Change!

Ok guys, so here is the thread I promised outlining the changes. First off, as everyone already knows, SilvrEclipse (Jason) got promoted to Mod.

The next and one of the biggest things is the rearrangement. Brian and I agreed that moving 10 threads a day from careless people, noobs AND regulars, just posting in the main forum was getting a bit rediculous. The F Body guys have a system similar to our current one and they like it and we decide to adopt it.

The last big change is going to be in the general attitude of our forum. I always knew we were a little harsher on noobies/outsiders than most, but after a particular incident it was called to our attention that our "tribal mentality" is a tick too aggressive. After taking a solid look at it, I agreed with that and we decided to go through with all three of these changes at once.

A new set of rules will be devised and will be enforced, regardless of longevity or post count. We'll keep you guys notified about those rule changes.

So what do you guys think? Thank you TS!!

man just being honest if thats what all the hype was about.... I'm kinda dissapointed. PS I can see your secret forum.
AREA51

I'm just going to put my thoughts bluntly. Don't take them the wrong way, because that's not how they're meant. This is the easiest way to get my point across.

1) Is the old main forum going to be deleted? I hope so, that big space at the bottom that says "moved" next to every thread is fugly as hell.

2) I think the bolt-on section is a bit overkill, being as 99% of bolt-on parts are for performance upgrades, which would also fit under the engine/tranny/drivetrain.

3) Are you guys going to move the rules/faq stickies and that kind of shit out onto the main page? If you could somehow organize it above everything else in its own subcategory, (above General or something like that), I think they would get more recognition/noticement and more people would read them. A good name for that would be Rules, Regulations, and FAQ

4) The "Audio and Videos" name should be changed, maybe to just Audio/Video, I know it's like 2 very small changes, but we have a separate video section, and I could see some confusing the two.

5) Interiors should be changed to Interior, none of the other subforum names are plural (except for wheels, but you buy them in sets), so it should be changed.

6) Wheels could be moved and added to the Brakes/Suspension subforum to be Brakes/Suspension/Wheels, because usually when you have a question about one or the other, they always end up tying together somehow. I know wheels is part of the appearance part of a car, but it's also a technical part, and I just feel it would fit better under that category.

Ok, I'm done for now. I know it seems pretty picky (and I don't you expect to change them just because of me), but they're just things that looked "odd" to me right away, they stuck out. And if we're doing such a big change, we might as well get it right the first time, instead of having to bug TS 6 months down the road to change a few things here and there.

Other than that, I think it looks great. I like the change, and it will help with organization I think. It also reminds me of alot of other forums I'm on often, so now I won't get lost all the time. Great work guys and thanks alot TS!

Hmmm I can't help feel like being a little bit alienated from this new forum style.\
I know you guys know there is another thread topic and it just doesn't seem natural. Its kinda insulting having secret threads within our thread topics. I hope either BRIAN or DUSTIN will explain what you guys have done to me personally. You guys know how to reach me.

I could see AREA51 for a few times, but now I can't see it anymore. I'm guessing it's a place for the mods to discuss things. Actually, that's what I'm pretty sure it's for. AF in general has one of those (we can't see it), but they discuss moderator things in it (bannings, problems with the forum, etc) I don't mind having one of those, as long as we can't see it. If it's visible and we can't access it, I feel left out, but if I can't see it....well, out of sight, out of mind.

Stevie - Whats with the hostility? Its not like the DSM mod corner is some big 24/7 party you didnt get invited to, being that its more than just me and Brian its a place to collect thoughts and record the warning/disciplinary action taken against each member. Neither of us has said or done shit towards you, why would we man? We have no reason to. I am just a bit confused as to why you feel its a person attack. :dunno: Also, just because your thread was up first doesnt mean that it was up when I started writing this thread. My dad and I got home at 9:00 straight up and I came down here to see if anything had happened. I saw TS had been changing things and started this thread. Then my brother came home from his CC skiing meet and I shot the shit with him for a bit. After that, I finished the thread and posted it. Being that yours was posted at 9:13 my time and I started mine at like 9:05, they were being written about the same time, I just took a long ass time to write mine.

Garrett - For the most part, I agree with you. I dont know that we can get rid of the main forum any more than it is, I deleted thouse redirects and its cleaner, but that may be where it stops. Regardless, it will keep people from just shoveling their shit into the main forum and letting us mods take care of it.

I suppose we could put the wheels in the suspension and brakes subforum, but my reasoning behind it not going there is the suspension and brakes is a technical topic... wheels can be too but look at the recent wheels threads, none of them are technical, they are all "which ones will look better" kind of deals.

As for the Bolt Ons, I think we should change it from "Engine, Transmission, and Drivetrain" and "Bolt Ons" to "Engine and Bolt Ons" and "Transmission and Drivetrain." What do you all think about that?

I think you have mistook my opinion for hostility. first and foremost I am not mad. BUt you must understand that the fact that I know something is there lurking behind our backs but we cannot see must seem.... at least "intriguing" to us non moderators.
I know you guys mean the best having it there. But I must admit it is somewhat debilitating knowing that you guys have an open forum without even the slightest input from us commoners. It just seems like after all we have tried to do for this forum there appears to be some form of segregation between the mods and the regulars.

The fact that its called "area 51" just adds to what is already a somewhat controversial topic in my mind.

I like your idea of changing the engine/tranny/drivetrain/bolt-on categories around a little bit Dustin, I think it would clear up a few grey areas. And about the main forum, I noticed all the new changes were placed in the subforum window. Couldn't we just put everything into the main forum and use that as the host for all of the subcategories/subforums, or is that not possible?

Stevie, you must realize that there are some things that the mods must discuss out of the public view. Part of this is not only amongst the 4 DSM mods, but amongst any other Global mods who may come this way with questions regarding members based in the DSM area. Trust me when I tell you that this is for the betterment of everything. No, there is not some huge segregation between regular members and mods. We just needed a place we could post notes and questions to each other and any other passing mods to see because we don't all talk outside of AF. Sure some members and mods and such may talk on the phone or via AIM or MSN, but not everybody has time for that method of communication and so we throw this section in there for a quick solution to those needs of the mods...

Personally, I think this place has came a long way since the days of Jake and Joewagon. Not saying we are better mods by any means, but the organization is 1000 times of what it was then. Also, we have cut back drastic amounts on the flaming compared to what it was in those days... Of course I see it coming back stronger than what it has been and I would like to cut down on it...

My thoughts on the "Bolt on's" subforum; we needed a separate area for these things as they are not actually a part of your standard motor, tranny, or drivetrain. Hence the separation. When you talk about DSMLink or an AFC, they are not part of the motor and some people may end up confused on the topic. Especially newbs. Now if you are discussing a crank or a headgasket, then we are talking motor related subject matter... See where I am going with this? Kind of?...

I think I may have confused myself a little bit there in my explaination of the difference... Oh well...

I like the new layout as it will drastically help with the organization. I am going to look into having the blank main forum removed completely if possible. If not, then we will make it a section for rules and notices...

I think that is all I wanted to say...

Part of this is not only amongst the 4 DSM mods, but amongst any other Global mods who may come this way with questions regarding members based in the DSM area. Trust me when I tell you that this is for the betterment of everything. No, there is not some huge segregation between regular members and mods. We just needed a place we could post notes and questions to each other and any other passing mods to see because we don't all talk outside of AF. ...

Well put, beats Pm'ing. :grinyes:

Forum looks good as I personally despise when threads get moved with half a page of redirects all over the place, as stated, it's fugly. :disappoin

You boys, could have chekced with us tho before you borrwed our layout :twak:

j/k, nice job guys, and congrats to your new mod. :thumbsup:

My thoughts on the "Bolt on's" subforum; we needed a separate area for these things as they are not actually a part of your standard motor, tranny, or drivetrain. Hence the separation. When you talk about DSMLink or an AFC, they are not part of the motor and some people may end up confused on the topic. Especially newbs. Now if you are discussing a crank or a headgasket, then we are talking motor related subject matter... See where I am going with this? Kind of?

I kind of understand where you're going with it, but I can also see it causing more confusion than not. I don't know about you, but I don't really consider DSMlink, afc, or shit like that bolt on parts. When I hear about bolt-ons, I think of intake/header/exhaust, etc. And I'm pretty sure that 99% of people will figure out that stuff that doesn't have an exact specific area will fit under a more general category. Link obviously isn't part of suspension/brakes, nor is it for exterior/wheels, and it fits pretty well under the engine technical, and I think most people can figure that out.

Maybe that's another rule to make. If you don't know exactly where a topic goes, put it under what you think it best fits. Obviously we can't have a "perfect forum", there will always be a little confusion on somethings just because it's the internet. And I think that if we start getting "too organized" that it will be almost a hassle to check 99 million different thread topics, and topics inside those topics, and posts inside those topics. Ya know?

I kind of understand where you're going with it, but I can also see it causing more confusion than not. I don't know about you, but I don't really consider DSMlink, afc, or shit like that bolt on parts. When I hear about bolt-ons, I think of intake/header/exhaust, etc. And I'm pretty sure that 99% of people will figure out that stuff that doesn't have an exact specific area will fit under a more general category. Link obviously isn't part of suspension/brakes, nor is it for exterior/wheels, and it fits pretty well under the engine technical, and I think most people can figure that out.

Maybe that's another rule to make. If you don't know exactly where a topic goes, put it under what you think it best fits. Obviously we can't have a "perfect forum", there will always be a little confusion on somethings just because it's the internet. And I think that if we start getting "too organized" that it will be almost a hassle to check 99 million different thread topics, and topics inside those topics, and posts inside those topics. Ya know?
Oh I understand. I know there is no such thing as a "perfect forum" because people are not perfect and a forum consists of people. :wink: lol

I donno what we'll do about the whole motor/bolt on controversy... I think maybe we will sit on the idea for a little bit and see how things go at first with the whole new setup. Maybe we will change it a little while down the road here. Like you said, it won't be perfect.

Honestly guys, almost all forums with open membership (and even private membership ie paying) and administrators have a hidden section for the admin/mods themselves. As stated above, it's not to hide anything, but just a place where the mods can post about what's going on, who's in trouble and why, and just give updates to other mods and admin about certain circumstances. When I was mod back at some programming forums, we had them and used them all the time. And if anyone is offended by having a hidden section, PMs and emails do the same thing.

I think this place has some potential. I agree though that some names need to be changed and just some small stuff. Well see how it turns out.

Looks nice. I like the organization better, should eliminate some misplace posting.

Also agree with the attitude thing, but you all know that, I've made a few threads about it :)

This is way too much to read, man my eyes hurt. Anywho, I for one liked our layout cause it wasn't like all the other forums. The DSM forum here stood out from the rest, it was unique. Now its like any other forum I go to.

As far as having more sections, the more moving parts something has, the higher the probability of something going wrong with one of those parts.
:2cents:

As far as having more sections, the more moving parts something has, the higher the probability of something going wrong with one of those parts.
:2cents:
Are you still drunk?

LOL, kinda....sorta....lol. Its good, just wanted to start an argument but no one bit. Oh well, seriously, its good layout IMO.

Are you still drunk?

I am. :D

The only thing I've noticed so far is that it takes forever for the forums to load :(

The only thing I've noticed so far is that it takes forever for the forums to load :(

I've noticed that too. It'll load the very top portion of the page, but it takes like 15 seconds for everything else to load, and sometimes it doesn't even load.

I dont like it, better the way it was

I think since change has happened , we should have something like a +1/-1 trading rating for the classifieds for sellers and buyers and such forth.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea, but that kinda change would have to be global not just in our dsm section. This would be left up to the site admins.

Good call! I have an idea... we could have a sticky in the top and for every good or bad transaction the buyer/seller could post how the experience was, then either Jason, Brian, or I could edit the first post with the member name and a buyer/seller rating. Each positive feedback would bring it up one, each negative would bring it down one. What do you guys think?

That sounds like a good idea. I know a few site who do that and it seems to work well

Good call! I have an idea... we could have a sticky in the top and for every good or bad transaction the buyer/seller could post how the experience was, then either Jason, Brian, or I could edit the first post with the member name and a buyer/seller rating. Each positive feedback would bring it up one, each negative would bring it down one. What do you guys think?

Yay , start with me since i'm the most recent transaction XD

Ha ha, how about your buyer starts it off. Check it out ya'll, I'll make a new sticky in there.

Lol..I guess that would have to be Dave first then Brian since he got the brake fluid res. bracket then Vanilla for my 14b and such forth =P and then Thor because I know he wants a 2g n/t shell sitting in his driveway...oh yeah..thats me..

:rofl: at 2g NT shell in my driveway. I'm trying to out of cars, not get another one, or a ghey 2g NT for that matter :p.

I suppose you could rate them as buyers though...

im sorry but all i hear is bla bla bla im a dirty tramp!

I might be a dirty tramp, but I am faster than you :D.

Ok, I'll stop whoring this thread.

I might be a dirty tramp, but I am faster than you :D.

Ok, I'll stop whoring this thread.

Holy shit! That was not me Dustin. I left my computer open at work and my buddy wrote that, LMFAO. He's like why did you write that and I was like What?

My bad, I'll take the hit.

joe shmoe thats was all you man u wrote that

joe shmoe thats was all you man u wrote that

You wrote that you dick wad.

Evo - Did you get the pm I sent you a few days ago? I haven't heard anything back

I think it's a great idea. I thought about suggesting that because alot of the other forums I'm on have a trader rating, but then I figured it'd have to be throughout all of AF, but we could still make a thread about it and stuff, that could work too.

Good guy/ bad guy sub-thread?

Good guy/ bad guy sub-thread?

LOL, I work in the same place with my buddy EvoMex. I left my computer up and posted up "blah, blah...":screwy: I was jsut trying to let Thor know that.