To that effect:
Let’s list the reasons we think posts should be removed. I’ll go first!
- Not staying on topic. You know, discussing post removals instead of tire legislation.
Only two reasons I feel flagging or removal is warranted:
- Foul language
- Personal attacks; bullying or derogatory remarks
In addition to the reasons listed above, I will add the following:
3. Obvious spam
4. Obvious double identities, such as the “Boston limo company owner” who also masqueraded as a mechanic providing advice to the limo company owner. He/she wound-up talking to himself/herself because they couldn’t keep their identities straight.
I’ll add the occasional (obvious) spam shilling for a product or website.
Behold these two … I mean three, three commandments
Only two?
Nearly every thread has been hijacked to discuss personal experiences from the distant past.
Whitewall tires and low tire pressure in Manila do not belong in a discussion about the future tire regulations in California.
So far this year, 5 threads have been turned into Studebaker discussions. No wonder why people no longer seek help on this forum.
Just my take. You are sitting with a few folks having coffee. The place is empty with no customers. Someone brings up a subject. And as cinersations go, they tend to wander a little. The guy with th3 pot belly says that wasn’t what we were talking about. Half the folks just leave and pay their bill leaving the fat guy a a couple others to talk to themselves.
Now do you want sterile or a robust conversation. You don’t hav3 to read things you don’t like, but I get the click. As said in animal house, some animals are more equal than other. I have been sworn at, pigeon holed, etc. with nary a response from a moderator or other members. Then a couple others are hounded into leaving. All you have to do is look at some old discussions to see what has been lost.
If someone wants to veer off topic with their own personal anecdote, they should create their own topic in the General Discussion category.
Not staying on topic becomes very annoying, pollutes the forum with noise, and drives people away.
Flagging may be harsh, but if it’s needed to keep the discussions on topic, it’s 100% worth it.
The hard part is there is no generally accepted boundary line for when a discussion goes off topic.
Yeah that’s pretty hard to discern.. under the broad heading of tire, but more narrowly, s proposed rule on rolling resistance, we veered off to criticize folks who buy the lowest cost. I mentioned my dad’s purchase because he was interested in both price and quality. Then we had a couple posts on corvette tires. I,wasn’t annoyed by any of it. Now if the subject was crazy things California is proposing, that could really open things up and may be annoying to some.
I think that personal attacks being offensive or abusive rank high on the list posts being removed.
Then there are Spams the appear as innocuous recommendations but aren’t and they rightfully should be removed…
As for straying off topic, I do not think this is much of a reason for Posts being Removed… Going off Topic is more a matter of “Stream of consciousness” where one thought brings up another thought and we go off on a tangent and some of these tangents are very interesting.
I admit, I am guilty of straying from the straight and narrow. I for one and I believe many other members read this site for more reasons than to just learn the “Correct Ignition Timing on a 1955 Chevrolet Belair, with a 327 Cubic Inch Engine, with a 4-Barrell Carburetor?”
As one of th off topic wanderers, something in a post will remind me of something in my past (which is so much longer than my future), and sometime is sparks memories in other old people. Sorry it offends some of you but that is what real life group face to face discussions go.. Tom and Ray were immensely guilty of this.
Well oldtimer, to make a long story short … !
You can almost guarantee any post with that phrase in it will get flagged faster than Han Solo’s Kessel run around here, and quite possibly get taken down.
There are plenty of threads for that, open discussions about car ads from the 1950’s for example. But when someone asks a specific question or starts a technical discussion, it often gets derailed before the 5th reply. And it is the same old stories over and over again. After 20 off-topic replies, on topic participation is a waste of time.
In the OP’s thread, the two most frequent respondents replied 20 times, low rolling resistance tires was briefly mentioned one time.
If forum members can’t show some respect for the original posters, they won’t return.
To avoid answering a question? They did get around to answering the caller’s question. On this forum people interrupt discussions to announce they cleaned their garage or set their clocks to Central Standard Time. That story about what their neighbor did in 1965 might be interesting but don’t forget to respond to the topic before leaving.
Another candidate for understatement of the year. I don’t normally click on sites but I can see no reason for the Youtube link or many that you seem to post.
As for what maybe flagging for invalid reasons I suspect a former active member who is now a Lurker.
I don’t know if non-members can flag posts on any moderated style forum. Only members can flag fellow members.
Well, Studebaker discussions I can understand however, straying off topic I can’t recall an OP responding by saying they’re leaving because of it. I have seen numerous instances of that happening when they were either berated, belittled or told to RTFM.
The people griping about off-topic discussions seem to be primarily a contingent of the “regulars”.
I’ll admit I am guilty of doing it. Maybe because I’ve been here long enough that I recall when it was just a bunch of people that liked cars, talking…
Let’s add the instance of a “regular” who apparently didn’t like Carolyn instructing him to stop appending all of his posts with a phrase that annoyed a lot of people.
Well this is car talk. Studebakers are cars. I understand they are not Toyotas but gee, they are cars. I don’t know what rtfm means but if it refers to some members taking the broomstick out of the part that flies over the fence last, I’m all for it. Lighten up a little. Some people have broader interests than spending all day at a repair shop or dealership.
It means… Read the F’ing manual.
He was likely using that phrase as a disclaimer so others wouldn’t take his perfectly fine and well presented advice as a personal attack or interpret it as being ‘preachy’.
(Disclaimer: Just my 0.02)