Time for Reflection ...

[Bainie]

Well things seem to have settled on the forum again today, thank goodness as I had a busy day at work and didn`t have much time online ..

I have however had time to think today and I will share some of my thoughts with you guys ... We started the site up 9 months ago as a place for owners of the veccie c to meet, share ideas and have a laugh, apart from the odd blip on the old radar we seem to be going down the right road. Losing Alex wasn`t one of our finest moments I am sure you will all agree and I am happy he has hung around and become a vectra C God ! Of the 4 of us left we spend a lot of our personal time, which we should be spending with our nearest and dearest, doing our best to organise events, merchandise, keeping the site running etc etc. There are a lot of things which go on behind the scenes which you guys don`t see, server problems, member problems, database problems, supplier problems etc etc ... We try to keep all this off the forum if we can. Also the cost of the forum is covered by the 4 admin and a few kind donations from members to keep the site free for all, all we ask in return is people stick to a few basic rules and try to enjoy the site.

In the last day me Andy and I took the decision, based on the rules, to delete 2 threads, which we do regularly to keep the site tidy. For this we faced a kangaroo court on the forum and were slated for it by people who didn`t know the facts and were out to stir the ****. Now we set up the forum, paid for the forum and spend our time running the forum so I don`t think we deserved the public roasting we got and should be respected for the decisions we make day in day out on the forum. If certain members don`t like the rules or the way the site is run I would suggest they look elsewhere and find forum which better suits them. We take on board all critisism and comments made to us and change the site accordingly but only if it is done in a respectful manner. We have around 600 members at the moment and are growing daily and hope the site goes from strength to strength but we need the support of all you guys for it to do so. We can`t please all the people all the time but if you have an issue please send one of us a PM and we will try to sort it for you ...

The show season is coming up and the weather is getting better soon so lets all enjoy our cars again ....

Also thanks to everyone who sent us letters of support yesterday and today it maans a lot to us and we truly appreciate it.

Sorry to ramble on but I think I needed to clear the air a bit ....

T.

[richardg3.2]

Well said that man. I know I get a lot out of this forum and have an inkling of the work involved running it. I think this point should be considered by all and if any of us has any grievance we should take it up privately with admin, thus giving them the respect they deserve and avoiding generating an atmosphere on the public forum.

[simonali]

I've been using various forums over the years and I can't think of one where it hasn't all kicked off at some point over something trivial. I've had a spat or two on here myself, but you just have to be grown up enough to kiss and make up/forgive and forget (delete as applicable). Everyone's different and, although we all have a common interest, we're not always gonna see eye to eye.

[Andy]

I can only echo what Tommy said, but i take things a little more to heart and have been struggling recently finding the will power to put effort into the forum and organise events. From slaggings off by members and RO's to constant PM's about why a thread was deleted with no explanation, accusations of how we are corrupt or taking 'backhanders' or how our polices and rules are 'laughable', not to mention threats of legal action against us, takes all the fun out of it to be honest, to the point where ive been thinking of throwing in the towel and letting everyone sort themselves out with show tickets etc.

If it wasnt for the pm's and emails we recieved yesterday in support of what we do here, there would only by 3 admin running this site today.

But again, as Tommy said, the show season is virtually here and i know what a good laugh can be had at these events if everyone just gets along. It would be a shame to have made it through the winter and not reap any of benefits come summer.

[AJA]

Very nicely put Tommy.

Do you guys (admin) have a personal code of conduct that you try and stick to? If you haven't, can I respectfully suggest that maybe you consider it. I fully understand that sometimes you need to act very quickly to protect the forum and its members by deleting certain comments or posts/threads, but a courteous PM to the affected party would have stopped the situation going public.

As everyone is aware, you guys have had an awful lot of snide comments directed at you of late, most of it utterly undeserved. Most comments were just fuelled by members bouncing off each other (including my comments), and did not help the situation. Thankfully it has all calmed down now and things will get back to normal, apart from me upsetting another member purely unintentionally and we have sorted it off the forum .

I for one know that you guys are committed to pay for the upkeep of the forum and along with valuable contributions will continue to do so, but please remember that you're doing all this for the members, and Vectra-C.com wouldn't be the great site that it is without the member base.

It's only my opinion, but I believe the admin shouldn't be placing comments on the forum that have a hidden meaning for just a few members or a dig at others. Also swearing at members with comments like 'WTF' doesn't really help the situation. If you guys don't do it then it will give out the right message to everyone.

Me resigning from admin wasn't one of my finest moments either and I definately over reacted and will probably regret it as the forum grows. I still see this forum as my baby and will protect it and help as much as I can. You only have to ask.

Finally, Vectra-C.com has to be the finest forum I've been on and that explains why i've posted over 4000 posts and will continue to do so, so keep up the good work and let's all respect each other.

Yours Respectfully
Alex

[Green Growler]

Guys don't take it all to much to heart.
As has been said, there is not a site on the net that does not get effected by these incidents from time to time.
With the best will in the world you cant please everyone all the time, and it is inevitable admin will get some undeserved flack, you need a thick skin to be admin at times.
This site and vectra-sport are a couple of the best sites on the net for the general attitude of the majority of their members and the admin teams.

This site has grown considerably from what it was when it started out, and so it should, and no doubt will continue to grow, especially as more and more C's get around and prices bring them into more and more peoples reach.
It is inevitable that sooner or later just four admins will not be able to cope, don't take that the wrong way, its not a criticism, just reality. May be it's time you considered recruiting a new admin or two, or may be consider a two tier system and employ some moderators as well.
Just a thought, I'm sure there are a number of very suitable members who will be delighted to help out.

[ed taylor]

I think I am glad that I for one don,t know what went on then....... as they say ignorance is bliss. But I think I can say on the behalf of all the members that it is much appreciated what the administrators and regional organizers do.I for one did not appreciate what is acctually involved in running a site like this, taking it all for granted I suppose. but I would like to thank all the adimistators and regional oganizers, both past and present for their efforts, with out them we would not have this site, and the pleasure that the meetings bring, and the information that can be given from members to members when they have a problem with their cars.
Thank you all . There is a saying that you can,t please every all of the time...Just most people most of the time. keep up the god work..

[KC]

I'm in the dark as well on whats been said, but I will say this much, I have only been a member of one web site before and it this one. I think it is fantastic that you can ask a question and a flood of offers/answers come right out the blue, with nearly all sensible and helpful. I for "another" would not like this site to "go to the wall" and I hope every one will join me in voting for the admin guys who run this site and stop the bikering. If one is not happy and I will say this...B***** off some where else.

[Robbieben]

Guys don't take it all to much to heart.
As has been said, there is not a site on the net that does not get effected by these incidents from time to time.
With the best will in the world you cant please everyone all the time, and it is inevitable admin will get some undeserved flack, you need a thick skin to be admin at times.
This site and vectra-sport are a couple of the best sites on the net for the general attitude of the majority of their members and the admin teams.

This site has grown considerably from what it was when it started out, and so it should, and no doubt will continue to grow, especially as more and more C's get around and prices bring them into more and more peoples reach.
It is inevitable that sooner or later just four admins will not be able to cope, don't take that the wrong way, its not a criticism, just reality. May be it's time you considered recruiting a new admin or two, or may be consider a two tier system and employ some moderators as well.
Just a thought, I'm sure there are a number of very suitable members who will be delighted to help out.

Well said GG, we all know admin have a difficult job to do, they run the forum in their spare/free time, for no personal gain whatsoever.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say Thankyou and keep up the good work providing probably the best FREE forum available for its members.
A bit of common sense shown by everyone can keep this forum the best for its members.

[Caterman]

Some excellent comments here and all constructive.

I agree with Alex that the comments in some of the threads were made without the full facts being known. I made a comment about events thinking i had been told both sides. This turned out not to be the case and i have spoken to admin about this. Hopefully that is sorted and we can move on.

Again, GG has hit the nail on the head, i do think admin do a very good job in sometimes , trying circumstances. BUT i do think 4 admin for a growing site are not enough. There should be "moderators" each responsible for overseeing certain sections of the forum. As Tommy stated, they do have a home life as do we all and therefore they cannot be expected to be watching 24/7. A little help to watch for posts that could be dealt with quickly and therefore quash what could turn out to be a major incident (as 2 nights ago) i feel would be welcomed all round.

I hope the incident in question has been put to bed and that some good can come out of it for the benefit of all members and admin alike.