General mayhem and banter

[garyeanderson]

Hi Tim

Go and read the archives for an interesting evening (or maybe a winters worth of evenings). Seems like a waste just to come here just for the current banter and not explore the past. You have missed some of the best arguments, personal slams, and other good times, yep done my share and I regret these misunderstandings getting out of hand but sometimes you read only portions of what others are thinking/writing, sometimes its not what is said but the dead silence that happens. Shit happens when you start thinking of the proper line to drop. This is still world wide forum with many going member going DARK over time. Never sure why or when but they go without much of a goodbye and its only several months later that someone notices. Anyway, if you like the banter and you'll fit right in hear its not going to change but more will go dark as its still Lotuselan.net and that seems to be the reason folks come here, not the fine bunch of fellows you can go get drinks with.

This forum is STILL about the Elan and the Plus2 first and for most, what ever else you get out of it is up to you.

Gary

I'm on other forums too and one is well moderated, it works well when you know the rules. This forum doesn't need any stinking rules, only folks that know to respect everyone.

[Elanintheforest]

Couldn't agree with your sentiments more Tim. The relatively free-style un-moderated approach on LotusElan.net is very constructive, and I've learnt a huge amount from here over the past few years.

I have been on two forums which are over-moderated, where cars are not to be discussed in any detail in case 'secrets' are given away to the great unwashed. Moderators / committee members put such control on the discussions that life is just sucked out of the forum, and people don't discuss things for fear of being told off! It seems that these guys have lost the perspective of what an enthusiast club or forum is all about, and are maybe making up for their own inadequacies or lack of control and influence in the real world.

There are only two subjects that really get any air time on those forums. One, if somebody puts photos of their cars up, and everybody else says how nice it is. Two, excited discussion about the price of parts for their cars on eBay, but only if they have the parts and can gloat over the ludicrously high price they are going for.

I was banned from one of these forums for putting the Lotus Cortina Information website together, after trying to energise the forum with putting similar definitions, press photos etc in the closed part of the forum. Shortly afterwards, I was thrown out of the club, for continuing to uncover and share information on the Lotus Cortina on the website! The forum, which I have a look into from time to time with a chum's login, is virtually dead, and nobody dares to discuss anything of any substance....and the membership has reduced by over 50% in the past 10 years, rapidly approaching the membership numbers that make it non-viable.

My experience and excommunication is amusing looking back at it now, but it illustrates how destructive it can be to have ignorant individuals in a position of so-called power running forums / enthusiast clubs. Trying to control or curb any enthusiast's input and wanting to share information never works, as that energy will just transfer somewhere else and will probably join with similar energies and gain momentum. I have certainly met up with many excellent guys in the past year who have had a similar experience with this club, and now we are really motoring getting the information together that could have been done on the forum.

I am a moderator on another forum, and have never had to moderate. But the moderation there is just to ensure that nothing is said which could result in the owners of the forum be sued, which it never has been.

I really don't mind topics drifting, as often a new piece of information can be uncovered and the whole forum remain vibrant and dynamic. However, naming and shaming bad service, crap parts etc. can be a very dangerous game. Unfortunately, the customer, far from always being right, can be a complete tit and have totally unreasonable expectations of the part or service that he's procured, and of course, there are always two side to every story, and we would only get to hear the one.

Something that maybe being missed by some on this forum is that here in the UK, many of us know one another. Enevitably this leads to a rich banter, and sometimes comments that may look a bit harsh or rude on a forum of strangers, but are infact not meant or taken that way.
Mark

[garyeanderson]

Hi Mark

I used to be on that forum and got kicked off for not paying (for what?) for the privilege. I guess I am still a member in the useless section (I guess it all a useless) but never logged in again. Some of those folks have there heads up there bum so far its a wonder that they can breath.
I was wrong on that forum too, maybe its me!

Gary

[1964 S1]

Hi Mark,
Did Michael Palin write your reply?
Eric

[UAB807F]

pretty much what I think as well. (although I don't understand the reference to Katherine Jenkins, but I am relatively new here)

Just posting to add my support for the light moderation. I wonder if it's so easy going because the general age group is, err, more senior than a lot of other forums ?

Brian

[nebogipfel]

pretty much what I think as well. (although I don't understand the reference to Katherine Jenkins, but I am relatively new here)

Just posting to add my support for the light moderation. I wonder if it's so easy going because the general age group is, err, more senior than a lot of other forums ?

Brian

I must be having a senior moment, I don't remember writing that?

[UAB807F]

I must be having a senior moment, I don't remember writing that?

just goes to show, you can never trust these new-fangled computer thingies....

[ardee_selby]

pretty much what I think as well. (although I don't understand the reference to Katherine Jenkins, but I am relatively new here)

Just posting to add my support for the light moderation. I wonder if it's so easy going because the general age group is, err, more senior than a lot of other forums ?

Brian

I must be having a senior moment, I don't remember writing that?

One thing that caught my eye from Daves' thread on the 101 year old lady. (I assume it was a bumper sticker... )

(free-parking-f19/she-101-but-just-like-t24051.html)

Cheers - Richard

[ardee_selby]

<snip> It seems that these guys have lost the perspective of what an enthusiast club or forum is all about, and are maybe making up for their own inadequacies or lack of control and influence in the real world......ignorant individuals in a position of so-called power running forums / enthusiast clubs. Mark

God save us from the "Martin Bryce" (Ever Decreasing Circles) types of this world!

Cheers - Richard

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY836Tgl ... re=related)

[bcmc33]

This is the only forum I belong to, and have always been comfortable with the content, spats and banter.
I come from an engineering background where piss-taking was an art form, and as a young engineer quickly learnt that when someone said something funny about you, you laughed as loud as the rest ? it gives you time to think of a reply. If you can?t take it ? you shouldn't give it.

I can?t say I disagree with anything said so far on this thread ? in fact, I agree with everything said so far.

I have to admit that I?d no idea that other forums are not as friendly and open as elan.net, but do find other forums as useful sources of information on different subjects. For example; I?ve just printed off a 92 page copy of the building regulations for fitting a wood burning stove in a house (UK only). No, no, I never wander off the subject.

[69S4]

I really don't mind topics drifting, as often a new piece of information can be uncovered

Brian, you don't have a link to the wood burning stove regulations site do you? We've been looking to put one in and keep getting conflicting information about what needs to be changed, built etc in the house.


Back on the topic ( ) I belong to maybe half a dozen forums covering a number of areas I have an interest in. All of them, this one included, have light moderation and a "friendly feel" to them. By that I mean very little conflict between the active participants - you're not going to get someone threatening to come round and sort you out because you've referred to the "baby" Elan (I hope not anyway ).

Banter, piss-taking etc is no problem and I'm happy with that, hopefully giving as good as I get. Downright aggression has me leaving and not returning and is something the moderators should pick up on straight away. On another site I visit, but don't contribute to, one particularly opinionated member has the signature line "I could agree with you but then we'd both be wrong" Recently another member there changed his to "I could agree with you but then I wouldn't get the foul mouthed abusive emails sent to my family pc" . That's why I don't contribute.

[bcmc33]

I really don't mind topics drifting, as often a new piece of information can be uncovered

Brian, you don't have a link to the wood burning stove regulations site do you? We've been looking to put one in and keep getting conflicting information about what needs to be changed, built etc in the house.

OK, Stuart, I'll PM you the information I have.

[sprinter55]

Dear Brian/UAB807F

It was great to read of your Loti experiences in your old website...I was also in the ICI organisation but unlike you I have not had the opportunity to move on to fresh pastures i.e Lincolnshire....were you not tempted with the flatlands of Norfolk to breath the Chapman air ??

As a new member I totally agree that the spirit of the site is great and the content legendary, having received the response 'archives my dear boy archives' early on, I felt I had truelly arrived in the family !!

One point I would ask, is that reference is often made to 'other forums' without any hint of detail ?? While I am happy to forego 'hairdresser tips', the other sites of lotus content would be very interesting to know about !!!

Is their some unwritten rule not to detail other forums ????.....do I need to go to the archives to find a tale of dirty deeds ???

Terry

[UAB807F]

Dear Brian/UAB807F

It was great to read of your Loti experiences in your old website...I was also in the ICI organisation but unlike you I have not had the opportunity to move on to fresh pastures i.e Lincolnshire....were you not tempted with the flatlands of Norfolk to breath the Chapman air ??
Terry

Hi Terry, thanks for the encouraging words, I really must get around to sorting out an update and a spell-checking session. I'm sure that everyone else has had similar encounters, it's only afterwards when you look back that you realise just how much work you've gone through to keep things moving along.

Strangely enough, Norfolk was on our list as well. We used to do a lot of camping holidays split between "hills" and "beaches" and our favourite "beaches" was on your coastline, we'd normally have a few days down there every year. Settling here was one of those flukes that felt right at the time, we just saw the village and said "this is it". Odd, but there you go; we have a Lotus, we can't be considered logical.....

Brian

[Orsom Weels]

we have a Lotus, we can't be considered logical.....

Brian

Sir, I must dispute this statement, after all, what could be MORE logical than owning, or even a desire to own, one of the most fantastic marques in the world

Also, just for the records, Norfolk is not flat, we even have our own mountain rescue team
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6550356500
You can even get a tee shirt
http://teemarto.crehosting.com/product_ ... cts_id=274


All the best, Tim