Cutting back on the Forum for a time. Thompson out.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: But, seriously? You guys really set your mood by what happens on internet forums? I certainly get bored and disappear from them for a while but to post up a "Harrumph! I'm leaving because of reasonz!"? It's like writing a letter to the editor of a magazine to tell them you are dropping your subscription because the BMW won the shootout again.

Not really. A magazine isn't a community, really. You want to respect other people in your chosen hobby, and on forums you get to know them like friends and family (often better). But when every other thread is about, or devolves into, what people hate instead of what they like, it starts to get a bit depressing, as now the people you wanted to like and respect are becoming more and more discouraging. It's like having to cut off your family and friends because they no longer support you. So yeah, when a bunch of people you did respect start acting closed minded and hateful, it does affect your mood.

As basically a car forum made up of car guys, lately I often find it discouraging to see that many people hate and insult everything outside their narrow little slice of the hobby. It's hard to respect that, and it's discouraging to someone who tends to like pretty much all cars, and at least understands and appreciates so many genres of the hobby, even when you have your own favorites.

"Here's something I think is cool..."

"I vomited on my screen."

Yeah, that's a tactful and non-insulting way of saying "it's not what I would drive."

So I can see why one would be moody about an overbearingly negative atmosphere like that and want to leave before you start to want to do what I want do, which is desire to respond with a taste of their own medicine. Lol!

I agree with most of the people that have said that there are threads that you recognize that are going downhill or are about to go downhill and just stay out of them.

I've learned to stay out of certain threads. I used to get sucked in, but lately I simply stay away. I do think there is a trend for longer running threads to dissolve into chaos no matter what the topic. So after the second page, mostly I tune out.

Still, GRM is far better than most other forums I go to. I simply refuse to go back to some like the BRZ/FRS forums, or even MR2OC for that matter. Many of the people there seem to be so narrow minded I find it impossible to read. One thread on MR2OC there was a question about how many cars you've owned. I put my number down and was immediately attacked. One guy made it his personal mission to send me hate mail a hundred times a day. And I'm sure my number is smaller than a good chunk of people on here. Anyway.... Shame really, people did used to be a lot more civil to each other. I find most of the people here to be pretty civil, and certainly knowledgeable about cars. And open to cars other than their "favorite". I do find it interesting that so many people now are preaching tolerance, yet tolerance is something that seems to be is short supply lately.

Oh, and get off my lawn!

Chris_V wrote: Not really. A magazine isn't a community, really. You want to respect other people in your chosen hobby, and on forums you get to know them like friends and family (often better). But when every other thread is about, or devolves into, what people hate instead of what they like, it starts to get a bit depressing, as now the people you wanted to like and respect are becoming more and more discouraging. It's like having to cut off your family and friends because they no longer support you. So yeah, when a bunch of people you did respect start acting closed minded and hateful, it does affect your mood. As basically a car forum made up of car guys, lately I often find it discouraging to see that many people hate and insult everything outside their narrow little slice of the hobby. It's hard to respect that, and it's discouraging to someone who tends to like pretty much all cars, and at least understands and appreciates so many genres of the hobby, even when you have your own favorites. "Here's something I think is cool..." "I vomited on my screen." Yeah, that's a tactful and non-insulting way of saying "it's not what I would drive." So I can see why one would be moody about an overbearingly negative atmosphere like that and want to leave before you start to want to do what I want do, which is desire to respond with a taste of their own medicine. Lol!

That actually sums up quite nicely what I have been feeling in the last year or so. Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

I've noticed a slight change as well. Not enough to make me go away, but I'm way more choosey about what threads I'll involve myself with.

Certain types of threads bring nastiness in otherwise decent members. Some folks here are just straight up dicks. I avoid them, too.

Lately, I've found myself deleting repleies before I post them. I realize that it might come off the wrong way, and that's not my intention.

I understand the need to take a step back from this place from time to time. I think it's a healthy thing to do, because if you are very active, like Adrian is/was, you can get challenged a lot and that can get tiring.

With that said, this thread lacks a hotlinked GIF

after Tom disrespected me and died I fell off the face of the earth .. Cars meant nothing except when I was running out along a long curvy road crying my eyes out . I true lly believe you can tune out douchereligouspolitico idiots by throwing Bibles on the ground and taking a dump on pictures of Ronald Reagan tRY IT . I found my way back on Facebook when my Supra Lost ignition . Big Kid said on supra forum he would come up and help me . Second trip he got it running . Now he is gonna help me pull Orange Krush sunbeam motor. Get new motor in for challenge we start this saturday . I say berkeley any douche berkeleyin geniuses with their stupid idiotic politico religous limp dick E36 M3. gET BACK ON THE PONY WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT . tOM YOU ASS

Type Q wrote: Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

Well, it adds that persons opinion to the conversation. Whether you agree with it or not it's a persons opinion and is just as valid as the person who say's "I love that area, spent many years there and had a great time".

People have different opinions on many things. When you come to a public forum and ask a question it's a little myopic to expect everyone will agree.

I've been here 12 years.

I have taken breaks on 4 separate occasions that exceeded 2 months.

1 was a 6 month moratorium on the internet entirely.

Never really thought a it making a proclamation.

It's healthy to dial it back every once in a while.

I look forward to your return.

SVreX wrote: I've been here 12 years. I have taken breaks on 4 separate occasions that exceeded 2 months. 1 was a 6 month moratorium on the internet entirely. Never really thought a it making a proclamation. It's healthy to dial it back every once in a while. I look forward to your return.

SV, can I ask why you have a new line for each sentence? Been noticing that for a while now.

Nick_Comstock wrote:

Type Q wrote: Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

Well, it adds that persons opinion to the conversation. Whether you agree with it or not it's a persons opinion and is just as valid as the person who say's "I love that area, spent many years there and had a great time". People have different opinions on many things. When you come to a public forum and ask a question it's a little myopic to expect everyone will agree.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me. If I jump into every thread that involves Texas to say what what a stupid place Texas (and by extension Texans) you would get tired of it.

In reply to Type Q:

Most people bring that up anyway It's no skin off my back, I just moved here

I do think though that if a person gets to the point of becoming flustered or stressed that it's not a bad idea to step away. I made a comment a while ago about how negative it had become around here. There where several 5+ page threads about things you hate most about whatever and the corresponding thread about the things you love the most was only two pages long. My take away from that was that people thrive on negativity.

So in an effort to turn this into a positive, here are some things that I love about this forum.

I have learned so much here. The knowledge available here about anything and everything is unmatched. There are some very bright people here.

I laugh a lot here. There are some seriously funny people here.

This is by far the most civil forum that I have ever visited. And the only one I frequent.

In the end I think we are all here because of our love of cars and racing and the magazine itself. If we let the trees get in the way of the forest maybe it's time to take a breather.

You know that saying about if you are playing poker and you don't know who the chump is at the table then it's probably you? I'm not sure I detect anything like the OP has, at least in terms of making me not want to check in here, so does that mean I'm the problem?

I took off about 8 months or so with hardly ever visiting when I was working 60-80 hours a week and didn't have time for the internet. It was still here when I came back just like it will still be here when the OP comes back. Make sure to make a new thread to tell us you're back.

Lots of sandy Bob Costas in here

Edit- I also purposefully try and disrupt people trying to be all "la la la la la life is wonderful, if I ignore everything bad and only talk about good, happy, positive things it'll all be ok!"

Some people just want to watch the world burn

Type Q wrote: Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

I think most of the state bashing is done in jest. I have yet to take any of the things said about NY seriously. I just assume everyone else is bitter that they can not get a bagel or decent slice of pizza.

Wally wrote:

Type Q wrote: Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

I think most of the state bashing is done in jest. I have yet to take any of the things said about NY seriously. I just assume everyone else is bitter that they can not get a bagel or decent slice of pizza.

Besides, we can all agree the real problem is Canada.

I have lived in six states. Good people in every one. shiny happy people in each, as well. I learn who to simply avoid, and who just likes to be a wedge.

Same thing here.

I heard a guy on talk radio recently say this to describe road rage... I will paraphrase..

....Sit back and understand that it's not all about you. Everyone in their car doesn't realize your temper is short this day, and they probably aren't intentionally trying to make you angry.. so chill and stop making it about your selfish self.

It was good advice.. Some of the best I've been given in a while. I almost want to start a thread about the best advice people ever received.

Anyway. Take a break. Come back whenever. I like it here, despite never having met a single person. Maybe I will have to put that Dork sticker on my car and see what happens.

Nick_Comstock wrote: In reply to Type Q: Most people bring that up anyway It's no skin off my back, I just moved here I do think though that if a person gets to the point of becoming flustered or stressed that it's not a bad idea to step away. I made a comment a while ago about how negative it had become around here. There where several 5+ page threads about things you hate most about whatever and the corresponding thread about the things you love the most was only two pages long. My take away from that was that people thrive on negativity. So in an effort to turn this into a positive, here are some things that I love about this forum. I have learned so much here. The knowledge available here about anything and everything is unmatched. There are some very bright people here. I laugh a lot here. There are some seriously funny people here. This is by far the most civil forum that I have ever visited. And the only one I frequent. In the end I think we are all here because of our love of cars and racing and the magazine itself. If we let the trees get in the way of the forest maybe it's time to take a breather.

With your permission, I’d like to add one more point.

Several individuals in the past have said that our discussions / arguments (depending on your prospective) are pointless as nobody ever changes their mind.

I know of many, many instances where someone on this forum has laid out a solid case for a view that’s different than mine and I’ve fully and permanently changed my thinking as a result.

Obviously I don’t want anyone to be offended but isn’t stifling our collective growth too great a price to pay for it?

See Ya!! Enjoy the vacation.

To the rest of you goober heads, I doubt you can piss me off enough to leave. Sorry.

What RX Reven said.

Also, to the O.P.

Have you considered sending a PM to the parties involved, perhaps they're not aware that they are causing a problem.

I said something inappropriate to a forum member and they called me on it through a PM and rightly so. I was out of line, we talked about it, we both have some perspective on the situation and even though we both have a different opinion I think we both came away from the situation feeling much better about it.

This is the internet, there's a lot of anonymity. Because of that, I'm sure a lot of us probably say things we don't mean or don't realise that something said in jest can really make us look like jerks.

I appreciate the discussion here, a lot of the issues we discuss can be very difficult to talk about and most forums would degenerate a lot faster than we do.

A lot of the discussions here have helped change the way I think about things.

As for straying from the magazine model, I stopped reading the magazine a long time ago. I don't autocross and I don't feel like buying a used miata, BMW or Mustang and I don't think that carburetors are tools of the devil so there's nothing for me.

Don't get me wrong, GRM is still a great magazine, it's just out of my focus now.

Shawn

mtn wrote:

SVreX wrote: I've been here 12 years. I have taken breaks on 4 separate occasions that exceeded 2 months. 1 was a 6 month moratorium on the internet entirely. Never really thought a it making a proclamation. It's healthy to dial it back every once in a while. I look forward to your return.

SV, can I ask why you have a new line for each sentence? Been noticing that for a while now.

No idea. It might be when I post from an iPhone.

...or maybe I just like the return key.

In reply to mtn:

I

Just

Do

It

To

Annoy

You.

Nick_Comstock wrote:

Type Q wrote: Another example of this are the people that have to chime in to threads that involve California, Florida, or New York to tell everyone what stupid places they and/or they will never live there. What does that add to the conversation?

Well, it adds that persons opinion to the conversation. Whether you agree with it or not it's a persons opinion and is just as valid as the person who say's "I love that area, spent many years there and had a great time". People have different opinions on many things. When you come to a public forum and ask a question it's a little myopic to expect everyone will agree.

I don't mind dissenting opinions when it comes from first hand experience....ie, "I lived in New Jersey for 4 years, didn't care for the tax or insurance rates (especially as a car guy), if you're moving to the area, maybe consider PA or DE as alternatives and see what works for you."

Or

"I had a horrible experience with my BMW, the auto trans went out at 80K miles and was a $6K repair, also, the trim level I had was impossible to get parts for"

Great! Thanks for the relevant information! You rock!

What bothers me are the people who's idea of a contribution is, "Jersey sucks! You'll have to buy a wife-beater and gold chains LOLZ!"

Or

"BMW's suck, only pricks buy them hahahahaha"

Particularly when they've never lived in or even been there, or owned/driven/sat in the car in question. And they're sharing their witticism for the 4th time. Some people are trying to share info, some people just want to hear themselves talk. It does get old.

Ah well, carry on.

In reply to Flynlow:

Some people