Over the last few weeks a number of both constructive and genuine Threads have been started on the Club Cobra Forum. Many have been hi jacked and some shut down - closed by Moderators - due to personal attacks.
As a pseudo Moderator, I have spoken to the main USA forum Moderators regarding these Threads and in particular the way some Forum members have behaved or are behaving when Posting.
Put simply, if you don't have something positive to offer don't get on this Forum.
If you insist on being, negative, critical or litigious you will be off the Forum.
Everyone needs to be cognisant that this is a public forum. Your comments, Posts or more recently personal attacks are out in the greater public arena.
Attacks on individuals, businesses or general non constructive and silly comments are not appropriate...
I would strongly suggest that you all read the Forum Rules if you are in doubt about starting a Thread or Posting.
The ongoing success of the Australian Forum will be the bringing back 'to the fold' the many Australian members - including me - whom have stayed off the Forum. ..
I think this exodus has been mainly due to a few users whom have agendas, axes to grind, one off Posts about everything and anything in a non constructive way.
The greater Australian Forum community are not interested in your agendas. If you feel you have a legitimate claim against a business then mediate or litigate but don't use this Forum.
Similiarly if you don't like another member have the balls to say that to their face or shut up. But again stay off the Forum if you feel you need to publicly attack a business or member.
Whilst the Threads or Posts may be a good read, we sit back and watch and have a laugh it's un Australian to do this at the benefit of others and I know we are better than this.
.. Again, if you think you are Posting outside the Forum guidelines read the rules before you Post. Importantly ask yourself if you would be prepared to say this to someone's face. Or would you like your comments screen shot and handed up in a court if it got to that level.
I want to see the Forum return to where it was a few years back where we all talked about the fun we were having in our cars, sharing of our Cobra builds, questions asked and answered.
As the tennis great Laver said, " the ball is in your court"....
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR Coupe, 416ci of LS goodness
Posts: 2,349
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Well said Burnie, but I think the one thing that makes the Aussie forum a fun place to be is the banter and carry on that give us all a laugh.
I for one have made comments on here that I have thought later where not really appropriate and do genuinely regret if I have upset anyone in he past.
Let's drop the toxic nature of late and get back to the build threads and **** stirring we all love.
Gav
I like the banter like Gav does too. I'm also firmly of the belief that I wouldn't post anything on the forum that I wouldn't say to them in person.
Unfortunately the nature of the written word is such that the emotion intended by the writer does not always come across to the reader. Unless you are a real wordsmith lt's often reliant on how well you know the writer to guess at their intention. Often the mood of the reader can influence how the message is interpreted. You may have been laughing to yourself when writing a message but if the reader on the other end has had a crappy day at work and the cat's just vomited in his slippers he might not see the funny side of what you've said.
I think that's one of the skills a good novelist has: Being able to portray the emotion behind the words to the reader.
So if you write something perhaps hold off on pressing the post button till you've read it back to yourself and think about the other ways it could be interpreted.
A lot of us have been on here a long time and have met at events and become friends. We get to be familiar with each others ways and sense of humor. A new member reading for the first time may not pick this up immediately. So me stiring Gav up about his Bunnings paint job or Andrew about his gay helmet with a star on it may be taken as insulting. I think we also need to remember when posting to new members that they aren't familiar with us so ease up until they get to know us. I wonder how many newbies we scare off sometimes.
I do miss being an active part of this forum, so while the behavior card is now pulled out I would like to offer my own personal thoughts as to why this forum is in the state it is.
This toxic nature has grown for a reason and you need to look at both sides of the coin. I feel it has lost its own identity as a forum for all cobra makes and models. Now it just seams to be so focused on Absolute Pace and the need to squash any negatively or to blindly promote this brand. Their seams to be a lot of pseudo advocates of the Pace brand with obvious affiliations or deals that make the comments obviously contrived.
It almost feels as rebellious or good sport to have a go.
I do think Absolute Pace and Craig are doing the best they can and would go as far to say that they may have saved the Cobra kit car community with there innovative and up to date products.
Maybe a little of horse before the cart but it is what it is.
I just wish that the "Absolute Pace Business" was not on the forums and taken back internally and sorted.
We use to be ab;e to have a light hearted dig at things in the past and have a good laugh now words like "litigious" are being used.........?????WTF
Simply take the business out of the forum that what I see is the problem.
Cobra Make, Engine: absolute pace chassis #50 L98 & 6 speed auto
Posts: 1,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Philm
I do miss being an active part of this forum, so while the behavior card is now pulled out I would like to offer my own personal thoughts as to why this forum is in the state it is.
This toxic nature has grown for a reason and you need to look at both sides of the coin. I feel it has lost its own identity as a forum for all cobra makes and models. Now it just seams to be so focused on Absolute Pace and the need to squash any negatively or to blindly promote this brand. Their seams to be a lot of pseudo advocates of the Pace brand with obvious affiliations or deals that make the comments obviously contrived.
It almost feels as rebellious or good sport to have a go.
I do think Absolute Pace and Craig are doing the best they can and would go as far to say that they may have saved the Cobra kit car community with there innovative and up to date products.
Maybe a little of horse before the cart but it is what it is.
I just wish that the "Absolute Pace Business" was not on the forums and taken back internally and sorted.
We use to be ab;e to have a light hearted dig at things in the past and have a good laugh now words like "litigious" are being used.........?????WTF
Simply take the business out of the forum that what I see is the problem.
you may have a good point there phil and you are correct there are a lot of post that are absolute pace related but since they have come into play how many people have come and started a build lately with another brand of kit ie g force ff5 harrison ect ect ect not many at all so i guess a lot of the talk will be about the pace weather you love or hate the concept of the car.
i for one have been guilty for firing back if i feel someone is having a shot at me or my car and thats something im trying to not let get too me hell after all it's just a bloody car for gods sake .
i love the light hearted banter and the aussie humor that so many other countries just dont understand how we can rip into each other while drinking a beer lol
so upwards and on woulds as they say
cheers dean
I'm back on the forum after a lengthy absence and really appreciate the community and support it creates.I get where you are coming from on behaviour.
But is there a legitimate place / thread / space for us to "call-out" dodgy operators to save members getting burned?
Surely that's a good thing and supports new members?
Having been burnt and looked into suing a dodgy operator I can tell you it's not cut and dry. If you do win they will often just declare bankruptcy and in the mean time have ripped-off some more unsuspecting Cobra owners.
One of the greatest challenges of Cobra ownership is finding the best people to work on your car.
If members only post facts / reviews they would be prepared to say in court / face-to-face surely this would be helpful.
I watched the forum for a year before starting the dream..... a member review of suppliers would have saved me a small fortune and heap of time.
That's a good place for it Glen. Please air issues there if you feel the need but lets leave that stuff off the Oz Forum.
I'd also suggest maybe if JAMO could start a new forum space for the ABSOLUTE PACE Brand just like Backdraft and Kirkham etc have. Might dilute some of the content a little but still gives anyone keen to see and read it an outlet to do so without it dominating the Australian Forum. Doesn't mean no AP on the Oz forum..it just means a little more balanced content. Plus as a potentially international brand perhaps it would be of greater benefit there anyway? Best of both worlds.
It'd be great to see all the old crew sitting quietly behind the sidelines now come back on line and give the input and advice they used to give. Helped me no end.
It'd also be great to see build threads or run suggestions dominate the dialogue with comments and suggestions rather than these threads getting little interest before being hijacked and descending into the usual angst and diatribe that continues to dominate.
May Bernies sticky bring a new direction and change or at least take us back to the good old days. Peace.
Bernie - if this is a sticky now, how about you change the topic emoticon from a frown to a smile? Opening the Aussie page to find a frown as the first post isn't perhaps in keeping with the relaxed and casual mindset we are all hoping for.
Actually, I'd love for the whole smilie emoticon thing to die a death to ensure that proper consideration is given to the written word. Maybe I'm just not hipster enough to interpret the subtle variances between a frown/shrug/roll eyes.
That's a good place for it Glen. Please air issues there if you feel the need but lets leave that stuff off the Oz Forum.
I'd also suggest maybe if JAMO could start a new forum space for the ABSOLUTE PACE Brand just like Backdraft and Kirkham etc have. Might dilute some of the content a little but still gives anyone keen to see and read it an outlet to do so without it dominating the Australian Forum. Doesn't mean no AP on the Oz forum..it just means a little more balanced content. Plus as a potentially international brand perhaps it would be of greater benefit there anyway? Best of both worlds.
It'd be great to see all the old crew sitting quietly behind the sidelines now come back on line and give the input and advice they used to give. Helped me no end.
It'd also be great to see build threads or run suggestions dominate the dialogue with comments and suggestions rather than these threads getting little interest before being hijacked and descending into the usual angst and diatribe that continues to dominate.
May Bernies sticky bring a new direction and change or at least take us back to the good old days. Peace.
They already have their own forum section, thats what the post that started all of this was referring too.
I believe that's a social group isn't it? What I was suggesting moreso was having AP as a listed manufacturer forum. That way the oz forum stays as a club forum for Aussies for all brands of cobra owner including AP but we also have an AP specific manufacturers forum which can be for all things specifically AP. Looks like JAMO has already suggested this idea though.