Most liked posts in thread: Preserving knowledge from a dying forum...

I've been hoping for this too simply because the software they currently use is hopelessly crappy but every time I suggest updating and make inroads to getting a change made (using my garage on here and the sewing site as an example) they seem to loose interest after a few weeks.

How exactly does intellectual property on user-generated content work on a forum? If the user who originally created the posting copies it verbatim to another site, even after the fact they aren't taking anything away from the first site and aren't plagiarizing. If another user paraphrases the same information to another site I don't see this as being legally problematic either. Also, as long as you have an active account on a site you're typically able to go back and edit anything you said in the original post and there's little anyone could do to prevent someone from not only moving something they wrote to another site, but also revising what they originally wrote to be technically irrelevant.

Forum farms can work and grow communities, I've seen what companies like Vertical Scope (owner of Autoforums and others) can do when staffed by enthusiasts. It's when they move to a profit focus from a community development focus that problems develop. Under Vertical Scope in 2005 I was part of planning for a multi-state, multi-event tour that would rival something similar to what Primedia was doing with it's titles. We had a couple different forums that could be on board plus Modified Magazine and most saw it as a great way to grow the communities as well as spread awareness of the title. We even had personal support from Rob Laidlaw, the president of the company. At the beginning of 2006 Autoforums first came online and it was a huge flop. They had the idea that rather than have 20 separate forums they'd move all the information off them to a super-site with separate boards for every make and model (I generated content for the Hummer forum of all things). Obviously when the site went public (I had no knowledge of this side of the plan) and they rolled an established Nissan community and an established Ford community onto a site with a few bugs still it really hit the fan. After that there was a shift in management where they went from aggressively trying to improve things to a more conservative approach. There was no longer any funding for things to grow communities such as tours, promotional stickers and T-shirts, prizes, etc. and the climate at the company is reluctant to encourage another change.

 

Intellectual Property is a thorny subject. It's very site dependent. one really should take a look at the Terms of Service for any site they use. On the admins forum we have been discussing this very subject lately. Some forum owners are of a mind that once posted on their sites the site owns the post. That does not preclude the author from posting the same thing on many sites they are members of, but does prohibit others from taking that same post to a different site.

Before you ask the TOS on M/A states:

My thoughts are that you took the time, you can do what you want with the information. M/A may use that info in other places besides the forum but only with your permission.

The sewing site we are dancing around does not even address these issues in the site guidelines.

Where it really gets fun is when someone posts something illegal, may it be to a warez site or but not limited to, the work of another that is covered by a copyright such as an image. As a site owner I would never claim ownership. There are legalities there that are still being explored within our courts.

 

IMO thats the only way that any useful sewing tips are going to be shared. Researching a new cross stitch as a example is a PITA to put it mildly

 

I should mention that the version the sewing has and the version on here are very different. The same team that wrote the original that was only on the sewing site has now been expanded and is sold to many sites, including this one. We continue to add features that extend the quality and usability.

 

History of online car forums

Interesting read.

Mark

 

It matters little to me which they choose, I'm just finding limits with their system and I have no idea who came up with this garage but it really limits the number and quality of photos.

I think technically no matter what the original author can lay claim to ownership of any intellectual property as it existed on their computer before the servers of the forum, the only thing the user-agreement can stipulate is what the forum owners themselves can and can't do with material that has been posted.

 

It's hard to find much intelligence on the sewing site with all the bickering going on

Mark

 

Perhaps the answer is not preserving the data on the sewing forum but creating new updated content.

The sewing forum data is filed so haphazardly that it very difficult to find the good data out of the massive amounts of just “stuffâ€.

Attracting membership is about content, pure and simple. If a guest comes to this site and finds the information useful they are likely to join and stay.

The content on Motoring Alliance now is primarily “performance orientedâ€.

There is very little data on exterior mods: blacking out the MINI, joey mods, etc.
The audio enthusiast threads are not here.
The maintenance threads are yet to be created - such as: what kind of oil, how often should I change my oil, what kind of coolant should I use, etc.
Does this mod void my warranty thread is yet to come.

Content about these kinds of items are needed if Motoring Alliance wants to move more into main stream forum and not just be a performance forum.

Maybe one of the first questions is, does Motoring Alliance want to move mainstream. This question is really an important for future direction of this forum.

I think the challenge for Motoring Alliance is to create organized growth, or it will proceed down a similar path as the sewing forum.

I think the concept of the “Library†is great, and its growth should be accelerated. The Library could serve as an easily reference point for the many questions that are repeated over and over again on these forums.

This site has many talented contributors and building library content could really set this site apart from the others. If MINI owners found a site where factual data about their cars could be found easily, I believe this site would become the premium MINI site even faster.

Perhaps contest could be held and prizes given for new library content. DIY articles encouraged and filed in the Library.

Paths to the Library should be "marked and well lit" so the newcomers can find the data they want easily.

Just my thoughts.

 

Ron,

Couldn't agree with you more.

Finding anything on the sewing site is a PITA at best

Thing is IMJ is that folks are going to have to step up and take the time to do a organized entry. Great example is the R56 Oil Change. Brilliant (thanks to Chad and Steve I believe)

On the other hand Nate can't do it all. Impossible for one man

Perhaps we could compile a project 'how to' list and ask folks to take one on. They can submit to Nate and Moderators for review and post to Library.

Or we can continue on the course that the sewing site has gone and have a glut of crap on some server somewhere?

 

I started a thread there to catalog everything in a way that made it easy to use (like in one FAQ post per forum referencing important threads to make it easy to browse). Very few people volunteered to help. It was about that time that I decided to contribute no more over there.

 

Interesting, this came up on the sewing site the other day. Seems to some, no other site but the sewing site has any content:rolleyes5: Well all I have to say is rrr: to that

Mark

 

My mantra is Content is King. Without content there is no reason to keep coming back.

Hence the Library. I tried to build it out in an organized manner where if one makes use of the search tool one can easily find what they are looking for if it is there. Unfortunately the Library search and the forum search are separate search functions. Ideally they should be unified, however the limitations of the software prevent that.

You are correct. The site has to rely on the members to add content. We do have a "Librarian" in place to assist members wanting to add to these areas. Members have been contacted, however there is some apathy. People want the content but seem unwilling when asked to assist. Please also keep in mind that this site has drawn quite a few veteran MINI owners that have been down this path. They have the knowledge so the questions are not asked as much. It would be nice if this knowledge was more freely shared. There are at least 3 people that are members I can think of off the top of my head that have great resources they have created. Instead of leaving the knowledge there it would be nice if this was shared in one common location. I've never been one to try and steal the thunder from another, credit and links are always provided. In the site guidelines it is spelled out that all content is retained by the author and not the site. Maybe this will help draw some of that content forward.

As much as I can try and plan the growth it take the village to raise the child. Plans are in place to help promote the site. I must ask, what is mainstream?

I am always open to suggestions, some of the most interesting features of the site are the result of others ideas.

As mentioned before, I think part of the problem is the questions are not asked that lead to articles. I do try to be active in promotion features. Pointing them out in newsletters on a rotating basis. You can also find a thread of all features stickied in the Starting Line forum. Link to the thread.

Contests have been run on this site and are not at all well received. Even with quite a bit of promotion participation is paltry at best. Just over 10% of membership votes in the MINI of the Month

I am open to discussion on all and of these points you mention. I'll PM my contact info, please feel free to call.

 

I think thats going to be the challenge here as well. Asking car guys to take the time to write something down is gonna be hard as evidenced by the sewing site.

I'm not a mechanic, engineer or professional detailer by any far stretch of the imagination. I'm a sales guy who happens to love MINI's. Me offering to do some installation 'How To' is not really gonna happen just out of sheer lack of experience. What I am willing to do is chase down info and ask the author to post here.

 

I think the problem is the NEW updated content. The MINI community has become kinda stagnant recently when it comes to content on any of the forums. Back a few years ago you had people like Tuls building their own turbo setups, MSfitoy doing crazy visual mods and interior mods, etc. These days 90% of the "content" threads are all the same repetitive, and often pretty weak, content. People aren't really pushing the boundaries any more. Everyone is just blacking out their cars with the fail-safe Plasti-dip and slapping on the same old bolt-ons. It's rare that you find any new ground-breaking ideas or impressive mods on any of the MINI forums.

 

You don't find my plasti-dipped cupholder with racing stripes ground-breaking or impressive?

 

But even the tried and true need to be documented and in a better manner than has been done in the past. Sure, there are ton of Joey modded MINIs running around but has anyone taken the time to take what the community has learned about the procedure in the ensuing years and created a better How To guide.

So while all this knowledge is out there it still needs to be gone over again to add best practices learned and to make it more accessible to the community as a whole.

While there is not a lot of ground breaking activity going on out there now the mundane still needs to be covered.

 

I forget his name, but the guy with the DS MCS R56 that ran his own painting company in FL did the best how-to for the Joey Mod. He covered everything and the pictures were great.

There is no doubt about that. In reality, those of us who have been around for a while should really just put together a book full of all the available mods. Kinda like that book you reviewed, but actually good:lol:

 

I'll try...

to harvest at least on of my "How-Tos" per week and get them over here to the library. I've done 10-20 I think.... And I have more that aren't posted.

If those of us who have written them actually do as little as one a month, we'll have hundreds in less than a year.

Like all big tasks, if taken in little chunks, it's pretty managable....

Matt

 

I am working on a full archive. On my site. In a easy to use search and organization. Check out the site. I have received approval from the major mini forums to archive the content. I am also providing links and credit to the original poster. As well as offering free mini cooper parts to users for adding content on a drawing basis. This not only will drive new members to the forums but also provide a good centralized location that servers as a backup to the origion how-to or faq. Check it out below.