Forums a little less "friendly" recently

I guess around the time I joined, there was a separate Gen 1 forum, but it was under the Prius Main Forum, not under the Gen 2 forum. The move that made Gen 1 into some sort of subcategory of Gen 2, which it obviously isn't, has just sort of bemused me ever since.

I like Jimbo's suggestion about the generational differences ... it reminds me of something I was noticing back in January, the same sort of generational idea but looking from a different angle at the differences. There's another angle that's sort of incubating in my brain at the moment but I'm not quite sure how to describe it yet.

-Chap

 

Ahh....quit your whining....

Everyone swims a little faster with a few sharks in the water...

 

Divers always swim in pairs and they always carry sheath knives.


Says much more about human nature than it does about marine biology....

 

There is one more growing group, the 'second' owners:

• Economic driven - they avoid the new car depreciation and want the efficiency.
• Mixed skills
  • Rebuilders - who buy a Prius at auction figuring they would fix it up. Technically skilled, they often have ignorance of Prius specific technology but master what is needed soon enough. Too often they find Prius repair has a lower profit margin and they don't drive them to see the fuel efficiency.
  • Shade-tree owners - with moderate skills and understanding, the good ones soon realize they need a different tool set and technical details. Knowing they have no 'warrantee', it is luck of the draw depending upon what maintenance comes up. They do drive the cars and reap the mileage benefits.
  • Non-mechanically skilled - these are the ones who often most need the fuel efficiency but too often lack confidence to master the skills needed to keep these cars rolling. Worse, they have economic challenges that mean they don't have backup transportation or fiscal resources for the tools and repairs.
• Old hands - former and current owners who freely share their knowledge and expertise with 'second' owners. Examples: Patrick Wong, Chapman, Paul, Hobbit, Eric, e.t.c. If we don't have the specific solution, we also recommend credible, independent shops where help can be found. But we also remember 'lessons learned' to apply to our own cars in the future.

Bob Wilson

 

Just wanted to point out I'm a shade-tree, second owner myself (ok, technically I think I'm the third owner of this car) ... just one who has had the car a while, and who decided up front that the safest way I could protect my money investment in the car was to also invest my time in learning how it works and how to work on it ... at first by ordering the manuals, and shortly thereafter by starting to hang around PriusChat too...

An invaluable advantage of hanging around PriusChat is the chance to see how certain problems are solved on other people's cars, before they happen to mine. I've learned a lot that way.

-Chap

 

Well, it depends on who you ask. World's Quickest 4 Door Sedan Isn't German Anymore | PriusChat To Marc, I'm an donkey. To me, Marc is a trooper.

 

If Ms. Cyper ignored herself she would disappear like the Cheshire Cat, but with only the left half of the grin remaining visible.


Bob’s pillow fight made me smile, but yeah, while we’re on it, why don’t you tell us when the Faire Wif gets better?


Jimbo’s description of Gen owners may have merit, but I think it’s relative. For example you may have no idea what Jaguar owners put up with to get cachet.


My perspective is that forums are less heated recently, but maybe I hang out in the wrong places. Truth is though, I sorta miss that level of engagement because it tends to sharpen my thinking. Plus, it’s only a pillow. There may be people so Sure of Their Complete Knowledge that any dissent is offensive (I said that to make y’all angry).

 

obviously, you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

I think you're right, Cyber. I've noticed the same thing; perhaps over a longer time span. Back when it was just us greenies, everybody got along great and we had all sorts of fun. Then reality intervened and the general population got interested in saving money instead of the planet, and Priuschat began to reflect a more complete cross-section of society. The fun word-game threads died, and the nasty political forum became busier. It's still a good place - it's not like the party's over and it's time to go home - but yeah, that was fun while it lasted.

 

Wow surprise the world evolves

 

Or in this case, devolves......

 

a number of older members have left, because it has become a world they don't want to live in, like the one they have to live in.

 

I agree with this.

Compared to a vast degree of different forums I see, Prius Chat is still one of the most organized and consistently civil forums I participate in.

If I PERSONALLY admit to any occasional weakness, it's perhaps that I have participated within Prius Chat for so long, that occasionally a new person will pop in and make a statement or ask a question that because of my years of participation is something I've heard or answered seemingly countless times before.

There are a few topics and POV's that I do disagree with that become pet peves of mine. I have "ranted" on occasion about these topics.
BUT...

I try to first upfront admit that it is a rant.
Secondly, keep the criticism aimed at the idea or topic...and NOT the person presenting the idea or topic.

And finally? If I should fail? Or the community, moderators...feel I have crossed the line? I have no problem with the post being deleted. Everyone has a bad day, or moment at the keyboard. Not every post is going to be a well balanced, thought out gem of wisdom.

But in general a generic and vague call out of "Prius Chat" for being "less friendly"?

Maybe I'm biased but go spend some time on nearly ANY sports teams forum. In you want to see unfriendly, in fighting and childish disagreement.

Prius Chat is nearly a Nuns Convent in comparison to most public discussion forums.

 

Hands down this is the friendliest "car forum" out there.

 

And that is one of the most clever things about the Prius. Computer controlled, the engine has an easy life especially because the Atkinson cycle has de-rated the maximum power. The transmission is simpler than a mechanical. Most of the early technical problems were addressed with the NHW11 2001-03.

Bob Wilson

 

[QUOTE="hyo silver, post: 2182916, member: 4237"The fun word-game threads died, and the nasty political forum became busier.[/QUOTE]

Wait - there were fun word-game threads?

I wouldn't mind seeing those again. The stump-the-chump picture thread was kind of fun too.

-Chap

 

Nothing to do with evolution.

Gen1 and early Gen2 owners were a mixture of techies and greenies with a few oil independence folks thrown in for variety. The Prius was a marvel that interested every owner at varying levels of comprehension.

Now the car is mainstream and the average owner only wonders how it works when it is broken, and rationalizes the appearance, performance and social vibe by it's fuel economy and reliability. In effect, it is treated like an imperfect appliance that mildly threatens republican pretensions and juvenile feelings of inadequacy.

Truth be told, it is rather remarkable that PriusChat has not exploded. Danny and the moderators deserve loads of credit, and pressure was relieved by a large migration of the early adopters to EV land. Off-hand I'll guess that the forum has lost some 2/3rds to 3/4rths of it's most knowledgeable and intelligent members.