This is a copy of what I posted in the backroom...started out as a PM, but I think I exceeded 1500 characters by a bit ============================================= Hey. There are several concerns that I've had over the past few weeks with CarAudio.com, and with the changes in moderation staff coming up, I figured it would be a good time for me to voice them. I'm sure you've been aware of the gradual exodus of the experienced members here to other forums - the majority of the core group of users that was here in 2002 is no longer active and participating. Furthermore, in the year and a half I've been a member I've noticed an influx of new users that frankly, aren't good for the forum's long term future. The fact that you have "CarAudio.com" makes the situation more difficult, yes - because we're one of the first sites a new enthusiast is going to run across when he's searching. That makes the job of the Admin and the moderation staff even more critical, and demands an active admin and a moderation staff with the proper tools to get the job done. I believe we have neither. Now, I'd like to address several concerning issues that I've had over the past few weeks. First - the new reputation points system. On any other forum this would have been a great idea. CAF has a working reputation system. I visit a few home audio boards that have one. However, the user base here is far too immature to use it responsibly. http://www.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=141646 is the perfect example of that. A small group of users has taken what started out as a good-intentioned idea and destroyed its usefulness for anyone else. I would recommend that it be removed. Second - porn. In all honesty, this is absolutely insane that it's even an issue. This is a car audio board with many, many users that are under 18...and there is talk about a subsection for pornography? Please. There are countless other sites on the Internet for that, and CarAudio.com doesn't need to be one of them. Let the horny teenagers masturbate somewhere else, instead of dragging the rest of us down with them. In addition, repeated and flagrant posting of threads that violate TOS should be grounds for at least a temporary ban. Part of the problem here is that the user base knows the moderation staff can't ban them, and we're ultimately powerless to stop someone that's determined to break the TOS. Deleting posts only goes so far, as I'm sure you've witnessed. Third - post count. This is a simple solution, fortunately. Turning off the post count for any post in the Lounge instantly removes all motivation to "post wh0re". Then, a user's post count becomes a reflection of how many posts he or she has made in the on-topic sections of the board, and the moderation staff is very good at deleting OT threads in those sections. Fourth - signatures. I can't even browse the forum while at class, and I'm sure anyone that works in an office can't either with signatures and avatars turned on. And there are several users that get around the "600x225" rule by using several different images at a time, making the forum load very slowly. Meanwhile, a forum like carstereos.org loads very quickly - in part because of the no signature images that have to be displayed. It makes the forum less cluttered and easier to follow. Now, I realize I could just turn off signatures completely, but I like having a little bit of text or even a small tasteful picture there. Should I have that opportunity revoked completely because of a few children that can't use the system properly? Limit it to one image, no videos, and a lot of the load time issues disappear. How to enforce it? That's simple. If we see something that doesn't fit in the rules, a PM is sent. If the user ignores it, we modify the signature accordingly. If the user changes it back to what it was, he doesn't get a signature anymore. Lastly - the moderation staff itself. Let's face it, this was never properly implemented. We don't have the tools needed to do the job, and the users know it. We need a post editing system that is easy to use, not just the neat workaround John (snova) has found. In response to the signature problem I listed above, we need the ability to edit signatures, or just remove them entirely until they comply. There also should be some sort of a temporary ban power, to deal with the users that thumb their nose at the rules knowing they can't be quickly punished for it. But just having that alone isn't enough. Ever thought about the fact that a forum with 25,000 members only has one user with Administrator-level authority? I think it's time to have two Admins, to make everything run smoother and be more responsive to the needs of the board - someone like Steve, ss3079, would be perfect for such a role. Why do I even care about this? Maybe I should heed the words of Nick Cook, Nikuk - "Relax, it's just the Internet". And that was why I was hesitant to even write this. But while it may just be the internet, it's a community of people I've come to know over time; people I've met in person and have yet to meet, people that live thousands of miles away from me that if I ever met them in a bar, would feel instantly at ease with. That's why it pains me to stop visiting regularly, because of the immaturity I find every time I log in. I feel like I'm at a crossroads here. Part of me wants to forget CA.com even exists, and move on to other forums that have the maturity level I'm seeking. That's why the decision to run for moderator this time was very difficult. But, a part of me wants to see it grow into a truly helpful place for new users with enough control to make it run smoothly and successfully, but with the sense of humor and community that keeps me coming back. It's time to start having CarAudio.com being taken seriously by others as a place to learn and have a good time. Please, don't let such a valuable resource be completely destroyed by those who have no concept of the good that it does others. ~ Jim Jingozian