Should we keep the ZR-1 Net or Forum?

[zr1mom]

Ok, I've decided for now to postpone the shutting down of the ZR-1 Net listservice and to continue to keep both the listservice and forum.

Hopefully in time members will see the benefits of having a forum over a listserver. However I've remove any links on the ZR-1 Net Registry web site to joining the ZR-1 Net listservice.

I to the masses.

Thanks!

[mrand]

Mom, I'd like to strongly second what John Pesar said on the Registery news list:

On 7/31/05, John Pesar wrote:
[...]
> That said Dave, it's clear that you've invested your own money and
> more time than anyone else to keep the ZR1 Net going, and everyone has
> benefited from your efforts. If you are like everyone else, I'm sure there have been
> times down through the years when you had more pressing personal non ZR1 Net
> related issues that were put off in order to manage this net. In those
> circumstances the rest of us can just turn off the computer and take care of other
> things. Yesterday you democratized what is really not a democracy by allowing
> us to vote on how things should go in the future. That kind of graciousness
> again demonstrates to me that I wish I knew you as a personal friend. I'm not
> aware of the level of effort it would take on your part to switch to a forum
> versus the current listserv environment, but if it's less time intensive on your
> part than the way it is now, and that's what you really need, then you should
> switch to a forum. I'm sure I can learn to live with the new way. The one
> thing that's clear to me personally is that I don't want to lose access to the
> benefit of the experiences and insight of ZR1 owners far more knowledgeable
> than I am by having this go away.

You are more than a class act... you are the cream of the crop, and we're incrediably lucky to have you run this thing. And I'm not saying this because you're keeping the listserv for now - I'm saying it because it is true regardless of the individual decisions (like this one) that are made.

A lucky son,

Marc

[zr1mom]

Thank you Marc and everyone!

[Z Factor]

Originally Posted by zrwon.ca

I hate this Forum, especially because of the L98 to LT5 title and the stars and the "post the most to win a prize", now we have a bunch of BS posts that takes hours to go through just to find something of value, I hate to miss on anything or reply to anyone in need but I'll have to call it quit until everyone gets their 5 stars and LT5 status or till Sept. when the contest of the most wasted post is done and over with, I almost got sucked in and started to post useless info or replies just to earn my stripes but then I realised it was a waste of my time and everybody else's.

See you in Sept. (maybe)

Have you ever heard the saying, "you don't throw the baby out with the bath water"? Several of your posts have been of a complaining nature which is fine since you are entitled to your opinion like anyone else. However, you need to try and understand that we are working hard to stimulate forum activity at the moment. A successful forum has plenty of activity. Since the forum was started several years ago, this is by far the most activity we have had. That is not to say everyone must like it, but try giving us a little understanding and go with the flow. We have almost registered several hundred more users in the past few weeks, and will naturally experience growing pains from some peoples perspective.

You are welcome to post as much or as little as you like, but as the forum grows we will make adjustments based on the members requests. So rather than leave, try staying, posting constructive suggestions, and give it a chance. You can always choose to leave at a future date if the forum is not right for you. I for one hope you stay to make it a better forum for everyone to enjoy.

[Z Factor]

Originally Posted by zrwon.ca

Thanks and welcome to you too, we might need a moderator against this kind of personal attack.

Hello Al,

Sadly you have chosen to take a valid observation and characterize it as a personal attack. Try reading the entire post again and see what my overall message to you is.
You might well be having a bad day, or are frustrated with the forum at the moment, and it is clouding your judgment. All I'm asking you to do is try seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty, and give us a chance.

Sincerely,
JIM

[WB9MCW]

u can please some of the people all of the time...u can please all the people some of the time...but u can't please all of the people all of the time!!! nuff said I have my *****LT5 STAR***** i'm so happy!!! 100 posts not too hard eh !!!

[zr1mom]

Al I don't feel Z Factor was attacking you personally. It's ok if you don't find the Forum to your likeing. That is why we have options, the forum and the listserver.

His point was we are trying to attract members. It's the chicken and the egg thing. If there are not enough members posting then people don't return and the Forum never gets off the ground.

The contest was/is an attempt to try and attract members. I agree members should not post garbage just for the sake of winning the contest or getting their titles upgraded. The titles are like a badge of honor awarded to those who visit often and offer to help those that have questions.

We are open to any suggestions anyone might have to help make this forum more enjoyable to visit and use.

Thanks!

[Z Factor]

Originally Posted by zr1mom

Al I don't feel Z Factor was attacking you personally.

That is correct, and very evident in my public posts in this thread. I have also been in touch with Al via PM to express the same. Hopefully by now he does realize that.
At times, messages and words in this type of medium come across much differently than they would in real life. The internet allows us to communicate with people in ways we never imagined just a short time ago. However, the trade off is that it can be impersonal without the ability to hear the tone or inflection of another persons voice, or see the facial expression of the person. We must therefore be on guard not to allow a perceived slight to be taken personally, and understand that this medium can lead to misunderstandings despite all it's merits.

[zr1mom]

Al,

Just to address who Jim is. Yes Jim is a member of the ZR-1 Net. Jim has also been nice enough a couple of years ago to step up and offerto help me run the Forum so he is not new at this.

I have no problem with Jim not wanting to give out any personal information because unfortunately we have some sick people out there in the world and he has a right to privacy.

As far as the business around titles and stars, all forums have something similar.

People need to loosen up a little, forums, and corvettes and such are suppose to be fun. If we take it too seriously then it's not fun anymore. That is why we have things like smilies to add to our text messages to have fun.

Let's have a and have some fun.

Thanks,