I just wanted to start a discussion topic about some of the rules and enforcement on this forum. I myself have owned and managed 3 forums and I know a great deal about what it takes to have a successful site. AFM is, without a doubt, extremely successful. However, I've seen many sites make poor decisions and turn for the worse. I'm not saying that this is going to happen here, but I'm a little concerned.
One thing that I've learned from my experience is the following (my Golden Rule): Your members fuel your forum. They are the forum. Without them, you would have nothing. No topics, no posts, no activity, no ads, no revenue.Do not wrong them. When you begin to "bite the hand that feeds" or "persecute" your members, you're effectively stabbing yourself in the gut. One of the most prominent ways that forums begin to take a turn for the worse is by creating ridiculous rules and enforcing them too strongly.
Now, what is the central topic of this forum? Mustangs. What are Mustangs? Cars. What is the average age of a car owner and enthusiast? 16 and older, with the smallest population being teens, considering that the Mustang is in a slightly higher income class. With this said, we can safely assume that the majority of people on this forum and visiting this forum are adults.
If you take a look in the gallery of this forum, you will see pages upon pages of images with half-naked women posing on the hoods of Mustangs. Now, although I appreciate these galleries, I have found what I see to be a contradiction in the philosophy behind the new rules created for this site. The adult galleries are entirely acceptable for the crowd that visits this forum. They are not closely monitored or censored when provocative images are uploaded, simply because the viewers of this site can handle them. Plus, about 80% of gallery activity is in the "Girls with Mustangs" section, which gains a good amount of revenue. We wouldn't want to forfeit that to keep the site "clean".
Now, on to the contradiction. The "adult" gallery is entirely acceptable and widely viewed. From that gallery, you can take the idea that AFM is actually a pretty chill, useful site. However, when you get to the posts, you see a different side of the rules. You will notice that many words are all of the sudden being "censored" through word filters and moderator edits. My question is, are we not all adults? If we can view the "adult" galleries, can we not handle the language? Do we not have the right to discuss topics like adults? Are you trying to hide who we really are?
We cannot have images or links in our signatures, we cannot post links to any competitor sites (which does nothing but show lack of confidence from the management), we must have at least 15 characters per post, we cannot discuss topics like adults. Heck, we can't even begin to have heated discussions of any kind, which adults have the absolute right to do, correct? What can we do? What entices people to stay?
The sole thing has always kept me here is the wonderful people on this forum. But, to be honest, I can find that at nearly any Mustang Forum. Naturally, if rules begin to aggravate me enough, I will leave. As I have learned in the past, so will many other people - about 90%.
So, my questions to the AFM Management are: Do you feel that word censors and strict enforcement is entirely necessary? Do you feel that it is so necessary, it would be worth losing a massive amount of loyal, contributing members over it? Do you not feel that it would simply be easier to post reasonable rules and suspend / bann the extremely small amount of "trouble makers" that will stumble upon this forum? Do you feel that as adults, we cannot manage ourselves correctly, so you must step in and "correct" the situation with word filters and mod edits? Do you respect your members as adults and the entire reason that this forum is successful?
My questions to the community are: Do you feel that I have a valid argument? Do word censors aggravate you? Does it bother you that you can't say words like "J E S U S" without them getting censored? Are you not adults?
My suggestions to the AFM Management are: Work closely with your members. Do not put yourself on a power trip - it never works out. Ask your members what they think of every single action you plan on taking, before you take it. And take what they have to say extremely seriously. Treat your members the way they should be treated: like adults.
Thank you and I appreciate your time,
Austin (Gotadime)
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Regards: Gotadime View my CarDomain by clicking my Home Page Link Official CarDomain Blog Contributor!
Okay first of all, there are a ton of teens on this site that have purchased older Mustangs as their first car. Sure the majority may be adult, but there are more teens here than you seem to think.
Secondly, there may be pictures that are provocative, but I have only seen 2 or 3 pictures that actually have a little bit of nudity.
Third, I've seen the other sites that allow pictures and huge signatures on their posts. The huge pictures and long signatures detract from the actual post. I find myself drawn to the signature instead of what that person actually said. That is why I came here. If you want pictures, go to Google and search for pictures. If you want information and help on Mustangs, search this forum as this is the best I've ever seen.
Also, show me one example of a Moderator that is on a "power trip". All the mods I've come across on this forum are very helpful and tastefully edit the words that the RULES do not allow. What good would a site be if it did not enforce the rules? What would be the purpose of having rules if they aren't enforced?
My personal opinion is that using cusswords makes a person sound incompetent and pretty ghetto. Also, what would the difference be if you said "I drove my f****** car" versus "I drove my car"? Why do you feel the need to cuss in the first place? It may be your personal preference to use foul language in your everyday speech, but this is a forum where ALL Mustang fans can come to chat, hang out, and get information on their cars.
I myself have owned and managed 3 forums and I know a great deal about what it takes to have a successful site.
This thought just came to my mind. Since you've done it before, do it again. That's right, start your own forum and invite all the people you think agree with you.
This thought just came to my mind. Since you've done it before, do it again. That's right, start your own forum and invite all the people you think agree with you.
hes puting out an opinion... not trying to steal afm members, because like the last guy to try it... i dont think it would work.
i see where hes comeing from
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i have yet to find some one else who when changing their oil ( every 2000 miles or when they get bored ) details the under side of their car.
X-C April 2010,Heads, Cam,Internals April 2011, or blown engine, witch ever comes first.
The transformation has begun!
If the recent thread that was cutting out the name of a certain religious icon is what prompted this, and I believe it is, my answer is that either ALL these references should be deleted or NONE of them be deleted. The intent may be to prevent someone from spouting some religious viewpoints and I believe that has no place on this board. Profanity is for the shallow minded who cannot express themselves in any other way. You want to see porn, the internet is awash in it. Let's keep it open and about the cars we love.
Frank
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2008 GT Premium, Vapor Metallic, 5-speed stick w/MGW, GT500 front end, spoiler and replica wheels. Sequentials, GTA's, M6066M463V8 Whipple - can't wipe the smile off my face.
what would the difference be if you said "I drove my f****** car" versus "I drove my car"? Why do you feel the need to cuss in the first place?
thats one of them sentence enhancers!
i dident jsut drive my car to the carry out... i drove the S*** out of it... pertaning i drove her hard!
hehe thats why i need a clutch
Quote:
Originally Posted by duckbubbles
If the recent thread that was cutting out the name of a certain religious icon is what prompted this, and I believe it is, my answer is that either ALL these references should be deleted or NONE of them be deleted.
our president already said sorry to the other people, shouldent it be ok to say all of them now?
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i have yet to find some one else who when changing their oil ( every 2000 miles or when they get bored ) details the under side of their car.
X-C April 2010,Heads, Cam,Internals April 2011, or blown engine, witch ever comes first.
The transformation has begun!
Last edited by ScottHalliday; 04-17-2009 at 03:51 PM.
hes puting out an opinion... not trying to steal afm members, because like the last guy to try it... i dont think it would work.
i see where hes comeing from
Yeah I didn't really mean for him to try to steal members. I was just being sarcastic and pretty much saying "if you don't like it, don't come to this forum". It's a free country. The Moderators have the right to run the forum how they want to run it. And we all have the right to leave or start our own and run it the way we want it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by duckbubbles
If the recent thread that was cutting out the name of a certain religious icon is what prompted this, and I believe it is, my answer is that either ALL these references should be deleted or NONE of them be deleted. The intent may be to prevent someone from spouting some religious viewpoints and I believe that has no place on this board. Profanity is for the shallow minded who cannot express themselves in any other way. You want to see porn, the internet is awash in it. Let's keep it open and about the cars we love.
Frank
+1 I completely agree. I know what thread you're talking about. Well said Frank.
Last edited by ScottHalliday; 04-17-2009 at 03:52 PM.
Yeah I didn't really mean for him to try to steal members. I was just being sarcastic and pretty much saying "if you don't like it, don't come to this forum". It's a free country. The Moderators have the right to run the forum how they want to run it. And we all have the right to leave or start our own and run it the way we want it.
yea well when u think about it. its not the mods at all
there is a single man who owns this site
the mods answer up to him.
he says no curse they enforce it, he says cut down the stickeys they enforce it
thats why theres 05horses DIY garage i wrote like 20 good how to's
but then it got all messed up lol but they were all there at one point. because he dident want alot.
so its not a matter of mods not likeing it, were just doing our jobs.
im a mod in a muzzle loader forum on a nice hunting and fishing site.
what ever chris says chris gets! even if it dont apply to muzzys
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i have yet to find some one else who when changing their oil ( every 2000 miles or when they get bored ) details the under side of their car.
X-C April 2010,Heads, Cam,Internals April 2011, or blown engine, witch ever comes first.
The transformation has begun!
Okay first of all, there are a ton of teens on this site that have purchased older Mustangs as their first car. Sure the majority may be adult, but there are more teens here than you seem to think.
Secondly, there may be pictures that are provocative, but I have only seen 2 or 3 pictures that actually have a little bit of nudity.
Third, I've seen the other sites that allow pictures and huge signatures on their posts. The huge pictures and long signatures detract from the actual post. I find myself drawn to the signature instead of what that person actually said. That is why I came here. If you want pictures, go to Google and search for pictures. If you want information and help on Mustangs, search this forum as this is the best I've ever seen.
Also, show me one example of a Moderator that is on a "power trip". All the mods I've come across on this forum are very helpful and tastefully edit the words that the RULES do not allow. What good would a site be if it did not enforce the rules? What would be the purpose of having rules if they aren't enforced?
My personal opinion is that using cusswords makes a person sound incompetent and pretty ghetto. Also, what would the difference be if you said "I drove my f****** car" versus "I drove my car"? Why do you feel the need to cuss in the first place? It may be your personal preference to use foul language in your everyday speech, but this is a forum where ALL Mustang fans can come to chat, hang out, and get information on their cars.
I could not agree more with jep23 on this one.
I along with 99% of this forum are here because we love the way it is setup and the way it is run. This is the cleanest (the format and the way threads look etc.) Mustang forum I have been on. Honestly I get a little irked with these kind of posts and here is why... I have no issue with questioning or having the moderators/owners review policy. But in reality this forum has been here for a long time. Their rules and format have been tested and users like me and you are here because of them. Props to the people that keep this site running. This is one of the most relaxed and friendly places on the net. I'll be here as long as this site keeps running and I have a mustang
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2007 Mustang V6, C&L CAI, Hurst Competition Plus Short Shifter, Flowmaster Dual Exhaust, Sequential Taillights, 3D Carbon Blackout Panel, 3D Carbon Side Vents, 3D Carbon Louvers, Roush Hood Scoop, CDC Classic Chin Spoiler, 14" Shorty Antenna
I see where you're coming from and you make a few valid points. However, by the popularity of this site, I doubt that AFM is "biting the hand that feeds it." I think vulgar language should be kept out of AFM. Everybody gets excited or angry and a word or two slips, but nobody gets proscuted or banned for it.
And I agree about not allowing photos in signatures. On other forums, I often have to think whether I'm looking at the thread or somebody's sig.
As for the revenue of a successful forum; I believe respectable vendors would be more interested in a forum that protrays itself in a professional manor as AFM does. Take a look around...Some of the largest Mustang part distributers sponsor AFM.
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2000 V6
A.M. CAI
Dual exhaust w/Flowmaster super 44's.
GoodYear F1 tires
17" five spoke GT rims
Painted calipers, Painted pony, flat black painted hood stripe, flat black painted spoiler.
The "adult" gallery has pages of images with half-naked women posing.
Doggone it! Why didn't anybody tell me there was an adult gallery of half-naked women? All I've seen is the "hot car babe" section with girls dressed in clothes that are legal to wear in public. Is there a special password to gain access to the pictures of the half-naked women? Maybe it is one of the perks that comes with achieving Top Dog status? If there is any correlation between how many posts you have and how many of the half-naked pictures you can access, then I will finally understand why stlwagon has over 73,000 posts on AFM.
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2008 Shelby GT500 torch red with black stripes + sequentials
2001 Cobra mineral grey with 2003 Mach 1 shaker hood
1996 Cobra color-shifting mystic paint + sequentials
Doggone it! Why didn't anybody tell me there was an adult gallery of half-naked women? All I've seen is the "hot car babe" section with girls dressed in clothes that are legal to wear in public. Is there a special password to gain access to the pictures of the half-naked women? Maybe it is one of the perks that comes with achieving Top Dog status? If there is any correlation between how many posts you have and how many of the half-naked pictures you can access, then I will finally understand why stlwagon has over 73,000 posts on AFM.
LMAO im ahead of u so when i et there ill let u know!
i did the math one day if STL died, heaven forbid, if i posted i think it was 102 posts a day for 2.5 years id catch him
of corse that was 500 posts ago
__________________
i have yet to find some one else who when changing their oil ( every 2000 miles or when they get bored ) details the under side of their car.
X-C April 2010,Heads, Cam,Internals April 2011, or blown engine, witch ever comes first.
The transformation has begun!
Edit: I found it! Dang! I'll have to look harder at the paperwork next time I buy a Mustang because I definitely want the 'car babe leaning over my hood' option installed on the next one.
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2005 V6Mustang coupe. Automatic. Black with Charcoal Interior
Mods: JLT CAI, Bamachips 91 race tune, single Mustang V8 muffler, Mustang V8 swaybars
Looks: smoke front turn signals, sequential taillights, 14" shorty antenna, MRT rear window louvers and a little chrome for the interior 2000 C5 Corvette convertible, Torch Red with Black Interior. Full of options, Corsa exhaust 1990 Ford Bronco 351ci engine- it runs.
Word Censors? We're all Adults, correct? 
I completely agree. I know what thread you're talking about. Well said Frank.
