Guys I am not trying to stir the pot up, break rules or cause trouble but this place needs some "change" going forward if it is to be any good longer term.

 

I have seen that "opinions" and "suggestions" are often not met with open arms but more than often you just get "its already been discussed" or beaten with a virtual stick. I often sit by watching this going on and never comment like most users. But it has got to a point where I am just coming here less and less and will not even renew my paid membership.

 

So here is my open and honest "opinion" needed to keep this place functional for a few years yet. As a Zed owner and member here for a few years that has never caused any trouble I am putting my best foot forward with it "in the spirit" of the place. I have enjoyed the site at times but this stuff drives me mostly away these days to more friendly surroundings.

 

1. Accept peoples opinions, dont delete or dismiss them off hand just because you dont like them.

2. the levels of Mods compaired to users on here is really high, do you really need so many? I run and own sites with millions of members with like 5 or 6. Having to many makes for an appresive site.

3. No one has ever explained the "club funds" thing in any clear and conceise way. If whoever owns the site keeps the money then fair enough. just fess up and say but IMO this place represents very poor value for money these days. Spend it or reduce the fees IMO you really dont need 60 years of running costs in the bank (if it is). I mean most of the members would be well approaching 100 by then if you stopped charging tmoz?. And no I am not a tight git anyone that knows me knows that the money for me is incidental.

4. The levels of rules and censorship on here are akin to George Orwells 1984 "you will do this" "you cant do that" "we have deleted that". It often reminds me of reading a German WW2 Newspaper that has been censored to bits.

5. I know that preferential treatment has been discussed and its obvious "in my opinion" that it goes on however you spin it. Please remember that it is the members that make any site, and without them this place will be a "load" of mods here until their cars ware out. You need to treat EVERYONE the same no matter what...

6. You really need to make this site work on iphone and Android it will cost next to nothing to do but its the way forward.

7. A mobile APP would also be useful

8. Have a steam room and DONT mod it, its not an accident that most sites have one of these. Could well help you regain some good will.

 

Good stuff

 

1. I have got to know some decent people on here, some have helped me and others I have helped out.

2. I have found that club spirit can be strong at times and that is encouraging.

3. I love my car and appreciate any advice that I have had on it when I built it.

 

According to public stats the site only gets just over 500 hits per day now, it is on a hiding to nowhere unless some changes are made and accepted.

 

If you think that my "opinion" constitutes a public burning on the stake then it further reinforces the points I am constructively trying to raise here. Take it in the spirit it is meant to be in "constructive" :sweatdrop:.

 

I have read through the lengthy AUP etc and cant see that I have done anything wrong unless this can somehow be broad brushed as "anti club spirit" or something?.

 

But if anti club spirit is spending half hour making suggestions then I really think that constitutes "anti member spirit" and reinforces points raised above. I have never been rude to anyone on here, caused any trouble, or been a problem of any kind.

I have two full time app developers in the office, one of the guys won an Apple design award and the other is an expert on Android. I can ask them to speak to any developers that you appoint if that is helpful?.

 

A large proportian of traffic comes from Apps these days, Im guessing just having free apps in the stores will double traffic and new memberships on here based on my own experience.

 

Your thoughts have been taking onboard for committee to view and to stop this thred going into a slanging match it will now be closed thany you max for your ideas

Sadly like any community whether in real life or on an internet forum, there will be a small group who from time to time and usually after drink, upset the good feeling within that community and that is a fact of life as we all know.

 

Lately IMO that has happend.

 

In recent days a couple of members gave their opinions and went on to make suggestions, the Mods/Committee took thos eon board and accepted to look more closely at the concerns, albeit nearer the time they crop, but that agreement was there and they were done with ears wide open too.

 

However that wasn't good enough and late one night and a day or so later and the these opinions and suggestions became attacks on fellow members.

They were given some advice as to how things were going down hill, it carried on with swearing and hey presto, light moderation now becomes heavy.

That maybe just one example but it has happend in similar fashion many times before.

 

Sometimes a subject will be brought up going back years and not really important, again once a certain type of member realises it be a bit iffy, it's latched on becomes bait for worse to come.

 

If certain people can offer criticism and ideas without being offensive or down right rude or even repetitive after a couple days worth of it, pretty sure they would get a different responce.

 

I do agree with thoughts about the funds, the number of Zeds is dying off slowly, withit will be members, specialists etc, so sadly this forum will not live as long as many more popular modern car ones.

I have suggested some form of reducing membership fees based on length of membership, a bit like long service awards. The income gradulay goes down but only marginally and the members feel their time here is honoured and rewarded.

A small thing, but worth while.

More money spent on big meets and equipment too. We need a healthy bank balance, but not as big as it is right now.

 

Oh and personally for those few who are pissed at night and decide to wind peeps up and be stupid, personally i'd stick em in the naughty room and tehy can only post to each other and we can all watch but not post.

 

A great site that has been going for many many years now with thankfully only the odd blip, but hey thats life.

I do know having been on numerous forums, we most certainly are not the most heavily moderated, that is for sure.

 

Oh and respect gains respect and adults who act like children, get treated like children.

Smithy