Muppets on SE

[EliseR]

Jamie, Jamma and Me all have orange cars....did anyone else make that link?

I got caught being a Muppet this morning by Robins homehelp

Gary.

[steve_weegie]

Jamie, Jamma and Me all have orange cars....did anyone else make that link?

I got caught being a Muppet this morning by Robins homehelp

Gary.

Aah, yes but you didnt broadcast that you were in a bus lane, on second cam at the time though... That's the difference

[campbell]

Expecting every newbie to hone the SE etiquette with no guidence?

Surely what is posted should be in the main common sense / common decency and doesn't require guidance.

No one posts 'blind' on a forum - you see the standards that apply and when they get pushed to the limit there is a friendly nudge to tone it down, (or a flaming).

The risk to those that choose to ignore common sense in what is posted has been pointed out only too well through the Pistonheads/ Honda crash thread that came back to condemn the poster.

A long time ago, when the earth cooled, one of the primary "netiquette" rules upon joing a new newsgroup (remember them?!) was to read the posts of others for a good while before starting to post your own items. This meant you could size up the style and tone of the group, much in the way you might do when meeting a new bunch of colleagues, or a clique down the pub etc. Made it easier to integrate for the newbie, and easier to accept them for the old guard. Just basic rules of human animal behaviour, of course.

I think a bit of this is getting lost with the explosion of broadband, internet for toddlers, mobile phones for pre-school kids etc etc etc.

I wonder if the signup page for SE can incorporate some reminders of generic "good forum behaviours", never mind any specifics that SE wishes to observe as a particular community...which we are indeed working on, as it happens

[EliseR]

Jamie, Jamma and Me all have orange cars....did anyone else make that link?

I got caught being a Muppet this morning by Robins homehelp

Gary.

Aah, yes but you didnt broadcast that you were in a bus lane, on second cam at the time though... That's the difference

Bah, my second cam isn't online at least until Western Corner - I live two min from the zoo. Still, 1st gear and a lonely single cam has plenty of take off for a 30 Who the hell invented the bus lane

Gary.

[Andy G]

Who the hell invented the bus lane

An envious pikee trying to redeem public transport no doubt

[pete]

A long time ago, when the earth cooled, one of the primary "netiquette" rules upon joing a new newsgroup (remember them?!) was to read the posts of others for a good while before starting to post your own items. This meant you could size up the style and tone of the group, much in the way you might do when meeting a new bunch of colleagues, or a clique down the pub etc. Made it easier to integrate for the newbie, and easier to accept them for the old guard. Just basic rules of human animal behaviour, of course.

I think a bit of this is getting lost with the explosion of broadband, internet for toddlers, mobile phones for pre-school kids etc etc etc.

I wonder if the signup page for SE can incorporate some reminders of generic "good forum behaviours", never mind any specifics that SE wishes to observe as a particular community...which we are indeed working on, as it happens

Netiquette is a great idea, we should all mourn it's passing although I suspect it's passing is directly related to the sheer increase in accessibility of the 'net - it is no longer the preserve of socially inept geeks (a camp I am firmly in) who desire rules of social behaviour to define their social behaviour.

[bertieduff]

Great thread. Says something about this place as it could have gone seriously downhill, but instead turns into an interesting debate.

Whilst many people have obviously taken issue at some posts, I do think it has stimulated some great threads, and should be kept in perspective.

As pointed out, this place by definition can't be a cozy little clique, and will of course continue to expand, but I don't see it, or Loti, going to the dogs/boy racers, for a variety of reasons. As for nonsense posts, if you don't like 'em don't read 'em- there's space on here for most kinds of content.

To me what is exceptional here are some of the meets I've attended, and friendly people I've met through here- will give me fond memories for a long time. I think if some of the older members are being put off that's a shame, and everyone loses out as a result - becomes a bit of a self- fulfilling prophecy if people stop posting because of a percieved 'down-market' trend, and discourages the 'good' new members as well as the 'bad' 'Tis a fine line to tread between trying to maintain standards and sounding like a bunch of snobs to those that are relatively new to the place...

I'm sure most people here have talked drivel/don't consider themselves great drivers or technical gurus/made a muppet of themselves on the odd occasion. I certainly have. Such is life, and it can be quite entertaining. I'm a bit uncomfortable at labling any member a muppet- virtually everyone has something to contribute, whether intentional or not!

At the end of the day this place is a kind of democracy. So perhaps some basic rules are required. But equally important- viva free speech from muppets or non-muppets alike.

[Guidedog]

Jeez. Stirred from my sleep an hour ago and with nothing else to do thought I would just check out the latest thread on the forum. Been awake catching up on this particular one occasionally thinking how knackered Im going to be tomorrow.

My own thoughts... for what they are worth. .

I am Lotus nuts. I am also a noob. I love my car and I love that you all love yours as well. I love the fact that when we pass each other on the road we are much more likely to want to flash lights at each other or wave than get involved in seeing who is the fastest in some juvenile test of who's hanging the lowest. (sorry ladies). This sets us aside from most other cars on the road and takes me back to how i felt about my first car a beautiful, mehanically and visually flawed Triumph Spitfire. We are differant in this respect and people will see us differantly. Maybe not the (cant remember the modern term for them) boy racer types who will just want to race us but the fella in the cap, the older lady in her garden who remembers her first thill of open topped motoring or the young lad with his pals who hasnt been corrupted by the Ronaldo Suzuki swift advert. Any new person really has to get a handle on this feeling and realise that if they embrace it then there is so much more to car ownership than how fast they can go or how many "bits" can be added to make it look like something from a Fast and the Furious movie.

I realise that the above reads like it should be in black and white and not colour (Ok ok I know it is in black and white) and I may well come across as someone who rememebers going to the flicks to watch the latest Ealing comedy but there are some things about how we used to be that we should try to appreciate as being how we would like to be again.

God bless us one and all and Im off back to sleep.

guidedog.

[tut]

Ealing Comedies?

bloody luxury...............

We only had Laurel and Hardy.

tut

[ExigeKen]

Jeez. Stirred from my sleep an hour ago and with nothing else to do thought I would just check out the latest thread on the forum. Been awake catching up on this particular one occasionally thinking how knackered Im going to be tomorrow.

My own thoughts... for what they are worth. .

I am Lotus nuts. I am also a noob. I love my car and I love that you all love yours as well. I love the fact that when we pass each other on the road we are much more likely to want to flash lights at each other or wave than get involved in seeing who is the fastest in some juvenile test of who's hanging the lowest. (sorry ladies). This sets us aside from most other cars on the road and takes me back to how i felt about my first car a beautiful, mehanically and visually flawed Triumph Spitfire. We are differant in this respect and people will see us differantly. Maybe not the (cant remember the modern term for them) boy racer types who will just want to race us but the fella in the cap, the older lady in her garden who remembers her first thill of open topped motoring or the young lad with his pals who hasnt been corrupted by the Ronaldo Suzuki swift advert. Any new person really has to get a handle on this feeling and realise that if they embrace it then there is so much more to car ownership than how fast they can go or how many "bits" can be added to make it look like something from a Fast and the Furious movie.

I realise that the above reads like it should be in black and white and not colour (Ok ok I know it is in black and white) and I may well come across as someone who rememebers going to the flicks to watch the latest Ealing comedy but there are some things about how we used to be that we should try to appreciate as being how we would like to be again.

God bless us one and all and Im off back to sleep.

guidedog.

Totally agree Guidedog well said mate.

Your post reminded me of my ten happy years driving my MG BGT. It is all about enjoying yourself and there are many ways to do this without attracting negative attention. In fact it is quite the opposite - surly it is a fabulous thing when people stop to admire our cars when we stop somewhere or when wee boys photograph you and wave as we drive along .

I have made so many friends within SE. I am also one of the guys who have fun on here with drunken drivel and aimless abuse but hey that is between friends across Scotland who know each other. There are guys and gals on here who have been amazingly helpful in times of need for example driving 80 miles to fix my car in the evening, checking I was all right after my crash etc and there are also some real legends who can diagnose problems over the web.

Surely these things make SE a unique site. All it takes is to take time and read what is going on and then join in at any of the varied events and you will truly understand SE.

Its a great place

[mac]

As a newbie I have been welcomed very well. The 2 events I have attended everyone was more than nice, the banter was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. With my car at present and my young age I could see why people could have easily jumped to the conclusion of silly wee boy racer who doesnt have a clue. Mabye some people have that opinion but through meeting people on both days I felt that I wasnt judged on stereotype, everyone seemed to take their time to introduce themselves and have a chat. Also lots of people where open to share their knowledge and more than willing to take me pax laps and drives which I think is much more than I could have asked or expected.

<quality observations snipped for conciseness!>

Don't let it bother you to much end of the day its a forum on the internet, writing on a screen! Read whats of interest, ignore what is annoying, not of interest etc. Most people are here for the common interest of lotus cars but all have their different reasons for reading being part of it. Take what you can from it and enjoy it, just don't let niggly little things annoy you!

Scott, how old are you. (s'ok not to answer that!!) Old head on young shoulders there I suspect. Good analysis and positive contribution to a difficult debate. We used to do this kind of thing more often...maybe it's making a come back

thanks

Campbell

He looks about 12.


Mac

[tut]

You youngsters don't know you are born. You get everything too early.

How would you feel if this is what you had to race around in and be seen in at three months old.




No wonder I was scarred for life..............

tut

ps classic sun tanned Elise face from running around with the top down.

[graeme]

Who the hell invented the bus lane

Gary.

Jeremy Clarkson: "I don’t understand bus lanes. Why do poor people have to get to places quicker than I do?"

[Ron]

Sooo funny I missed this post

I could definitely have guessed a couple of people who would have posted..

Should we start SECruize.com?

I'll put my high heels on and volunteer for the first 'babes' photoshoot.

Ron

[robin]

At the end of the day this place is a kind of democracy.

Actually, it's not a democracy, more a liberal dictatorship. My personal preference is anarachy (not of the disorderly type), but we cannot have that as someone has to do the admin and with the admin comes the responsibility of moderation - but there is very little moderation on SE2, so we've nearly reached the anarchistic state (no ruler, no rules, everyone lives in freedom).

Cheers,
Robin