Accumulator
Well-known member
Setec Astronomy- Heh heh, yeah, I`m OK with that. And with answering the same beginner Qs for the gazillionth time. Well, usually.
A Christmas Wish from Captain Obvious: KEEP THIS AUTOPIA FORUM ALIVE and GOING
- Thread starter Lonnie
- Start date
You`ve hit upon one of the "problems" of Generation Z: they do not want to think about problem-solving. I am NOT saying to think for themselves, they do, and often that is a "problem" because it is ONLY about themselves, or they have not considered or been taught the far-reaching consequences of such decisions. Taking out student loans to go to higher education schools for a degree in some discipline there is no market for or there return-on-investment is limited is a good example. I just think their (Gen Z`s) solution to ANY problem is found SOMEWHERE on the Internet, hence your You Tube video viewing example.
But I digress; lets get back to go back to detailing, Captain Obvious!!!
Successful and great detailing requires:
1) Knowledge of how to use the tools and products associated with detailing. That`s the education part, of which this forum and its members are part of that process.
2) Application of that knowledge of what was learned. That takes work and effort, and if you don`t want to apply those things, there is no success.
(remember, the dictionary is the ONLY place where "success" comes before "work".)
3) A certain amount of skill and aptitude, better known as ability or even natural talent. Not everyone has that. It can be learned and developed to some degree IF there is a drive by the individual to do so, but it is limited to a person`s naturally-inherited physical and cognitive abilities. There IS no overcoming that; it is just the facts of life.
4) Experience or actually the re-applying of all of the first three over-and-over. How often that is done is dependent on the individual. Some call it methodology and you know as well as I do that doing something wrong over-and-over is still wrong, or a bad habit, and trying to learn a new technique or correct a bad habit can be daunting, so say the least!
5) Continuous learning. Things change and if you are not changing with them, you are left behind. That`s another function of this forum. I get to learn about new products, new tools, or new processes as vehicle technology and their materials change over time. Hard or ceramic clear-coats exterior finishes and the ever increasing use of carbon fiber materials are examples of such recent developments. Car-care product manufacturers are in that some mode to meet those developments, ceramic/graphene coatings and long-throw orbitals being recent examples of those.
For those who have been forum members for a while, you know how much detailing has changed for you. But as I stated at the very beginning of this thread topic, this forum and its posting members are my most-important tool to my success and reason I enjoy detailing as a hobby. Without this forum, it would still be detailing; just not as good or enjoyable. YOU make this forum, hence my request to keep it going.
Silly Rabbit
Member
Curious as to why there is slightly less movement here vs sister site Autogeek? While all forums are lagging, these 2 sites are very similar, even alot of same members. But the other site has more activity. Wonder the difference?
Bill D
Hooked For Life
I’ve been wondering that for some time. Compared to here, AGO has a lot more activity. That’s where I post most of the time now as a result.
Silly Rabbit
Member
I also wonder how many folks have dropped off from the hobby/business/passion they had? I mean, some of the auto forums I`m on members sold their cars and moved on to other models and such.
And even though the detail world is bonkers with the selection of products, the products have also got easier. Example, if wax, sealant, etc crazy folks simply moved to a coating, kinda done. They may not be in the garage every weekend/day like they used to? So have time for other passions??? I`m reaching here...lol
But the other side to that coin, with all the products you would think people have endless conversations about detail products. :yay
And even though the detail world is bonkers with the selection of products, the products have also got easier. Example, if wax, sealant, etc crazy folks simply moved to a coating, kinda done. They may not be in the garage every weekend/day like they used to? So have time for other passions??? I`m reaching here...lol
But the other side to that coin, with all the products you would think people have endless conversations about detail products. :yay
981 Cayman S
Member
Autogeek always seemed to have more support/active involvement from the `Mother Company`, notably Mike Phillips frequent participation. I`d venture a guess that the Autogeek site sales numbers generally eclipsed those of Autopia site as well. Ya bought something from Autogeek ya found out how to best use it from their forum.
I started there and wandered over to Autopia once I began wondering about/moving into non-Autogeek products as you could mention them/discuss/suggest them here. Once I started using a wider variety of products, Autopia members seemed more well-versed in the wider, overall detailing `world` while Autogeek remained somewhat `ethnocentric`.
I`ve learned far more from Autopia than Autogeek; not just products but theories and practices as well. Autopia always seemed more in-depth due to its members` wider sphere of knowledge & experience.
That`s the view from my little world anyway, strange a world as it is.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
That`s the view from my little world anyway, strange a world as it is.
My thoughts mirror yours though your last comment called for reality substitution.
Silly Rabbit
Member
Autogeek always seemed to have more support/active involvement from the `Mother Company`, notably Mike Phillips frequent participation. I`d venture a guess that the Autogeek site sales numbers generally eclipsed those of Autopia site as well. Ya bought something from Autogeek ya found out how to best use it from their forum.
I started there and wandered over to Autopia once I began wondering about/moving into non-Autogeek products as you could mention them/discuss/suggest them here. Once I started using a wider variety of products, Autopia members seemed more well-versed in the wider, overall detailing `world` while Autogeek remained somewhat `ethnocentric`.
I`ve learned far more from Autopia than Autogeek; not just products but theories and practices as well. Autopia always seemed more in-depth due to its members` wider sphere of knowledge & experience.
That`s the view from my little world anyway, strange a world as it is.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
So what your saying is Autogeek is the feeder league for Autopia the major leagues. Kidding:lol2:
I do appreciate that Autopia has talk of every product imaginable. It`s where you get experts and feedback on all the big brands too, PA, Kamikaze, Angelwax, Swissvax, whatever. I think this forum has treasures of old post info and future posts as well, discussions that will not be found anywhere else on the net. I know I have learnt alot just reading threads all over on here. Gold.
Saintlysins
New member
Thank you! It`s sooo much smaller than it used to be and I`m not really liking the 6-Series BMW - considering a trade in for the Taycan or (more likely as I can get in & out easily) the Panamera GTS.
I`ve since sold:
`70Superbird
`69 E-Type Cab
`72 Riviera
`11 Turbo S Cab
`74 Lotus Europa JPS
Audi A6 Sport
Merc E550
Subaru WRX Sti - modified for Rally yet legal/illegal for road
Datsun B210 - modified/updated
Alfa GTV6 Twin Turbo
Saab 900 SPG (track & rally)
I know I`m forgetting one or two less memorable but utilitarian.
Only regret selling Lotus and Jag.
Saintlysins
New member
Of all the people here - you were one of the friendliest, nicest and helpful people.
... and ... always thankful for a unique tip or an informative post by anyone.
I always felt you would speak like you `sounded` in your posts.
Glad to see you`re still here.
Hope all is well and you`re happy, healthy and smiling often.
---G---
Oneheadlite
New member
Mike Phillips has since moved on, haven`t seen anyone from AG step in to post with any frequency in his place.
For myself and my limited participation here, it`s largely been a lack of time to dedicate to detailing at this time in life. Without feeling like I`m well in practice, I don`t feel as qualified to weigh in on a lot of the conversation.
I`ve been guilty of posting more off topic posts than detailing related lately. I really value the opinions of the members here as I feel if folks are detailing at an Autopian level, then they`re likely to be particular about many other aspects of their life as well.
The other factor that comes into play is that most of my forum viewing takes place during the "in-betweens" in life, whether that`s a quick check on my work computer during the day or on my phone at home. Most of the time if I chime in on something, I`d like to contribute more than a simple "Yup" or "Nope", and I`d rather reply on a real keyboard either on my iPad or on my work computer (most often during lunch like right now).
You know I ask a lot of "Captain Obvious" questions; those questions that are repetitious in nature (IE, asked a thousand time before) or just the nosy, "what-does-that-have-to do-with-the-subject-at-hand" or just plain "dumb" (IE, the answer SHOULD be obvious).
I do so because if I have concerns about a topic being discussed, I am sure some other Autopian may be thinking the same concern, but that Autopian just doesn`t want to ask because it makes them seem "detailing illiterate/challenged" (AKA, dumb).
I ask questions to learn and , yes, I am a little more on the personal-side because, well, that`s just the way I am (AKA, nosy).
My attempt is to create a little more interpersonal conversation, something that may not always come across as "socially acceptable". Sorry if I offend anyone. (Yes, Captain Obvious, you are a typing text "character", pun intended!)
I do so because if I have concerns about a topic being discussed, I am sure some other Autopian may be thinking the same concern, but that Autopian just doesn`t want to ask because it makes them seem "detailing illiterate/challenged" (AKA, dumb).
I ask questions to learn and , yes, I am a little more on the personal-side because, well, that`s just the way I am (AKA, nosy).
My attempt is to create a little more interpersonal conversation, something that may not always come across as "socially acceptable". Sorry if I offend anyone. (Yes, Captain Obvious, you are a typing text "character", pun intended!)
Accumulator
Well-known member
Once again, both of the above could have come from Yours Truly
And no, I`m not spending as much time here lately, but...[sigh]...posting, like Detailing itself, isn`t one of life`s essentials and sometimes those are more than enough all by themselves.
MisterSnoop
Member
To me, Autopia is not as well known as Autogeek. I didn`t know about Autopia until after joining AGO. Then I tried to sign up for this forum and never got an email that my account was approved. Much later after trying to sign up, I tried to log in and it worked. I`m not the only person that this happened to. If you`re not bringing in new blood, things will slow down.