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rare webmaster thoughts... ;-) Posted by Scott Paterson [Email]  (#13)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Scott Paterson) on Wed, 13 Aug 2003 11:45:29
In Reply to: Why is TSN is so much better than other car BBs?, Noel, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 09:00:51 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Here's why I think TSN works well and you can probably see why I run it the way I do (which is not such that all Saab owners will like it here...rather that a certain type of Saab owner will...).
1. Back in 1986 when I was first hardwired into the Internet, I began using Usenet. By 1988, I could not begin to tell you that even back then 90% of discussion spiraled down into personality flame wars. There were more flame wars then in comparison to real discussion than there is spam to real email today... That is to say, a lot. When I decided to start TSN in 1988, there was no hesitation or really even any other way I could think of it being other than a moderated forum. It has always been a moderated forum and will always be a moderated forum. It's just human nature that when we interface with just a keyboard and monitor in front of us, too many problems arise. 1. We say things we would never say to someone's face and we cannot do a decent job of putting the correct tone into a text message although, silly though they may seem, emoticons (:-) :-( ;-)) have done a better job.
2. Saab owners are great people. I was working with probably the smartest, most rational, nicest, thoughtful automobile owner group possible. There is no doubt about it. Saab owners, to this day, are a special breed. That made this whole thing sooooo much easier!
Those are the two most important things. I learned that 'if you build it, they will come' does not apply to the Internet. You can't spawn a dozen new bulletin boards without the traffic to support it. BB's operate on a spiral. If you don't have enough traffic from day one of a new BB, it will do a death spiral to the point where nobody checks it anymore so there are never any new messages so nobody checks it etc. That's why I only just created the Saab Model 99 BB this year. I finally had enough really dedicated people on TSN who wanted a separate board for this model. And that's why I have not separated out the 9-3/9-3SS BB. In fact, I currently have no plans to do so. I find we need about 5 years of a particular model sales to warrant a separate BB. Also, I like the format of the TSN bulletin boards. The UBB/phpBB format disgusts me, to put it mildly. It's very easy to install and configure and that's why you see it on every single web site on the net. It's the AOL of BB software. It's very pretty and you can have an icon. The only thing I want to add to TSN's BB right now are:
1. Better searching. I want to make searching a bit more powerful and advanced and am slowly working on it.
2. Reserved user names. I've been working on this more lately and you'll be able to reserve your username on the BB and chat areas so nobody else can use it. I'll give pref to folks who have been using a particular name on a case by case basis.
Also will be able to give folks some image space on a TSN server with their own custom name (e.g. saabdude.saabnet.com). Oh, and I have these nice blue polo shirts with embroidered logos... all that pretty soon.
I know that TSN does not apeal to all Saab owners, but it does to a bunch and they seem like a great bunch. It's also way fun to meet people I've been conversing with for years but never met until a Saab Owners convention. Looking forward to meeting some new folks in Hershey next month!
-Scott
posted by 64.139.3...
_______________________________________ Saabnet.com Webmaster Saabs Owned: 1973 Saab Sonett III (Current) 1983 Saab 900 Turbo 1985 Saab 900 Sedan 1990 Saab 900 1992 Saab 900S 1999 Saab 9-3 Turbo 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero (RIP 95K/Accident-guy ran stop sign) 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero (Current) 2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi 2010 Saab 9-3X Wagon Winner 1996 Saab Owners Convention Rally Novice Class Winner 1999 Saab Owners Convention Rally (All Classes) Also Founder of two non-profits: Poverty2Prosperity.org RunClubMenloPark.org
, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 11:45:29 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 14:47:26
, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 18:06:33, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 22:02:04
, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 10:27:17, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:53:09, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 10:21:11, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 12:06:21
, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:01:11, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:57:15, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:15:56, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:25:12, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:53:05, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 18:53:05, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 11:22:02
, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 09:21:08, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:15:02
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