I "belonged" to another board that took out their "General Conversation" threads. They had pretty much the same stuff we got here, but they rolled general conversation, (non-tech) religion and politics into the one forum. It wasn't really out of hand, and moderation wasn't too strict. The higher-ups wanted to get rid of the riff raff, and the pointless posts like "Who's the better pro-wrestler" and stuff like that. I tell ya, that website went downhill REAL fast. I could have done without the "pro-wrestler posts" but the other stuff being gone made for a pretty boring surf session.

 

 

It seems as though some are venting to me. I want you guys to know that you need to voice your opinions/wants/needs to the User feedback forum.

I don't want to see the GC, FvC, or PP close. I don't want to lose members, but people are working hard to figure out the best way to handle this. We have a lot of members, and we are only hearing from a select few.

 

Umm,,,

 

Most of these threads get deleted, I'm surprised that this one has lasted so long.

 

I think everyone that comes to this site enjoys taking their shoes off, and talking to each other without having to leave their home. We're all kind of friends, and I really like that. I think it's great to have the ability to ask 25+ people about everyday situations. It's almost like group support.

I could understand if someone came straight across and claimed they disliked someone. I think those opinions shouldn't be said. Otherwise, we post, because it's a subject that intrerests us.

For me, I'm a outgoing person. If someone I don't know sends me an instant message, I'll talk to them. Doesn't matter what it's about, just at least it doesn't offend me. Otherwise, I like to enjoy other people's company around the world.

I have nothing to hide.
It's Ken's site, he can do whatever he wants.

 

This thread has stayed open because everyone that has posted
hasn't said anything that's against the posting rules.
I am very interested in what everyone thinks about things.

 

Ditto what Dennis and Matt said.

We (moderators and admins) discussing this and trying to come up with a solution that allows discussion but doesn't drag down FTE.

On one note, I doubt Pig Pen being removed is going to impact site traffic. Post count for the day is still high and the number of new users per day is huge.

 

Well, I might as well say my peace too then
During the past few days, looking through the Pig Pen (I very seldom post there) have noticed the language/content go WAY up, and the personal attacks were getting out of hand. Many of the users were not following the Forum rules, and therefore, the Pig Pen got closed down. IMO - It should reopen, only if the users have a higher post counting, have "been around" the FTE for an amount of time determined from the Mod.'s, etc. something to that effect. The PP was getting out of control. Just look at all the posts that had to get locked towards "the end".

Just my .02

Mike

 

I used to frequent the Pig Pen fairly regular, but it got so you couldn't say a thing without getting flamed or called names. I posted there in topics that I felt safe in, but that was very few. The problem with talking politics or religion is the fact that perhaps 1 percent of the people doing the debating, MIGHT find reason to change their opinion, but the rest of the folks could go on and on forever and not change the other person's opinion no matter how hard they tried. For Heavens sake..look at the God is an impossibility thread. Has anyone's opinion changed...of the main folks beating that old horse to death? I don't think so... and I don't think that no matter how long that thread will continue, we have an issue with some atheists against some Christians and neither are going to change.

Then you get to the name calling and challenges of manhood ( so to speak). There's only anger and no debate...aka..a total waste of time and bandwidth, pushing people apart.

I am in hopes the GC stays with us..this is where I mainly post. I don't have that many mechanical issues to deal with...at least yet...knock on wood. I have found a great bunch of Ford people in here to talk with, share ideas, information and a few giggles with.

Yeah .. at times the Pen is kind of fun.. but all the fun is gone, when the anger gets the best of someone and then away goes the thread...zoom! off into a real mess. I used to like the gun control issues... bet even they got off into madness and anger, rather than adult debate.

We are a Ford family here. We were drawn to this site for that reason. Personally, I think we should chat in GC, leave our politics and religion somewhere else, get along as friends and to heck with our political affiliations.

If you guys decide to get rid of the Pen, as far as I am concerned , it wouldn't be a big issue to me personally. But I would probably not come here often at all if all there was was Ford Truck chat, period. GC has had some fun threads, some very informative ones and some that draw your heart and soul toward someone who posts and is very likable.

I hope all things are considered before any forum gets removed. Thanks for listening.

 

Seems it's that time of year again - cabin fever's setting in. Spring is coming!

I like most all the ideas.

High post count would be good. However, a registration time filter would be nice too. Hate to see someone that's been lurking for a while not be able to contibute, (or feel they shouldn't).

I'd like to say strict adherence to the rules....but I know how that goes when things get heated. By the time it gets noticed by a mod, it's usually beyond the point of no return. I'd probably suggest a cool down period. Say when things get heated and the quotes with seething comebacks start - lock down the thread for a pretermined period, like a couple days. Give people a chance to cool down, think, maybe look over what they misread. Might start again in 48 hours back on topic with fresh ideas. A lot of you guys are great writers - I'd love to see what you could do after a couple days of re-writes.. Or it might turn out to be a non-issue and on to new topics.

Neither PP nor GC are on topic places as far as Ford trucks go and I've always had the hunch that the tech discussion of Ford trucks was the vision of this place. The things you find here you can't get in any manual. The internet's full of PP and GC topics. For this reason I don't think either PP or GC should count toward post count. I'm not saying they aren't valuable, just IMHO it's not needed toward post count.

Anyone see the new tech article on the glove box rebuild? That's a neat one.

 

hey i dont know if this is the place to post this but i noticed that the pig pen is closed at the moment. I guess there is some discussion about shutting it down or something? I think it should stay open because i dont want to have to read the crap that gets posted there in general conversation. I try to stay out of there because it makes my blood prerssure rise when i have to read all of everybodys stupid opinions about politics and religion. Anybody agree?

 

Pig pen topics will not be allowed in GC.

 

Make it that you have to have 3, 4, or 500 posts to get on Pig Pen. If it and GC were not here, I would just stick with my machine shop and welding forums. I can only talk about ballast resistors and alternators for so long.

 

I spend more time in the Pig Pen than "GC", although I enjoy both forums. I also like the "Kansas" chapter. All three of these forums give you a reason to "Check in" daily or regularly. If that's considered a good thing for the site owner, closing any of those forums would be a negative thing. Personally, I think the majority of members behave themselves and follow forum rules. It seems like a handful of posters are responsible for stirring up the pot. It seems like the offenders should be dealt with rather than censoring every member on the forum. There's nothing wrong with the topics in the Pig Pen, you can find them on the 5:00 news every night. As for General Discussion, it's a little more light hearted, but still a nice place to meet your friends.