I really don't see much tech here anyways. Maybe I do agree with their thugism. I never saw anything to get worked up about. I'm pretty thick skinned, so i can take it if someone over the internet, says my truck isn't cool. Things like that don't bother me, its just the internet.

and for the previous post, i was agitated because of the experience comment made earlier, and thats different than being told my truck isn't cool.

 

lots of times things get taken out of context,or a question or answer is worded in such a way that someone senses an "attitude",and then a rebuttal follows,again usually with "attitude",and it snowballs from there! Regarding Tech or a lack thereof here,dirt under ones fingernails frequently doesnt seem to translate over the internet too well! Questions are often vague,many of us here have to "see" an item or problem in front of us before we can diagnose it..... thick skin is an asset,the relative anonymity of the internet sometimes causes people to forget etiquette or manners that are required when one deals with others in a face to face environment.............

 

Threads that bash people who are banned and can't defend themselves annoy the heck out of me. Seems like this stuff happens every couple of years here and every time people come out of the woodwork with criticism once the chapter "leaders" are gone. Lets face it, this has place has never been the same since pro, ivan, and ho were banned three or four years ago. Now that the minions are gone somebody else will take their place and they too will be banned and bad mouthed in another couple years. Its just the place this way works, and I've been around long enough to see it happen more than once.

My two cents.

 

I agree, with you ronin, pro, ivan the whole "old" crew brought alot of tech to the site, ive done lots of searching and lots of reading and they were big contributors.... I would like to know why they were banned, but owell. As for the minion's I dont think any of them received a permanent ban, just a week or so, and most decided to move on.
There was idle chit chat, yea, there is in all the forums i have EVER been on. Its just how it works. We had general chit chat threads, very similar to what i started, just so we could slow down on the thread hijackings... Why start a thread about every different thing we want to talk about, why not have one for general b.s? Keep the new threads to questions, and tech threads... Or good information somebody wants to share.

I dont discuss the minion's much any more, ive said what i wanted to say, and have moved on. Its in the past, its already happened and is over.

 

Without adding to much to the "minions" debate, I will say that their presence in some of the topics I replied to lead to a diminished interest on my part to keep posting.

Anyway, Mike, I would be interested in the Dodge crewcab talking. I will PM you.

 

...And therein lay part of the problem. When a group of people can discourage other users from posting on the forum, everybody loses.

 

To my knowledge, none of the Minion group were permanently banned. Some choose not to return to FTE. That is their choice and should they return, I hope its not just to bash FTE or cause trouble. I won't allow it.

And that criticism you talk about is not just since they left. They've been discussed in other forums where they chose to step in with their insults well before any bannings took place. The group as a whole insulting other users in other forums is why the Minions became so noticed by myself and higher-ups. Had they just remained in this forum for their user bashings, they would probably still be here.

And yes, I know it wasn't all of them bashing and insulting other members.

I've been around to see it happen both times too. You are correct, this place hasn't been the same since.

This place isn't going to ever be the same as it was "way back when" as far as breaking the rules goes. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but FTE does have rules. I'm not that strict, but I do have my limits. I do my best to moderate fairly.

My main goal with choosing this forum to moderate is to hopefully see good tech threads, see people not afraid to ask that dumb question and actually get a reasonable reply and to have a bit of fun doing it.

I'm here to stay guys............sorry.

 

I suppose it's just a matter of a more mainstream site having to let everyone in, so the people with no brains who like to get butthurt over stupid crap win whenever something goes down.

The same reason our country is in such bad shape.

Also, a whole lot of the newb-bashing came after we all realized that the site was useless as-is, and our efforts at making things better were stymied by a lack of participation from anyone besides the group and a few other members. Not to mention some biased and completely assinine moderation/intervention by a few people. Hell, the only one willing to help was fredrian. In my part, I knew what was going to happen, but heck, might as well have fun and poke at people while im at it. There's no harm in that, right? It's just the internet...

Oh well, i suppose it doesn't really matter. Just FTE doin what it does.

 

Will, For some reason I feel you were pointed in this direction to this thread. I don't care either way and I welcome your comments.

I am very sorry if we hurt you. We didn't mean to.

Seriously, I know you weren't talking about yourself. Your feelings don't get hurt thats why you're here defending your actions. People with brains know how to defend themselves and don't make stupid comments that might leave themselves open to wrong impressions or comments.

You're being hurt is not the reason our country is in bad shape. If you would like to hear some of the FTE members reasons as to why the country is in such bad shape, please visit the Club Forum.

Well, your contribution was one of the main things that got the "minions" noticed. They should thank you and worship the ground you walk on. I'm sorry if I don't. I honestly respect Chris and what he was all about. I don't respect what happened where some of his following was concerned. I haven't pointed any fingers in this whole thread, but you my boy prove the attitude that existed with some, and I Repeat "some", of the minion gang that got them noticed. Pretty much a no-brainer, oooops there I go with the Brain reference again. My bad !

If there was any biased or assinine moderation or intervention, I sure didn't see it. But then being on the "cop" side, I guess I would see things differently than the thug would.

I am so glad that I now know that newb-bashing came about because FTE is useless as-is. If you wouldn't have told me this, I wouldn't have known how to help make FTE more usefull. Maybe we could do something like create online places where people could meet people from all over the country, heck, maybe even the world, and discuss common interests, maybe learn new things, and we could seperate these things into different catagories if we have enough interest in the various catagories. Heck, we can call them Forums. Here ya go = FTE

Now if we can make them all agree that there is only one way to do things and thats our way, damn, we now have a perfect world. wha-la, Will's World

So, tell me honest, how many of these friends that you're defending did you initially meet outside of FTE? Yep, FTE is doing what it does.

Once again, FTE has its rules. All of us Mods and Admins have let some of the rules slide in forums where the guys/gals are getting along well and sometimes they also get busy with personal things. Unfortunately, some users in this forum have taken advantage of any lax moderating and also unfortunatley it went un-noticed or un-handled by the higher ups. If you don't like FTE's rules, leave. As I said before, I am here to stay.

For all of you that realize that FTE has rules and can live with them, I Welcome You.

 

Is this site,its moderators,rules,and regulations perfect? NO.... Is it a good value for the dollar? YES.....thats right i almost forgot ,its free,one has the option of being a supporter for a nominal fee,but if one chooses not to support,they still can use this site,post questions,opine,chat,etc. In my opinion(for what little it's worth!),this site has struck a very good balance between allowing people to speak there mind,while still attempting to keep within the boundaries of civility and courtesy.I,for one would have a more difficult time finding answers for my questions if this site weren't around,i also find it enjoyable reading....... One of the biggest problems that the computer and the internet age has spawned,is the belief that it is an instantaneous "Magic pill",it can solve all questions right away,its perfect,its always available and its free,both in cost and freedom. Very few things in life are perfect,and some take it for granted that for all the great things this technology offers,it isnt perfect either.......

 

Is that the little blue one.

 

Ahh, the minions. I haven't been posting much lately, but i have been reading. Honestly, the antics of the minions made pirate look like a more mature place to post. Yes, the flaming on pirate is harder if you're an idiot, but at least the people flaming have something to back it up with.

The antics of the minions were purely childish and asinine and it did get to the point that anytime I was reading a thread once one of them started posting, that was it- i'd move on to another since i knew a page of nothing was about to follow.

I will honestly say that the disbanding of the minions was more a benefit to FTE than maintaining the knowledge of the members that moved on.

Justin