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Author Topic: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!  (Read 1089 times)

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Offline JoeBob

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SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« on: March 22, 2019, 08:24:06 PM »

     It has been mentioned in passing by several people that we are getting loads of new members. It appears we are getting 2-5 every day. Nearly all of these new members post nothing. As far as I know, the only advantage a member holds over a nonmember is the ability to post. This whole site is accessible to everyone. If there is no desire to post, there should be no desire for membership.
    I'll admit I know nothing about online stuff. I think I saw a Facebook page once, when my wife wanted to show me a photo. Is it possible that there is some kind of competition to expand one's online footprint? Are there points issued for every online registration one generates?
     This doesn't sound like an interesting game, but my wife had some kind of online farm game once. She raised every kind of plant and animal known to man. After the real commodities were all done, she planted lollypop trees, cotton candy fields, and had herds of gummy bears. After that I'll believe anything.
      Does anyone have a clue what is really happening?


Bill
     
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Deuteronomy 7:9

Offline The Whistler

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2019, 11:11:35 PM »
So what are you trying to say Bob?
Turbo is a way of life

Offline dga57

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2019, 12:29:40 AM »
Strange as it may seem, more membership requests are rejected than approved nowadays.  Due to the increase in spammers, we no longer have automated approval like we once did.  Every sign-up is either approved or rejected by an Administrator.  There are many factors that "red flag" a sign-up including geographic location, unusual usernames or email addresses, offensive usernames or email addresses, etc.  As to why people sign up and then don't post, I don't have an answer but we definitely try not to turn any legitimate member away.  Occasionally, a perfectly legitimate-seeming member will turn out to be a spammer and, whenever that happens, they are dealt with swiftly and permanently.  Warnings are not issued; instead, the offending member is the subject of a total ban and their account is deleted.  This tactic has been relatively successful and most spam that has been posted in recent years tends to be in the Shout Box rather than in the forum threads themselves.  I personally spend several hours per day on the site, much of it during the overnight hours, and so am able to remove quite a bit of it before anyone sees it.  When something does slip through, it is dealt with as soon as humanly possible and I encourage members to report such posts or simply send me a PM. 


Thanks,
Dwayne :)
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2019, 12:21:46 PM »
Bill,

I would agree with you that it sure has a strange appearance. That said I believe we need to take Dwayne's statements at face value that there is someone at the helm of this ship. It is a bit of a mystery to me that Scott Hamilton owns the site but very, very rarely do I ever see him post. He's not required to obviously, but it is a bit like offering weekly parties but the host not attending.

There have been a few explanations offered as to why so few people post anymore. Facebook being the main reason. Arguments being another.  Sadly there was one individual that often seemed to wrangle the woman here. And that was unfortunate because I'm active on car sites far bigger than the PCCA and there are maybe "one to none" woman who post.  Here we had upwards of about five woman at one time. Also, the financial crisis seemed to redirect a lot of peoples attention. And while that was a while ago I think the "next one" looms in a lot of peoples minds.

Availability is yet another factor. The "Turbo Pinto" was a very popular subject 10+ years ago.  The availability of Turbo Coupe donor cars were plentiful. But I can surely account that withing six months to a year of my buying my Pinto (2007) I saw that donor source start to dry up.   Every trip to Pick A Part provided about five T/C's to source parts from. A couple of years later it was one to three and a few year past that it was one. I don't think in the past five years I've seen one Turbo Coupe in the yards. Thankfully I already had my donor car before I had my Pinto. But, it is a lot harder to have inspiration when availability is greatly diminished.

Staleness is a likely factor. Sometimes when it is the same people with the same issues and not adhering to wise advise given, those who offer such advise just grow weary of giving it. A number of people have personally expressed this to me.

One thing I do find here in a larger percentage are for lack of a better term "Dreamers."  They are people who want a Pinto, or own a Pinto in dire condition. They either lack the skills and/or money to accomplish their dreams. They sign up with the greatest of enthusiasm but lacking one or both of the necessities drift off into obscurity when confronted with the reality of classic car ownership. To their credit some who have had hardship still persist - but they are few.

I also think that life is cyclical. When I was a kid (mid 60's) slot car tracks popped up in just about every city. The places were packed. By the early 70's most were gone. Well they didn't stop making kids (and adults who wanted to be kids) so why the decline? It might be that like a stock that come roaring out when first offered it settles down to a realistic value. Maybe the Internet has cycled and what car websites have become are the norm and the past was an inflated bubble.  Whatever the reasons and causes those of us who remain just need to make the most of it.

Tom

Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2019, 01:51:20 PM »
There's nothing unusual happening. It was common even 20 years ago before blogging and social media existed.
I've registered on other forums before just to access content limited to registered users like files or post attachments.
'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.

Offline russosborne

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2019, 05:45:32 PM »
True. On lots of forums, guest can't see most of the forum. You tend to have to register to see if you really want to spend time there.
Many sites, guests can't even look at the for sale/wanted sections, never mind posting to them.
Russ
In Glendale, Arizona

RIP Casey, Mallory, Abby, and Sadie. We miss you.

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Offline blupinto

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2019, 08:30:02 PM »
I feel compelled to reply to some of the concerns here.
No, I haven't posted in quite a while. Why? Because when I genuinely needed advice or help, very few stepped up to lend a hand. It frustrates me. Lots f people help those who want to modify their cars, but almost no one wants to help someone who wants to keep their car stock. It's really discouraged me from asking here anymore... and that lead me to not come to the site like I used to. Then people go into politics- and yes, politics has an effect on our cars- but when someone has a difference of opinion on something political here, they get verbally attacked. There's enough of that on facebook.  Now, just because I haven't been on here in quite a while, it doesn't mean I shouldn't have the privilege of a membership or get to come on the site. I read about what's going on in the Pinto world... who got a new one... who passed away,... whatever.  I know the original post was about why so many membership requests all of a sudden, but don't discount those of us who have been here for years but don't post.
One can never have too many Pintos!

Offline dga57

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2019, 11:58:31 PM »
No one is discounting your years of participation and contributions here, Becky.  Always good to see you on the site, however infrequent that maybe.  Just know that you are ALWAYS welcome here!

Dwayne :)
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Offline The Whistler

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2019, 05:09:45 AM »
All of you have good points. Yes there is something  going on out there, what I do not know. I agree there is no reason to be here and not even say hello. I don't post much but I do post.
Turbo is a way of life

Offline SpaceCowboy1979

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2019, 09:54:06 PM »
I'm still trying to poast.
Gust learned how to text
Two years ago.
Any tips anyone
Using smart phone

Offline Wittsend

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2019, 02:55:29 PM »
" Because when I genuinely needed advice or help, very few stepped up to lend a hand. It frustrates me.  No, I haven't posted in quite a while. Why? Because when I genuinely needed advice or help, very few stepped up to lend a hand. It frustrates me. Lots (o)f people help those who want to modify their cars, but almost no one wants to help someone who wants to keep their car stock." 

I don't think it is a matter on not wanting to help. It is more a matter of experience or knowledge. True a lot of people here modify their Pinto's. They replace the factory part AND the way it is implemented. So, they are not necessarily going to be able to answer the posed question regarding a stock configuration. But, they likely aren't deliberately withholding information as the statement implies.

"Then people go into politics- ... . "

For the most part this place seems to have been rather political free. Most car sites restrict political discussion except as it regards vehicular laws that affect the hobby. But even there if a certain political party enacted a law affecting the hobby and someone complained about that party, people get offended.  It is hard to bring up laws that affect cars and not have the discussion go deeper.

 "Now, just because I haven't been on here in quite a while, it doesn't mean I shouldn't have the privilege of a membership or get to come on the site."

I don't think there was ever a restriction or that you were barred from the site.  It is confusing as to what is being posed by the above statement?

As I read what is posted it seems to regard people who were here five years ago and are now LONG GONE. When asking for free advice it should be without expectation that the advise will be provided. In many case people just don't know.  I've never had a problem with woman on car sites. In fact I was rather impress that given the small size of this site there were significantly more woman here than other (larger) sites I frequent.  If the site is to be beneficial it is time to move on from the past.

Offline dga57

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2019, 04:21:44 PM »
Many of the people on this site have been here for quite a while and there are quite a few whom I've actually met and gotten to know fairly well.  I do not believe anyone here would purposely withhold information or give misinformation .  As site activity has slowed tremendously over the past few years, our biggest asset has been our vast archive of technical information regarding Pintos, both stock and modified.  Help usually comes for any specific query, but sometimes it takes a while; we can't/don't offer the instant gratification of Facebook.  What we DO offer is a wealth of knowledge about these car.  I can only speculate as to why so many people sign up and then never post.  I can't help wondering if a token membership fee ($1.00 - 2.00) would deter some of those people?  I don't think it would be enough to deter anyone who is truly interested. 

I've belonged to a number of automotive forums over the years and this one is the least political one I've experienced, but that's not to say that political topics never come up.  The most ardent rabble-rousers seem to have fallen by the wayside in recent years.  

I have always been impressed by the female members of this site and their commitment to keeping their ponies on the road.  That's a bit of a rarity in the automotive world and I have NEVER taken them for granted.  

Dwayne :)
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Offline The Whistler

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2019, 10:22:30 PM »
" Because when I genuinely needed advice or help, very few stepped up to lend a hand. It frustrates me.  No, I haven't posted in quite a while. Why? Because when I genuinely needed advice or help, very few stepped up to lend a hand. It frustrates me. Lots (o)f people help those who want to modify their cars, but almost no one wants to help someone who wants to keep their car stock."

I don't think it is a matter on not wanting to help. It is more a matter of experience or knowledge. True a lot of people here modify their Pinto's. They replace the factory part AND the way it is implemented. So, they are not necessarily going to be able to answer the posed question regarding a stock configuration. But, they likely aren't deliberately withholding information as the statement implies.

"Then people go into politics- ... . "

For the most part this place seems to have been rather political free. Most car sites restrict political discussion except as it regards vehicular laws that affect the hobby. But even there if a certain political party enacted a law affecting the hobby and someone complained about that party, people get offended.  It is hard to bring up laws that affect cars and not have the discussion go deeper.

"Now, just because I haven't been on here in quite a while, it doesn't mean I shouldn't have the privilege of a membership or get to come on the site."

I don't think there was ever a restriction or that you were barred from the site.  It is confusing as to what is being posed by the above statement?

As I read what is posted it seems to regard people who were here five years ago and are now LONG GONE. When asking for free advice it should be without expectation that the advise will be provided. In many case people just don't know.  I've never had a problem with woman on car sites. In fact I was rather impress that given the small size of this site there were significantly more woman here than other (larger) sites I frequent.  If the site is to be beneficial it is time to move on from the past.

There could not have been a more positive message wrote!!!!!
Turbo is a way of life

Offline 71v8Pinto

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Re: SOMETHING GOOFY IS GOING ON!!!!!!
« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2019, 02:58:36 PM »
I think wittsend nailed it, I am a long time moderator on two gun forums and we see the same problems. It’s too bad, you meet some fun, really enthusiastic people with cool stuff and they either burn out or life gets in the way. Or, they have projects they haven’t counted the cost and get discouraged. Wish it wasn’t that way, but sometimes it is. I have a few real off the internet friends that I met on the forum and can’t hardly get them back on, and we text and hang out occasionally so I know they are out there doing the same stuff when they were posting.
71v8Pinto