Forum elections..

[Neilp]

This did turn into me against the team.

 

perhaps because the way you posts came across about the way the forum is being run. Which by many many views is being run very well and is 'quoted by members' one of the best forums they've been on. Not fix something that aint broken

Alot of these opinion I have put across have reflected that I think the forum is well run but I think things could better it and the opportunities don't rise.

 

With regards to sarnies idea, I think it's a great idea! If he was a team member it would have went through but he's not and it didn't.

 

I'm a natural people leader. I don't like to be a follower as I'm not wired that way. I like to keep people on their toes and exploring new ventures and ideas. If nobody did then we wouldn't have came from cave men to driving production cars which will beat a flying bus on runway.

[Neilp]

This did turn into me against the team.

 

perhaps because the way you posts came across about the way the forum is being run. Which by many many views is being run very well and is 'quoted by members' one of the best forums they've been on. Not fix something that aint broken

Personally I think I put the shitters up some of the team and that's why their opinions were voiced so loudly.

[Beavis]

Personally I think I put the shitters up some of the team and that's why their opinions were voiced so loudly.

 

 

[Stew]

The team is open to ideas, hence their is a 'site suggestions and feedback' section. Nearly every suggestion in there gets discussed by the team privately and feasibility and compatibility are checked. Sometimes a standard forum mod won't work with other customisation work that's been carried out already. Sometimes it's just not feasible due to other issues.

 

Sometimes the idea is sh1te and gets binned straight away.

[Stew]

This did turn into me against the team.

 

perhaps because the way you posts came across about the way the forum is being run. Which by many many views is being run very well and is 'quoted by members' one of the best forums they've been on. Not fix something that aint broken

Personally I think I put the shitters up some of the team and that's why their opinions were voiced so loudly.

 

 

 

 

Neil, I'll happily step down from being a moderator if the users think I don't bring enough to the club. I'd also happily put myself up against others in an 'election' if that's what was wanted.

I think most would be surprised at what we actually do behind the scenes.

[Sarnie]

Hadn't noticed that, good point. Again though, and for fear of repetition, I'm not referring just to that one single poll but the idea that any popular poll on here should be acted on. I'm sure some famous person at some point must've said something along the lines of "The people have no idea what they want or what's good for them!"

 

I agree also, to an extent. As I mentioned earlier I don't think people want to take over the forum and undo all the good work that has taken place in the preceeding six years. But that thread serves to illustrate that there are things out there that could add value to the site, that currently don't get considered because they are not part of the team.

 

I think it would be a good thing to allow people to feel like they could make a difference to the site. Why not just create an extra position for a mod to be elected from the members chosen by the members, if they **** it up or don't do what they said they would, kick them out. I think what you would find that if there was some sort of 'election' say every 12 months or so for one person to be added to the team then you might get four or five people who wanted to do it. Those people would know that they are going to have to win peoples votes over the 12 months so you'd probably find that they became very positive and productive members in that time by orgainising meets, helping newbies, drive outs and competitions etc etc. All of which the site and its membership would benefit from. Whats the worst that could happen?

 

Nothing ventured nothing gained and all that.

[Neilp]

Hadn't noticed that, good point. Again though, and for fear of repetition, I'm not referring just to that one single poll but the idea that any popular poll on here should be acted on. I'm sure some famous person at some point must've said something along the lines of "The people have no idea what they want or what's good for them!"

 

I agree also, to an extent. As I mentioned earlier I don't think people want to take over the forum and undo all the good work that has taken place in the preceeding six years. But that thread serves to illustrate that there are things out there that could add value to the site, that currently don't get considered because they are not part of the team.

 

I think it would be a good thing to allow people to feel like they could make a difference to the site. Why not just create an extra position for a mod to be elected from the members chosen by the members, if they **** it up or don't do what they said they would, kick them out. I think what you would find that if there was some sort of 'election' say every 12 months or so for one person to be added to the team then you might get four or five people who wanted to do it. Those people would know that they are going to have to win peoples votes over the 12 months so you'd probably find that they became very positive and productive members in that time by orgainising meets, helping newbies, drive outs and competitions etc etc. All of which the site and its membership would benefit from. Whats the worst that could happen?

 

Nothing ventured nothing gained and all that.

I like this

[Neilp]

This did turn into me against the team.

 

perhaps because the way you posts came across about the way the forum is being run. Which by many many views is being run very well and is 'quoted by members' one of the best forums they've been on. Not fix something that aint broken

Personally I think I put the shitters up some of the team and that's why their opinions were voiced so loudly.

 

 

 

 

Neil, I'll happily step down from being a moderator if the users think I don't bring enough to the club. I'd also happily put myself up against others in an 'election' if that's what was wanted.

I think most would be surprised at what we actually do behind the scenes.

I like the approach you have to being open to be judged and stand down if people don't think you're doing the position justice. My point is that all moderators should be open to this but as such times people have no say.

 

Things may not change but things may change, although things are already good, for the better with this approach.

[Chris`I]

Heres an offer for you then if want a social plugin for the site. Given we cant afford the time to do it personally, how about you all chip in and we get a pro web developer on contract to do the work for us? Shouldnt cost more than £200/day for a week or so. So get £1000-£2000 together and lets get it done. FWIW, if you want to pay me to do it, my current market rate is 2-3x that of a web developer, and I dread to think if I billed the club for the work how many thousands it would run into for the work myself and the other members of the team have put in.

 

The social plugin was looked at by the team, and deemed that the ROI on it, plus the fact that it might just outright break or slow down the site, was just not worth it for what we gain. All mods to the site put extra strain on the server. At some point we need to beef up the hardware to cope. This costs us more to keep it running. So would you rather a new social plugin or nice things like free BBQs at Wales?

[Wasso]

You know what I'm going to say Chris

 

[rtbiscuit]

but if some people become a moderator the team would have to go and delete all their back room chatter about said person

 

that rules out people like me, husky, sarnie, neilp etc

 

i'm guessing i must have at least 1 thread with my name on back there

[Stew]

but if some people become a moderator the team would have to go and delete all their back room chatter about said person

 

that rules out people like me, husky, sarnie, neilp etc

 

i'm guessing i must have at least 1 thread with my name on back there

 

 

That would all be deleted before access was gained.....

 

Believe me, it would have been a mammoth task to clean up for me arriving!

[Neilp]

Heres an offer for you then if want a social plugin for the site. Given we cant afford the time to do it personally, how about you all chip in and we get a pro web developer on contract to do the work for us? Shouldnt cost more than £200/day for a week or so. So get £1000-£2000 together and lets get it done. FWIW, if you want to pay me to do it, my current market rate is 2-3x that of a web developer, and I dread to think if I billed the club for the work how many thousands it would run into for the work myself and the other members of the team have put in.

 

The social plugin was looked at by the team, and deemed that the ROI on it, plus the fact that it might just outright break or slow down the site, was just not worth it for what we gain. All mods to the site put extra strain on the server. At some point we need to beef up the hardware to cope. This costs us more to keep it running. So would you rather a new social plugin or nice things like free BBQs at Wales?

Octet will do it for free

[Neilp]

This did turn into me against the team.

 

perhaps because the way you posts came across about the way the forum is being run. Which by many many views is being run very well and is 'quoted by members' one of the best forums they've been on. Not fix something that aint broken

Personally I think I put the shitters up some of the team and that's why their opinions were voiced so loudly.

 

 

 

 

Neil, I'll happily step down from being a moderator if the users think I don't bring enough to the club. I'd also happily put myself up against others in an 'election' if that's what was wanted.

I think most would be surprised at what we actually do behind the scenes.

I like the approach you have to being open to be judged and stand down if people don't think you're doing the position justice. My point is that all moderators should be open to this but as such times people have no say.

 

Things may not change but things may change, although things are already good, for the better with this approach.

So other team members what's your thoughts on what stews said? I see lots of team members reading but not posting up.

[Neilp]

[martinmac]

I am too busy writing envelopes, sorry.

[Sarnie]

Heres an offer for you then if want a social plugin for the site. Given we cant afford the time to do it personally, how about you all chip in and we get a pro web developer on contract to do the work for us? Shouldnt cost more than £200/day for a week or so. So get £1000-£2000 together and lets get it done. FWIW, if you want to pay me to do it, my current market rate is 2-3x that of a web developer, and I dread to think if I billed the club for the work how many thousands it would run into for the work myself and the other members of the team have put in.

 

The social plugin was looked at by the team, and deemed that the ROI on it, plus the fact that it might just outright break or slow down the site, was just not worth it for what we gain. All mods to the site put extra strain on the server. At some point we need to beef up the hardware to cope. This costs us more to keep it running. So would you rather a new social plugin or nice things like free BBQs at Wales?

 

I'm sure there are plenty of IT techy types on here who would chip in and help get it done

 

PS: I don't go to Wales so I want the social plug in

[Ebized]

I'm concentrating my efforts on moderating the rest of the forum, including this thread, and in between doing a million and one things for the Wales weekend and encouraging forum support to a very worthy cause:

 

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=61076

 

So sorry if you were expecting something more from me on here but other priorities prevail and at the end of the day I'm happy to go along with whatever is decided.

 

Oh, and I do have day job BTW

[rtbiscuit]

i don't go to wales either, can i have free beer tokens?

[Vik54]

I think there are plenty of valid suggestions being made here

However what is still not being properly recognised here is that this is a FREE forum.

To do half of what is being asked will require extra funds.

I would assume that most of us who are only here and not on NS choose to be here for that reason amongst others. We have all witnessed the popularity contests that 'elections' degenerate into on other forums. Which in turn is then mirrored by attendance at meets - those outwith certain cliques end up avoiding meets like the plague.

There is no doubt that with the amount of traffic we require more mods and admin - but this does not require anyone 'stepping down' or being 'voted on' -all this can possibly do is highlight the cliques even more - the meritocracy that exists for nominating mods and admin is more than adequate.

If people feel they have the tech skills to be admin or the social skills required to be a mod they should contact the team and ask if they are needed

[Builder49]

I'm new here but happy to voice my opinion, all be it being based on very limited knowledge and of the history of the forum!

 

The system obviously works, and works well. I can't see any point in changing things, possiblly for the worse.

I can however see that new ideas should be brought to the table and considered.

As we dont all know how the site works, we obviously don't know the possible financial or logistical problems in carrying out these requests. Maybe if an idea is put forward or someone feels a certain person can bring something to the table, then after due consideration by the team, their results should be published? People have a democratic right to suggest, congratulate or complain, but if something is going to start costing severe money to undertake, do we really want to go down the route of charging to cover the cost?

I for one am good at my job and run a fairly successful company, but have no knowledge what-so-ever of the internal combustion engine. As such, without the advice that can be freely obtained from this site, from the host of helpful members on it, I would maybe never have bought the fantastic car I now drive.

If we had to pay to pick up the snippets of information we glean off her, how many people would stop being members. And if that were the case the site would be a far less interesting place, because even idiots like me can be helpful on some 'off topic' conversations.

 

Bring your ideas forward, let the team decide, then if they think it's viable put it to the vote..

 

The other thing is, if someone keeps coming up with good ides and help, surely they will get noticed as a potential member of the team anyway? Seems to my limited experience that this has whats been happening anyway..

 

Hope my ramblings prove that some of us readers are happy to contribute, even if we do talk pish!!!

 

Paul

[martinmac]

Nice post Paul.

[rtbiscuit]

S2K.com is a very good example of using paid membership. you can access all of the forum for free i.e. the info parts etc and all the stuff that people come on a forum for.

 

but for those who are a paid member get extra benfits i.e. they can put up for sales ad's (non paying members can buy but not sell) there is also a members only section where only paid members can access. also there are emails inviting members to events like track days and airfield days. paid members get first dibs and a 10% discount. then after a week its opened up to the rest of the club but without the discount. paid members also get a discount with the traders over non paying members.

 

this does mean they have AGM, the finances and expenditure is posted up each year. they then also have the capital to pay for top notch server and hosting and also have etc IT support. but you have to remember their 1 club incorporates all the s2000 owners from around the world, it is a huge club and people post in their own regional section but when it comes for searching for info. its like being able to browse here, NS, my350Z and every other zed club all at the same time.

 

so you actually paid double membership, i paid to join the club and to also join the regional club i.e.S2KUK think it was a grand total of £25 all in. which is a snip compared to the £55 i spend to be a member over on EXEC.co.uk the XKR forum. but then they get quarterly magazine, specialist tool hire etc. but thats locked tighter than a gnats bum. all technical info is hidden unless you pay up.

[Neilp]

Paul I don't disagree with everything you have said but hang around a couple of years like the majority of people posting on here have and then decide. All this is new to you which is interesting. The rest of us have been hanging around here like a bad smell quite a few years which is why we see opportunities for improvement.

 

So far we have stew and ebized who are willing, if it's the way this goes, to put themselves up and listen to what the want and think. Very amicable approach by you both

 

 

Any other takers?

[Beavis]

More than happy to stand down as a moderator (again ) in a heartbeat if the forum admin ask me too. I will miss the 80k annual salary and all the perks that come with the job like approving posts in the middle of the night (when on night shifts) whilst most of you are asleep but heyho thats life.

 

But it seems like your on a bit of a mission with this Neil, so good luck with the outcome your after? I am happy either way.

 

Oh and just one reminder you have only been here since 2009, some of us have been here another three to three and a half years before you arrived.