I created a DeLorean Owners closed Facebook group.

[Kane]

I suspect that the plan is to offer a more social side of this whole DeLorean ownership thing. DMCTalk.org is awesome but I find myself annoyed by all the off-topic stuff so I pretty much dropped off for a couple months. But on FB, it's given that nothing is ever on topic.

"I hate how this place has all these off-topic conversations so I can't wait to join a group that is always off-topic"

[DashEight]

I wish you luck. I have left most Facebook clubs for the cars I own. In my experience, The only ones that are not trolled all the time are the foreign ones. It would be nice if these groups would act like a group of people meeting at the pub in person to talk about similar interests. But they often don't. I wonder: "if people troll up topics they enjoy and spend time, money, and free brainspace on...how do they treat things they do not like?" Maybe it is like a pub in that you only hear the loudest and rowdy people... Closed groups have more promise..it's just so odd that somethings that are ment to bring people together, do the opposite equally effectively.

[thirdmanj]

I wish you luck. I have left most Facebook clubs for the cars I own. In my experience, The only ones that are not trolled all the time are the foreign ones. It would be nice if these groups would act like a group of people meeting at the pub in person to talk about similar interests. But they often don't. I wonder: "if people troll up topics they enjoy and spend time, money, and free brainspace on...how do they treat things they do not like?" Maybe it is like a pub in that you only hear the loudest and rowdy people... Closed groups have more promise..it's just so odd that somethings that are ment to bring people together, do the opposite equally effectively.

You seem like such a humorless person.

[Nicholas R]

I remember joining the very first DeLorean owners group on Facebook in 2005. Patrick C verified my ownership via VIN, transmission, and interior color. It's actually how we met when we realized we were only 15 minutes from one another. Since then I've been a member of most FB Delorean groups. Honestly I usually don't post or browse them very much. The only one I often look at is the regional one (DCO). I guess we'll see with this one.

[rdarlington]

"I hate how this place has all these off-topic conversations so I can't wait to join a group that is always off-topic"

I'm HERE specifically for the tech side.

-Bob

[DashEight]

You seem like such a humorless person.

My posts might make it seem that way because of the serious tone in them. I just miss the groups of car guys and the way we all used to treat each other when the internets were new. It was like we all walked into the new world and were just happy to find others that had the same interest in things. Holy hell! We had a new support system for tech and parts! It was great! No need to second guess that project next door that you didn’t buy because you worried the parts would be hard to find...Life was good. Buy away! There is a new network that is just as jazzed to see progress. People started the crazy engine swaps into what ever car and it seemed that the largest concern was an idea of putting an engine in a car that it never came in and how it would affect the end values. We'd all hit the subscribe buttons and follow along on the awesome threads. So when did all the good stuff get drowned out if not replaced by mean spirited humor, one ups-manship, pot shooting, or kicking someone on the way out? How does the community gain from it? Does it really make anyones ordinary life better?

I went to the Lotus Car Club meet tonight and had beers, fish, and chips with a bunch of the guys in the club. We all inquired how each other had been and how the cars are coming along. I joked about my lack of progress in most of my deep freeze projects but rolled out my plan on how I wasn’t going to lead a summer drive of 20 lotus cars for the club in my jeep again like I had last year. We talked a little about Evans Waterless Coolant and the market for cars that could be imported from Europe, I explained Toby TABS to the group because most of us if not all have met Toby in person and have TABS on our Lotus Cars... At no time did I get the idea that anyone was made angry and no one had gotten up to head to the door. It was pleasant and I'm sure ALL the others enjoyed it also. There was light ribbing but it was all in friendly sprit. Why is it not possible to have similar experiences online?

To sum it up, it’s the overall tone in online correspondence now a days. I am just tired of seeing people head for the "door" because it gets out of hand. I’m sure we’d all get along in person. Many times I read that “I met so and so in person and they were pretty cool!” That’s awesome! Why on earth would anyone allow themselves to be thought of otherwise from their online conduct? When was the last time someone online said: “You know what? That might have been over the line and it was in no way intended to be as expensive as it turned out to be. I’m sorry.” Too often it just keeps going beyond the point of no return. We might need that guy who grabbed his jacket and headed out. He’s one of the guys that won’t be telling us that our car came with a Chevy motor, or because our car is stainless, it’s the heaviest car ever produced in the history of the world…That guy was one of us.
-P

[thirdmanj]

My posts might make it seem that way because of the serious tone in them. I just miss the groups of car guys and the way we all used to treat each other when the internets were new. It was like we all walked into the new world and were just happy to find others that had the same interest in things. Holy hell! We had a new support system for tech and parts! It was great! No need to second guess that project next door that you didn’t buy because you worried the parts would be hard to find...Life was good. Buy away! There is a new network that is just as jazzed to see progress. People started the crazy engine swaps into what ever car and it seemed that the largest concern was an idea of putting an engine in a car that it never came in and how it would affect the end values. We'd all hit the subscribe buttons and follow along on the awesome threads. So when did all the good stuff get drowned out if not replaced by mean spirited humor, one ups-manship, pot shooting, or kicking someone on the way out? How does the community gain from it? Does it really make anyones ordinary life better?

I went to the Lotus Car Club meet tonight and had beers, fish, and chips with a bunch of the guys in the club. We all inquired how each other had been and how the cars are coming along. I joked about my lack of progress in most of my deep freeze projects but rolled out my plan on how I wasn’t going to lead a summer drive of 20 lotus cars for the club in my jeep again like I had last year. We talked a little about Evans Waterless Coolant and the market for cars that could be imported from Europe, I explained Toby TABS to the group because most of us if not all have met Toby in person and have TABS on our Lotus Cars... At no time did I get the idea that anyone was made angry and no one had gotten up to head to the door. It was pleasant and I'm sure ALL the others enjoyed it also. There was light ribbing but it was all in friendly sprit. Why is it not possible to have similar experiences online?

To sum it up, it’s the overall tone in online correspondence now a days. I am just tired of seeing people head for the "door" because it gets out of hand. I’m sure we’d all get along in person. Many times I read that “I met so and so in person and they were pretty cool!” That’s awesome! Why on earth would anyone allow themselves to be thought of otherwise from their online conduct? When was the last time someone online said: “You know what? That might have been over the line and it was in no way intended to be as expensive as it turned out to be. I’m sorry.” Too often it just keeps going beyond the point of no return. We might need that guy who grabbed his jacket and headed out. He’s one of the guys that won’t be telling us that our car came with a Chevy motor, or because our car is stainless, it’s the heaviest car ever produced in the history of the world…That guy was one of us.
-P

All people are different. We all have different definitions where humor is concerned. If you're referring to the Lou incident, that was "light ribbing" as you call it. C'mon, smiley faces with legs kicking each other in the nuts, what could be lighter than that? Either Lou is unfamiliar with the subtleties of the internet, or he was looking for an excuse to say "screw you guys, I'm going home." We get reposts all the time on this forum and of the forums I've seen the members of this one in particular handle it the best. Other car forums out there get downright nasty. But show weakness or sensitivity, and people (not just on the internet) will descend upon it like rabid chihuahuas.

[Tillsy]

The funny thing is that, technically, the original emoticon in question was actually in reply to someone else's post not his!

Not to mention the entire reason emoticons were invented are to provide a "fun", "sarcastic", and/or "humorous" way to convey a message... even an "up yours" emoticon would be a sarcastic up yours...

So given this, how does nothing more than an emoticon posted in reply to someone else cause a person to launch into a rage? And for said person to then get so angry at everyone's shock and disbelief that he then loses all control of his temper over it?

I've been using (and in some cases running and moderating) forums for nearly 20 years now and while I've seen some pretty crazy stuff I have never seen anything like that before...

[DMCVegas]

All people are different. We all have different definitions where humor is concerned. If you're referring to the Lou incident, that was "light ribbing" as you call it. C'mon, smiley faces with legs kicking each other in the nuts, what could be lighter than that? Either Lou is unfamiliar with the subtleties of the internet, or he was looking for an excuse to say "screw you guys, I'm going home." We get reposts all the time on this forum and of the forums I've seen the members of this one in particular handle it the best. Other car forums out there get downright nasty. But show weakness or sensitivity, and people (not just on the internet) will descend upon it like rabid chihuahuas.

Humor is definitely different depending upon the individual, be it online or real life. Like this guy right here. He ribs a bit. Me, I usually find relevant pictures. Ie. right now he has shown a moment of sensitivity, so I'm gonna play the rabid chihuahua card as such:

My posts might make it seem that way because of the serious tone in them. I just miss the groups of car guys and the way we all used to treat each other when the internets were new.

The world itself has changed on that. It's like politics in the media. No matter what side you're on, you're always supposed to be angry and never compromise. At least that's what the talk show hosts on both sides have been arguing, because the more bitter they keep you, the more you watch/listen to them and sit through all of their commercials so they can profit off of your anger. Unfortunately it would appear this attitude has spilled over into everyday life more and more. I've always loved cars, and since I was a child I always looked at the backs of them on the freeway and used to read the bumper stickers. I can tell you right now that I have NEVER seen so many political bumper stickers on cars as I have in the past 14 years, and it just gets worse and worse. The humorous stuff is long gone, and it's all pick a side and join the battle.

As for the Facebook group... Myself, I was VERY hesitant to come over to the DMCTalk boards originally because it just seemed like year ANOTHER splintered faction of the DeLorean community. DMC Forum was the first Yahoo! group that split and I joined it, and I remember a certain person way out in North Carolina that helped create all of those splinter groups for their own little virtual fiefdoms. The more things change.... Anyways, later on I connected with a couple of DeLorean owners of Facebook, and checked out one group. And that was fine until one of the members started posting political and religious crap. I just can't do that crap. Even if I agree with you, I don't want to hear that noise. And that's my big objection to Facebook groups personally. That's not to say that I'm spiteful and because I choose not to participate that I want it to fail. If it works out, sure, I'll join. But I'm just a little socialed-out right now on everything.

[Rich_NYS]

Three best comments I've seen:

Too often it just keeps going beyond the point of no return. We might need that guy who grabbed his jacket and headed out. He’s one of the guys that won’t be telling us that our car came with a Chevy motor, or because our car is stainless, it’s the heaviest car ever produced in the history of the world…That guy was one of us. -P

I recently mentioned to a friend that ya never know what you don't know about someone. The next Chris Nicholson could show up here and you might not know it at first....would be a shame to have someone like that get run off early on. I don't understand the motive for screwing with people you don't know enough about.

All people are different. We all have different definitions where humor is concerned. If you're referring to the Lou incident, that was "light ribbing" as you call it. C'mon, smiley faces with legs kicking each other in the nuts, what could be lighter than that? Either Lou is unfamiliar with the subtleties of the internet, or he was looking for an excuse to say "screw you guys, I'm going home." We get reposts all the time on this forum and of the forums I've seen the members of this one in particular handle it the best. Other car forums out there get downright nasty. But show weakness or sensitivity, and people (not just on the internet) will descend upon it like rabid chihuahuas.

Good stuff right there....especially the last sentence. I carry a man card, and no apologizes for that.

So given this, how does nothing more than an emoticon posted in reply to someone else cause a person to launch into a rage? And for said person to then get so angry at everyone's shock and disbelief that he then loses all control of his temper over it?

I've been using (and in some cases running and moderating) forums for nearly 20 years now and while I've seen some pretty crazy stuff I have never seen anything like that before...

A voice of reason.....almost always good to have on hand.




Also:

The funny thing is that, technically, the original emoticon in question was actually in reply to someone else's post not his!

I was beginning to think that I was the only one who noticed that....