Being a member since 5/04 I have noticed a big difference in responses to posts--or lack thereof. A little background, found NAM back in '04 when I decided to buy a MINI. I had questions galore. I recall the warm welcome and the numerous--informative and sometimes humorous post responses to my queries. Was pretty active until I got the BMW 1 Series bug in 2009. Sold the MINI and was adopted over on 1addicts. Missed my MINI. Came back to NAM this Spring and ordered and bought my '11 Factory JCW--which I truly love-- and have been surprised/sometimes disappointed at the few responses I have received as well as reading other threads that seemed to almost be ignored by our members.

My point I guess is--has membership declined or now that there are so many models of MINIs has the focus changed? Not sure how many members have been onboard since the birth of NAM but would enjoy some veterans' thoughts/perspective on my perception. Thanks. Nick

 

I've only been around for a year, but I find this forum to be really active and quite helpful. I know that sometimes as forums grow in membership some veterans begin to tire of answering the same question (Which tires are best? Should I get a Sprint Booster?) and you get more and more snarky reminders about the search button. I haven't seen a lot of that here, but it might be a factor.

 

I've only been a member since Jan 2011 but I do see both sides. Most people are very helpful and informative. I do wish that some of the "veteran" members would post again. I've noticed that there are some really good threads out there and nobody will respond back to my inquiries on them.

 

I've been around since 2002. Activity and helpfulness seem to be cyclical. Sometimes it varies day by day. Still a great group of owners and a source of good info.

Kevin

 

What you're noticing is fragmentation on the MINI community over multiple sites. Users of other MINI-related sites have expressed to me the same frustration. Where has everyone gone?

Some people complain that MINI2.com is dead as well. That site use to cater to many MINI enthusiasts from all over the world. Now it seems its mostly used by the Brits.

Unles a web site is absolutely unique in what it offers, you're going to see the same pattern.

I'm just glad that most if not all the sites have search functions to help people out. I know that using the search function on NAM has helped me out with some situations I've come across since getting my MCS back in '07

 

I am finding the number of new posts to be increasing a lot possibly due to all the new MINI owners (Countryman and older used MINI purchases). Due to the sheer number of new forum threads I don't read or respond to all of them. I've been seeing more new threads for things that could have been answered by searching.

I wonder if a moderator has had a look at the usage stats for NAM lately?

Otherwise I haven't seen a real decline of the support from NAM.

 

Just a thought, but you could also look to your own stats for enlightenment. There are those who have been members for years and still have less than 500 posts. An active board needs participation from everyone, not just the veterans. Admins recently posted in the Suggestions/Feedback forum that site visits (hits counter) have been very consistent over the years. So people are still coming to NAM.

 

+1 on these observations.

 

I have been a member since the days that NAM was MCO….


The demographics have shifted dramatically.

• The first few years was more family like on the boards. There were fewer members and it felt more tight knit
• In the beginning, older folks who had been around long enough to work on a carburetor was the norm, and young owners were pretty sparse. As the waitlists went away anybody could get one on a whim and used cars have become affordable the ratio has inverted. People from different generations interact differently and even as a youngin myself, I prefer to engage with those who can teach me something and have more wisdom than I or my generation. When the ban on street racing threads was lifted it was a sign of the times so to speak
• A lot more non-enthusiasts joined and the search button was hardly used. When I use the search button now there are multiple threads and tons of dead ends. The site is just not as useful
• A lot of help threads just became populated by lots of guesses by people who have very little actual automotive knowledge. Its harder to get good advice now
• When the founder sold the board to the corporation, It was when NAM stopped being a community and was officially a business….hard to get excited about that

In short, the board is different than it used to be….But I am still around….I do try to keep up on things and try to find the few excellent DIY’s that have been done by some of the best contributors. But I don’t post much anymore.

 

I have been visiting NAM at the same pace pretty much since I joined. There was a couple of months where I didn't come on because of not having internet connection or lack of motivation. I can tell you one thing I have seen in the last 2 years I have been on is people here can be down right cranky and don't take kindly to those of us who have performance in mind. Now I am speaking mainly of the 2nd gen area. And there is a little bit of people being pissy and getting their feelings hurt so a lot of people are just saying the hell with it and walking away.

 

The early adopters brought a unique vibe...that scene couldn't have lasted forever. Why, back in the day I remember stopping by the dealership with my two MINI-owning buddies and, in doing so, doubling the number of in-the-flesh MINIs that were on the lot! That scene didn't last forever either (which is probably a good thing).

After two MINIs, I moved on to other micro-cars whose features I like. The only reason I visit now is to discuss the possibility of a smaller MINI and to say hi, but out of respect for MINI-culture I don't otherwise meddle. Just not my scene any more.

 

Wow 38,000+ posts. Impressive.

 

The other thing that has started here in the last couple of years is this, "1st Gen is better then Sen Gen" argument. That is really starting to wear on some people. There is friendly jabbing then there is straight being an *** and that is what is starting to happen.



Just saying.

 

Or pathetic...depending one one's perspective.

 

I've noticed this trend on other boards I frequent including ones dedicated to computers, Miata's, and Jeeps. I think in general the trend works like this.

Group A adopts the product, immerses themselves in it, becomes experts.

Group B starts asking for help from group A. Group A helps out and Group B soon becomes experts.

Group C comes along and asking for help. Group B begins to answer these questions. Group A becomes lurkers or less interested as their knowledge base/patience is saturated.

At least that's the way I've seen it in the past. Another consideration is how corporate is the board. For example JK-Forum (a Jeep Wrangler Forum) really alienated a lot of people due to the boards owner operating for profit. He would delete threads about vendors other than those who supported him. Eventually people caught on at the biggest JK forum on the net fragmented.

I've enjoyed my brief stay here. I got some snarky comments when asking about the Chrono Kit but other than that everyone's been outstanding.

 

I know I haven't been around lately cause it's summer and time to be out playing.

 

NAM is far more friendly than a number of computer related boards I've perused. I find general auto forums to be the worst... like the comments section of Edmunds for example.

I guess it depends also if you have members who are leasing or owned. My car is leased and I found I read a lot over the years, but rarely posted - and only relatively recently even registered an account. Let's face it, this car is not mine and I am fully aware it is rented from MINI/BMW. But now that I'm seriously looking at purchasing a JCW, I've become more active.

 

I feel the same way. Bought another MINI after several years without one and I have noticed the decline is help and activity. I used to be able to leave for a few hours and get back and there would be loads of new threads and numerous posts on my threads. Yet now I've asked questions and sometimes get zero opinions or info. Sad really.

 

Ok here comes a long one, get the popcorn. I've had my Mini since 04. I was a forum "stalker" for a long time. Because I saw how some members judge others just for making a comment they don’t like or agree with after reading some of the threads, I kept my distance. I have been around cars and made a career in the auto service business all my life. I am 50 years old and it’s the only business I know. I’m a Master ASC Technician, an ICAR Platinum Individual, and hold dozens of other automotive certifications. I have been an auto property damage trainer for a major insurance company for the last 17 years.

I could offer tons of advice on many auto topics and I have even written several articles in a few auto magazines. I only give my resume because I feel I am fairly qualified to comment on member’s questions with some reasonable authority. When I have, I’ve gotten rude people who don’t know a thing about cars giving me grief? Sorry but when that happens I take the high road. I am not going to debate a technical issue with someone who can’t even change his own oil. Speaking of oil- got a few hours you what to waste, just look up what is the best oil for your car. I guarantee you will have a migraine inside of 15 minutes. When someone judges me or dismisses my technical advice because of my posting count, I am tapping out. And don’t dare measure the performance of a Mini against a competitor, the grape cool aid dudes will tear you head off.

It’s great to be passionate about the car your drive but don’t insult someone just for having an opinion about another make or model. I remember making a comment about the performance of a stock R53 comparing it to a WRX, GTI, and a Cobalt SS and I had to turn my computer off for a few days. Lesson- lighten up folks and be a little more inclusive.

When I bought my Mini, it was one of the most exciting vehicle purchases I ever made. Similar to when I bought my Harley. I am considering buying another Harley but, I don’t think I would consider another Mini. I am just growing tired of the whole scene and the way Mini/BMW treats you after the purchase. It’s probably been the funniest vehicle I ever owned other than the MBG’s of my youth. I know I’ll probably regret it but, I am going to sell it. I need 4 doors now and I can’t keep 2 vehicles for financial reasons. When I sell the Mini, I am thinking about 4 door 2011 GTI. It’s a much better engineered, more reliable vehicle, and more value for the money than anything Mini sells. It’s been a good ride folks…

 

I would like to not get a headache, please. What oil do you recommend for an R56 JCW?

Ah life on the Internet. This will happen no matter what car forum you join... VW, MINI, etc.

Not sure if I agree on the VW being more reliable... hmmm. Good car though - more grown up than a MINI.

 

Not sure if I agree on the VW being more reliable... hmmm. Good car though - more grown up than a MINI.

Compair reliability for Mini against VW on any auto site- Consumer Reports, Edmonds, JD Powers or whoever. VW will top Mini/BMW most of the time. A GTI is a grown up car, really? Wow, I think you just made my point.

 

I still find the "vibe" here on NAM to be friendly and helpful, but only speaking for myself, I've been posting less frequently because there are so many models now where I don't know enough about them to contribute anything.

Back when all there were was first-gen MINIs, I'd read every new thread and could usually contribute something useful. Now, if it's a model-specific thread dealing with something other than an R50/52/53, I usually just "bloop" over it unless the title sounds interesting. These days, I can blaze through 9-10 pages of new posts and only find a handful of threads where I can contribute.

 

The reason its so firendly on here is becuase if you say anything that can be construed as offensive, hateful, or just plain being an *** hole the mods come in and give you the "Ban Hammer" with their little points score.

 

In reply to tmors414:

The advantage of the internet is the same as it's disadvantage. You know virtually nothing about the person on the other end of the keyboard. The level of anonymity makes it easy for those who are ignorant to profess to be experts, and those who are experts to be dismissed as ignorant.

Having never met anyone from this forum in person my ability to discern that which is quality, expert advice from that which is not is difficult sometimes. Once things like "observer bias" (the minds tendency to give higher priority to things we WANT to believe) kick in we can overlook what otherwise my be great information in favor of what we WANT to believe.

I can only take you at face value that you are the mechanic you say you are. Honestly, I have no reason to disbelieve you and tend to error on the side of "innocent until proven guilty". I welcome yours and anyone else's comments and input. Honestly, if I didn't, I wouldn't be here.

 

A lot of the veteran members have moved on to other MINI Forums and just occasionally drop by here to see what's going on (me included).Not dissing this forum, sometimes it is just best to move on and a lot of us have done so.