All Members Please Read

[z28luvr01]

Throughout its existence, we at Cheers and Gears have taken pride in providing the internet with a reputable source of GM-related news, information, editorials, and discussion while providing a relaxed, fun atmosphere for every one of our members. What we’re about to say here really reflects out desire to ensure that we can continue to provide an enjoyable experience to everyone who visits C&G.

There are a number of issues that have come to our attention in the past several weeks or so, and it’s time for us to address them. For the most part we’ve been against micro-moderation, but these issues have gotten to the point where members are expressing dissatisfaction with C&G. We need to nip these problems in the bud if C&G is to continue to flourish as both a well-respected resource for GM news and info and a great hangout for all of us.

Firstly, we’ve noticed that topics throughout the forums have a potential to go off topic and degenerate into any one of the following:

• Personal conversations best left to myspace

• Immature, senseless remarks (HoNDa iZ TeH suXXorZz!!!111!!11)

• Arguments over RWD/FWD, unibody/BOF, import/domestic, OHV/OHC, etc.

In addition, we have noticed that members post mulitipul times in a row without any responses from other members, and we ask that this be held to a minimum.

While we don’t want to stifle anyone, we do feel that when topics veer off course in one of these manners, it detracts from the C&G experience; members who may want to join in the discussion may feel hesitant to do so, while casual browsers of the site (including people at GM) may view our member base as a whole to be immature people whose thoughts and opinions are not worth considering. So, when posting on C&G, we ask that you step back and think about how much your post adds to the topic at hand. Take care to proofread it for grammar and spelling mistakes, as a poorly-written post could send the wrong message.

Now, we know what you’re thinking….”What about the Lounge?” It’s true that topics in the Lounge don’t have to be about cars, and we’ll add that it’s not as important for Lounge topics to stay on topic or even contain proper English. However, it’s important that in the Lounge, fun, friendly, and easygoing should reign supreme. We have no intentions of renaming the Lounge into “The Battlefield”.

That brings us to our next point – personal feuds. It seems to be a growing problem on C&G, one that starts in the Lounge and spreads throughout the forums like beige Camries in a retirement community. It’s only natural that when you cram a couple of thousand people into one room, albeit a room located on the Internet, that there’s going to be a few personality clashes. The same rules for getting along with people in the real world apply to getting along with people on C&G. Treat everyone with RESPECT (as you would want to be treated), listen to what they are saying, and respond to them in a polite, inoffensive manner whether you agree with them or not. If you do appear to be getting into a heated argument with another member, diffuse it by not carrying it any further. If need be, step away for a while and cool off, or talk to one of us about the problem.

Finally, we’ll take a moment to discuss the issue of front-page updates. That’s our fault, plain and simple. C&G is a hobby for all of us – everything we do here, we do out of dedication to C&G, GM, and our members. Like all hobbies, sometimes real life has a way of sneaking in and pulling you away from it. That was pretty much the case these past few weeks, as many of us have needed to step away from C&G to tend to real-world matters. We apologize to you all for that, and vow to improve our performance in this area.

We’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again – if you’re reading this, you help make C&G what it is. Whether you’re an admin, a moderator, a writer or editor, whether you post news articles, contribute financially, or just provide insight into a topic, you’ve helped shape this site. Whether you realize it or not, what you say and do on C&G matters for something. What we're saying here is that everyone - staff and members included - is charged with the task of keeping Cheers and Gears a fun, automotive-related atmosphere that feels just like a big family, just like it always has been. If there's an issue, don't let it pollute the forums. Instead, PM or email any one of us and we'll do whatever we can to rectify it.

Thanks for reading.

[daves87rs]

Cool!

Gotcha!

I guess I can understand some of those issues..times can/are rough On some

people right now, and it can be easy to show...

I myself I currently in a rough time-but I would never (at least I hope) take

it out on my buddies here...

I enjoy all you crazy people... :AH-HA_wink:

[loki]

read and agree,

hope i'm not any of those, well maybe the off topic , but if i do that i try to keep it brief

[Croc]

definitely something that needed to be said...

Edited September 21, 2006 by Croc

[NOS2006]

Yeah, I even got out of hand last night a little.. making a post that shouldn't have been made and I looked at it earlier and was like, "Why the hell did you write that?"

Anyway, I agree. Respect is what makes this place so great.. so let's respect that policy.

[the_yellow_dart]

I'm supporting whatever keeps the sanity around here.

Censorship? Bah... it's part of being on an internet board.

[ocnblu]

Thanks for that, z. I'll try to be mindful.

[Sixty8panther]

Just when I was about to post my RWD-Pushrod-V8-BOF-22-foot-long-CAR Manifesto...

[wildcat]

I still say you should make everybody register. Whenever C&G has some breaking story or scoop or exclusive photos, there are high numbers of guests looking. Wouldn't it be better to count them among C&G members?

[Camino LS6]

I still say you should make everybody register.  Whenever C&G has some breaking story or scoop or exclusive photos, there are high numbers of guests looking.  Wouldn't it be better to count them among C&G members?

196260[/snapback]

Create a new topic/poll in the lounge and ask this question of the members. We'll check out the results.

[Cory Wolfe]

Thanks Z. I realize some of those problems were my contribution. I'm trying, but I've getting a royal beating by life. Well, perhaps not all that royal, but a beating none the less...