Services - A New Forum Section

[Larry Azevedo]

We have started a new subcategory on the forum titled 'Services'. There are a number of members that provide a variety of services such as restorations, rebuilds, transportation, etc and it makes sense to put these items in a standalone area for convenience for our users. Please note that all of the forum rules apply, posts should be on topic, devoid of derogatory comments and in character with our hobby. Over time we will be moving active posts in the other sections, such as Classified, to this new area. Hope you find this useful!
Larry Azevedo
MTFCA President

[RajoRacer]

I thank you for a very overdue addition to our Club site !

[SurfCityGene]

I think this is a good idea But....

There's value in having a "One Stop Shop" where you can view many different topics without having to move to other pages. It just goes to show how lazy we have become when we leave just because we have to open a new page.

I do know several people who don't read the classified or vehicle sections. This can be a disservice when topics like a new service is posted which they might then miss. Hopefully when some new service is posted it someone might also give a heads up on the regular forum.

The plus is when you're looking for something specific you will be able to find it in one location!

Thanks for a great resource!
Gene

[mvweaver]

Sounds like a great idea. I've got another suggestion, maybe warranted or not, but how about a separate section for the Swap Meets and Tours? The announcements for them get buried after a while with the technical discussions on the main forum. I sometimes find myself missing or forgetting about a coming event once it gets pushed down in the forum list. Just a recommendation to think about. - Matt

[jsaylor]

There already is a calendar on the mtfca main page. https://www.mtfca.com/events/ Maybe add a link from the forum page. And also add a direct link from the forum page to the suppliers on the mtfca main page. https://www.mtfca.com/model-t-ford-suppliers/

Seems maybe there are resources on the mtfca main site that many do not know about.

[Hudson29]

I love the idea of a services section. There may be some things we just didn't think anybody would be doing. The idea of a separate section for swaps & tours is another useful idea I'd like to see.

[BE_ZERO_BE]

There are some good ideas here.
But
We don't want to end up like Smokstak with 84 different forums
or QRZ forums with 53.
Kay One Two Ess i.e. KISS

[Ken Buhler]

I just submitted this on the site: I think this is a great idea. I have a few thoughts turning within. I hope we could encourage members who are artisans in their own right, who make or do things we need, and support them. My concern is the need to draw the lines now as to what this will look like soon.
Thank you,
Ken Buhler

[Chris Barker]

Ah! Now we can have uncensored Mike Kossor! Excellent.

[Divcoone]

I think it would be fair for commercial users to pay a fee.

[Chris Barker]

I don't suppose it costs anything, beyond a little volunteer time (thank you) to provide this new section.
If a fee is levied, forum users will end up paying it.
Or the suppliers will not use it.

[jab35]

Good addition to the forum

If I may, I suggest reordering the forum topics by moving webinars down the list so discussion, services and classifieds ( or disc, classified, services) are the first 3 on the menu, thanks, jb

[John_manuel]

Would any but "commercial users" post in this section? Are do you only want to have certain people pay a fee and if so, what parameters do you suggest?

[John_manuel]

Not "are", "or".

[FreighTer Jim]

I think it would be fair for commercial users to pay a fee.

I don’t have a problem with that as long
as you make it equitable and charge the
businesses operating in the Parts section
to continue selling.

There are folks making money selling
parts that are not just hobbyists.

They are business owners.


FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

I don't suppose it costs anything, beyond a little volunteer time (thank you) to provide this new section.
If a fee is levied, forum users will end up paying it.
Or the suppliers will not use it.

Nope

I have donated free transport of at least
two vehicles to The MTFCA Museum.

I have donated transport of parts - tools
sheet metal - ephemera over many years.

That is a good idea - I don’t mind paying
as long as the businesses selling parts
for free in the Parts forum start paying
their way.

There are folks who are not just Hobbyists.

They are volume sellers who have been
getting free advertising for years.


FJ

[Hudson29]

Please NO FEE for vendors & manufacturers. They are doing us all a service and we need to encourage more folks to make new parts & provide more services. We all benefit.

Also, if there was a fee, someone would need to administer it and be responsible for the funds.

[DHort]

Looks good so far.

Agree - move Webinars and 2018 and prior forums down the list.

Thank you.

[Mopar_man]

I think a fee is a bad idea. Although there are some bigger companies who sell stuff on the forum. Charging a fee may suppress people from development and selling. I think any business that helps out this small community should be welcome to advertise and sell. All I've come into contact with have been very helpful.

[perry kete]

I don't think a fee should be charged for the service section BUT perhaps they should be a MTFCA member in order to post an ad. I may be mistaken (and I usually am) that you can post items for sale on the forum without a membership BUT you need to be a member or pay a $20 fee for posting a car. Is that correct?

Yes that is correct.
Chris

[SurfCityGene]

Any Vendor that uses this site for their personal gain should at least have the good sense to pay their dues and become a member. We should only buy from and promote the business of those who are members!

[Ken Buhler]

I agree that commitment to membership fosters a stronger sense of community, and that can't be bad.
Ken Buhler

[Susanne]

I think this is a great idea, it helps those who provide the hobby with expertise a way to let those looking for that expertise a way to connect.

As long as it doesn't become like the "Service Department" at the Rogue plant...

Also, I was thinking that while we do have some people that provide a service, they also provide the material that keeps the rest of the forum alive and active. I hope what DOESN'T happen is people start telling people they CANNOT post in the general area if they happen to both have an article of intrest AND have a business that relates to that same aera of expertise. I saw that happen on another forum and it caused a LOT of bad feelings... to the point a lot of members who were vendors walked away.

I saw Stan's AWESOME photo shoot of his dual fuel carb resto , which at first glance I thought was an early high volume dual intake dual 5 ball before I read the article (but it's giving me ideas for a 2 stage dual throated NH... )... and there was some concern as it related to a service he provides, that he felt it necessary to post an apology...

That's the scenario I hope we avoid, where our awesome members feel uncomfortable to share their expertise (say Ron's coil knowledge) because he happens to also rebuild coils on the "regular" board, or post a disclaimer... or in other words... The "Service Department" is a place to advert your wares so people can find you, but it's not a place where we pigeonhole members because they're service providers (unless, of course, they're providing a "Harry Bennett - style" "service"... )

[Mark Nunn]

Would any but "commercial users" post in this section?

Yes, non-commercial users would post in the services forum. I'm rebuilding my front suspension and I'm getting close to needing some work done. I plan to list a "Services needed" thread when the time comes.

[rickg]

i posted there for some work i need done that i don't have the experience or tools to do it, i received a response from a member who can do the work, i don't think most of the vendors will use this site, as newer people join the forum it will be a great place to ask for help.

Rick Goelz

[MKossor]

The forum leadership deserves thanks and recognition for being sensitive to the views and concerns of forum users. The new Services forum subcategory is a proactive compromise to resolve differences of opinion on what content should and should not be permitted on the discussion forum.

I welcome and applaud the ability to openly and freely discuss Model T topics of popular common interest and benefit to groups within the hobby without fear of reprimand or expulsion because a few vehemently and obsessively object for whatever reason. It is unfortunate such discussion need be relegated to a new, unknown, subcategory where visitation is uncertain other than being a tiny fraction of the discussion forum. If not, I suspect the few vehement objections will obsessively return.

Perhaps an alternate approach worth consideration then is the creation of a Complaints subcategory where users could post their objection to specific discussion forum posts. If sufficient consensus exists the post is not of interest or benefit to the Model T hobby, appropriate actions could then be taken to move, delete and/or levy reprimand as warranted. This, of course, is aside from the standard forum rule violations.

[varmint]

Perhaps an alternate approach worth consideration then is the creation of a Complaints subcategory where users could post their objection to specific discussion forum posts. If sufficient consensus exists the post is not of interest or benefit to the Model T hobby, appropriate actions could then be taken to move, delete and/or levy reprimand as warranted. This, of course, is aside from the standard forum rule violations.

Specific complaints can go directly on the offending thread?

There already is a section called "Forum Support Questions" which I assume is being monitored that can also serve as a discrete notification area.

[AdminJeff]

Perhaps an alternate approach worth consideration then is the creation of a Complaints subcategory where users could post their objection to specific discussion forum posts. If sufficient consensus exists the post is not of interest or benefit to the Model T hobby, appropriate actions could then be taken to move, delete and/or levy reprimand as warranted. This, of course, is aside from the standard forum rule violations.

Specific complaints can go directly on the offending thread?

There already is a section called "Forum Support Questions" which I assume is being monitored that can also serve as a discrete notification area.

There is already a function to report posts. It's used A LOT, the less moderation Chris and I have to do, the better. There is no fee to post in the services section, and none planned. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully the classifieds will become parts only listings as a result.

AdminJeff

[jab35]

I fear a complaints category would devolve into a cesspool of negativity. Let's not go there.

[MKossor]

It seems you all completely missed my point. A small minority of obsessively vocal complainants successfully imposed their will on everyone here; what they are and are Not permitted to read on topic in the widely popular discussion forum. Moving on topic content to a new and obscure subcategory will only be of appeasement provided the new subcategory remains obscure and infrequently visited, despite the value to the masses, or the the complaint cycle will simply repeat. The irony is, key complainants can flagrantly violate the rules they were instrumental in imposing on everyone else with total impunity. (PM me if you need examples, I am not doing to discuss this further here).

In summary, an alternative solution was implied: Fix the problem rather than try to appease. ALL on topic Model T posts relevant to the good of the hobby are appropriate for posting on the discussion forum. Participants who feel a post is of questionable value to the hobby can simply exercise their right to skip the post rather than impose their will on everyone else.

[Susanne]

I would recommend a more conservative approach - the Services subcat was just started, why not let that run for a while and see how that works before we start adding more "weight" and potential for contention to the forum...

What I fear (having been a forum mod elsewhere) is, by adding a section deliberately to voice complaints, turning what should be a fun outlet for everyone involved (including mods and admins) into a job policing those who feel the need to start a fistfight, and causing a lot of consternation to the hobby...

My 2¢...

[John kuehn]

I think that a simple approach be taken first and one that is straight to the point as stated in the beginning. Try that and see how it works. An ongoing conversation will only add more overthinking of how to do it what can be added.
It’s a good idea for those that can offer a service and its be a good thing. Let’s give it a try and see what happens.

[MKossor]

I apologize for my poor communications skills, I was NOT advocating the new Services category be scrapped. My concern was that moving on topic content to the services category would only be an appeasement IF it remained an obscure category; IF it became widely popular, the complaints would just begin again. Then (and ONLY THEN), perhaps an alternate would be to create a "Complaints" category... It was meant to be a metaphor to suggest: fix the problem rather than attempt a futile cycle of appeasement. I do not understand why an on topic post of questionable value to the hobby (in one or a few person's opinions) must be prohibited from posting in the discussion forum or relegated to another category; simply skip the post rather than impose one's opinion on everyone else. That leads to enforcement which is subject to its own issues (some get a pass, others strictly enforced which sows further discord). I have difficulty understanding why an on topic post of questionable value to the hobby (in one or a few person's opinions) must be prohibited from posting in the discussion forum or relegated to another category; simply skip the post rather than impose one's opinion on everyone else. That's all.