Have Click N Brags "Jumped the Shark"???????

[imported_Picus]

Dude its been a while, how`ve you been man!? I ended up getting a 335is... getting hit by a conversion van, then picking up a trade in CLK55 AMG for a steal. Still going at it with the detailing?

Wait, you had a 335is and it got totaled? Excuse me while I cry for awhile....



Nice on the clk though, cool cars; great noise. I sold my 335i and bought an fj cruiser, moved to the country and opened a shop... definitely still detailing, just put in 55 hours in the last 4 days loving it...between the back aches.



How are things going with you??



(this post brought to you by a hilariously obvious attempt to derail the flaming in this thread!)

[white gecko]

oh please.... If this is the direction this site is going to continue to go....well we all know whats going to happen.

[autoconcierge]

Facts in evidence................





1.I do not get clients from this site, I have done one Porsche Cayenne Turbo and a gentleman with a Lexus recently contacted me and that is the WHOLE time I have been a member.



2. Fact is MANY have contacted me in PM`s and thru phone calls

3. Fact I have stated so many times why I choose not to "Help the community" that it is silly..............

4. Fact, in the aforementioned PM`s and calls I HAVE helped those in the "Community"

5. Fact, this is about the "Haves vs Have nots" period.

6. Fact if I post here for ego, than you would think I would have stopped as no matter what I put up there will be few if any comments......due to spite so that arguement goes out the window

7. Fact Dan nobody is trying to hurt your reputation, you said some stupid ish(Which is your right and opinion) and now I will call you on it so....(Gird up your loins like a man)



To all who disagree.......so be it, those with common sense and a brain in their head can read between the lines. I bump heads with dummies who forget that when they say something a**inine that maybe not everyone will say "Yeah buddy......that was great!", we all know what this is and I speak for a few of us that are chastized for no GOOD reason less the "Haterade gulping" that is so obvious to see.



Retort this ......anyone.

[Dan]

There is nothing to retort, you`ve gotten all worked up over my opinion. I don`t even have to say anything, you`ve made yourself look silly. I clarified my stance, and that`s all I`m going to do.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Actually Bob, I think somewhere in this I mentioned having 2 forums - one with cliff notes on how to and the other just nice car pics. I`ve made the suggestion a while back to the powers that be and it`s been considered - just nothing final yet.



Would that make sense? Would ya`ll rather have instead of C&B, have a how-to showcase AND a fine car gallery?

Let`s keep the discusion focused on what would make the forum better.

Thanks

:werd: And for that matter, what you`re suggesting is largely the way things were originally (before they combined the professional detailer showcase and other click and brag section). The most troubling thing I see here, still, is that there has been a lack of reaction to fix a downward spiraling problem. The longer they wait, the worse it will get and the harder a recovery will be.



For the record, I absolutely think splitting things back out into a "How-To Showcase" and a "Detail Gallery" type section would be helpful. I would just urge taking care in choosing what to call the sections ("Fine Car Gallery" could seem a bit exclusionary, and that would be equally counterproductive IMHO).



What can I say? I hate stupid ridiculous drama and I would really like to see moves made to curtail as much of it as possible.

I didn`t say I didn`t have any write ups, I don`t have any click and brags.

This response is exactly why I think the problem is the name "click and brag" because it seems to make people think negatively about the posts contained therein.

I come here because I like detailing and i like helping others with the hobby/business.

And there is NOTHING wrong with that! I come here for much the same reasons but at the same time, I don`t begrudge the guys who come here to show their work the opportunity to do so, either.



It comes down to how you approach it. For example, when I look at one of Bob`s threads, where he doesn`t list the products he used or his processes, I don`t think "that guy`s a snob," I look at the bigger picture of what he`s showing. On more than one occasion, his pictures demonstrate attention to little things that most people (myself included at times, I admit) might miss. The take-away from that is on the next detail I do, I remember how much of an impact those little things made on the end result and strive to dial them in to the next level.



No, the thread itself didn`t teach me exactly how to do those jobs, but in the vast majority of cases I can figure it out since the materials those parts and components are made of is nothing different than I dealt with on other parts of the vehicle already.



All this comes down to is that different members contribute to the community in different ways, but in the end they`re all making contributions. Maybe you don`t see the value being contributed in showcase threads, and that`s fine... but there are other people who do see value. Hopefully you can respect that.







On that note, might I suggest that this thread has run its course, and perhaps should be brought to a close?

[cptzippy]

+1, time to put this one down.

[Brad B]

Ok everyone. Let`s let this go. No more warnings.

[Darkstar752]

Ok everyone. Let`s let this go. No more warnings.

Just lock it and let it die, I`d rather come to this section to view write-ups instead of seeing this thread. Basically everything that needs to be said already has and the thread has served it`s purpose. I`m not sure who has the power/authority to change it but I would really urge them consider re-naming of the "click&brag" section.

[Brad B]

Ok, let`s put this to bed.

[David Fermani]

Wow. For a thread that initially gained so much positive momentum, it sure seemed to go off course with theories that are totally not as intended. I’ve never seen a thread where so many people have poured out of the woodwork to give such extensive thoughts on a topic and for this I’m grateful to be the author. There’s nothing more important to me then to help grow the forum in the most unbiased fashion I know, but with this I am physically and monetarily only able to do so much. That’s partially why I created this thread to get people to think about how their time could be spent here differently not only improving the forum, but their own exposure if desired. I can’t help it if all people don’t see things the way I do and for this I will still remain respectful. This thread’s purpose was to discuss the fact of how the entire online auto community (not just detailing forums) has been flooded with people/detailers doing write ups. It in itself has neutered the sanctity of what was once a pleasure to be a part of (for me) to create and to correspond in. Instead, what it has done is flood the market with people who use the medium for several different motives which are neither right nor wrong depending on how you view it.



I can assure you that Autopia is not on a downward spiral in any way, shape of form!

Traffic, threads, posts and new members are very abundant considering what our competitor’s dynamics are coupled with. Autopia remains to be the leader in unadulterated and unbiased discussion and will continue to do so despite what anyone believes. We will continue to support our members whether they are a part time novice or full time pro. As business owners and free thinkers, we should all continue to be leaders and innovators with our craft whether it be in helping fellow members or posting pictures/processes of your work. The path you lead is the path you own. Bottom line, I appreciate what everyone does for the forum. Whether it be log on, browse, respond to a post/thread, create one or whatever. Use Autopia how you wish.



Because this thread has gone out of control, I have decided to give it a rest. I appreciate everyone’s input and hope that we can all learn from what has been driven home by multiple people. If anyone else has anything else they’d like to discuss do not hesitate to PM or call me.

[David Fermani]

Due to the multiple PM’s that came in from this thread and regardless of how the outcome played out, I still think a lot of valuable information was shared that people can benefit from at face value. That said; I’m putting this in the EPIC threads section as requested.

[JSFM35X]

If I were a professional detailer I would think of responding to people who like my posts as CUSTOMER SERVICE.



I don`t like when I like a specific post and ask somethig like, wow-the exhaust looks great what did you polish it with? and I get no response. Many times I will get my answer via PM. And perhaps the rest of the forum see, no respopnse. It is becasue some detailers don`t like broadcasting the products and processes for variuous reasons. Some guys feel like they get labeled a shill and other feel it is proprietary information. To each their own.

[RaskyR1]

If I were a professional detailer I would think of responding to people who like my posts as CUSTOMER SERVICE.



I don`t like when I like a specific post and ask somethig like, wow-the exhaust looks great what did you polish it with? and I get no response. Many times I will get my answer via PM. And perhaps the rest of the forum see, no respopnse. It is becasue some detailers don`t like broadcasting the products and processes for variuous reasons. Some guys feel like they get labeled a shill and other feel it is proprietary information. To each their own.

I always try to answer every question posted in any of my threads. I may not quote/thank everyone who said great job, but I make it a point to always answer questions...there have been a few cases where I answered via PM.

[David Fermani]

I thought Id bump this EPIC thread after looking at the CnBs and noticed that not much is going on there these days? Whats it take for 1 to really pop some attention? ( . )( . ) ?

[mjlinane]

Beats me. Videos dont seem to do it. Good thing I do them for my own entertainment.