so lets embark on a voyage through time to lets say 8 years ago....

1. Many of you were still in middle school so TR was not part of your web activity

2. People posted "issues" in the tech forums and received helpful responses (with the occasional troll response)

3. People actually took time out to "write" out helpful tech info such as how-to's.......and readers showed their appreciation....

4. Off topic threads flowed like the river loaded with funny stuff but generally had only a few try to spoil the thread.....

5. TR was used as a source to set up meet n greets and became the main "check in" site for such meets

6. along with #5, BBQ's and other meets at parks ect for the mere pleasure to meet and greet, hang out was a steady thing.

this list can go on and on........

NOW, what happens in 2012?

re:1. there will always be a new generation of members that join being completely lost. That is why there are many stickies on top explaining how to use the site and where to post. Unfortunately, they go ignored and the site gets an infinite amount of threads that are no where near their proper subforums ect..... No respect to the "older" members and basically either dont come back because of negativity (newb bashing) OR stay and become the new generation of trolls since like children they mimic what they see..

re:2. Yes, the all favorite response of many: GOOGLE IT!...... I understand the point of view of some where it may be true that perhaps you can find a response on google BUT if you pool all the experience of many here, you may have viable options. Also, just because it's in google, doesnt make it right or even useful. That is why many of the other forums that are car specific thrive, because they encourage the posting of questions and then the response of the many who may have encountered such issue therefore offering options depending on issue.

re3: This has truly died. and i miss it... I remember the many times I would go to the toyota section and find the exact thing I needed in a sticky... Yes, I probably could have googled it BUT it was much nicer to go to ONE place and find what I needed on a variety of brands, issues..ect...

re4: Off topic aka Pit Road as we saw became a center of certain users to insult other users, post inappropriate images, make threads violating forum rules such as racist or sexually explicit in nature...... Others only came in to PR, and no other forum, for there mere pleasure to start an argument and then hide and cry when the issue was addressed and corrected.. GRANTED, overmoderation also may have played a role in the negative activity BUT when you have a certain few that have no respect for themselves or others, there is no reasoning with them and they just need to be excused for the sake of the site as a whole.

re5: I see this picking up again but is not like it used to be....

re6: This has died as well and has been missed.....


Now all of that said... How can we all improve the site as a whole without causing an angry mob?......