Break-in period for New Members
 

I, along with many other members in this forum, believe there should be a MANDATORY break-in period for all new members.

On many other forums, of which I personally belong to, make it so that once you join, you are not allowed to start a new thread until you post at least 100 times. Also, one of the forums I belong to restricts from even POSTING in certain areas until something like a 30 day period or something like that. This way, new members would be more inclined to read about ongoing issues/discussions before starting a new one.

It is really getting out of control.

This is absolutely necessary! How many threads have we all sifted through about:

1) Gas mileage
2) The horsepower issue (Ugh!)
3) dyno results
4) turbo rumors

The list could go on. But threads start EVERY DAY about these topics due to newbies not reading, or god forbid SEARCHING for an answer.

I really believe this would make this forum a better place for all of us. Please consider it.

I agree completely. Perhaps something like 50 posts would do.

It's entertaining the way it is now. The mods are usually pretty good about stopping the trolls.

I'm not talking about trolls, I'm talking about new members who legitimately have real questions about RX8s but don't do the proper research before starting a new thread.

There was talk about making a FAQ section. If that can be started, it would be really useful. Newly registered members can be directed to the section as soon as they register to this site. That way, there's more incentive for them to look for their questions there before popping one in a new thread.

I think that would only work if it was MANDATORY that they go to that section and only that section for a certain period of time, whether it is in terms of days or posts.

New members should not be allowed to post new threads.

let's wait for teh VBB 3.0..i heard there are a lot more features than the current version we are running...

Re: Break-in period for New Members
 

Like what areas? Newbies put redundant posts in every subforum.

If someone is either too lazy, feels they or too important, or are unfamiliar enough with a forum to look for existing threads, they normally aren't going to look through a FAQ section, even if you point them there. Have you installed software that makes you page down the license agreement before being able to hit an "agree" or "continue" button? Did you actually read anything?

Requiring at least a few posts before being able to start a new thread has been under consideration for awhile now. But other than that, we're hesitant to put restrictions in that will frustrate or otherwise negatively affect everyone for the purpose of trying to eliminate a couple of redundant posts (or trolls too). It's annoying, but in the big picture, it's not all that much of an issue. And alot of RX8 owners are going to be new to this kind of forum, and we'd rather err on the side of welcoming legitimate newcomers.

---jps

That's a shame that other forums do it with no new or old members complaining. I am more of a fan about no starting new threads before a certain number of posts.

I do agree that an FAQs section is not the way to go, and that was never my idea to begin with.

I know, I was merely answering the thread in general.

Quote:

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...That's a shame that other forums do it with no new or old members complaining...

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There were several options mentioned, which one are you referring to by "it"?

---jps

I have a pet peeve about people (newbies in particular) who are too lazy or ignorant about using the search function to see if their question hasn't been answered already. I've even been called a dick about it. :) However I feel newbies should have the ability to start new threads just in case they have a geniunely new problem they need immediate help on.

My suggestion would be an intro message for new signups that is very brief but tells them if they have a problem or question it's probably been answered already and teaches them how to do a search. I think that could reduce the number of complaints regarding the original problem.
________
MARRIAGE ADVICE ADVICE

By "it" I mean making it so a new member only has the ability to post a new thread after a 100 posts or so in existing threads. When this was the case on other forums, at first I was discouraged, but it really DID force me to read ongoing threads and in turn answered many questions I had.

Having a message a start up of becoming a new member is a bad idea. It's like those "read the terms of agreement" before clicking OK on online forms...no one reads them - they just skip them.

Now, this suggestion is not intended to be a shot at new members. It is really a way to cut down on the ever growing repeat of threads that just make more work for you moderators.

I really think this would be a good move, and so do a majority of the current members.

i agree as well..By the ways guys...do we really have 250hp or 238?? and why am i getting only 20 mpg...hahahahhah

That tiresome and repetitive aspect goes with the job to a certain extent, and I give the crew kudos for exercising restraint and patience. They are the Best! :D

A very bad analogy: We've all been in classes or seminars where some inattentive or uniformed guy in the back asks a question already covered while he was picking his nose(or was he? We can't make that assumption). We don't stand up and tell him he's an utter moron in front of the class, do we?(Don't we wish sometimes..)

All forums have newbie members and they are especially welcome here, especially if they have taken delivery of their 8. Forum vets gain more respect and credibility by assisting them to the search button and maybe posting a link(s) to the subject threads they need. Also big brownie points for moderatorship, as helpfulness carries as much weight as product knowlege. Rotary "Guru-ship" or time in isn't as big a bigger factor as you may believe.

If it's too much hassle simply ignore the post and someone else will likely pick up the slack. Responding with a sarcastic flame is a waste of your and my bandwidth and creates more work for the mods.

PM me if you have any questions or concerns:

Rotar On! -Toad

Think about it. If you did as I am talking, that would be LESS work for your "crew". Again, I don't see this as a negative thing. A new member would still have access to EVERY section of the site. Posting new threads is what they would be restricted to.

To be honest, I'm not sure why this is such a big deal. Why is it that other forums can do it without anyone complaining? It is a way in which to make a new member aware of the information out there.

It would be better for the new member to learn by reading, better for the current members in that we wouldn't have to read repeated threads, and better for moderators because it would make less work for them.

I see your point and in a perfect Utopia I fully agree, but let's be realistic and not take an elitist attitude here. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.[sarcasm]There also would be less work if we killed all sigs, avatars and deactivated post counts in all forums[/sarcasm]. And less forum activity from new members with new valid questions shackled with "read-only" permissions until they "earn" the privilege. Please offer suggestions where a happy medium lies without alienating registered members interested in the 8.

A very active mod forum is always available for feedback from the crew(not "my" crew, btw) where we discuss these topics and hash out solutions where every voice is heard(ok most of the time, lol). Pure and simple if it ain't seriously broke, we don't fix it and we don't cry fire where there's no smoke. Again, if there's an issue we address it and come up with solutions, including all members' suggestions. I don't see why you are taking a personal interest in repetitive newbie posts that you can simply pass over, imho. You make very valid points and thanks for your input in helping make this a better forum.

Again you can PM me anytime and discuss further.
-TM

Not to keep beating a dead horse, here's an argument for why I believe this should be implemented:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=24977

That's one heckuva good argument, lol! I'll close the thread but leave it up for viewing.

Accessories and Mods area
 

Post number 2 and I am hunting a Mods Area...what is going on here? Should there not be 3 area dedicated to the RX-8.

General
Accessories and mods
Service/tech info

Ummmm, look harder...

mods, rethink my suggestions please. look, here's another useless thread by a newbie, and in all places, SUGGESTIONS. Ugh.

Now, see, in the same time you spent typing that and getting all worked up about it, you could have just pointed him in the right direction, or even just ignored the post.

Duc, check the Mazdaspeed/Aftermarket Performance section.

i agree about the 100 post mark.

I agree with Elara - just ignor it if it bothers you. I'm a noob to THIS forum - I was happy as all get out to become a part of it, to get my new Rx and be part of this users' community. Now, do I have time to sit and look at every post end read everything that has ever been written before I open a thread? No, not at all. Do I have time to search? Sure, but before I became a member, searching was a disabled feature to me. Perhaps, once joined as a member, a feature to have would to have an autosearch on keywords when you start your post subject line. Can that be done? I was looking around for anything on the Canzoomer mod initially and without knowing it was a forum member's handle, I assumed it was a product.

There's a LOT of information to sift through - and some people are just getting their first computers (gasp! Really??) and starting to figure out that it can be used for more than playing solitare.

A long time ago - back in the 80's - we used a dialup system that was call a BBS (Bulletin Board System). Nothing like cutting and pasting and avatars and hot linking or anything like that.

My point? Folks reach a level of knowledge at certain points - everyone is different. Nothing like a queching slap to put out the spark of curiosity.......... embrace newbies (I'm not talking about me) who are new to things. We were all there at one time......

tc (two cents) from TC....................

Tall.....................

Honestly, when I first became a member WAAAAAAAAAY back in February 2003, I didn't post new threads until I did the proper research. I am not only complaining about the threads I read, because there are just TOO many useless ones to go through.

However, I DO have to sift through endless thread titles on the same darn issue, week after week. This means I don't have to click on them to be annoyed, seeing titles such as "Flooding issue" or "2005 model changes" or things like that. It is really getting out of control.

My point is, since SO many people are now getting their new RX8s, it is even more imperative that something be done to "help" new members answer questions that have been answered OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. The answer would be to make it so new members are restricted to post new threads until they post 100 times (or some number that we all agree is sufficient) in order to make new members get familiar with the car and what issues/answers have been discussed.

I have yet to do a simple search that did not answer any question I have had.

This would make it a better place for members new and old...and I am not sure why so many people don't see the benefit to this. It would even help the moderators cut down on the closing of threads that are repeated.