely to shit... I really wish people that join this forum voluntarily would make some effort to adhere to the rules they agreed to obide by, rather than snap back any time someone tries to help them out. In this regard I think NABR does the right thing. Banning someone for not following a rule once is unaccpetable in my opinion, but banning them for talking back like an asshole when approached nicely about it is perfectly fine IMO ;)

Actions = consequences.

Ok, that was my vent :D