Ok, there are many with ideas Im sure, Pat started with some good ones ( maybe they could be popped over here ).
Thought it would be nice to have a thread where we can offer up any ideas away from other discussions where they often get buried.
Some kind of links section would be nice. There are lots of useful links to government websites for car issues which it took me a while to find such as MOT history searching and vehicle enquries etc. I often wished they were all in one place.
|
+1 for the links page.
The links page idea could be useful. A links directory (www.dmoz.org/) for motoring. Good owners / model specific forums. Vendors links - often with no more than an email and an agreement to link to the vendors site you can negotiate a small discount for forum members. It's no more than a token gesture but i've used mine on Briskoda quite a few times. I saved over what i paid for my 2 year brisky membership, on stuff i was going to buy anyway.
It would not attract new visitors.
It wouldn't be used very often at all.
Maybe selfish given the 2 negatives but i'd like it.
|
Pat raised a good point about it being hard to retain some of the good knowledge that you all give freely. After a couple of days it disappears off the end.
A wiki?
It's free form and organic, it turns out to be what contributors have to offer.
|
|
I asked Stephen some months ago for a links directory - I even volunteered to edit it !
|
A while back I suggested having an advertising budget funded by donations from existing forum members. What better way of recruiting new posters? Advertising works very well for me - I see no reason why it shouldn't work for C4P.
|
I like the clean, text-only format.
But we could do with an easy 'one-stop shop' way to link to pics, perhaps we could call it My Drive.
Since that's not about to happen, how about my earlier idea of a C4P photobucket or flickr site?
I'm not technically savvy enough, but I wonder if such a thing could be created with a link via a 'post pics here' sticky.
|
Posting pictures certainly seems to be the weak point in a good many forums. How many times have you read queries like "How do I post pictures? or "I tried to post a picture but it won't work", followed by a patient explanation from someone who knows who goes off into technical details that bears of little brain still can't follow?
The best forums manage to have a simple "attach picture" button, where you browse for a picture on your own computer and then send it. But most seem to involve a process of uploading the photo to Photobucket, then copying the correct bit of text at photobucket, pasting it into the message window, and crossing your fingers.
|
Pat's "Just off the motorway" is a good idea. It's information which won't go out of date quickly and with the threaded approach one place can be kept separate from another. Maybe with an intro to guide people what to report on. One man's top class caff is another man's "I'm not going in there". I don't know what sort of prganisation would be possible, if any, but by motorway / A road nbr and then by jn nbr would be ideal.
John
|
|
I second the "just off the motorway" directory/database/list/whatever. It would be really useful.
|
i like the photo free idea unless someone really needs to post a link to a picture which will cause them a bit of work rather than a lazymans button idea
too many forums with flashing gizmos
cant you imagine all the flashing bumf we could end up with coming up to xmas
pah.........
|
I suppose the answer to that would be to have a separate gallery for photo's, so only those who like them would go and look.
That could be in sections for Vintage/Sport/Members steed etc.
Pat
|
>> Pat raised a good point about it being hard to retain some of the good
>> knowledge that you all give freely. After a couple of days it disappears off the
>> end.
>>
>> A wiki?
>>
>> It's free form and organic, it turns out to be what contributors have to offer.
I think a Wiki would be a good idea. Not guaranteed to work, but cheap to have a go at. Who knows what it might produce.
Of course the forum is also producing content that people can find via Google, and which will help to bring people to the site, but a Wiki is definitely a more structured way.
|
Thanks for all your input. It is all along the lines that we want to take the site. So that's encouraging. The only things stopping us at the moment is other work pressures. But once we get going it will fly well I am sure. That is probably some of the sentiment behind the phobia of C4P on HJ site.
Please keep the ideas coming as it is always good to hear from users.
Oh - and thanks for being patient with what is really old software now - and for keeping to the spirit of the house rules.
The only sticking point for me at the moment WRT what to do here is actually the whole nature of the forum that currently allows for thread drift where one post can reply to another endlessly, and you can end up with a very "horizontal" thread view instead of a more on topic vertical one.
e.g. facebook only allows for comments and not comments on comments. i.e. it has a completely vertical structure. Some question and answer sites allow for on level of replies to comments.
If we restrict the site in the future I can see some of you really complaining that you can't go off on one.
If you are still with me as to the problem please chip in on your ideas please.
|
>> The only sticking point for me at the moment WRT what to do here is
>> actually the whole nature of the forum that currently allows for thread drift where one
>> post can reply to another endlessly, and you can end up with a very "horizontal"
>> thread view instead of a more on topic vertical one.
That's something we users should really sort ourselves.
Thread drift is something that will always happen, no matter how much the sites owners would like it not to.
All we need to do is realise the thread is drifting and start a new thread...
|
I'm as guilty as anyone of thread drift, but like any conversation worth having the topic does wander off at tangents....someone eventually brings it kicking and screaming back on track though.
It makes things interesting here, sometimes i see a thread that wouldn't hold any interest for me by it's title, 2 days later i click on it and there's a whole different chat going on, that makes this forum different, with it's occasional bickering spats and the inevitable poetically daggered input from one of the 'characters' to spice things up a bit....magic.
It's working and growing slowly, lets not be too quick to mend something that's patently not broken.
Agreed that tech needs sorting but the discussion forum's not far from perfect.
Last edited by: gordonbennet on Sun 21 Nov 10 at 22:13
|
>>> the discussion forum's not far from perfect.
Do you mean non-motoring or motoring GB?
|
Both Fen, each has enough thread drift and tongue in cheek humour to balance the sometimes quite serious discussions that we have.
Maybe others feel differently but i'm a happy bunny.
|
In truth as far as I'm concerned the motoring forum has been more like a placeholder since it started... a foundation and no more.
There are far far too few members/posters so there is nothing like the spread of experiences with different cars a good forum needs. In addition the private club atmosphere has put off every single person I've advised joins up. May seem harsh but it's true... we (me inc) have been round the same topics so often we all know almost everything about the other and it seems a value is placed on this familiarity in the way threads flow.. particularly when veering off topic.
It really is a problem that the strength of this foundation is possibly the greatest block to new members.
I was one of the first here who found this place without direction and had very high hopes.... I still do but time is dragging on.
|
You cant create a forum out of thin air, its just not possible. I joined in March and its certainly picked up since then. There was a serious lull at first after initial welcomes, but actually, it 'feels' like its getting close to a break out in membership.
The BR gains members by the association with the rest of the website. I never came to the HJ site looking for a discussion forum, I just clicked on Backroom because I was being nosey. This place doesnt have that draw yet, its going to grow more slowly because of it.
That said, we are seeing new names, it hasnt stagnated completely and the number of different threads contributed to each day is quite varied.
I think it needs atleast another year to mature and grow.
|
>> I'm as guilty as anyone of thread drift, but like any conversation worth having the
>> topic does wander off at tangents....someone eventually brings it kicking and screaming back on track though.
We are all guilty of course, and indeed its not a major problem.
the only issue IMO is that stuff can be missed, either things with meaning to the opening post, or something of interest missed because the thread title doesn't interest you.
In fact, I liken the site, to a decent pub.
most of the chat is interesting, as are the chatters, and the subject matter is wide and very varied - many sites would never allow that!
Now... whose round is it?
|
I do hope you don't think I'm being critical at all car4play in making suggestions, I'm trying to turn comparison into something consructive!
I make constant demands upon our webmaster who wastes no time in telling me these things simply arn't possible for a variety of technical reasons, so please feel free to do the same:)
I think the vast majority of us love the thread drift and really don't want to see that dissapear.
I do understand how frustrating it is to cope with for the tidy, orderly mind of a web designer too.
I don't want to use the BR as an example so I will use the PDA website, if that's OK?
Let's take a step back and imagine we're all interested in cars and enjoy pretty much anything about them. We're not familiar at all with forums but know about Google and the internet. We google 'car' and look down the list and find www.car4play.com/ . We read the forums but don't want to get involved with signing on, providing an email address or letting anyone know we're there, we just want to read and enjoy. So we do that and mke a mental note to pop back now and again.
Same scenario, but we like lorries and Google 'lorry' and among other sites we find www.pda-uk.org/.
We look at the menu on the left hand side and straight away there is a wide range of information, links, stories, technical stuff that appeals. There is also a link to the forums.
Can we see the difference?
I think the only way to allow the forums to develop in the delightful way they have done is to make them secondary to the other stuff on the website and most of the brilliant ideas that have come from this thread shouldn't be incorporated into the forum but developed as a separate section.
We have many people who use our website regularly to download information, find answers and just relax and read what others are up to, but they never dream of using the forums. They will ring me up and query a forum post to confirm it's correct, but don't feel inclined to join in.
Is this the area where car4play needs developing?
Is this possible Stephen, or am I expecting too much?
Would the resulting traffic attract more lucrative but discreet advertising?
If the format of the forums presents a future problem, surely it's prudent to find a way to keep the present format but add interest and information to the rest of the website?
I can't see a way an entirely forum based website can survive long term, but I do hope I'm wrong.
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 05:32
|
Good idea Pat but one word of warning. I have been to forums where there is a list of categories down one side that is as long as your arm and I'm left wondering where to look since I can't see any significant difference between headings a and b and c. I might search for a while and then just give up and go back to that list from Google.
From experience at work there are some people who want to throw everything into one bucket and others who want to categorise down to the fine end of a .... as one of my old managers used to say.
John
|
Totally agree John, I'm not entirely happy with ours but our webmaster volunteers his services free, around a full time lorry driving job, so I can only push nim so far:)
I was relying on Stephen having the expertise to do this professionally!
What I'm trying to say is there needs to be other reasons for visiting car4play than just forums.
Pat
|
>> What I'm trying to say is there needs to be other reasons for visiting car4play
>> than just forums.
I agree that there has to be other content. I always intended the site to be very much something else but at the time we had the forum software and it has kept you all happy in the meanwhile. ;-)
Because you are all a community the commenting system is key to pulling the whole thing together. The forum is just one kind of standalone commenting system. But if we are looking to pulling things from other sections all together we need to take a serious look at how the commenting is working and how we can move it forwards. The threaded system is nice from the point of view that you can see what replies to what, but how important is that overall? It's more an interface issue rather than a technical one and just because one can make a system endlessly show nested posts, should one? I have yet to see a clearer way of showing a discussion. Maybe we just have to invent it...
I think Fenlander really hit the nail on the head when he showed that there is a tension between the needs of persistent users and those who casually come here. e.g. on a question and answer system people really don't have the time to wade through endless chatter; they just want the answer and the best one at that. Persistent and loyal users rather enjoy the chatter though and they make your content.
Also from an advertising (read revenue) point of view, lots of users viewing few pages is desireable which is the opposite of what we have here. To get these people and more of the the kind of questions that would appear in "Technical" we clearly need other content.
I notice that someone on HJ thought we were some kind of "Generous Benefactor". That brought a chuckle!
The reality is that we are actually in a really strong place to do something with this site. It's only the other projects we have that have stopped us so far - and these are now nearing completion even though they will require some ongoing work.
We would like some of you to contribute in new ways in the future to make this all work. We were hoping the rating system etc. would have helped us choose who we could trust to do this but this isn't really doing it at the moment. What is encouraging is that many of you are excited by the prospect of helping to move this place on.
Last edited by: car4play on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 11:11
|
Can I ask a question on another thread that might be relevant to this?
Pat
|
>>Because you are all a community the commenting system is key to pulling the whole thing together. The forum is just one kind of standalone commenting system. But if we are looking to pulling things from other sections all together we need to take a serious look at how the commenting is working and how we can move it forwards<<
Despite having a think about ths one, I still don't understand why the commenting system is important.
( I suspect I'm not the only one either, but I don't mind admitting it!)
Pat
|
>> Despite having a think about ths one, I still don't understand why the commenting system
>> is important.
Without it you have no voice.
(I am probably just confusing things with my terminology. By "comments" read "posts")
|
I see, I thought you meant the thumbs or frown thingy:)
Pat
|
I still don't see!
Unless you are referring to changing the forum into comments on a specific topic/image/event/news item rather like Facebook & Youtube or the way people comment underneath newspaper stories???
And thereby restricting thread wander???
Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 14:27
|
Yes, sort of. The examples you quote don't allow any drift at all.
The technical forum is a sort of motoring technical question and answer but without the clarity of a simple question and answer. All the posts (comments) in the main point back to the OP. In this forum there is more drift which essentially means more discussion between members. We wouldn't want to lose this aspect whilst keeping the focus of replies where this is needed and more helpful for the casual observer.
|
Maybe a separate section for asking non-technical car questions as opposed to discussions, ie, if you dont know the answer, dont say nout. If we get a newbie wanting car advice, best not to jump on them for the whys and what fors of their question and just give a factual answer - Im sure some of us can manage that :-)
Some of us do have specific car knowledge where we can give an answer in our specialist areas of knowledge or specific experience of a particular issue.
|
Is there any evidence thread drift is putting off new members?
There is evidence we are not getting many new members, but as to why, I don't think anyone knows.
The more restrictive way of posting didn't work for those of us who've come across from the other place, so introducing it here doesn't seem a very good idea.
Lots of people 'join' a forum to post one question with no intention of taking part in any of the other threads.
Nothing wrong with that, but you are never going to keep those people, short of offering them a free pint for every post.
I'm not wholly against change, but there's a danger changes will do nothing to keep new members, but deter existing ones.
Last edited by: Iffy on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 15:58
|
Exactly my point about leaving the forums pretty much as they are and developing an informative web site around it.
Pat
|
As a very occasional poster might I be allowed to make a comment or two?
I much prefer this site to what has become known as 'the other side'. For some reason HJ seemed to want to slag off anybody who didn't agree with his sometimes deliberately contradictory opinions and , frankly, he became pretty obnoxious as far as I was concerned.
One factor that limits my contribution to C4p is that many of the regular posters seem to know each other personally (the use of christian names, cars owned etc) and I'm sure that I'm not alone in feeling very much an outsider - almost as though we are intruding into a private debate.
This doesn't lessen my enjoyment at reading the forum but it does discourage me from adding to it.
No offence intended to any regulars, by the way.
|
|
Only way to become more familiar is stick your oar in. All oars welcome :-)
|
SH,
A small minority are actually (as opposed to virtually) known to each other - they come to know these things by the chat on here and previously in the BR - don't be put off by that.
|
Honestly Mr Liverpool Honda driver.
Do you really think I would want this lot as my friends?
seriously, we know you from the old forum, so just pitch in.
|
Please don't feel like an outsider, although I do sometimes when the threads start to get too technical and when I have to google every third word to find out what it means!
I get a bit of a chip on my shoulder and think they're doing it on purpose, but I know it isn't that really.
I just go off in a huff for a couple of hours then bounce back and waffle in lorry driver speak! They can't Google that!
I haven't a clue who drives what car unless it says it in the user name, and to be truthful when they start talking about MX something or other, I haven't a clue what make it is.
With a name like scousehonda, you must be from around the liverpool area and drive, or ride a Honda....how about telling us which is it?:)
Pat
|
...With a name like scousehonda...
I think he was previously scouseford.
He was around the old place for a long time - longer than me - so has no reason to feel like an outsider.
|
SH, someone like your good self, having written such a sensitive post, easily qualifies for permission to add further posts!
Seriously, I don't personally know a single "regular" (or indeed anyone else) on this forum, but I don't feel inhibited about chipping in as and when the spirit moves me.
As for knowing first names, cars owned etc., this can come about in many ways, one of which is having been around long enough and having read posts carefully enough for such details to emerge. Another way is to click on a poster's name and see if their profile is hidden or not; if not there may well be some personal details.
You can also use the "Forum search" button to view past posts by a particular individual.
Last edited by: ChrisPeugeot on Mon 22 Nov 10 at 18:14
|
|
Is the look of the forum lay out fixed? I was thinking something like how pistonheads is laid out ?
|
we need AVATARS preferably ANIMATED AVATARS
and we need signatures, more smileys than you can shake a stick at, ability to include photos, ability to HTML our text in gaudy fonts and colours, and sounds - lots of sounds.
|
and a count of how many times you've posted so Zero can see that he needs to get out more :-)
John
|
...avatars, animated signatures, smileys, sounds...
A start, but the forum could still be just about readable.
To make it almost impossible to use, we all need to be able to post enormous links to YouTube like PU has here:
www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?t=3694&m=76400&v=e
|
|
We could add such things but the post block needs to be a bit bigger.
|
|
It wasn't big or clever iffy - I feel suitably ashamed - :-(
|
...It wasn't big or clever iffy - I feel suitably ashamed - :-( ...
Interesting that it worked, though.
|
Thanks for the encouraging reactions. Yes, I was a contributor to HJ for a few years before I found C4p and I was 'scouseford' in those days. The metamorphosis into 'scousehonda' was a bit of an epic in its own right. My Mondeo was written off in circumstances that are still almost too painful to recount and I replaced it, entirely out of character, with a Japanese equivalent. My change of car just about coincided with my defection from HJ and I thought that a similar 'handle' would probably identify me as an ex backroomer so I became 'scousehonda'. The only problem was that I enrolled onto C4p quite late on the night that I took delivery of my new car – which was_____a Mazda!! I had imbibed a bit more than I might normally have done, so pleased was I with my new motor, and it was only the next day that I realised that I was henceforth to be known on the site as the apparent owner of a marque with which I have no connection whatsoever!
Maybe that's why I look upon myself as a bit of an 'orphan in the storm' on the site. Now that my secret is out I will attempt to 'join in' to a greater extent.
You may be sorry!!!
|
It's fine SH. Everyone expects a Liverpudlian to turn up in a variety of cars...Good to see you back !
:-)
|
>>>I think Fenlander really hit the nail on the head when he showed that there is a tension between the needs of persistent users and those who casually come here.
>>>Is there any evidence thread drift is putting off new members?
Well I wasn't so much picking on thread drift as the clubby feel. That's what's put off the folks I've attempted to bring here and if further proof was needed Scousehonda said...
+++One factor that limits my contribution to C4p is that many of the regular posters seem to know each other personally (the use of christian names, cars owned etc) and I'm sure that I'm not alone in feeling very much an outsider+++
The following replies then go onto look at the problem from the wrong angle... trying to get Scousehonda signed up to the the *club* merely strengthens the issue which put him off in the first place for the next person to come along.
Some of the very best forums for specific topics (DIY, Boating, hi-fi, music, vehicle specific motoring) I use are where folks drop in and out frequently with good advice but no feeling they should be part of some inner sanctum.
Some here may remember the late Growler on HJ. He once posted quite a rude, but in retrospect very accurate, summary of how things were when the HJ forums started developing a club culture. A slightly crude variant on folks standing around patting each other on the back.
|
It is only clubby because we are familiar with eachother. Thats hard to avoid unless we all vacate. I wouldnt say there is any excessive friendly overtones, I get a hard time usually :-)
Strikes me that trying to take away the 'clubby' feel is simply attempting to turn it into the BR. The BR is more clinical, infact the posters there have lauded this fact, so it seems that if you want something more impersonal, thats where you go.
Id far rather go for a meal at a friendly local pub than McDonalds.
|
>>> it seems that if you want something more impersonal, thats where you go.
No thanks. I withdrew any significant contributions when the egos ran out of control many years back.
What you have to realise is that Car4Play themselves know something needs to change to a greater or lesser degree and at a most appropriate time scousehonda comes up with a quietly reasoned demonstartion of the problem.
Of the forums I use that provide the best in helpful advice there are 8 in particular that have minimal moderation, 99% self policed good manners, no clubby feel yet the resource of information from the huge number of visitors is something to strive towards.
To be honest at times on here (I honestly include myself in this) some of the chat would be better on Facebook or MSN.
|
This isnt really a motoring version of an agony aunt forum though - again, if you want that, its HJs gig. We were Im sure in the main attracted here because we could relax from the police state style elsewhere.
This so far as I can tell, is a motoring DISCUSSION forum. That means back and forth communication.
'In this site you will be able to discuss all things motoring that you are passionate about'
'Above all have fun and enjoy your passion for cars.'
Im not sure this place has ever set itself up as a mecca for advice. We may well give it, wanted or not, but so far as I can tell, this is somewhere people are welcome to come and sound off about any motoring topic ( or non-motoring ) with a broad spread of people.
Sounding off wasnt really allowed in the BR, hence this place has its converts.
Id sure welcome more people coming here with something new and ill sit on anyone who mentions the word 'troll' just because someone is new, that has annoyed me at times.
|
As a long time lurker and very occasional poster one aspect that I see is an apparent disdain, not by everyone, for members who have old cars, by old I mean anything older than 10 years! The notion that you must drive at the speed limit + 10% +2 MPH otherwise you’re a mimser is also a bit tiring. Sorry to everyone in Norwich stuck behind my ’37 Morris 8 Tourer!
And if one dares to mention BL in any of its forms, other members who from previous postings appear too young to have ever driven them will condemn the cars outright.
With regards banter some comments appear tongue in cheek others less so, you don’t always see the smileys
|
If you want distain, try everytime I extol the virtues of a Reliant Rialto :-)
We need more older car owners to speak up, the Mondeo boys rule right now. How beige ;-)
We really do need smileys.
|
>> Some here may remember the late Growler on HJ. He once posted quite a rude,
>> but in retrospect very accurate, summary of how things were when the HJ forums started
>> developing a club culture. A slightly crude variant on folks standing around patting each other
>> on the back.
so what do you want us to do? stop posting? stop the banter? treat everyone like strangers?
|
Not really no, but plenty of people have said the same thing about here and TBH I can understand where they are coming from.
I don't post very often but things like in the middle of a topic someone will go off topic, sometimes quite bizarrely (to me) things like short poems or rhyming or word association type game in the middle and people start to join in, in and around the original topic. Not on every topic, but often enough to give that impression that there is some sort of 'in' joke.
I suppose it all depends where your view point is it might see charmingly eccentric to some yet plain odd to others, it all depends what sort of forum you want, do you want a bigger forum with more people and more hits or do most like it as it is and aren't too bothered about getting bigger?
|
Ruddy fine excuse SH. Imbibed did you eh?. Never mind the Mazda. Let's discuss beer, but it has to be real ale though, non of the pon y yellow stuff.
Nobody bites here, well not much anyway. Harmless nibbling at worse.
Martin
|
>> One factor that limits my contribution to C4p is that many of the regular posters
>> seem to know each other personally (the use of christian names, cars owned etc) and
I think there were couple of get togethers in HJ days. Adam & others organised one up north and there were at one time some pictures of S London convocation (albeit very early on). Other than that I think most of us could pass in the street. Some of us put forenames on posts (eg PU I think is Rob). And of course the car history thing goes with the site.
I've occasionally tried to guess peoples real identities. Espada identified his business/firm in an HJ post so that didn't take long. Careful study of solicitors firms might have flushed PU and I suspect if I lurked long enough around County Durham's Crown Courts I could identify Iffy!!
|
Im in the Yellow Pages, inc online for the modern folk. GB had no trouble finding me with a tiny amount of direction ( I didnt dare advertise in the BR! ).
There ain that many valeters in Northants...
|
>> There ain that many valeters in Northants...
And even fewer who are called Stuart.
I tried to locate you when we were working out the HJ regulars still to be 'brought over'. Think the on-line sources still placed you in the Bramptons although you'd actually moved further east?
(I'm in Northants as well - Bugbrooke)
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 24 Nov 10 at 21:47
|
Yeah I was in the Bramptons, but I wasnt posh enough ;-) Parents still there.
Im now to the north west of Herr Bennet.
|
>> (I'm in Northants as well - Bugbrooke)
Did you know the Jowett man in Bugbrooke, Brompers ?
He lived in The Paddock but has moved out recently to another village nearby.
Ted
>>
|
Ted,
I didn't know the man himself but could certainly have taken you straight to his house; he also had an Allegro estate in his collection. Had not noticed he'd gone. The Paddocks is a cul de sac but passable as a through route on foot to the church path. I can't be going to the 5 Bells as often as I did!!
That bit of the village is a bit up market for me but I seriously regret not making an offer on a house at the end that was being sold as a 'repo' when we moved here in 1990. No chain, as we could have moved in as soon as the paperwork and mortgage were sorted we'd have been in a strong position.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 24 Nov 10 at 22:19
|
|
Only thing I know about Bugbrooke is the Jesus Army. I once mentioned to my best mates father that id seen their vans about and he, being a baptist preacher himself gave me chapter and verse on their history. Ive tried to inquire less since then :-)
|
Stu,
The JA's founder died last year or in 08, his funeral brought the place to a standstill.
Followers are a significant proportion of the village's population but they're all lovely people even if a bit too intense in their faith for my taste. The JA are also quite significant employers, not just at their farm and food produce company but also a building firm and one of Northampton's better outdoor shops.
Their local presence in numbers also raised an interesting 'discrimination' issue. They're not keen on TV - bad influence and all that - so it tends not to be present in JA households. Question in the KS3 SATS a few years ago started with the premise 'you are writing a TV advert'...... Were JA candidates discriminated against?
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 24 Nov 10 at 22:39
|
Bromps...here it is complete with Jowett in the car port and Allegro estate.
tinyurl.com/2u5w3bg
Not sure what Bill is hiding under the cover ! I took him 10 cylinder heads a few years ago when I was at my cousins in Newton.
Sadly, Bill's wife died a couple of years ago.
Ted
|
Goomaps obviously did the whole of the village on a lovely on a lovely spring day ;-)
Was 'Bill' also an ornithologist/nature watcher?
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 24 Nov 10 at 23:11
|
Don't know what else Bill was into.
He supplies spares for Jowetts. Just had some rings off him and I'm waiting for a head gasket to arrive.
He moved to a village just down the A5 but has a trading address in Surrey.
He's been a club member for over 40 yrs.
Ted
|
|
The guy who gave my lecture was from Kingdom Faith, although no longer. They have an intensity that puts the Mormons to shame ( my ex-wife was one of these so I know them well ), but again really nice people. I got stuck in the back of an MPV with one once and I seriously could not silence the fella.
|
>> Some of us do have specific car knowledge where we can give an answer in
>> our specialist areas of knowledge or specific experience of a particular issue.
>>
BUT.......would a disclaimer be required?? (AND I HATE HAVING TO ASK THIS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS).
|
Disclaimer? No, all advice is given in good faith. None of us claims to be THE authority on anything, but we can give a fairly educated answer on occasion, like when I recommend Vileda Car Cloths. You can disagree with me, but id happily say someone should try them because I have used them for near on 13 years and I think I know what Im talking about :-)
|
|
Any chance of trying them on my motors? All the Hobgoblin you can drink....o:)
|
If you go into a pub it may be for a drink, for company, for something to eat or simply to escape from the world and be alone.
We have the bar where we can go to get some company.
We lack the restaurant, where we can indulge our individual tastes. We lack the snug where we can go a read the paper to get the lates news.
The forums should only be a small part of car4play and the website needs to be developed to attract a wider audience.
Forum format isn't the only way these things can work.
Pat
|
|
Can I ask again, is the format of the forum fixed would it be possible to change it?
|
I think they've all lost interest sooty!
...but they won't half moan when it's changed and they don't like it:)
Pat
|
Do you mean the layout... you referred to Pistonheads as an example??
This forum is unique amongst those I use in having the narrow text window and not having some posters info on the left side.... ie not at all like Pistonheads.
I have no idea what the future holds but understand this design was quite specific to the brief needed by HJ when it was first introduced there.
I'm sure Car4Play will be along to explain sometime.
|
I say keep it simple. This site is almost unique in having no flashing avatars, irritating emoticons, willy waving photograhic signatures or adverts in the middle of the posts.
I used to contribute a lot to a motoring forum in Germany (motor-talk.de) but an update of the site software which included information columns all over the place and the aforementioned adverts between the posts has kept me away recently.
I would second the suggestion for a Photobucket or Flickr based photo album and maybe some structured way of being able to post reviews of cars driven.
Anyway that's the feedback from a user who enjoys the platform on offer here. Still not sure how C4P wants to earn money with this site, so will be happy to accept some compromises to enable a viable business model. Pistonheads is ok, provided you can fight your way through all the other stuff to actually find the forums.
|
>> Do you mean the layout... you referred to Pistonheads as an example??
>>
>> This forum is unique amongst those I use in having the narrow text window and
>> not having some posters info on the left side.... ie not at all like Pistonheads.
>>
That's what I meant as something to change to, yes.
|
Ideas for forum - Skoda
