Mini-Rant: What has happened to our site?

[DrunkenNinja]

Just wanted to say that I'm a new member and I really do feel welcome!!!

Thank You!!!

On all forums you will get a few idiots flaming others cause they had a bad day at the office but there isn't much of that here which is great...

I'm a Co-Admin of a large forum (Mobile phone related) and it's great to see another forum embrassing the same ideas we have...

It has encouraged me to post and try to help others, i'm no tech but I have a great BMW mechanic and have owned BMW's for 7 years now, (so that means I have had my fair share of problems) if I can help others I will...

I commend the work of all the mods and admins for creating such a user friendly forum and environment...

[nra0707]

There are a few on this forum who roost over it like it's their own personal soapbox. If there's any doubt about how they've reached quadruple-digit post numbers, it's because of their tendency to lecture everyone and to enforce rules they didn't create. In all honesty, it's a lot of hot air. Anything and everything is fair game, but the volume of garbage posts is growing; not only by newbs, but responses and counter replies from unofficial forum lords about using search or how the OP was too lazy is equally as bothersome. I can bet if you search their post history, there are more times they berate a newb than something of substance. It's about quality, not quantity! To those who are genuinely helpful, I commend you. To those who contribute great mod DIYs and interesting tips, you guys (and gals) are great. To those who welcome new Xoutpost members, you make this forum better. To the techs who provide great insight to forum queries, your knowledge is invaluable.

I'm belaboring the point, but PLEASE, remember when you post, not many want to read your stream of consciousness. Think about your post and if it is malicious, think again about posting it.

[blktoptrvl]

I think you are all missing an important point.

This website will change no matter how you try to delay it. It is simply a matter of economics.

When this site was new, so was the X5. And new means expensive. And expensive generally means older people own it.

The upshot of the above is that in general - when the site was newer - you would not have many people who are interested in "modding", "Ghetto-Blasting", "Road Racing", and many of the other things that go along with a older owner class.

But now, the car, and the site IS older, and with that comes vehicles that are older and cheeper and therefore more accessible to the younger crowd; and with that comes not only the topics that are irritating to older members, but also the repeated questions that are one of the hallmarks of the younger crowd - they don't see the need (as do older folks) to search when it is just as easy to ask the question and get an instant answer. I'm not sure I blame them. Lately, when I read the same questions being asked over and over, I just ignore them. I know someone will politely tell them to search, someone will rudely tell them to search, and someone will answer the question.

I think that when a site is full of all the same poeple as this site probably was long ago (older, more affluent, more likely white and republican) you will more likely have similar views and there won't be too much strife. But as time passes and the demographics of the owners change - and the politics of the owners change, you will have more conflicting opinions.

It's just a matter of economics and time.

[motordavid]

No apologies for being one of those posters with an addiction; I have been around on this board, and its previous iterations, for a long time.
And, I have a lot of posts, as I am:
-a retired bum
-have time on my hands to read/post here
-care about giving and receiving good info
-usually try to point the poster toward that good info, with
knowledge or opins or links, or a combo

As for the possibility that any of us might be blogging, boring, doing our best JamesJoyce stream of consciousness posting, or generally plugging up the forums with "posts", so what. It's a freakin fourm on the net, though one of the more informative, friendly car oriented forums I've read, and one of the best/most interesting Boards for good info and opins on nearly any topic, imo.

Whether there are "board lords" here is subject to opin; most boards I've perused have posters that might fit that description. There is however, a loose, but quite informed group of core posters, and there is also an eclectic group whom have met several times at meets, both public and private. That group, much like most of the core posters, have some serious regard and respect for each other, even when we have different points of view or,
disagree.

Posting per se, or post count is of no consequence, imo...offering something of some value on any topic, is. The Board remains as good as the quality of info, ideas and thoughtful opinions. For those that enjoy it or, get something from it, good. For those that drive by, or complain without adding something of value, that is your prerogative. And, like cars, art, "taste", etc., beauty & quality lie in the eye of the reader.
It is what it is.

Good Luck, Ol'Uncle mD

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

I think that when a site is full of all the same poeple as this site probably was long ago (older, more affluant, more likely white and republican) you will more likely have similar views and there won't be too much strife. But as time passes and the demographics of the owners change - and the politics of the owners change, you will have more conflicting opinions.

It's just a matter of economics and time.

GASP! OMG - Juan......A republican

[JCL]

Originally Posted by cmyX6go

GASP! OMG - Juan......A republican

There are a few of us who may be surprised to find out we are Republicans.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by cmyX6go

GASP! OMG - Juan......A republican

Guess there is some point to this, but I don't get it. Do you think this site - especially in older days was more democrat than republican?

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Guess there is some point to this, but I don't get it. Do you think this site - especially in older days was more democrat than republican?

Juan will.

The point is, we are a diverse bunch. We always were. Young and old. Democrat and Republican. White, Asian, African American, Hispanic. We just got along. And still do.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Guess there is some point to this, but I don't get it. Do you think this site - especially in older days was more democrat than republican?

The point is that while used X5s have become cheaper as they age, they do become more accessible to younger owners, or at least those younger owners who buy their own vehicles as opposed to those who were given them. It is just that to classify any owners by race, voting tendencies, or any other classification seems silly. I don't remember filling out a voting card when I bought my X5, and if you want to take it one step further, it is called X5World, and most of the world doesn't have a Republican party.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by JCL

The point is that while used X5s have become cheaper as they age, they do become more accessible to younger owners, or at least those younger owners who buy their own vehicles as opposed to those who were given them. It is just that to classify any owners by race, voting tendencies, or any other classification seems silly. I don't remember filling out a voting card when I bought my X5, and if you want to take it one step further, it is called X5World, and most of the world doesn't have a Republican party.

Don't want to answer the question? that's OK.

My point was that the people here at the begining probably had more in common and were more of a homogenous group - dispute it if you like, but that was probably the case; and now it is changing so there will be less harmony of thought. There will be more differing opinions and there will be more discord.