Poll: Forum for Non-Opel Discussions??

[Gary]

Time for a poll...
Should non-Opel Related threads be allowed on the site?

[baronbors]

NOPE

[saxybiker]

I voted, NO, but wanted to comment. I think it could cause more problems than it is worth. If you want to talk off topic there are Private Messaging and chat functions.

Vickie

[Stressed]

Who cares? If a thread gets off topic, I just don't read it. I love the information available on this forum, but the comraderie sucks.

[GT-Freak]

People talk about their kids, or work, or something non-Opel related all the time. This is hard to police. Sometimes people discuss other members. (E.g., "I got a message, Wally_J_Doe had a heart attack last week. He's out of ICU and doing fine.") Interferring with free speech (although it's not really free) can be very subjective.

Are you talking about,
- Cutting threads that start off the topic?
- Cutting pieces of threads that go off topic?
- Disecting threads when the topic changes?
- Getting rid of threads that have been covered in the past?

Private messaging doesn't allow for others to join in. Many times 2 people are discussing a problem between themselves. These eat up a bunch of postings. This happens many times with problems. But the group benefits from their discussion and learned knowledge.

Personally, I agree with "Who Cares?" I don't read many posts. I have no interest in absolutely everything. Many times I have nothing to add that hasn't been said. I think most people do this. If you check the members section about 1/2 the members have never posted. I think it's common courtesy to search for past threads if you have a question, it's probably been answered. I'd hate to see this become a Q/A forum only.

If a moderator sees a problem, a little constructive direction goes a long way. Many times this is a training issue. The member doesn't know they've crossed a line. I know you (Gary) redirect people all the time to previous threads and help people out. It's not harsh and it accomplishes your goal. I think all moderators should do this. Nobody wants a Forum Nazi.

[Geek]

My first thought was "NO", but, having done a little more thinking, I've changed my mind. I'd have to agree with Stressed, if a post starts wandering to something I'm not interested in, I stop reading it. In the event that something is being posted that offends someones sensibilities, they can always report the post to a moderator. Even the best among us have occasionally wandered off-topic. I don't think, that as a group, we have absolutely nothing of interest to talk about besides Opels. Just my thoughts.

[jlthunder]

I think the threads are great. If a subject is not opel related, then it should be allowed but the moderator must monitor it and if we start to get overwhelmed by non-opel threads, then we should start to curb them. If there are only a couple a month, then I don't think it is a big deal.

[Old Hippie]

Lets go with the flow! I think we learn alot about our cars and about the people we find here. Not family or fellow workers, but OPELer's.

[Jeff Pozorski]

Yes, within reason though. It is great to learn a little about the members of our group but things do stray at times so far off subject that I quit reading any further. Possibly move the thread at that time or end it all together. That of course would be up to the moderator. 100% off subject though, such as politics or money talk, needs to find a home somewhere else.

[havel1hv]

I think non-Opel threads, comments etc. should be allowed. Perhaps a forum could be made that is for Non-Opel related topics?

I'm prob. just a "loser" but I have more "friends" online than off. So it is nice to be able to share non-opel stuff with my friends, that just happen to be opel people. Since Opel people just happen to be some of the nicest people around, and all.

Just my 2 cents,

Heather V. Havel
Michigan, USA
1970 Opel GT
1967 Camaro

[TGSI Racing]

This gives me the opportunity that I have been looking for. You see I am a member of the "Flat Earth Society". It is becoming increasingly clear that we have all been subjected to a hoax by the colaborative conspiracy of all the governmnets of the world. THE WORLD IS FLAT. It is merely governments and big business that want us to believe in satellite communication. That way they can gouge the downtroden for any amount of money they want for services that should be free.

Which brings up another topic... stuff that should be free. Like water that comes from the earth... and like oil that comes from the earth...

I think you get the idea that I voted NO. A little straying off topic... maybe like adventures on an Opel parts hunting trip would be fine. Maybe other car info occasionally, but Gary and moderators... let's not open this up to a free-for-all.

[baz]

bob is that your house i can see in the distance?

a little straying is ok in most things but dont get caught is the main thing

then wonder why moderators can edit a vote????

[72opelguy]

i didnt read but 1 or 2 posts but i think that the off opel topics should be killed if you would like to share your other cars with people there r other ways of contactinf them i brought up that i had aim msn and yahoo and would like to talk to people through that posting on a forum doesnt get you aquianted with someone aswell as chatting on an im so there r better ways of meeting people and showing off your other goodies

[calvin]

Sometimes things can get a little off subject and if they are in the general area I say no big deal. If space is a problem then I say no but if space is not an issue. There are gray areas like "Look at this picture of an 80ies Pontiac Le Mans.. Is it an Opel? Well change the grill and the cam and yes...

Give some leeway if it is in the general area (only) and at least car or personal member related.

Example if I explained a trick that worked for fixing a Camaro starter that might have crossover potential that is fine.

If I am talking about some pavement ripping Ford and it's last drag race...ax it


I guess just use common sense.

[72GT]

I think we should stay on topic - so threads will continue to relate to Opels.
I imagine, we all have other interests beyond Opels (or not ) and there are plenty of other forums around to get your keyboards clicking.
Would you go to your Friendly Local Auto Parts Store to chat about the latest techniques in basket weaving? Maybe they are interested - maybe not - either way you will probably get a better response from the folks at the Friendly Local Basket Shop!

[madhatterpdc]

It's your show, I am along for the ride and will support whatever policy arises. either way this community is a fantastic resource, and if asking users (as well as editing posts) to exhibit a stronger conscious effort to stay on topic is necessary, then I will be a forum abiding citizen. Regardless of the results of the poll or any resultant decisions, I will make a stronger effort to remain on topic.

That being said, I get the feeling that the strength of the NO votes is stronger than the weight behind the YES votes.

[TGSI Racing]

Yea... what Calvin and madhatterpdc said.

[kmon]

Originally posted by havel1hv I think non-Opel threads, comments etc. should be allowed. Perhaps a forum could be made that is for Non-Opel related topics?

I like this idea, make a seperate forum for non opel goodness. Best of both both worlds IMO. But as has been said im behind opelgt.com all the way, which ever route they choose.

[dan101]

I'm new, and don't even own an Opel....Yet, but have an opinion.
I really don't care if off-post comments come in, like others have said, I just don't read them. That being said, I have wondered a couple times, "Why is that posted on here?" It would seem to me that basic consideration, and the use of Open Discussion threads, should take care of the problem. If not, then the moderator can take care of it.

In the end, I hope to find a GT, learn how to fix it, take care of it, get the most out of it's performance, and spend a little on-line time reading stories of other "GT/Opel owners" and checking out their photos. For my other interest, I check out and post on THAT site, and not go into that here.
Thanks!

[intenseimages]

just a new guy on here, but i have an opinion both ways.

i do not beleive non opel material should be in the opel discussions or forums. i do not want to go to the GT forum and read about dodge ramchargers, even if i do own a few of them.

on the other hand, i see no harm in allowing minor off topic discussions in an open forum board. as long as they are not extremely long winded and do not get into heated arguments i see nothing wrong with them.

just my $0.02

eric

[MICAH1]

Yes but within reason.. One thing this form does is give off a bunch of great info. I am on my second GT and by exchanging thoughts technical and personal with the folks on this site I have found myself closer to my present OPEL than the first. I'm 56 now but when I purchased my first GT in 1973 I was a horse with blinders. With this site from Rally B talking about it all to the Guy refering to his GT as Celeste we could say at times it is not just a form that you modarators have created but also a family. Do what parents do, control it and not allow it to get out of hand. Just my thoughts on the human factor and their OPEL machines...

[namba209]

O. K., My SO keeps telling me I ramble on and on. I may do it here also. I've got more than just an interest in Opels. I'm a retired USAF aircraft maintenance supervisor. I subscribe to the North America Model Boat Association, and have 10 model racing boats, hence my list name. We're into showing and breeding Norwegean Elkhounds. I play at golf, I've got three first year Honda motorcycles I used to race. So what I've learned in my careers and in these hobbies may relate to working on Opels and I may pass that info on as it relates. If the posts go really far off topic, advise the folks. Like almost everyone else, I like to know the personalities on the site, I've met a few at the OMC picnic this year. I'd like to go to Carlisle, maybe in a couple of years. But this forum and classic opels site are the best I've been on. Keep it as it is or change, I'll still be here and go with the consensus. It's the folks on the site and the moderators that keep this thing interesting. That said, it's time to vote.

[Motor Mouth]

Ok for what it's worth.

I think anything off topic should go go in an 'open forum'. But for this to work you may need to create some sub-forums. Over here in the UK I used to belong to the UK TT Owners club and if you need an example of what I mean you may wish to check out the site www.tt-forum.co.uk

The only problem with such 'off-topic' forums is that they take a great deal of moderation.

The benifit of such forums is that people are able share knowledge and information on other matters, not necessarily GT or even GM related, for example last winter I was coming over to the states for a holiday and was considering buying a digi camera and thanks to the help of some of the guys on the TT forum I managed to make a great purchase and greatly reduced price.

The poll may come out with a 'yes' but there's more to consider than just that and either way we should respect the commitee's decision

[RallyBob]

If I want to read about Opels, I come here. If I wanted to read about catholic schoolgirls, or politics, or green eggs & ham, I'd go to the appropriate forums.....

Sure, we all deviate from time to time, but essentially we all are talking to people with the same interests, and we usually reach the off-topic items inadvertantly through conversation with others of our 'kind' (for lack of a better description).

I generally don't talk about my other interests here often, unless it's pertinent to the situation at hand...i.e., woodworking would apply to Opels if we were, say, talking about a custom dash panel for an Opel or a custom wood buck for a fiberglass mold for an Opel, etc. But in general, I leave my day job out of it, as well as other hobbys and view points.

I can say I'm impressed that we rarely have wars on these forums amongst the members, and with the exception of a recent attempt at blatant spamming from an unnamed flywheel supplier, we are largely unaffected from outside influences. I'd prefer to keep it pure, I've belonged to 3 other mailing lists and/or forums that collapsed because of the various flames that eventually destroyed it, most being off-topic. And all those started out as excellent, but all ended up as crap.

My .03 cents.
Bob

[Travis]

Originally posted by RallyBob If I wanted to read about catholic schoolgirls, or politics, or green eggs & ham, I'd go to the appropriate forums.....

What if the Catholic school girls were in an Opel? :P

I think that as long as the topics are 'Opel related' it's OK. And it just comes down to common sense which admittedly can be difficult to regulate. Opels, things to do in an Opel, with an Opel, to an Opel, parts or technologies from other cars which could be applied to Opels, storage of Opels, towing of Opels, tools one could use to fix an Opel and so on....

JMHO

-Travis