mjr24

I must say that its getting borderline ridiculous. On every page there seems to be 10-15 posts that get moved....its very annoying to look at. Im not even sure why we have message forums by model.....because then thats all moved into lighting, or engine, or whatever. If I have a question about lighting on the SC, what the hell is it going to do for me to post it into a general Lexus lighting forum......it would be alot better served being in the SC forum. I just think the moderators are taking their jobs a little seriously...

sc40094

I agree, if I have any question related to the SC then I should be able to post it in the SC section, this way it is way easier to seach for the information that I need about the SC.

///MDex

Because the posters don't post the threads in teh correct forum to begin with.

I know! Doesn't it suck!?! I mean, if people would just post things in their correct forum the first time, [following the rules], things would be so much easier around here!

No, actually, if you look at all the Main Forum Page you'd see that each model has its own sub-forums. Wait, why the heck am I telling you this? You know this!

Lighting, Electronics, and Maintenance in and of themselves don't warrant model specifi sub-fourms for the lack of volume, and most of the topics are cross-related anyhow since most of the systems are pretty static.

Wow - I can't say I've even been criticized for taking a volunteer job too seriously. Thanks! Perhaps you'd like to start you own little Community and run it yourself the best way you see fit? No?

Come on - we're pretty easy going here; ESPECAILLY here in the SC Forum; you guys post whatever you want wherever you want. Don't get mad if someone comes along and finally starts enforcing the rules. OH MY!

See HERE

Related Topics
Members are to respect the designated topics for each forum when posting their messages. This includes lobby, classified, or any other sort of posting that does not directly go along with the topic that has been designated for that forum. Those who post messages that do not relate to the topic area will have their threads moved.


There is a wealth of info for SCs, and all Lexus vehicles contained here. A little structure and organization only benefits us all.

I welcome you to post any additional comments and suggestions HERE.

Later

///MDex

Not sure if you've found this yet, but you can Search by every single forum you'd like.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/search.php

Daddy-O

This thread should be moved to the Site Suggestions and/or Problems forum,
as it clearly describes a perceived problem on ClubLexus.

I guess there will be another "Moved: " notice in the SC forum. Whodathunkit?

///MDex

[Newman driving the Postal Truck while on fire......]

OH THE HUMANITY!

kylesc400

LOL, oh man, the irony of this thread being moved is great

lex400sc

I agree with you to some extent. Some of the lighting, maintenance, electronics, and wheels threads should not have been moved. Some are aimed, by the thread starter, to target the SC audience only. IE: what wheels look best / fit best on the SC, what subwoofers sound best in the SC. But I guess it's all a judgment call on the moderator's part. I think the thread starter should have a role in where they want their thread to be, but for now I guess thread starters will have to devise more clever ways of wording their posts so that moderators don't get the impression that it belongs somewhere else.

The constant moving and organization gets frustrating to me only because I can't subscribe to threads and track them on my control panel. I often post in a thread, it gets moved somewhere else, and I never hear from it again, unless by accident. Because of that, I like to click into as FEW different forums as I have to to get what I need.

A lot of times I don't have the to time to click into all 20 or 30 forums to see if there's a thread I need to get back to. If I know something that can help someone else, I'm not going to go out of my way searching for their thread in other forums. It'll be easier for me to find if it's right under my nose in the SC forum. I think that is why people intentionally post SC lighting, SC electronics, SC maintenance, and SC wheel questions inside the SC forum. Because they know they will get higher traffic, more responses, and ultimately better help in the main SC forum.

I generally try not to criticize the work that goes into CL, no matter how much I agree or disagree with it, but since this thread is already here I just thought I'd add my two cents on the matter...

c_irie

the thing is, I don't think that moving post significantly help the forum ..I mean the only thing it does is discourage posting which I thought the forum was all about ...I mean is there a limit on the amount of post and are we coming close to the limit ? most people would rather just come to the SC forum and read about a couple of different issues that maybe originally they had not thought of or have a problem that someone else is having or just browsing for ideas not looking for anything specific ...why do you think walmart is so popular it's one stop shopping

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

EXCELLENT example c_irie. Let me draw out a little analogy using it if you don't mind....

ClubLexus can be described as being organized similar to Walmart. There are departments (like CL's major forum sections) for like types of items... menswear, tools, autoparts, toys, etc. (GS, SC, Wheels, Lobby).

Within each of the aisles in Walmart, there is also categorization and organization. If you go into the tools department, you'll see all the lightbulbs together, all the hardware like screws and nails together, tape and adhesives, tool boxes, screwdrivers, etc. Everything is grouped with items of a similar variety.

This makes it easy for the consumer to walk into Walmart, find the tool section, then go right to the part where all the extension cords are. Imagine if you had to wander around a store the size of Walmart if you wanted to browse through all the new DVDs they had, but they were scattered randomly around the entire (or even part) of the store with little organization? Piles of kids toys, garden hoses, patio furniture, toilet tissue, cards, pet food, eye makeup, magazines, men's underwear, trash cans AND DVDs in one spot? I wouldn't like shopping there.

The forums on ClubLexus have developed over time to help give similar organization to all the information stored here. If you want to know about SC exhaust or suspension, there is a specific place for you to look. The analogy above illustrates why we move threads to these locations... it's not just for the person posting the thread, its for the hundreds of people that come along afterward mining the site for that information. If it isn't in the right spot, there is less of a chance they'll find what they're looking for.

Moving posts should not discourage anyone from posting, that's not the purpose of moving them. They don't go away, we just put the thread on the shelf in the right aisle. Those links show you where the thread was moved and take you there when you click on them. In most (not all cases) they get moved to the right spot. I do agree that there are some forums (lighting for example) that have borderline posts that might belong in the model section vs the lighting section, BUT the bulk of the posts (i.e. what bulbs work best, how do I upgrade to HIDs, etc) DO belong there because the answers and discussion are common across multiple models. Lighting questions specific to a model (how do I change my instrument cluster lighting, how do I black out my third brake light on the back deck, how do I get to the marker light bulb) should stay in that specific forum.

We try to keep ClubLexus easy to use and appreciate it when members help keep the aisles clear by putting their posts in the right spot .

kylesc400

my 2 cents: we should have simply car forums (ie IS, GS, SC, etc) without the sub forums (engine/transmission, suspension) or the extra technical forums like detailing, audio, etc. the problems with the current setup arise when someone doesnt really know what they want. take for instance when someone wants to know about hid kits for the sc300/400 - do they post this in the SC forum or in the lighting forum? same goes for subs for the SC, etc etc. they cant post in both, because one will be deleted. cleaning up the clutter/extra forums would make it much easier for all the newbies that CL gets everyday, and would make browsing these forums on a regular basis much easier/quicker (think about all the loading time for those people still on dialup who need to go from forum to subforum and back again).

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Maybe we just need to write up better explanations on how to pick the right spot to post? I strongly disagree that putting them all in the same spot will make it easier to find... it makes it harder to wade through all the crap you aren't interested in. As someone who is frequently on dialup from hotel rooms while I travel, I appreciate having an exact spot to go to look for something I am interested in.

In both your examples above:

HID Kits -->> recommend Lighting forum
Why? Aftermarket HID Kits are pretty much the same across models. Moderators there (and other lighting experts who frequent that forum), for example, know the difference between installing the HIDs in projector lights vs other types and can provide more targeted advice on that topic.

SUBs -->> recommend Lexus Electronics forum
Why? A JL10w7 is the same sub no matter what car you put it into. Yes it will have different mounting options depending on the model of car, but the experts who are interested in car audio (Retro, Percy, Mean Gene, Earl, Tim D, etc) always frequent that forum and I guarantee they DON'T look at all the model forums. The newbie posting the question would likely miss out on the best qualified advisor to answer their inquiry.

I guess we can agree to disagree on this, but unless someone has a really good, well-reasoned and logical argument that changes my (and Ethan's) mind on this topic, the sub-forums are going to stay as are the topic-specific forums like detailing, etc. Please help the moderators out by putting posts in the right place to start.

'S'Low Rider

The selection of a forum or sub-forum to place a post in is like being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Though I cant remember ever having seen a post in the Lexus SC section from anyone other than a moderator telling the 'poster' to post elsewhere.

I do take issue with the post from 'DaveGS4' , "it makes it harder to wade through all the crap you aren't interested in" , one mans 'crap' is another mans 'interest'.

I use this forum not because I have an interest in Lexus or 'Lighting' or 'Electronics' but because I have an interest in the Lexus SC400/SC300. Which means that very few of the posts in this particular forum are 'crap' , almost anything that another SC400/SC300 owner has to say is worthy of, at the least, a quick 'glance'. I cant say the same for the contents of any 'specialist' forum, I have no interest in how 'Johnny' fixed his radio in his ES300, that to me is 'wading through crap'.

If an SC400/SC300 owner posts 'how to fix an electronic problem' in the 'Electronics' forum , I will never see it .....

So now we come to the crux.

Is it easier for me to find a post on an electronic problem on an SC400 in an SC400/300 forum than in a general electronics forum that owners of a dozen different models post to.

The answer depends on how I use the Club Lexus Forum.
Do I :
A) Log in and read every post in every forum that is on Club Lexus, or
B) Log in, go to the SC400/300 forum and read through the newest posts.

The answer is 'B' , as it will be for the majority of owners, they log in and go to the forum for their Lexus 'model'.

This is what makes it easier for me to find posts, not by using a search engine or going to a 'specialist' forum but because I have an interest in the SC400/300 and use that forum on a regular basis I have a feel for whats in that forum. Before I even need to search for a post on a problem I may well have already read how to fix it.

How do you resolve this issue without basing it on one persons opinion against anothers?

You could always ask the people who use Club Lexus, if you find the majority only ever use the forum of the 'model' they own then you, as moderators, should stop moving posts to 'specialist' forums.

The only analogy that I can compare this to is when asking for 'help' at work with a computer problem. If I have a problem I ask the 'help desk' ( the SC400/SC300 forum), if they cant help me then I get routed to the 'expert' ( the specialist forum).

Ryan

Since PCMW suggested that this should be here anyway, I don't think he would mind me posting this. I also would like to say I have been very happy with his job as a moderator and I really appreciate his time to write me back. His response is an example of constructive discussion which makes this place better.

I am posting this here because I want the people who disagreed with some of the moves to know they are not alone. Please go to the bottom to see a couple of examples. I also would prefer to not have the sub sections in the SC forum and wish it was combined. Yes, this is just one opinion, and it is subjective.

In an ideal world, it would be great if we could have shared posts that showed up (and remained active unlike the arrows) in two or more sections (i.e. lighting and SC forums). I think the idea of cross reference will eventually be incorporated into message boards in general.

The moderators are doing a good job with analogies in explaining why they are pretty diciplined with how things are organized. In most cases I tend to agree. I would also like to point out that most people tend to get pretty defensive when anyone ever criticizes things on the forum and I think that sometimes frightens people off from speaking up or disagreeing. I know the job of a moderator is pretty thankless. I would only ask that when you are making many moves at once, to please try to take a second to understand the authors intent before moving it. Some topics are very simple (i.e. "For Sale..."), while others are a bit more complex. It would be nice if a philosophy of - when in doubt - leave it - was adopted.

I really hope my post here doesn't cause others to get defensive. Or whoever moved the posts I listed below to get on my case (I don't know who it was and I don't care, it was just an example). I am only posting this to let people know they were not alone in their thoughts and to try to improve the quality of CL through open discussion.

Sincerely,
Ryan




From PCMW to Ryan
---------------------
Ryan,

Thanks again for taking the time to drop me this message.

I agree with you that filter and shifter threads are specific to the SC. However, we need to understand that ALL parts including wheels, stereos, and ALL maintenance is UNIQUE to each vehicle model. There is little doubt that some particular parts, accessories, and maintenance issues are more unique than others, but really, who has time to draw that distinction.

You haven't posted all that much in the forum, but once you begin seeing the same questions over and over, or a single "theme" dominating the general forum (example: "Supra TT Swap") then you will realize the advantage to the topic/genre categories. The SC forum has not really slowed, however, the car is aging and the SC430 forum will begin to build steam. Other model areas still have an influx of new 2003 models being added.

Again...thanks for your note...but really, any further comments, feel free to post in the suggestion forum. I hate to say it...but that is where this belongs. Kind of a rhetorical issue when you think about it.

MW



quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryan wrote on 05-08-03 00:30:
Thanks for the reply MW. I agree that these "for sale" types of posts really suck. However, I think that there are also some members like myself that sometimes post something that could go into one of multiple sections, but realize the audience of one specific model is more important to the topic. Below are three examples from today. I realize this is subjective and just my opinion. I am not trying to complain, if you have read my posts hopefully you know that I really try to make our club a better place.

One recent thought is that the SC forum is slowing down a bit compared to other vehicle sections (again, I don't have stats, just my opinion). Maybe it is slow enough that we could consolidate the 3 SC sections together (general, engine, suspension). This is just a thought and I think it might make these moves (or lack there of) easier on the mods. If interested, maybe we could take a poll.

Thanks again for your support as a moderator,
Ryan

I think the AC filter part number here is unique to the SC. I was planning on posting my success with install and showing a link to a site I found that shows how to do the install in the SC:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=82820

I think the lights in the shifter for the SC are more of a SC issue than what the "lighting" section was meant for:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=82738

This guy's problem could be electrical or mechanical, but it is way too early to move to the engine and tranny section (IMHO):
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=82714

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Ryan,

Very good comments! I certainly don't want us to come across as defensive on listening to members ideas, but we did vote when we started creating the sub-forums and have received lots of feedback (here, and in PMs) from members asking for new sub-forums for different items they are interested in. Your idea on cross-reference is great, hopefully something like that will appear in a future version of vBulletin (on which CL is based).

Your concern on sometimes getting a little over-zealous sometimes on moving posts is well taken and the examples you listed are good ones. I can at least try to address by provinding some good examples to the moderators to better differentiate the sometimes 'grey areas' of when to move a thread or just leave it where it is. Unfortunately sometimes a forum doesn't get looked at and one of our volunteer moderators (including me) who doesn't have a lot of time makes a decision based on the title of a thread instead of the content. That's still going to happen, but I'll take on the task of writing up some moderator guidelines that should clarify the grey areas a bit.

Slow, I agree I was a bit flippant with that comment (it was pretty late in the evening and I was still at work), but I still stand on my opinion that organization will make things easier to find here. The stuff you are interested is NOT getting deleted, it's simply being placed in the appropriate bucket. Like I said earlier, we did ask the members of ClubLexus about the sub-forums and they wanted them. I would ask that you - although you don't like it much right now - please try to use the organizational setup we have for a while. When I move a post from a model forum to a general forum that is in the 'grey area', I often try to update the thread title to put info that identifies the model. That approach should at least help folks reading based on titles for specific models zero in on what they're looking for.

Thanks all for your comments and feedback.