And with 33 posts, that makes you what ................................ legit????
Whatever you say, pal.

Yes, learn all you can, but learn to weed out the garbage from the show offs. Be wary of those who would give you advise for the sole purpose of making themselves look cool. You don't just learn from those who own a Mini. There are lots of people on internet forums who are knowledgeable and don't own Minis. I, for one, have been a long time car enthusiast and shadetree mechanic. I have been and continue to be very interested in the Mini. I held off buying one earlier this year when I encountered a couple of local idiots on the "other" Mini forum. I didn't want to hang out with such incredibly self centered individuals. I had hoped there wouldn't be similar people here but I guess I was wrong.

 

 

Or ............... like you, they just exist.

 

Infraction issued to xviper for disrespectful posting. From the NAM Site Guidelines:xviper... if you want to be part of a community, leave the cynicism out of it. You can still be objectively critical on points that you disagree without resorting to insults.

How about loosening up a little?

As a side note, if you're judging whether or not to buy a car by the type of people you find on an Internet forum, then you're letting other people make the decision for you, when the merits or problems with the car has nothing to do with the personalities of those who buy them. Either you'll love the car, or you won't. Judge it for yourself.

 

I am shocked that you, as an admin on a car forum, have failed to see the impact of owning any specialty car. Do you not consider the Mini to be "special"? If you don't then why are you here? Like any special car, it becomes a focal point for enthusiasts to come together. It becomes a matter of "people" and the KINDS of people who frequent meets and drives. It becomes much less about the "car" as friendships develop.
In the forum pertaining to my current car, I have travelled all over N. America in the past many, many years, to meet with and drive with PEOPLE. Car clubs are actually "people" clubs. Why would anyone want to hang out with unpleasant "people"? I've seen threads on car forums, even THIS one, where Mini owners get upset because other Mini owners don't wave back at them. Are they waving at the car or are they waving at the PEOPLE? It's all part of the ownership experience. Am I not permitted to maximize my ownership experience by judging those whom I might hang out with? Do you not promote a "club" environment? Why do you think it's wrong to judge a car by the people who own them? This has already been done by the simple existence of this forum. And what would I be part of a "community" of? A community of CARS? Or a community of PEOPLE?

So, you warn me and chastise me for being insulting? YET, you did NOT respond in any way whatsoever, when I was called a TROLL (and this was done FIRST). Did you "warn" the author of that comment? Why is that? Are you PEOPLE not fair in the way you "judge" others?

You label my post as "cynicism" when I call it SARCASM. Do Mini "people" lack a sense of humour? A couple of your own "people" found it humourous and agreed that the author of those posts contributed absolutely NOTHING to the topic at hand.
You need not be worried about "warning" me again. You have just revealed this forum to be occupied by PEOPLE who are no different than those of the "other" Mini forum. I shall not return. There is NO community here.
Should I meet up with a Mini in a parking lot, I'll strike up a conversation with its owner, but NOT solely because of the car, but because there may be an off chance that they may be a car enthusiast with a normal, pleasant disposition.
Me, loosen up????
Oh, don't worry, I won't let the door hit me in the *** as I leave.

 

Amazing the variety of people who frequent Internet forums, this being no exception.

Also, amazing the variety of people who are attracted to the MINI... and that's exactly the point. There's generally only two things in common amongst MINI owners... we love the car, and we love to have fun. Other than that, plenty of variety between us all. However, cynicism is not welcome here... and if indeed you intended to be sarcasm, you have to be very careful how you present it, because sarcasm does not translate so easily into the written word, as it does in person.

Also, snide attitude and cynicism is not "normal, pleasant disposition". To each his/her own. You can try to point fingers elsewhere as much as you like, but that doesn't change what you posted.

xviper, if you do change your mind and choose to stick around, go back and read what you wrote again. You were quick to label people on the "other" forum as "idiots", and you were very snide in past posts with a very offensive posting style. However, the straw that broke the camel's back and finally earned yourself an infraction was your backhanded insult of jrammon. I don't even know jrammon, but I saw that in your post.

Funny how you seem to think the problem is everyone else, yet most of us get along OK.

You are welcome to choose a car for any reason you like... and if you choose to base your decision upon other owners, that's your perogative. I was merely pointing out that it isn't the cars fault that you don't like some of the other's owners. OF COURSE, the community of owners is a relevant aspect of owning a car, and the MINI has definitely harbored quite a community. My point was that it shouldn't be one of the primary factors for choosing the car, in my opinion.