- Joined
- Dec 10, 2006
- Messages
- 9,069
- Reaction score
- 44
After operating XRU for over 2 years now, I've learned a lot of things; I've made a lot friends too. But it's becoming increasingly evident that XRU has lost it's touch with it's roots. We've lost touch with what made us XRU. I knew from the beginning that running a forum with the goal of making it a community-based, non-argumentative website would be challenging but you all, the users, embraced it and helped us make it great.
But we've lost it. We are becoming like every other auto forum out there, little by little. Some have fought from the beginning to turn this place into an open forum for bantering and agendas. I'm hearing it from all angles; from my users... from my vendors... from my staff. So we have two options as I see it. Get back to basics and become what we were - a forum that invited new users into a non-aggressive environment. OR, we let the forum continue to develop it's own personality which will almost certainly turn it into a place for hatemongers.
We know that the users don't like what XRU is becoming. I've received plenty of private messages about it and so has my Staff. We've heard it in the chat room and we hear it at meets. So, now is the time for action.
Unfortunately the site has grown to the point that it has more personality and users than a small staff can handle. We can't read every thread and every post... or can we?
See, the XRU staff have been discussing this for months in the secrecy of our moderator forum here at XRU. Many of you don't know that there are forums that you can't see, but as an XRU staff member you are granted access to privileged information and conversations regarding all aspects of this website. And in that forum we have been talking about methods that we could use to bring XRU back to what it was, hopefully before it's too late.
So, here's what we plan to do:
Effective immediately, XRU will be implementing an infraction system. What does this mean? This means that any time that any user breaks one of our rules, listed here, the XRU staff will have the option of giving you an infraction. After "x" number of infractions your ability to post will be forfeited for a specified amount of time (typically 1 week, but could be up to 1 month). Also after "x" infractions you could even be banned from the site or put on a temporary probation (giving you reading privileges only). Please understand that this system will not be abused but it is meant to enforce the simple and straightforward rules that we have here which are being broken and abused. Requests via PM and in public threads aren't working, so this is our next try at enforcing our very simple rules.
Next, the moderators have been split up to patrol specific forums within XRU to ensure that as many threads and posts as possible will be read and moderated. I'm sure that in time you will figure out who is in charge of which forums.
I also want to be very clear on one thing - I'm not asking that you don't give your opinions here at XRU. So many people think that I try to censor everything and that I push for this product or that --- this vendor or that --- and it simply isn't the case. If you can backup your opinion with facts or with personal experience, fine. But this going round and round about difference of OPINIONS (with no basis other than personal preference) is growing old for all of us. In the future, we will be removing any posts that not relative to the post topic and giving infractions accordingly.
Also, I will be implementing some of the community features that have been lacking on the site since the XRU 2.0 launch.
Lastly, and most importantly - I want you guys to feedback on this thread. Got something on your mind? Say it. You WILL NOT be banned for speaking your mind here. We are working together to make XRU better. In the beginning I said that XRU was a forum that was "for the people, by the people." And I stand by that. I have tried not to run this place with an iron fist and that may have hurt it somewhat but it's through the PM's, emails and chatroom feedback that I have realized from you guys that you don't like where XRU is, or where it's going. So now is the time to tell me what you don't like - and hopefully potential solutions for making it better.
Please only post feedback relative to XRU in general. This isn't a time to discuss products.
Keep in mind guys that we try to look at the site from time to time as a new user would and recently there has been some real bad joo-joo going on here; between users, between vendors, and between users and vendors. It's not good, and it ends here.
The changes that I mentioned above may take a little bit to get into action but rest assured, they're coming.
Also, thanks for being a part of this and sticking through the rough times. It's all a learning process for me and the XRU staff and that includes learning how to deal with issues like this. Thanks for your support - thanks for your feedback - and thanks for reading such a long post. :biggrin:
But we've lost it. We are becoming like every other auto forum out there, little by little. Some have fought from the beginning to turn this place into an open forum for bantering and agendas. I'm hearing it from all angles; from my users... from my vendors... from my staff. So we have two options as I see it. Get back to basics and become what we were - a forum that invited new users into a non-aggressive environment. OR, we let the forum continue to develop it's own personality which will almost certainly turn it into a place for hatemongers.
We know that the users don't like what XRU is becoming. I've received plenty of private messages about it and so has my Staff. We've heard it in the chat room and we hear it at meets. So, now is the time for action.
Unfortunately the site has grown to the point that it has more personality and users than a small staff can handle. We can't read every thread and every post... or can we?
See, the XRU staff have been discussing this for months in the secrecy of our moderator forum here at XRU. Many of you don't know that there are forums that you can't see, but as an XRU staff member you are granted access to privileged information and conversations regarding all aspects of this website. And in that forum we have been talking about methods that we could use to bring XRU back to what it was, hopefully before it's too late.
So, here's what we plan to do:
Effective immediately, XRU will be implementing an infraction system. What does this mean? This means that any time that any user breaks one of our rules, listed here, the XRU staff will have the option of giving you an infraction. After "x" number of infractions your ability to post will be forfeited for a specified amount of time (typically 1 week, but could be up to 1 month). Also after "x" infractions you could even be banned from the site or put on a temporary probation (giving you reading privileges only). Please understand that this system will not be abused but it is meant to enforce the simple and straightforward rules that we have here which are being broken and abused. Requests via PM and in public threads aren't working, so this is our next try at enforcing our very simple rules.
Next, the moderators have been split up to patrol specific forums within XRU to ensure that as many threads and posts as possible will be read and moderated. I'm sure that in time you will figure out who is in charge of which forums.
I also want to be very clear on one thing - I'm not asking that you don't give your opinions here at XRU. So many people think that I try to censor everything and that I push for this product or that --- this vendor or that --- and it simply isn't the case. If you can backup your opinion with facts or with personal experience, fine. But this going round and round about difference of OPINIONS (with no basis other than personal preference) is growing old for all of us. In the future, we will be removing any posts that not relative to the post topic and giving infractions accordingly.
Also, I will be implementing some of the community features that have been lacking on the site since the XRU 2.0 launch.
Lastly, and most importantly - I want you guys to feedback on this thread. Got something on your mind? Say it. You WILL NOT be banned for speaking your mind here. We are working together to make XRU better. In the beginning I said that XRU was a forum that was "for the people, by the people." And I stand by that. I have tried not to run this place with an iron fist and that may have hurt it somewhat but it's through the PM's, emails and chatroom feedback that I have realized from you guys that you don't like where XRU is, or where it's going. So now is the time to tell me what you don't like - and hopefully potential solutions for making it better.
Please only post feedback relative to XRU in general. This isn't a time to discuss products.
Keep in mind guys that we try to look at the site from time to time as a new user would and recently there has been some real bad joo-joo going on here; between users, between vendors, and between users and vendors. It's not good, and it ends here.
The changes that I mentioned above may take a little bit to get into action but rest assured, they're coming.
Also, thanks for being a part of this and sticking through the rough times. It's all a learning process for me and the XRU staff and that includes learning how to deal with issues like this. Thanks for your support - thanks for your feedback - and thanks for reading such a long post. :biggrin:
