Re: Some feedback
Hi all,
Just to chime in...
I don't have the data but my hp-sensitive butt sense is telling me the forum is probably at its all time low in terms of quality of postings and topics. I implore Forum owners to take tough measures (including but not limited to those in my first post) before this forum degrades further.
We've already made changes some time ago to slow down the postings of non-BMW related items by non-members, non regulars, in the forum by requiring a 5 day registration period and a 10 post requirement before a member can create a new thread. Plus the non-bmw classifieds forums are located as the last item in our list of forums.
1 - The non-related classifieds are really meant for the members to sell off their items, just like how the lounge is setup for non-BMW related discussion.
2 - I do see mostly-BMW related content being discussed here (in fact, when I clicked 'new posts') this is what I 'saw'.
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BTW - I'm also just looking at a more 'technically-inclined' forum and they yeah, have the same issues as us - if not more.
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We separated the forums accordingly so we can maintain a higher quality of model-specific discussions and information. I have actual hard data that 99% of our current traffic browse and lurk, but do not post/interact/engage in the discussions.
3 - As long the WTS non-bmw related stuff is kept out of the common topic areas, I'm OK with that. It's better than having WTS stuff appearing anywhere else. Hard part is ignoring them when we click the 'New Forum Posts' link.
That said.... I believe the bigger problem is what you and most others (including myself) deem 'quality' - and this is something I do tend to agree with most folks here everytime I try to match what we have VS. the US-based forums. (e90fanatics , bimmerforums etc) and prob the other local forums.
A couple of things I'd like to think is that, we are in a bit of a pickle. From my past few years of observation -
1. Most members in our forums aren't technically-inclined nor hands-on. There are but far and few between - but honestly the last few technical posts were from RBB and Shaun.
2. A good part of our demographics tend to be PMEBs, and there is a greater bias towards aesthetic mods rather than someone getting their hands dirty with an oil change. Most problems here are replied to with a 'Bring it to workshop and see what's wrong' reply.
3. Labour here is cheaper than in the USA. (see point 2)
4. Progression of technology - There are less older cars (problems we face tend to veer towards more electrical/tuning). In the past, I'd gladly punch a hole in my airbox to run a CAI tubing with my 4-cyc E46. With the new F-series? Uhm. You kidding?
5. Hardcore technical mods - no thanks to our draconian local authorities and plus our asian mentality, while there are folks out there who have done more 'crazy stuff', you won't see them posting here. (I do see them happily posting in the US forums however....) You'll only see the hardcore stuff when the person is parting out/selling his car.
6. Have you seen the track days we've (much thanks to Jack and Shawn) organised in the past? 95% of cars aren't even BMWs - so we canned that for this year.
...
Discussions here are definitely more social in nature, rather than technical and with the reasons I've listed above - I guess this is how I feel about things and why we're running in such a mode.
On one note - I do think that perhaps with a formation of an official BMW Club of Singapore - things will definitely work out much better (events, technical discussions supported by the ADs etc) and probably what most members expect out of what we can do on BMW.SG... and we'd happily support that initiative for sure. (BTW I founded the official BMW M Club, constitution and all - and it's currently run by its own elected committee.)
Anyone up for the undertaking? Just needs 15 BMW owners to gang together to move ahead.
Personally, I'm always happy to see niche groups between owners form from our community but man - for some odd reason they never seem to last long. Or am I being jaded here?
