so this is what it's like to be a mod at PC

The moderators are none other than:

• @Danny (site owner/admin)
• @efusco
• @TonyPSchaefer
• @Tideland Prius
• @Paradox
• @HTMLSpinnr

 

Nope but this is no ordinary car forum

Honestly, you guys are very well behaved compared to crap I see in other forums (flaming, trolling, name-calling, dissing, one-up-manship etc). I think it speaks well to the clientele of Prius owners. We come from all walks of life and are mostly able to get along online. It also helps that the older member base have met at Prius Connection Detroit in 2009 for the world premiere of the 2010 Prius. We hope to have the opportunity to meet newer members at TGB4 or local club events.

Cheers,

TP

 

I came on as a moderator and entered the 'Prius Expert' program right after the Detroit trip so I didn't have the pleasure of meeting you Rae Vynn, or all the others who were present there. Hopefully we can all get to do it again for a hopeful Gen IV or some other event. What fun we'd have I am sure, judging by Detroit stories I've heard, lol.

 

We've learned a lot over the last 11 or so years. At first, we wanted to make sure all threads were pure and on topic. We wanted to make sure all threads were Prius related. In other words, we were a little more heavy-handed. Not bullies, mind you, just uptight first-time parents.

Then we realized all conversations have a natural meandering effect and there's no stopping it. We also realized that as with all groups of friends, there are many other things to talk about besides what originally brought us all together. So we created "Fred's House of Pancakes" as a place for side-bar conversations. The concept was essentially a deli or sandwich joint where friends come in and talk current news, exchange vacation ideas, and essentially build on their friendships. Since International House of Pancakes was already trademarked and apparently Danny was too stingy to purchase the rights, we went with "Fred's".

Then, during an election year, things got heated so we created Fred's House of Politics where - on an opt-in basis - people can discuss/argue/insult/whatever. You might think the general forums are light-handed, but in FHoPol it's completely hands off.

Back in those days, we celebrated 1,000 registered members. Then 5,000 members some years later. It was easier to know all the "regulars". There were relatively few of us compared to today.

Tideland is right-on when he mentions that Prius drivers are, for the most part, generally a really good group of people. I always tell people that my overriding goal as a Moderator is to make sure Priuschat is a community in which my mom would be comfortable reading. Then, in fact, my in-laws bought a Prius as did my brother and then my neighbor. I had no problems suggesting that they visit the forums because I knew they would find nice people, good information, and practically no anger. And certainly no swearing.

As I write all this, I have to acknowledge that there have been times when we've needed to intervene. We really and honestly do not enjoy doing actual moderation things. You have to try really hard to get suspended or banned. When we move or edit a post, it's always with the intention of clean up or maintenance even if it's not immediately apparent.

I've enjoyed the friendships I've made on Priuschat. Some personal and some virtual. And I look forward to what the next generation of Prius will bring and hope to still be on PC for fifteen more years.