Merge Autopia University & Detailing Forum?

[Dragon99]

Personally I dont mind being stuck in a new user forum for a bit, however it does have drawbacks.



You see alot of similar topics in AU and Detailing so it would seem easier to go with the 3 forum approach. Limit new users to posting in the Basic Detailing forum and open up advanced exterior and interior forums

 

[VetteToVair]

Combining the two would eliminate posting for posting sake

Although trash posting is technically not allowed anywhere, i think it would still happen just as much if the two forums were combined.

 

[Jngrbrdman]

When we first made that forum it was for a couple reasons. One was that members were getting a little tired of answering the same question over and over and over again. So we figured if we had a seperate forum for newbies to post their questions then the more patient members of the forum could hang out there and answer them and the rest of them could browse the forums without the irritating newbie questions that could be answered with a search I guess. I've never minded answering newbie questions. It keeps me sharp and forces me to remember to practice what I preach. I have to say that I'm a better detailer because of the AU forum because I know that it keeps me on top of my game.



The other reason was so the newbie posts didn't get burried. I know that most of us just use the New Posts button to search the forums anyway now though. I don't know that the New Posts button was available when we first split them. Remember how we had two different formats you could have? One of them didn't have it. Maybe it wouldn't be as much of a problem with the posts getting burried now. I just know that some people look at which forum it is in and then decide if they want to read it. Its kind of like a warning label saying "This may have been asked and answered before, but I'm overwhelmed with information and need a little help." I think that new members appreciate that even though they may not know it is there.

 

[shaf]

The separation of post between AU and detailing forum has never really made sense to me. Here's why:



I have made 12 posts since joining last June. At any time since joining, within one hour, I could have easily pushed my post count over 30 with simple posts like "Great Car" or "Turtle Wax rocks." After that hour, would I ask a question or make a post that is more informed? Or, what if during that hour I initiated a post that was really thought provoking or informative. It would forever be buried in the AU section and some may never see it - even though its content was truly well past the apprentice level.



Combining the two would eliminate posting for posting sake and help keep all similar posts in one area. I do, however, like separating the one forum between interior and exterior posts.



Now I have 13 posts.

And this is the EXACT reason why I posted what I did earlier:

I kind of like it the way it is, and don't really think AU should sound like it's strictly for "30 posts" then you can go post in Detailing. I think we need to simply make a clearer distinction between the functions of the two forums. AU isn't just a "newbie forum" and I think it's just a place where basic, simple detailing questions should be asked. Like blkZ28Conv, if I were to ask something basic, that's where I'd post it.

 

[Green Monster]

I like it the way it is but I do think it would be cool to spit the Detailing forum into Interior and Exterior. Leave AU alone. :nixweiss

 

[BA_Titan]

Yes. SLD has a good idea. Especially the "Getting Started" forum. How many posts lately start out with "I' m just starting and need to know". My opinion as sort of a newbie......

 

[adjulian]

Alot of the discussion that I have been reading throughout this thread has been regarding actually posting new threads and which forum to post in, etc. etc. I know this has been said before but chances are that if you have a question, someone has had that same question in the past. The SEARCH function I would bet is still under utilized because it's easier to post a thread and sit back and wait for responses (the world of instant gratification) instead of putting a little effort into it and SEARCHING the over 2 years worth of posts available.

 

[TheChoice]

Alot of the discussion that I have been reading throughout this thread has been regarding actually posting new threads and which forum to post in, etc. etc. I know this has been said before but chances are that if you have a question, someone has had that same question in the past. The SEARCH function I would bet is still under utilized because it's easier to post a thread and sit back and wait for responses (the world of instant gratification) instead of putting a little effort into it and SEARCHING the over 2 years worth of posts available.

I agree. That is one of the reasons I have so few posts. On only two occasions did I have a problem that could not be resolved by the search function. Responses to those two questions could have potentially helped more people than just those who read the AU Posts.



I now have 14 posts

 

[VetteToVair]

Responses to those two questions could have potentially helped more people than just those who read the AU Posts.

I would be willing to bet that most people click the "view new posts" button. This displays all new posts from all forums. The AU threads get viewed just as much as the regular detailing forum threads. The vets here are always answering on the AU threads. If a question is not answered it is because it has already been answered a thousand times. Or some people could just continue posting their questions in every forum

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Alot of the discussion that I have been reading throughout this thread has been regarding actually posting new threads and which forum to post in, etc. etc. I know this has been said before but chances are that if you have a question, someone has had that same question in the past. The SEARCH function I would bet is still under utilized because it's easier to post a thread and sit back and wait for responses (the world of instant gratification) instead of putting a little effort into it and SEARCHING the over 2 years worth of posts available.

"The world of instant gratification" its not really because you said the word "wait" as in you have to actually hope someone responds, whereas with search, you have your answer in the same time it takes you to type out a thread with the question.

 

[chris0626]

Is it just me, or is anyone else having seizures after looking too long at Jngrbrdman's dancing cookie pic?

Been offline for a couple of days. But ... YES!!! It makes me dizzy every time I look at it. Jngr, change it back to the "no-motion" gingerbread man!!! I'm running out of Dramamine!

 

[chris0626]

I've been offline a couple of days, and just discovered this thread. I voted "No" because of the way the poll was created. I voted to retain the AU forum. But, as others have said, maybe it could be renamed something like "Getting Started" or "Basics" if some folks are put-off by the AU name. [I certainly wasn't.]



And I, too, like SLD's idea: split Detailing into Interior and Exterior forums. Except that will create some problems. Rubber treatment relates to interior (door seals etc.) as well as exterior (tires), and plastic is interior (vents, etc.) and exterior (light lenses). So maybe that won't actually work as well in practice as in theory.



Like several others, I am a "bleeding heart" who does regularly go into AU, expecting to hear repetitive questions that could be answereed thru the search engine. I expect to hear simple, basic, or redundant questions there, whereas I expect more sophisticated questions in Detailing. So, to me, it's helpful to retain AU.



And I also agree with the Autopian who said the Pro Detailers forum needs more focus, to avoid having newbies posting there in the belief that all the "serious" detailers are in that forum.



And since I'm such an agreeable mood ... I also wish there were a way to get all new Autopians to read the rules about where to post, the prohibition on bad language and flaming, etc.



Good luck, Mr. Mayor! :up