I would like to see a general tech section as well as an engine swap/build thread section. Also, it would be nice to expand the technical section with a read only thread section for the really good DIY build threads such as fierohoho's coilover build thread.

Andrew

I like the "My Favorites Star"

Could you also put it at the end on the post in the thread.

I open all the posts in seperate windows, because if you click on the topic (read it) then click the back button on my Browser to see the other topics. It refreshes and I dont know what all the new topics were anymore.

Did I explain the correctly.

Keep the Stars but put them at the end of the Thread.

Did we mention:

"Report This Thread/User" option?

Avatars?

Different access levels for users? (More/less rights to post pictures, etc.)

A "Search" feature that DOESN'T open a new window?

Make the Posting Rules a "once a month mandatory" re-read, and have users sign off (check box is sufficient) that they both read and abide by the rules?

More Smilies!!!

I read through the first two pages only, so if it hasn't been mensioned... Something simular to deleting your own threads.
I feel that a thread is the thread starter's responcibility. If it gets out of control, ie. FLAMEWAR! well, that person should be able to immediatly put a halt (lock) on there thread to keep it from going out of control and taking up page after page of space. Deleting it isn't a good idea. Again, self moderation is the key. Perhaps also the ability to move the topic may be in order. Especially if there is going to be any sort of breakup of the tech section. I don't think the person should be able to change thread titles though.

I am relatively new to the website and I love it! Finally, I have a group of people that are as into their car as I am. The site is a GREAT source of information but I have, however, been frustrated by the search feature. If you could improve the search capabilities of the site, all would be perfect. Thanks again for the site.

Mike

I haven't read all 6 pages... but I have a simple one that would be helpful

On the Forums selection page... put the users private message info at the top instead of the bottom of the list so it's always on the screen when we start. Having to scroll down I often forget to check to see if I have messages because that is off the screen.

Here's one I would like to see. Make it possible to rate members in the PM area. If I buy or sell some one something, a lot of it is done thru PM's (no not PMS). After the transaction is over, the thread is most likely lost. Then, I have to search for the member to give them a rating. Also, make it possible to directly jump to the topic thread of a PM. Might be helpful. Oh yeah, I like the idea of more smiley's also.

Kris

I like the gallery on the site. however in the 4 years I have belonged to this forum it really has no updates. I know there is a wealth of pics people are constantly asking for and it would be nice if pics would be takin and put into this gallery. Or The Tech Section is great the search isnt always easy to find that thread so possibly like some othe forums do is put a link in their tech to the thread for example the do it your self rear coilovers. or the archie budget build. just my .02 cents

------------------
355 SBC
.220 Dome TRW Forged Pistons
215cc Dart Iron Eagle Heads 2.05/1.60 Valves
Victor Jr Intake
Barry Grant Mighty Demon 650cfm
Solid 306 Duration 558 Lift Cam
All Comp Valvetrain
All MSD Igntion
All transfered through a 4 speed Manual Trans
Estimated BHP 445 hp
1/4 mile SOON as spec clutch broke in

Cliff,

Would it be possible to have an ebay style rating system for the mall? It could be mall specific and it would be able to worn people about non paying buyers and non shipping sellers. The current system is a lot popularity based and that is OK, but in the mall if someone has a lot of negatives that may be because they do not understand simple ediquate, but are a reputable seller/buyer. The same can be true in reverse. They may be popular on the forum in what they post, but never follow through on a deal. The ebay system is not foolproof, but whould at least be a warning to others.

Also, I have absolutly no problem if you charged a small fee for selling in the mall.

Sorry to bring this *touchy* subject up, but could we maybe get a "Hide" option? Kind of like the favorites Stars [which I love, btw], but it hides the thread, so you don't have to see it every time? Used maybe for threads that can go nowhere good... or topics that you don't want others in your household to accidently read?

Janell

login button

think it was mentioned before, for some reason I sign in to my PM's, then go to prefs save for 1 year then the stuff doesn't save I have to post before it saves maybe it's just me

I think the "click to see the pic that is larger than 100k" is ghey.

Anyone that starts a Honda or any other kinda RICE VS Fiero thread be automatically BANNED. You're either with the Fiero or against it. No playing both sides. Yeah its real hard to outperform a 20 yr old car. DUH!!!!!!!.

Freakin Kids!!!!

I thought of another suggestion. Here's the problem I'd like to solve:

I go through the Forum on Sunday and catch up on Tech and General.

I check the forum on Monday, but only have enough time to go through Tech.

I check back on Tuesday and want to catch up on General, but everything I missed between Sunday and Monday is marked as read because of my Monday login, even though I never made it to General at that time.

Fixing this would probably require a different cookie for each area of the Forum.

Keep up the good work, Cliff, and thanks for asking our opinions.

Doug

love the links to the bigger pics instead of displaying them

unfortunately, broadband is not available to everybody yet....
unfortunately, 56k isn't even available where I'm at right now!

anywho, how about a button to "favoritize" a thread from within the thread itself?
I just searched out a thread, and would like to use the fancy new favorite feature, but can't because its buried somewhere, and I didn't want to search through pages and pages of GFC to find it on the list (especially at my connx speed).

Thanks for the opportunity for input!

E-MAIL NOTIFICATION!!!

I didn't post this topic... how will I know when someone has replied to it?

quote Originally posted by fieroturbo: E-MAIL NOTIFICATION!!!

The only reason I haven't implemented this yet, is because the system already sends out a lot of emails to topic starters. If I would implement email notification, I'm sure the system needs to send out tons and tons of email...

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but how about a preview function for PM's? IMHO, that would be really useful.

This may have already been covered.. but here goes.

When you post a thread or reply to a thread a separate window should pop up. On the pop up window you should be able to write up your thread/reply then when you hit submit/post it button it should close and the original/main window should then refresh. This way you can hit the back button without double posting etc.. Well kinda like http://www.clubgp.com/newforum you'll see what I mean about the pop up window.

I'd really like to see some more effective way to deal with the trolls. An "Ignore" button sounds good, but you'd see replies to and quotes from the messages anyway. The ratings system works well, but it's painfully slow sometimes. Maybe a "report this post to moderator" function or maybe a "super negative" that one could use on the most offensive trolls to hasten their demise...

Hi all,

I didn't read all the posts so this may be a repeat...I'd like to see a change to forum by allowing to see who has posted in a thread the last....

loose the ratting bar
so the high and what they think mighty cant kill some one with
difrent opinions let the boss decide. YOU!

quote Originally posted by Whuffo: I'd really like to see some more effective way to deal with the trolls. An "Ignore" button sounds good, but you'd see replies to and quotes from the messages anyway. The ratings system works well, but it's painfully slow sometimes. Maybe a "report this post to moderator" function or maybe a "super negative" that one could use on the most offensive trolls to hasten their demise...

Haha! Super Negative! ---------------------

Over the years, there was one question that always seemed to pop up: "I have a link to a thread, but now that thread is archived and I can no longer find it. Is there an easy way to find it?".

Well, there wasn't. So I finally implemented an "automatic search when a thread is archived and you only have the link to the original".

Now if you have a link to a thread, and it no longer exists because it's archived, the system will automatically search the archive for you for this particular thread.

Click here for an example.

Cliff, I have a suggestion. I apologize if you thought of it too, or if it has been suggested before. I just don't want to page through all the suggestions we have had recently to check.

To the point... I still like to see a whole forum at once. All posts in the general forum, all in tech, OT, etc. I was thinking it might be nice to see what sub category each post was in when viewing the whole forum. Would it be possible to add a colum to the topic/thread list (along with Topic, Topic Starter, Replies, Views, Last Post) that displayed the sub-category that thread has been placed in?

quote Originally posted by Fformula88: Would it be possible to add a colum to the topic/thread list (along with Topic, Topic Starter, Replies, Views, Last Post) that displayed the sub-category that thread has been placed in?

Possible, yes. My only problem with that is that there isn't much room in the topic list to add such a column (if I keep those in mind who browse with lower resolutions). Maybe some icon will do. Lemme think about that.

quote Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: Possible, yes. My only problem with that is that there isn't much room in the topic list to add such a column (if I keep those in mind who browse with lower resolutions). Maybe some icon will do. Lemme think about that.

I can see where it might be a problem, especially on lower resolution screens. If you can think up a good solution it would be cool! If not, I am sure I will survive!

Hi I did not have the time to read throught the six pages, so if this has been mentioned, sorry. I would like to see this lightened up. It is to dark.

Thank you,

Steve

Cliff, the color IS FINE. Good lord, will some things FINALLY DIE. Looking at the old site in the archives, I get blinded, and hate it. The new, which is not really new, format is better.

I would request tho, that when we make a post, and screw up the topic, that we be allowed to change it, and if we really screw it up, that we be given the ability to delete it.

In all the boards that I belong to, this is the only one that does not allow this feature to their members.

< not sure if this has been posted before, as there are 6 pages of suggestions.... >

--Allen

Sorry Im not reading 6 pages of this, so something like this has probobly already been posted...but anyway................

Technical

Iron duke
2.8
3800
V8
Misc (Other non factory engines)

General

Interiors
Body mods
Wheels/Tires
Audio

Performance/Shows
1/4 mile times
Dyno's
Shows and Events

Anyway, you get the idea.....just a thought

quote Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: Over the years, there was one question that always seemed to pop up: "I have a link to a thread, but now that thread is archived and I can no longer find it. Is there an easy way to find it?". Well, there wasn't. So I finally implemented an "automatic search when a thread is archived and you only have the link to the original". Now if you have a link to a thread, and it no longer exists because it's archived, the system will automatically search the archive for you for this particular thread. Click here for an example.

Oh thank you Cliff.
This is a major improvement to the forum!
The sheer amount of time that you have just saved all of us here is staggering.
Just can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this funtion.
Thank you so much!

------------------
jetman
Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light" and "hockey withdraw pains"

I love the star/bookmark thing. It rocks! It would however be really nice to be able to bookmark a thread from within the thread. Every once in a while someone will posta link to an old, useful thread. I hop over to the thread and wonder how I ever missed it, but then I have to search for it in order to bookmark it. It's a pain. If there was a nice bookmark this thread button at the top or the bottom that would be great.

- Daniel

[RANT]

For now, I'm done making changes. I get tons of complaints why I don't ban certain members and my answer has always been the same: I've put in a rating system so members can take matters into their own hands. And apparantly, they are massively voting to keep the abusive, disrespectful and destructive members around. Yes, that means the rating system has turned around and bit me in the ass (because I thought it would make things easier for me), but no matter how you cut or slice it, the rating system is a very good indicator for what the members want here. And you have chosen to keep the people around that makes my work here so hard. I keep implementing change after change because a whole bunch of members simply can't follow the forum rules. Like the usage of their signature. The posting of insulting images. The circumvention of the censor system. The mandatory choosing of a subsection. Etc. Etc. My work would be a lot easier if everybody simply followed the forum rules - or if you would simply vote the people off that think the forum rules is something to wipe their butt with.

What prompts my little rant here is because I was wondering why all these people I keep getting complaints about were not voted off, and I took a peek at their ratings. I was utterly surprised to see these people were getting positives from well-respected members here on the forum. I can live with the fact they are getting positives from their likes, because they are far outweighed by the number of members who do behave themselves. But when these people massively get positives from people who are supposedly "the good guys" on the forum, that's when I start wondering. Apparantly, this is what you want the forum to be. A forum where people treat each other like dirt. A forum where people post insulting pictures, messages, and are generally disrespectful, hateful and insulting.

Well, *I* don't want to waste time on that anymore. So I have a few choices. Completely take back the forum, get rid of the rating system and start shaping the forum to what *I* think it should be (which is apprantly different than what *you* want). In other words, drop one of the most important reasons why I started the forum in the first place: it being a self-moderating forum. And I really don't want that. Or I could simply leave it as it is - and that's fine with me (really, it is). But like I said, in that case I'm done spending excessive amounts of time on it - since you obviously have totally different ideas about what you want this place to be than I have. Don't get me wrong, you can still email me if you have lost your password. I will still move a thread for you if you think you've accidently posted in the wrong section. I will still answer questions about the forum.

Do not think this is a call to change your rating for certain members, because it's not. In fact, if you go change your rating now that'll just show you never took the rating system serious in the first place. It would show you don't take this forum serious. You've already made perfectly clear that you want these people around.

[/RANT]

Cliff,

As far as I am concerned I have wished for a long time that you (or another moderator) would retake control of the forum. My issue with the way it is now is that it only takes a small percentage of problem members to make most of the rest of us (including you) miserable. It does not take a majority vote to get rid of someone, it takes a supermajority vote. You have never told us what percentage of bad votes it takes to get rid of someone, but it appears to be rather high, like 80% or higher. With those numbers the forum will automaticly lower itself to the lowest denominator, not raise itself up.

I have seen numerous posts where someone included something that was a rule violation, when they were questioned about it by another member they (less than politly) told the member to shut up and that if Cliff didn't like it that he could remove it, no one else could. Socities that have no viable means of rule enforcement have always been ruled by the bottom level of society, such as gangs in an inner city.

I think what happens is that some people (and it only takes a few) feel that the trolls are not "that bad" and that it would be nice if they would clean up their act but banning is to great of a violation. Sort of like the death penalty for parking tickets. If we had that no one would park illeagly. But there are a number of people that want to park illeagly, so they would think it is a bad idea, so no death penalty. Then people will park illeagly. The law is the same, the enforcement is differant. We have a large number of very good people on here, all with one vote. We have a small number of trolls on here, all with one vote. But 51% does not remove someone, 80% (?) does. So in effect the trolls have far more voting power than the respected people do.

Then there is the issue with members that are here for a while and then go away. Their votes stay forever. If a good member realizes that he can be a troll and changes his ways they will always have the historical good votes to get to stay forever. It was only a couple months ago that we had a respected member posting under two screan names. You banned the name that he was trolling under and his positive name stayed. We as a voting comunity were never really told who the offender was (you did give a strong hint in one post.)

I know that you feel frusterated now but the problems are fixable. The best forums that I have seen as far as common courtesy are the ones that a moderator will remove someones post that is a rule violation. Sort of the differance in a democeracy and a republic. To be self policing we could all vote on the rules and then a moderator could enforce them, a far superoir system in civilized society.

i would love it if you got rid of the ratings system and mod'd the forum yourself or you apointed a few people who YOU trust. this rating system doesnt work quite as well as i though it did. i know that The Punisher(im not picking on hime just the first one that came to mind) and a few others troll a lot and have a "red bar" quite a lot but no matter how many people they piss off it seems as tho they NEVER get kicked. i know that everyone on this forum has broken the rules AT LEAST once so im not saying that cliff should take control and kick everyone that screws up at all but im saying that if cliff sees that the forum is in need of some trash removal then he could talk to the offender and make him aware that he will kick him if he doesnt clean his act up. i know i got a email the other day for crossposting on mr2oc.com and i now know not to do that. But if you are gonna keep the self moderated forum thing going then i think that the people who havnt signed in for a while (6 months- 1 year) should have their account deleted that way thier old ratings that might not reflect how people are acting now are not a factor.

really i am tired of the crap this board has had on it lately. every thread turns into a flame war and no matter what it is manages to become personal attacks on people.

quote Originally posted by Electrathon: Then there is the issue with members that are here for a while and then go away. Their votes stay forever. If a good member realizes that he can be a troll and changes his ways they will always have the historical good votes to get to stay forever. It was only a couple months ago that we had a respected member posting under two screan names. You banned the name that he was trolling under and his positive name stayed. We as a voting comunity were never really told who the offender was (you did give a strong hint in one post.)

Maybe have a time limit on the how long a rating lasts. If the poster has been away from the forum for, lets say, a year, (since their last posting) then there ratings (against others) go away.

Also, maybe make all members do a review there own ratings yearly. I know I might rate someone, then forget I've rated them. I've rarely given out negative ratings. Often members have redeemed themselves & no longer deserve negative vote. Of course, if someone becomes a jerk, I don't want my positive vote to stay with them.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 10-24-2004).]

How about a page like this forum has: http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/

Every info and instruction from installing an intake to making your own cup holders.

Whatever the percentage is of + vs - votes is to 'auto-ban' someone, lower it. This is becoming ridiculous - the members make their statement against trying to get rid of the bad guys, and sometime in the future, you (Cliff) let them back on again. Then it's all that much harder to get rid of them again.

It's more plain than the nose on your face which handful of members are here to raise Cain just because they can, and which good members have done everything they can to get rid of them. The rest are either part of the problem or just don't care. And yet the bad ones are still here. Why even have a rating system if it's going to be this ineffective and coddling to those who need to be shown the door?

How about a limited, multi-moderator system?

A few people, entrusted by Cliff to be even-handed and only enforce the rules as they are written, and have limited abilities, like moving threads in the wrong section, removing or resizing large sigs, removing offensive images, warning people causing problems, and reporting back to Cliff anything that needs to be done that is beyond thier control. Just a few people to handle day to day stuff. No broad or extensive powers (like banning, deleting threads, etc), but the smaller stuff that needs to be done but that takes too much time for Cliff to do himself. After all, theres a LOT of threads and post on the forum at any given time, and Cliff has plenty of other stuff to do. The people who log on almost every day and read everything could keep things tidy as psuedo-mods. And, of course, people would be able to report a mod abusing the privilage to Cliff.

Just an idea.

quote Originally posted by Cliff Pennock: Now if you have a link to a thread, and it no longer exists because it's archived, the system will automatically search the archive for you for this particular thread.

Beautiful. I love it.

Doug