From using other forums over the years, I have a few suggestions that might make this one a little less "squidy":
1. Moderators: Start making more of the common questions into "stickys". The only ones that I can think of for right now (as I have only owned an RC for three weeks) are:
a) the CBR600 mudflap or hugger, whatever you want to call it;
b) maybe a break-down of which flushmount turn signals are "best" and estimated costs of them as that is always a factor and a note of which ones are crap. I've seen this question a few times already.
c) umm, that last post from thorsten, maybe with a little more detail or just more reading material for people new to the world of RC's. I understand what he is saying there, and I don't need any further info as I fall into his first category, but others might want more information.
d) Who sells carbon? opinions on what is crap, what is not. I know this can get a little tense, as a few of your sponsors sell directly off this site.
e) Who sells XXXXXXX? again, opinions on what is crap, what is not.
2. Someone in this thread mentioned that you used to have a "lounge" here. Bring it back, that gives people a place other than "RC-51 General Discussion" to post their latest prank on their boss, or a funny video or picture they found. That will keep the clutter down, or at least somewhere else.
3. Create a "New Member Section". This will give people a place to introduce themselves, and to ask stupid questions that could probably be answered with the search function. Then, when you senior members that already know just about everything about the RC (and I am serious) get on the forum, you (the senior members) don't have to sift through 25 threads about flushmounts, synthetic oil, sprocket sizes, hid kits, carbon fiber, and what-not. If you don't want to answer questions like that, then you don't have to go there. IF a new guy posts a new thread in the "General Discussion" or "Technical Discussion" sections, then the moderators could just move it to the "New Member" section.
4. When someone starts a new thread and the first 10 responses are "do a search", the moderators need to delete that thread. The reason why: The next guy who comes along and tries to search for the same thing, finds 50 threads that are telling the thread starter to "do a search". Then he gets tired of reading threads like that and starts his own (only to be told that he needs to search). The cycle continues until heads explode, or people stop using the forum.
5. Moderators need to move stuff where it belongs. I don't know this site's current condition, or how many moderators they have. I am not trying to bash anyone here either. If you create the things I listed above, it won't do any good if you don't move things where they belong and keep up with everything.
Trust me guys, these suggestions will help out a lot. After years of being on a Toyota off-road forum, I got tired of answering the same questions over and over again too. There are only so many times that you can tell people why they shouldn't buy "hid kits", why most "lift kits" are a total waste of money, which tire is best for mud/sand/rocks, why do 4runners get crappy gas mileage, and who makes the best headlights?.
I have started to go there less and less, as I get tired of the drama, and people who post questions and don't like the answers (yes your hid kit is crap and you are blinding people, even if they don't flash you with their high-beams. Yes if you want real hid's you need to do proper retrofit, yes it will cost more) then they bitch about it. There really isn't a solution to that other than banning or ignoring the flamers, or not allowing new members.
Every once and a while you get the chance to actually help someone out who has a problem that hasn't been addressed in the past. When it is something can't be found with the search, or already hasn't been posted in a sticky, that is where the senior members come in.
I like the forum so far guys, lots of good info. Maybe my skills (sifting through crap) from the last forum have helped me ignore the bs?
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