I've been on this forum for about 9 years now and it was invaluable in helping me to firstly decide the Yeti was a car I'd rather not live without and then to decide on spec. (and indeed what some of the options actually were) and it was through the advice of some of the earliest members I took the trouble to get my Elegance supplied on 16" rather than 17" wheels, which I've never regretted. Throughout most of that time there has been light-hearted banter, excellent advice and on many occasions clear disagreement about the "right" way to do things. But posters seemed to be able to agree to disagree  and leave the OP to decide what advice to follow and what to ignore. You quickly learnt who "knew their stuff", for example The Plumber was held in high regard for his technical knowledge, Llanigram was the go-to guy for off-roading and had an impressive knowledge of legislation and there were others of their standing or close to it. I learnt a lot along the way, most of which I will never put into practice but at least put me a little less in the role of sheep-to-the-slaughter when the car goes  into the garage for work.

 

But what I don't remember was any unnecessary and sometime sustained unpleasantness - usually about something totally inconsequential.

 

Unfortunately owners have moved on and, at least in my opinion, some of the newer members seem to think they have a monopoly on being right and aren't slow in expressing that anyone holding a different view is either incompetent or a fool. A couple of recent examples are the tirades being delivered about where to put the locking bolt (if at all) when the OP simply asked about replacing a rounded-of bolt and the "discussion" about the possible insurance consequences of changing the ride height and, by inference, handling characteristics. It's perfectly reasonable for a forum member to point out modifications can affect insurance and totally out of order to say that this isn't appropriate for a car forum. If you don't like any advice, don't take it but it might be helpful to others now or in the future.

 

I will continue visiting the forum because there is always something to be learnt and also hopefully occasionally I may be able to help someone with their issue but I have to say that these days there's an increasing urge to use the "ignore" button for some members and their content.

 

If this posting offends anyone sorry about that but I'll happily add you to my Ignore list as I'd simply rather correspond with posters who can respect the views of others even if they can't agree with them. 

 

Best wishes for the New Year to the many, many forum members able to participate in a sensible and civilised manner.

 

 

 

 

Well said @Paul52.

 

Seems to be a common theme these days where people's opinions become polarised to the extent that they can't see any other point of view, and often feel justified sticking the knife into anybody whose position might differ to their own. Probably another gem we've inherited from social media, along with the denial of biological gender, chucking statues in rivers, a fuel shortage that wasn't, and the recent confusion between influenza and cholera.... 😉

 

All said in jest of course - Merry Christmas everyone!

Totally agree with the above.

My "Ignore" list seems to get longer week by week...😅

As a new Yeti owner I cant sense the changes that have occurred over the last 9 years. However I can comment on intolerant posters as they appear not just here but on other forums. The lockdowns have created both tension and time and people have lost their sense of perspective. I feel release of tension and energies that would  formerly be released by pursuing extra social activities are channelled into keyboard battles. 
 

Two large events Brexit and the pandemic have spawned two previously unknown factions. Hence a question about something car or bike based becomes entwined in political sniping. 
 

Thats my theory and I regretfully don’t have an answer as to when civility will return. The only thing I may suggest is , if the good guys leave then the snipers become the heart and soul of the forum and thus more good guys leave. So use the ignore block button and the strength of the forum regulars should prevail.  
 

 

 

Hear hear to the OP.

You could say its possibly associated with Thatcher's view of society and the lack of need for community    ----    just my bent and twisted view!

May well be some truth in that, but unfortunately that's just the sort of polarising thing that'll 'trigger' someone and cause this thread to descend into just what the OP was describing. 

 

 

I can't read any of the above posts as you are all on my ignore list 😀

I can see Dale Stevens has posted something, but I can't read it... 😇

It`s another wonderful Americanism  that we seem to have acquired.

Quite often some of these issues pass by the mod team so I'd just like to remind people that there is a Report button that brings these things to our attention. 👍

10 minutes ago, john999boy said:

...so I'd just like to remind people that there is a Report button that brings these things to our attention. 👍

Touch/click on the three dots in the top right corner of the post you wish to report and you will see this option appear.

(For the benefit of anyone unaware of such details.)

Well said, Paul.

It might be helpful for those being ignored to be aware if this is happening to them. A bit like the Likes but in reverse.. might help prompt a bit of reflection and a changing of ways. If not possible I would be happy to put my ignored users in my signature, 2 currently, the other one was banned🤣

48 minutes ago, B33fy said:

It might be helpful for those being ignored to be aware if this is happening to them. A bit like the Likes but in reverse.. might help prompt a bit of reflection and a changing of ways. If not possible I would be happy to put my ignored users in my signature, 2 currently, the other one was banned🤣

We had a thread started on another forum titled "Who's on your ignore list". It didn't end well, only lasted a day or so before the lock... 🤣

But put it like this, if anyone thinks they're being ignored by someone they could try sending them a pm, that would make them aware if they were I suspect.

57 minutes ago, B33fy said:

It might be helpful for those being ignored to be aware if this is happening to them. A bit like the Likes but in reverse.. might help prompt a bit of reflection and a changing of ways. If not possible I would be happy to put my ignored users in my signature, 2 currently, the other one was banned🤣

Please don't add such things to your signature as it could appear to be intimidating or even be perceived as a badge of honour depending on how it's viewed. 👍

23 minutes ago, john999boy said:

Please don't add such things to your signature as it could appear to be intimidating or even be perceived as a badge of honour depending on how it's viewed. 👍

Apologies John, an attempt at humour not helped by poor placement of the emoji. Sadly the perpetrators generate the same impressions to other members and see it as their right or honour to do so. Whilst there is the reporting process, the perpetrators do enough to goad, intimidate, irritate and annoy without quite over stepping the line, so there is nothing tangible to report. I do appreciate the thankless task you, Colin and the other mods face and not wishing to add to your angst, I like many others have done the typically British thing and chose to move on a while ago, posting very occasionally in the innocuous photography thread, leaving them to continue to infest the forum with their toxicity.

3 minutes ago, B33fy said:

Whilst there is the reporting process, the perpetrators do enough to goad, intimidate, irritate and annoy without quite over stepping the line, so there is nothing tangible to report. I do appreciate the thankless task you, Colin and the other mods face and not wishing to add to your angst, I like many others have done the typically British thing and chose to move on a while ago, posting very occasionally in the innocuous photography thread, leaving them to continue to infest the forum with their toxicity.

My reply was more of a general one even though it was in response to your post - just to catch things before others decided it was okay to do it. 😉

I too realise that sometimes people are goaders but if it happens too often then action will be taken.

 

All the mods can be contacted by PM as an alternative to the Report button but in essence, a Report does get flagged up for all the staff to be made aware of a problem.