MX-5 OC Forum

Hi

A couple of weeks ago I sent a mass email out to all forum members. The purpose of the email was to let you all know about a couple of forum rule changes.

For those of you who may have the email option turned off in your profile, here is an extract showing the two areas of the rules which are affected.

The first concerns advertising on the forum. From here on all Owners Club members, including traders, may post items for sale in the appropriate forum. However we have decided that we will not put trade adverts in a trade forum, but allow them in the main for sale area. People who want to advertise who are not OC members will have to join the club to place an advert.

The second area of change concerns signatures. I have received a number of complaints from forum members, that excessive lists of modifications etc in posters sigs interrupts the flow when reading a long thread. Also we seem to have a large number of graphics appearing recently. From here on, graphics may be used but to a max size of 400x80 pixels, and sigs may contain up to 4 lines of text, to an extent of 400 words.

For info, this is what a 400x80 graphic looks like

And my sig at the bottom of this post is about 180 characters

Here is an extract from the forum rules

9. Images (including Avatars) and Signatures
a)      The size of the images used on the forum should be relative to where they are being used. If an image is used on the forum that causes excessive scrolling then a link to the image should be used instead. Where images are deemed to be too large, the image will be replaced with a link.
b)      Avatars should be no bigger than 100 pixels wide by 100 pixels high, and should be under 10Kb so that the page loads quickly for all forum users.
c)      Images in signatures are discouraged as they destroy the flow when reading a topic. If you must have one, a single image only is acceptable, its width should not exceed 400 pixels and its height should not exceed 80 pixels. There is also a limit to the number of lines you may have in your signature, again to help preserve the flow when reading a series of posts, limit is 400 characters in a maximum of 4 lines. If you wish to list all your cars mods and your personal affiliations, the best place for that is in your Bio.
d)      Inappropriate images may not be posted or linked to. Links to such images will be removed.
e)      Text in signatures must not be larger than the default font size of the forum.
f)        Signatures at all times are at the discretion of the Moderators. If a Moderator asks you to modify your signature, please take the advice in the spirit it was offered. We will generally only ask that signatures are modified if they contain material inappropriate to the forum, harmful to the MX5 community, or which spoil the viewing of threads by other users.  

10. Advertising
General Sale Ads
a)      Advertising is allowed by MX-5 OC Members only. These must be posted in the relevant for-sale forum.
b)      Any ads posted in the wrong place will be moved without notice.
c)      Any "How much do you think my car is worth" type threads will be removed unless posted by a club member.
d)      Images provided or linked to the advert must be of the actual item in question. All adverts must include a price, either firm or negotiable.
e)      Members should avoid placing personal contact details (email, phone number, address) within an Ad. Please take appropriate precautions if arranging to meet.
f)        Ads placed by non-members as replies to Wanted ads, or to Members sale ads will be removed.
g)      Similarly, ads placed in other thread by non-members (offers to sale etc) will be removed.
h)       We recognise that on occasion, through the natural progression of a thread, that a member might identify that they have a particular part etc that may be of interest to the original poster. Please restrict such offers to a PM.
i)        eBay: links to eBay auctions, for the purposes of providing further information, may be placed with the advertisement but the item must be fully described in the initial post. This applies to advertisements in all the MX-5 related For Sale sections. Links to eBay auctions are not permitted in the “Off Topic Sales" forum.
 
Wanted Ads
a)      Wanted Ads can be placed by all registered users of the forum, and must be posted in the appropriate "MX-5 & Roadster Parts Wanted" forum.
 
Trade Advertising
a)    Trade advertising by OC members is fine, and must follow the above rules.
b)      Unauthorised trade advertising in posts will not be tolerated.
c)      Forum users who are members of the MX-5 OC may (at the discretion of the moderators) have one line of normal text in their signature with their company name, description of service/products and/or a link to their web page. No other contact details or information is permissible. Any web sites linked to in this manner must be for MX-5 related products and/or be of interest to the readership.
d)      Avatars, and images in signatures, advertising a company are not allowed.
e)      Repeated placements of Trade Adverts (more than two) will result in a ban.
f)      Soliciting of products using the forums PM/mailing system is also not allowed, unless information is specifically requested for by a forum user.

I'm a good boy then

Nick & Jane (aka The Captain):

I'm a good boy then

Checks rules:

Geoff Walton:

limit is 400 characters in a maximum of 4 lines.

Checks sig;

Nick & Jane (aka The Captain):

Its not a mid life crisis - just a whole load of fun.... www.buccaneer5motorsport.co.uk
Captain of The BUCCANEER5
MKI V Spec Eunos Roadster in BRG. Daphne
MKII VS Roadster Import in Black. Anni - aka The Black Pearl
Part share in Mariner Blue Eunos

>counts on fingers<

Captain Muppet:

Nick & Jane (aka The Captain):

I'm a good boy then

 

Checks rules:

Geoff Walton:

limit is 400 characters in a maximum of 4 lines.

 

Checks sig;

Nick & Jane (aka The Captain):

Its not a mid life crisis - just a whole load of fun.... www.buccaneer5motorsport.co.uk
Captain of The BUCCANEER5
MKI V Spec Eunos Roadster in BRG. Daphne
MKII VS Roadster Import in Black. Anni - aka The Black Pearl
Part share in Mariner Blue Eunos

 

>counts on fingers<

Geoff Walton:

Images in signatures are discouraged as they destroy the flow when reading a topic. If you must have one, a single image only is acceptable, its width should not exceed 400 pixels and its height should not exceed 80 pixels. There is also a limit to the number of lines you may have in your signature, again to help preserve the flow when reading a series of posts, limit is 400 characters in a maximum of 4 lines. If you wish to list all your cars mods and your personal affiliations, the best place for that is in your Bio.

As i understand  where this is going and that this as gone to a vote(for real) and this is not directed to you geoff personally, i can think of better things to vote on to be honest, this is down to someone having nothing else better to do with their time, none of the sig's on this forum were killing anything???and they never pulled me away from topic, some of them are great, i for one love remans sig, showing his personality ,we are not robots, as i understand and agree that you do need rules, but to many over the top rules will kill this forum.

Thats how your mx5nutz got started by being to stiff.

Lighten up OC

M-m

Mazda-mender:

Geoff Walton:

Images in signatures are discouraged as they destroy the flow when reading a topic. If you must have one, a single image only is acceptable, its width should not exceed 400 pixels and its height should not exceed 80 pixels. There is also a limit to the number of lines you may have in your signature, again to help preserve the flow when reading a series of posts, limit is 400 characters in a maximum of 4 lines. If you wish to list all your cars mods and your personal affiliations, the best place for that is in your Bio.

 

 

As i understand  where this is going and that this as gone to a vote(for real) and this is not directed to you geoff personally, i can think of better things to vote on to be honest, this is down to someone having nothing else better to do with their time, none of the sig's on this forum were killing anything???and they never pulled me away from topic, some of them are great, i for one love remans sig, showing his personality ,we are not robots, as i understand and agree that you do need rules, but to many over the top rules will kill this forum.

Thats how your mx5nutz got started by being to stiff.

Lighten up OC

M-m

Every other forum I've been on has had a size limit on sigs, it seems a reasonable request to me. If you have more to say than you can fit in your sig all you have to do is put a link to it in your sig.

For example if you want to list your entire car spec just put a link to your readers rides thread as your sig and people will click on it if they are interested. I think you used to have a link to the Tech FAQ in your sig which was very useful.

It seems a tiny thing to get worked up over.

My email link was turned off & i just noticed this posting. I was just having a bit of fun with my sig as i thought thats part of the forum's philosophy .... FUN.... i don't have a problem with the scrolling thing at all. Let me know when we can start having fun again & i'll put my sig back up. Never intended to upset anyone or anything. Sorry if i have

Geoff Walton:

 

The second area of change concerns signatures. I have received a number of complaints from forum members, that excessive lists of modifications etc in posters sigs interrupts the flow when reading a long thread. Also we seem to have a large number of graphics appearing recently.

Then if the OC decides to limit the size of the signature, simply email those concerned.

But I agree with M-M and Flea, its supposed to be informative and FUN.

If I thought anyone's sig was silly I'd have told them. I think I did once. I've certainly told several people I love their sig.

I don't get the scrolling problem, but then I'm using a PC and not a phone - maybe it's worse for mobile surfers.

I'm sure there must be an option to turn sigs off when veiwing the threads, which might be the perfect solution. Oh well.

Monica from Friends:

The rules are there to control the fun.

Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus:

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

 As always it wotrks fine until 1 or 2 go stupid

There is still at least one sig with 20 lines of what someone has done to their car including "long reach spark plugs"

How does contribute fun?

I agree with the rule change - it's irritating scrolling for ever past someone's ego trip to get on to the next entry.

If I want to know something about someone, I go to their profile, - I don't need to have it rammed down my throat every time they contribute to the forum.

Well done, committee - like every rule, this one is there for the guidance of wise men. Everyone owns a 5 and therefore has proved to be in possession of a high degree of wisdom, so let's  understand the reasons for the new guidance - and act on it.

Richardn:

 As always it wotrks fine until 1 or 2 go stupid

There is still at least one sig with 20 lines of what someone has done to their car including "long reach spark plugs"

How does contribute fun?

Ooops!

I think my ears are burning.....

I will cut my list down, promise!!

Andrew Chapman:

Well done, committee - like every rule, this one is there for the guidance of wise men

Oh for gods sake Andrew wipe your nose man.

Captain Muppet:

It seems a tiny thing to get worked up over.

I am never worried about how small or big anything is, i will always have my opinions, i will not lose any sleep over it,but i will say what i feel.

M-m