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[Peachy]

Quite right young man.
I agree with every word, so does that mean I can keep on posting jokes?
In my job I need them.
Go on James tell me I can, you miserable old git
Only joking sexy.
Oh and in uniform.
Peachy Heaven

Have you been smoking that stuff again Di? 

You should know, you nicked it from the police station for me

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I've followed this thread. I wasn't going to post on it - but thought I will share my views:


Bear in mind, these are MY OPINIONS ONLY, on how a few improvements MAY be made.



We have 8,225 users. Granted a large number of them are not all that active - but regardless, we still have a considerable number of members. These people will be from a range of backgrounds, upbringings, races and cultures. Frankly, this thread could be 5 pages, or 500 pages - no amount of discussion will ever make everyone share the same views, or allow everyone to live in harmony.

To this end - some only things that we, as a community can do, are:



A) Think before posting. We're ALL, without exception, guilty at some point of posting something we later either regret, or think we could have been much more tactful with.



B) On the flipside, If you read a post which offends you - again, stop and think for a minute. Consider that the poster quite likely did not mean any offence. If, after sensible adult discussion, you cannot reach a solution, and you still want something done about the post you find offensive - tell a mod. They will look into it.



C) If you REALLY feel a post is inappropriate - do one of two things. Firstly - consider a POLITE PM to the poster. It may well be they weren't aware of the impact of their words. You may find they apologise, explain, and rectify. If not - take it up further.



D) Bear in mind, if you post something up the forum, you are INVITING opinions. If, as a result of this, someone posts a reply and perhaps disagrees, or is blunt in what they say - bear in mind that you asked for the replies. Unless someone is being offensive, accept people may not agree with you.



E) While I have no doubt the moderators invite and welcome people's opnions on all aspects of the forum - keep it in mind, that ultimately, their say (and decisions) are final.



F) If you notice someone breaking the rules - for example, postcount cirucmventers.. don't make lengthy threads / replies trying to point out the error of their ways in public. It just fuels the fire of discontent even more. Instead - consider a polite PM, and / or just leave it to the Mods.


Remember, sometimes it is better to let a small "offence" slip under the rug, than create a big fuss, and subsequently all the bad feeling / upset that follows.

I have, on a couple of occasions, seen new threads started by members, solely to alert certain people they've broken a "rule". My personal opinion, especially having seen the results, is that this isn't an acceptable or effective way of addressing such things - and would discourage anyone from doing this.


These are just a few things that have occured to me while thinking about the "situation" and some recent posts.

I don't claim to be a goody goody - I have personally made a number of of the mistakes I have advised against in this very post, as most of us probably have at some time.

But let's not dwell on matters passed... (indeed, that may also be part of the problem)... and try and move on  in the right direction, without any bad feeling 

Why does the number of members continue to increase.........when the number of Omega still on the road continues to decrease....day after day...Any ideas?.

[JamesV6CDX]

Quite right young man.
I agree with every word, so does that mean I can keep on posting jokes?
In my job I need them.
Go on James tell me I can, you miserable old git
Only joking sexy.
Oh and in uniform.
Peachy Heaven

Have you been smoking that stuff again Di? 

You should know, you nicked it from the police station for me

Damn.... that's my career down the pan 

[Peachy]

Quite right young man.
I agree with every word, so does that mean I can keep on posting jokes?
In my job I need them.
Go on James tell me I can, you miserable old git
Only joking sexy.
Oh and in uniform.
Peachy Heaven

Have you been smoking that stuff again Di? 

You should know, you nicked it from the police station for me

Damn.... that's my career down the pan 

I wish mine was, no only kidding. Just way to many miles.

[albitz]

I agree with everything James says. I would add that I get the impression that the problem isnt just racist jokes or people arguing with each other, but more the general tone and content of genchat which has alienated former regular users. Not trying to lecture anyone, I am probably as guilty as anyone else of contributing to the change in atmosphere.

[STMO999]

I find this all rather sad. Jaime threatening to kill the forum and everyone pontificating about how it should change and how they would have no life without it.

Hello.........it's a car forum.

To save me having to shout at anyone and causing grief, I'm off

[albitz]

Very sorry to see you go Steve. Imo you are the life and soul of genchat mate. I really hope you change your mind and come back.

[Peachy]

Very sorry to see you go Steve. Imo you are the life and soul of genchat mate. I really hope you change your mind and come back.

He'll be back. We all do. Including KW.
Watch these spaces.........

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Steve STMO has not really gone has he?...this is just a piss take surely.....

[JamesV6CDX]

Steve STMO has not really gone has he?...this is just a piss take surely.....

He did once before I believe..

[JamesV6CDX]

Hey, I did it too, I lost about 12,000 posts .... is surprising how much you can mellow in a couple of years  8-)

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Well I hope  he returns as he is one of the good guys in my opinion.......and like myself very courteous.....inoffensive and politically correct...I will PM the tosser to see what the problem is.

[Del Boy]

I find this all rather sad. Jaime threatening to kill the forum and everyone pontificating about how it should change and how they would have no life without it.

Hello.........it's a car forum.

To save me having to shout at anyone and causing grief, I'm off

Well said that man 

[miggy]

TB, I agree about old jokes etc, but we do seem to have become more PC /sensitive on the forum recently.I remember your avatar last year - "break off pikeys", I thought it was hilarious, but I doubt someone would be allowed to have that avatar now, someone would complain - offensive/racist against gypsies/ minorites etc.

Speaking as a moderator, rather than personally, the problem we have, seeing as the General Chat area seems to have turned into an area for tired, old, poor, lame, pointless, naff jokes.

I think we are at a real, critical tipping point now. Either OOF continues as the old, family friendly site, with that unique OOF 'spirit'. Or it degenerates into 'The Shed' from another site - getting away from that pointless mentality was precisely the reason OOF was set up.

Again, speaking as a moderator, OOF members need to decide where they want the future of the site to head towards, assuming OOF has a future.


Speaking personally, I think OOF is badly broken, the 'light touch' moderating that used to work so well has been almost abandonned due to an increasing number of members constantly pushing to see what they can get away with (like children  ), taking up an excessive amount of moderating time that the mods give up freely to ensure this place runs. I hope to have a face to face discussion with those attending the Lakes meet to canvas where the members want the future of OOF head. Or decide if OOF has a future.

You beat me to it....

I listen to inane drivel at work where tired old gollywog/chinky/paki/white honky etc etc type 'jokes' keep on being trotted out, despite most being older than the yoof telling them.

Yup, I'm a tired bored and boring old fart.  Yup, I enjoy a laugh and a giggle but like to have a sanctuary where such crap does not intervene.

If I wanted to re-re-re-re-read tired old jokes that were barely amusing in the days of Love thy Neighbour (not  ) then I would visit A.N.Other Vauxhall orientated web forum where just about anything goes - both content and language used.

Like TB says, the wheel has come off the bike on here big time and I seriously worry about the road OOF is heading, given the juvenile mindset of some of the most vociferous on here, despite subtle hints and nudges that such behaviour is not what its about......

Not that anyone is interested but that is exactly why i dont come on here as much, i can also say that is the reason why other members have faded away, it is a craking site and one of the best forums i have ever been on, the admins do a top job and work hard to keep it going (No i aint licking bottoms, just expressing a fact). Things are slipping slightly and it needs winding in a bit.   

[Del Boy]

TB, I agree about old jokes etc, but we do seem to have become more PC /sensitive on the forum recently.I remember your avatar last year - "break off pikeys", I thought it was hilarious, but I doubt someone would be allowed to have that avatar now, someone would complain - offensive/racist against gypsies/ minorites etc.

Speaking as a moderator, rather than personally, the problem we have, seeing as the General Chat area seems to have turned into an area for tired, old, poor, lame, pointless, naff jokes.

I think we are at a real, critical tipping point now. Either OOF continues as the old, family friendly site, with that unique OOF 'spirit'. Or it degenerates into 'The Shed' from another site - getting away from that pointless mentality was precisely the reason OOF was set up.

Again, speaking as a moderator, OOF members need to decide where they want the future of the site to head towards, assuming OOF has a future.


Speaking personally, I think OOF is badly broken, the 'light touch' moderating that used to work so well has been almost abandonned due to an increasing number of members constantly pushing to see what they can get away with (like children  ), taking up an excessive amount of moderating time that the mods give up freely to ensure this place runs. I hope to have a face to face discussion with those attending the Lakes meet to canvas where the members want the future of OOF head. Or decide if OOF has a future.

Now, it'll be a sad day if there isn't a future for OOF, but within the past 6 months everyone knows it deep down that OOF isn't half of what it used to be, and that is down too everyone on here myself included. There are so many differing opinions now, people who cannot take a joke, people who can't grasp the fact that others are going to have differing opinions. This isn't just a place you can come to now to have a good chat etc, I can't help but come on here and get stressed sometimes. This was a brilliant place to be, but it just isn't anymore. In fact that's as far as I'm going to go on this subject, I seriously think Steve has the right idea  :-/