Should we start over from scratch?

[tdc]

Originally Posted by downsbs

I still am not sure what the benefit of doing this would be, tdc, can you please explain this to me? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Dr. Ew

i agree, i dont see what resetting the forum will do besides deleting old accounts that never get used, and if they never get used, who cares if they are deleted?

The answer is what Chris aka NAKEDM3 said:

Originally Posted by NakedM3

The number one reason to start over is so we can become a community again. No post asking new members or any members to refer to the search function for answers. It's time to break down and rebuild a fantastic community.

and

Originally Posted by NakedM3

If the member base shrinks, good! Most of you guys have no idea what it's like to be apart of a small and passionate community. Nothing but the best start this machine over and we build it all over again. Anyone remember the server crash a while back? We made it happen.

Plus, it seems a few of you are misunderstanding the whole idea of starting over. The format will remain vBulletin. The forum itself will get a rebuild meaning sections will be merged with another section or removed completely due to inactivity. As for members being removed for inactivity, if you are active this should not have any impact on you whatsoever. Again, in regards to post count and original registration date these issues will be taken care of if we do move forward with the changes.

[downsbs]

NakedM3's answer, to become a community again, does not seem very strong. We will be the same people as we were before you guys started the board over. How will reseting post counts and merging forums make us a community? I think the intentions are good but it is not a realistic answer to "saving" DTM.

[tdc]

Originally Posted by downsbs

NakedM3's answer, to become a community again, does not seem very strong. We will be the same people as we were before you guys started the board over. How will reseting post counts and merging forums make us a community? I think the intentions are good but it is not a realistic answer to "saving" DTM.

Then provide us with some ideas you think may help rejuvenate the site. Anyone and everyone can complain about things. Few are those who will actually take action for the better.

[NakedM3]

Originally Posted by downsbs

NakedM3's answer, to become a community again, does not seem very strong. We will be the same people as we were before you guys started the board over. How will reseting post counts and merging forums make us a community? I think the intentions are good but it is not a realistic answer to "saving" DTM.

It's hard to understand from the prespective of someone who has been here a very long time.

[NSM]

After reading the whole thread again, I understand the point now. When I first joined DTM it really was a community. It was a community with the same common interest, BMW's and getting together to discuss, critique and enjoy the BMW world as a community. I agree now that the forum should be reset with certain aspects kept intact. Join date/post count for one should be kept for those who chose to remain on the forum. Also I didn't understand before that all of the threads would be archieved, I definitly like this idea because that would allow us to concentrate on the BMW community and commonly asked questions wouldn't pop up every other day users could just do a search and easily find the answer to their questions. I also think that the Regional forums should be a focal point of DTM as they seem to be the only remaining part of the site that is thriving and a point of interest. I also like Tom's proposal to merge and delete inactive sections of the forum that aren't used much. I think that the resetting of the forum will keep those of us that like it here, here and will attract those new members who think they will fit in and share the interest of the BMW community. I'd be more than willing to help Tom in anyway possible to help recreate or reestablish DTM to the site it has to potential to be.

[L3it3r]

I have seen a HUGE change in DTM in the past few months.. give it some time and the site will be back to 'normal' IMO.. the activity won't be like bf.c's OT or anything, but that's not a bad thing either. You don't really need to 'wipe the slate clean' to make dtm succesful, but I can see the advantages. Creating a forum from scratch allows for easier feature implementation, upgrades, etc. The video, photo, member galleries could be operational, 'member' status could be a thing of pride again, and dtm would be a blank canvas that the long lasting members could 'paint', or in other words, make it what it should be: a community. DTM Drives and all the meets that have been slowed by gas prices among other things shuold be pushed again (gas will come down in price again.. I guarentee it) but in the end.. making people re-register for the same forum isn't really a 'bad' thing either.. it's a good way to get an idea of how active your forum is and tells the members that the site is worth their while. The admins are looking in their best interest. but, again, I don't think that it's 100% nessecary right now.

/rant lol

[zcghost]

I voted no. I am happy with the way DTMpower is. There are some shitbags, and there could be more moderators....

There isn't anything wrong with DTM that couldn't be changed without resetting the whole site. For example, I think the NWS HOT CHICKS thread should be up and running again, which I would contribute to.

I have a join date and a post count. I dont want that resetted....it would make me feel like a noob again. I would be seen as a noob by those who are actually noobs.

Lets make some changes, I'm all for it. But resetting the whole site? Thumbs way down.

[philsans5]

Why can't the site be upgraded without resetting? If the home page was updated a little more often then more people would come across the site in search engines. More members could show up at BMWCCA races/ schools to get the word out. I try to get other club racers up in here with links to funny vids and such. I know I'm too new to know what the glory days were like, but I REALLY enjoy this forum. Can't you just erase inactive members?

[One 328is]

Originally Posted by One 328is

If starting over is a whole change to the forum. Everything. With a focus on the new forum to what is working great now. The Aussie set up. With moving the regional forums to the top of the page with each area getting an events sub thread.
The forum dose not have to be a club, but the club set up and feel that makes the Aussie regional so great.

(if your going to have a thread that is NWS have it in a locked area where only members can get in to view, with age limits)

Several of you all have posted about community.
Give the forum a club like feel/look. That has made the Aussie area the best thing going on DTM atm.

[NakedM3]

The only way the forum could properly regenerate is if we executed the features outside the forum. Even if we don't reset the forum, the underlying question is, "How do we pull our resources together to develop area's outside the forum to make the 'site' better"? We can talk all day about what needs to be done, but doing it is a whole other challenge.

[NakedM3]

Originally Posted by NSM

Also I didn't understand before that all of the threads would be archieved, I definitly like this idea because that would allow us to concentrate on the BMW community and commonly asked questions wouldn't pop up every other day users could just do a search and easily find the answer to their questions.

This is what is wrong. We should be sharing the wealth of information all over again. It sucks ass to have to say, "search newbie, search!" on nearly every topic. Whats wrong with spending 5 minutes to answer a question you know off the top of your head? It's such bad forum etiquitte IMO.

Chris

[j3asays]

i say start over...this site needs a differnt background and color.
and wat hurt would it do if we started over?
who cares about the post counts....

[hamann99]

why not, you can almost say it's like reformatting your HD, but instead the forum itself.

[deafrowe]

I really dont see how restarting DTM would help. Delete inactive accounts if thats such a big deal to ppl (why Im not sure). Change the background, and visuals on the boards. Update and change the front page monthly to keep new people interested. GET MORE MODS! Finally, for gods sake dont merge regionals too much! Thats the only reason Im on this board, as are many of my fellow PNW guys! Do what you need to, to make people happy. Just dont change it up so much that it could repell people, instead of attracting them.

[tdc]

Originally Posted by deafrowe

I really dont see how restarting DTM would help. Delete inactive accounts if thats such a big deal to ppl (why Im not sure). Change the background, and visuals on the boards. Update and change the front page monthly to keep new people interested. GET MORE MODS! Finally, for gods sake dont merge regionals too much! Thats the only reason Im on this board, as are many of my fellow PNW guys! Do what you need to, to make people happy. Just dont change it up so much that it could repell people, instead of attracting them.

This is effectively what restarting the forum would mean.