I have been a long time poster on this board and I have asked a bunch of questions and posted alot of O/T bullshit myself, so I am talking from experience. There are alot of guys who don't come to this board anymore because of all of the other bullshit that goes on here. I really miss the old days of the HAMB and it is hard for me to believe that I am working on my fourth year here. I've seen alot of people come and go. I know that these guys lurk out there to this day, they have tons of knowledge that I need and I miss them. Therefore... I suggest that just like there is a Questions and Suggestions board, there needs to be a Technical Topics board. Back in the day there was really no need for this because the traffic just was not there and there were some serious tech going on. Now, I'm afraid the HAMB is being hobbled by the massive volume of scenester bullshit that goes on. I'm not saying it isn't fun to socialize here, I like some of the O/T shit, planning shows, jokes, surveys, etc. But it is the same massive volume that has pissed off some really kool people that I would like to see participate again, and they would come back if there was less nonsense they had to filter through. I know, I have asked them. There is room for the two, a symbiotic relationship, perhaps some of the scenesters will actually read them and start learning/sharing knowledge.
i dunno man... i agree with your point in spirit, but two boards means two places to look. ...and invariably you'd probably then see o/t stuff in two places instead of one. we probably just need to be better at flaming out crap as a community. on the other hand, ryan does a good job of this already. i haven't been around long, i know. but i too, would like to see more hardcore tech stuff - especially since i really am seeing most of this info for the first time. -- raaf
My sugestion, instead of changing the ratio by reducing the junk, change it by increasing the good stuff. Don't reply to the crap posts, and initiate the tech postings. When you build something, photograph it and post it. When you come up with an interesting tech concept, post it.
Modernbeat,I'm right with ya on that suggestion.Maybe if we ignore the junk, it will soon start to dwindle. Rat...
I was just on the main page and took a hard look at which posts were ON topic. I have like 25 threads come up on my page and only like 5 were off topic. Even the off topic stuff was generally car related. This is a wonderful place! So much knowledge comes through here in a days time. It is a REAL place too. I don't think too many people on here are pretending. It is a community that actually exists in the real world. I am a little concerned at how darned FAST a thread will slide off of a page. Its like Zoooom there it goes. I get on other boards about my cars and damn! the thread stays put for a week and gets like 4 responses. THIS PLACE IS LIKE WALLSTREET. Things happen fast. 20min. = 10 responses. Sometimes that is not all that bad. On other forums I can hear the crickets chirping....... glad to be here.. Bad-o
Sorry fellahs, I have to stand by my statement. There is a difference between good tech and someone putting up a pic of a cool rod. Yeah, there are "car" related topics and then there is tech. It is no hair off of anyones ass to look in two places, you guys did.
Bring back da Tech-O-Matic! (including all the old posts with pics) I came after it went, but the new posts I've seen are pretty sweet.
On the Chevelle site that I am a member of as well, they have it broken down by engine, trans, wheels/tires, interior, electrical, body/paint, and bench racing. Sometimes the only drag is the lack of traffic if you have a seldomly visited tech area, like trannys, which I am currently trying resolve an issue with the tranny in my 46. Keeps things pretty clear though and actually makes it much easier to navigate and view.
yeah what happened to the tech-o-matic anyway. we need to old tech stuff like when sam was making the belt line for the roach rod or c9s article about carb set ups. I understand what yer sayin el C there did used to be a lot more tech kinda how tos going on rather then just hey look at this car. I havent been around much lately cause I've been busy as hell with work but more tech would definately make me check more often.
I have to admit that I am guilty of posting a lot of things on the board that I already know the answer to. I do it to try and start car tech talk. I like the amount of knowledge that we have available to us. What other board has Hot rod and custom mag editors, photographers, technical authors, and an on staff metallurgist?
Please don't misunderstand, I'm saying that there is room for both. Post the "hey look at this", music, O/T stuff to your hearts content and have the other for tech stuff. The two can exist in parallel and I think the HAMB would be better for it. No need to feel guilty about O/T, and that is not my intent. I just want to see more tech and a return of the guys who walk it like they talk it.
Django, if your still having tranny issues, contact this guy crosley_az@yahoo.com his name is Tony and he's been around these boards answering tranny questions for a long time. Tell him your a HAMB member.
I agree with the wolfman the Q&S board was good to have when the new HAMB came about but I think this space could be better used. [ QUOTE ] If it were a choice between "Questions & Suggestions" and "Tech-O-Matic" I think the tech archive would be a better use of space. [/ QUOTE ] most of the questions here can be answered in the FAQs suggestions can be posted along with the regular chatter on the main page. the true technical info should be saved and be accessable Paul
I think that a second board for tech only would largly increase the dumb off topic stuff we all despise. It will be like "hey I am posting on the bullshit board.. what's it to ya" Here where I am coming from? The techomatic had a great use and I wish those post would come back as well. The stuff about steering and pinstriping was a gold mine.
I agree, there's just too much traffic here to have all the posts cobbled together. If you go on vacation or something you're gonna miss some good tech. It'll take you hours to look at all the threads you missed. But two forums is not the answer. One for tech and one for bullshit isn't gonna work. It should be broken down even further. I really like the format at http://fordsix.com/forums/ when I need info on brakes or electrical I know where to look. There's also a bullshit forum. The problem with the tech-o-matic was that Ryan had to put the topic in it, more work for him.
El C my brother, I was just commenting to someone today that it seems we have lost alot of long time HAMBers, you hardly ever see C9 or DRD57 post anymore, these are just two of so many. I think the board could handle having a subarea (replace the Question & Suggestion with a 'Tecnical Questions' area and keep the other area for post pics, general topics, pages etc....
I was just having a similar thought. I say ask C9, AV8, and the other guys who have posted a bunch of great tech info. If a separate section for tech means they'll post more tech, then I'm all for it.
I would be interested to hear Ryan's opinion on this one...... Ryan, is the HAMB going to hell in a handbasket? Are the veterans jumping ship like rats abandoning a sinking ship? Is the increased traffic a sign of the HAMB getting too much publicity (like VonDutch's name attached to that clothing line)? What do you think? You have seen it all. I am just curious as to what your take on it is. Do we need two separate boards or do the new guys, like me, just need to beg the veterans to stay? I have not been here long and to me the HAMB is GREAT. So much info and so many great people, I read it almost every day. Thanks Ryan. Bad-O
I don't think it is as much a matter of begging them to stay as much as it is cutting the bullshit with a blowtorch. Have a tech board that tolerates no O/T stuff and they will come back.
I'm not disagreeing with you, I think a "garage" and a "clubhouse" might be able to work. Just keep in mind there are lots of levels of experience and interest out there, so if someone posts something that you deem "not tech enough" don't jump on the guy. Some of us are still learning (show me someone who isn't), so we ask questions.
Yeah, "Garage" and "Clubhouse"......good names. Why not. Everyone upholds the rule of NO SPAM on the main board. And if they don't they get an ass chewing.....so why not. I could see it working. Garage and Clubhouse. Garage for the strict HOW TO and TECH and clubhouse for the LOOK AT ME pics. etc etc. El Caballo... Don't think I am disagreeing with you. I don't want the HAMB to die because of a bunch of punks (like me) getting on it and turning it into a fashion show either. Maybe having a romper room area and a serious guy area would be the ticket to make everyone happy? I dunno. Still waiting to hear what Ryan has to say...............
Are you guys reading a different board? There is never more than 10% OT posts on the front page at any one time. As for members leaving, I haven't noticed any... And if they leave without an explanation I can't help them.
Ryan, I see it this way; the tech is in effect but what I believe and have heard from others is that the tech stuff disappears too quickly. I do mean real tech. There are lots of posts that are on topic but it needs to be further distilled IMHO. To me, while on topic, a post about the Hirohata Merc or a review of a hotrod book is not in the same vein as actual "how-to". Viva Tech-o-matic! Viva el HAMB!
The biggest problem I see is to post everything in a new topic. If we post stuff about the same topic as a reply, each topic would stay within the first, well, maybe five pages. Which would be still nice to read, I think. For example, I like custom bicycles a lot, which is off-topic here. And there have been quite a lot of minibike topics on the HAMB during the last few months. How about posting this in just one general bicycle/minibike topic? It would collect everything about that subject on this board while just using one line of the HAMB's forum summary pages. That of course requires some discipline of all HAMBers. What do you think? Another suggestion about the Tech-O-Matics: how about storing the tech pictures in a different upload folder that doesn't get deleted every now and then. I mean just the real step-by-step how-to pictures. Otherwise it's hard to understand the post when the pics are already deleted, especially for the tech-newbies. I really liked the Tech-O-Matic stuff on the old HAMB, but without a car to wrench on, I had no use for the great knowledge posted there. And then in a couple of years when I'll need the info, it will probably be gone. I'm sure this would also help to avoid questions being asked again and again, if there's a place to read it over again. I mean if I had a how-to question, I would first dig through the Tech-O-Matics, and only if I don't find it there, I'd post it as a new question. OK, let me know what you think...
Both good suggestions Micha especailly the tech-o-matic photo one. What would make a permanant Tech-o-Matic thread easier to read and less costly for Ryan is to use your own photo hosting site to host photos that will be in a Tech-o-Matic post. By using one like Starphoto you can post more then one photo in a post and the photo NEVER disappears. If any of the folks are writing a Tech-O-Matic quality post and need help setting up a photo hosting site so you can have more then one photo in the same post, just let me know. I'd be more then happy to help out.
I think this is a strong argument for a separate tech section: "...stuff disappears off the HAMB so fast that it's tough to get up the enthusiasm to knock out a tech article or story when they roll over into oblivion in a couple of hours." -C9 AV8 made a similar comment back when he was posting his flathead porting articles...
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