Congrats to Scoobynet idiots
#62
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: London
Posts: 4,891
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bet anyone from any other car owners site reading all this about Bedford is laughing their *** off seeing all the scoobynet/sidc members having a pop at each other
#66
After reading all these posts and recent threads on this forum i don't think i will bother buying an Impreza if most of the owners love to argue with each other and seem to have this ego problem, and to top it all manage to get an owners club banned at a great venue and cause people of an owners club to resign.
Well done to you all.
I think that several potential owners will think the same as me and look elsewhere for their next peformance car.
Well done to you all.
I think that several potential owners will think the same as me and look elsewhere for their next peformance car.
#67
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cambs
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think this thread just lets you all know the frustration that Lee has had to put up with.
When you put a lot of effort into something it really gripes when it go`s wrong and people are looking for someone to blame.
This post really doesnt help the situation at all IMHO.
Move on..............!
When you put a lot of effort into something it really gripes when it go`s wrong and people are looking for someone to blame.
This post really doesnt help the situation at all IMHO.
Move on..............!
#69
how can any of you call yourselves enthusiasts, as the above rightly says, when you don't even read properly?
3 imprezas, thats THREE were banned from the track.
the amount of whinging on here would suggest 300 got banned.
this constant whinging, by people with seemingly nothing better in their lives than a) their car and a close second b) an internet forum, has screwed it up for a whole club. Three incidents caused all of this. Unbelievable. You can't account for the other cars banned because their clubs haven't been blacklisted, so although their day was ruined, nobody else but themselves suffer.
going into intricate technicalities helps nothing when there doesn't seem to be the intellect on this board to have a real discussion about whether or not the cars should have been banned and if any compensation could have been made. no longer can this be the issue because of the incessant idiotic qualities that roam this BBS.
3 imprezas, thats THREE were banned from the track.
the amount of whinging on here would suggest 300 got banned.
this constant whinging, by people with seemingly nothing better in their lives than a) their car and a close second b) an internet forum, has screwed it up for a whole club. Three incidents caused all of this. Unbelievable. You can't account for the other cars banned because their clubs haven't been blacklisted, so although their day was ruined, nobody else but themselves suffer.
going into intricate technicalities helps nothing when there doesn't seem to be the intellect on this board to have a real discussion about whether or not the cars should have been banned and if any compensation could have been made. no longer can this be the issue because of the incessant idiotic qualities that roam this BBS.
#75
based on what i have seen here in the last few days i think that i have made an informed choice.
#77
Firstly I would like to say Lee and I took the positions from Dick Grimes 2 1/2 years ago.
At this stage the club had only 700 members, as a committee we turned this around to over 2700 members todate.
Thanks to Lee's hard work we now have a SIDC shop and all committee members are contactable via email. Plus the members are sent regular emails regarding upcoming events. Anyone who has dealt with designing websites designing a shop designing a database for the members all free of charge !! would understand the amount of work involved.
I do not appreciate anyone calling my husband a ******** for sticking up for the club.
All of the committee work hard for our members all in our own time. We don't expect you to be blowing sunshine up our ***** for what we do. We have all taken our positions for the love of the car and our club to make it what it is today.
I very disappointed by the Bedford threads, I am the person who has been receiving most of the complaints regarding all issues with Bedford. I will be honest with you and say that the last few months have been the hardest for me, Lee has watched me read emails and threads on the bbs and watch me crumble to tears.
We have many loyal SIDC members and because of this as a club we want to continue to make the club grow bigger and better for future years.
The club will be having another national day next summer in Donnington again plus another visit IOM which was a great success.
As I say we wish to resign from our positions Feb/March time.
These are our positions available please send a email to committee@sidc.co.uk if you are interested.
Membership Secretary
--------------------
The hours involved vary depending on the time of year i.e April 37 hours a month, September 51 hours.
My role in the club is to deal with new/renewal memberships, renewal letters, banking cheques, shop orders, flyers, track information details, stationery, invoices, emails, help organising national day and committee roles.
Membership Packs involves - post, shop orders, inputting data into a database, sending out membership packs.
Renewal Letters involves - sending out renewal letters to all new members when there membership is due to expire. We are now on a rolling year so every month you will need to send these out.
Shop Orders involves - sending weekly orders to the relevant manufactures.
Banking Cheques involves - recording all cheques received and inputting into a accounts package and sending to the bank.
Flyers involves - design of the flyers and sending out to all members.
Track Information Packs involves - any payments via shop or cheque to send out information about the track day booked.
Stationery involves - ordering of stamps, headed paper, envelopes etc
Invoices involves - sending out cheques and inputting information into a accounts package.
Emails involves - answering any membership enquiries and shop. Sending out emails to all members regarding upcoming events.
Committee roles involves - Going to regular meetings, bringing new ideas into the club, dealing with any complaints etc.
You do get paid for this position for the hours you work.
You will need internet/email access on a daily basis I receive between 10 - 50 emails a day, you will need a phone line installed. Regarding database we currently use oracle, for information on the IT side contact Lee our IT consultant lee@sidc.co.uk."
IT Consultant
-------------
Membership Database
I have worked with oracle for 5 years so when it came to producing the database plus front-end tools and reports it was an obvious choice. The "database" consists of
a) one table which holds the members
b) one screen which allows querying and data entry into this table.
c) various query scripts which pull out the data (address lists for true grip / flyers etc)
d) two "reports" which are basically formatted output, used for the address labels and membership cards.
Unless the "new guy" is also very familiar with Oracle I envisage my design being scrapped - its an easy job to export the data so it can be pushed into something else that the "new guy" is more familiar with. We also back this database up nightly. An important consideration is the liaison between the IT support and the membership secretary..for us its an ideal situation - we both work from the same fileserver in the same office......
Website
The website that is there isn't really my doing. I just took the b&w one and applied a few splashes of colour. Ideally it needs to be redone as a dynamic site where owners can post their own links, suppliers likewise and various pages can be edited by committee members. Would also be good if the dealer/supplier discount thing was dynamic as well. Sadly I haven't even had time to finish the Titan website, let alone start on a new SIDC one.
Shop
The shop sits on the SIDC webserver, Lisa has taken on a bit of the admin, but when it comes to events she'll ask me for a spreadsheet of everyone who has bought a place at xxxx event. I have spreadsheets which use myODBC to talk to the mySQL database on the server and pull out the information. Again, if I had time I could write some very user friendly admin pages where all this could be done over the web. I also used to pull off the orders for Wicked Art (logo'd merchandise) and Craigdon (clothing) but Lisa does that now through a bit of cut-n-paste. Should really be made easier..oh for a 48 hour day...
Website Forums
Nothing much to do here apart from admin. Users who forget their email address/logins, or want to be added to the members only section...maybe having to delete or edit the odd post. Its a commercial product, all friendly web-based admin.
SIDC Server
You don't need to worry about this Its up in Telehouse in our data centre with some 60 other servers run by us, the SIDC pays Titan for rackspace and bandwidth each month (obviously at cheapo rates!) so we'd continue looking after this as a commercial affair. The MLR (Mitsubishi Lancer Register) also host their website, forum and shop on this server which helps pay for its keep.
SIDC Email
I'd carry this on as its related to the server. However one of the things is to produce a list of members email addresses regularly which needs to be copied to the Titan mailserver before doing email mailshots.
I also look after the day to day running of the finances in an accounts package but I don't see this as being part of the IT role.
At this stage the club had only 700 members, as a committee we turned this around to over 2700 members todate.
Thanks to Lee's hard work we now have a SIDC shop and all committee members are contactable via email. Plus the members are sent regular emails regarding upcoming events. Anyone who has dealt with designing websites designing a shop designing a database for the members all free of charge !! would understand the amount of work involved.
I do not appreciate anyone calling my husband a ******** for sticking up for the club.
All of the committee work hard for our members all in our own time. We don't expect you to be blowing sunshine up our ***** for what we do. We have all taken our positions for the love of the car and our club to make it what it is today.
I very disappointed by the Bedford threads, I am the person who has been receiving most of the complaints regarding all issues with Bedford. I will be honest with you and say that the last few months have been the hardest for me, Lee has watched me read emails and threads on the bbs and watch me crumble to tears.
We have many loyal SIDC members and because of this as a club we want to continue to make the club grow bigger and better for future years.
The club will be having another national day next summer in Donnington again plus another visit IOM which was a great success.
As I say we wish to resign from our positions Feb/March time.
These are our positions available please send a email to committee@sidc.co.uk if you are interested.
Membership Secretary
--------------------
The hours involved vary depending on the time of year i.e April 37 hours a month, September 51 hours.
My role in the club is to deal with new/renewal memberships, renewal letters, banking cheques, shop orders, flyers, track information details, stationery, invoices, emails, help organising national day and committee roles.
Membership Packs involves - post, shop orders, inputting data into a database, sending out membership packs.
Renewal Letters involves - sending out renewal letters to all new members when there membership is due to expire. We are now on a rolling year so every month you will need to send these out.
Shop Orders involves - sending weekly orders to the relevant manufactures.
Banking Cheques involves - recording all cheques received and inputting into a accounts package and sending to the bank.
Flyers involves - design of the flyers and sending out to all members.
Track Information Packs involves - any payments via shop or cheque to send out information about the track day booked.
Stationery involves - ordering of stamps, headed paper, envelopes etc
Invoices involves - sending out cheques and inputting information into a accounts package.
Emails involves - answering any membership enquiries and shop. Sending out emails to all members regarding upcoming events.
Committee roles involves - Going to regular meetings, bringing new ideas into the club, dealing with any complaints etc.
You do get paid for this position for the hours you work.
You will need internet/email access on a daily basis I receive between 10 - 50 emails a day, you will need a phone line installed. Regarding database we currently use oracle, for information on the IT side contact Lee our IT consultant lee@sidc.co.uk."
IT Consultant
-------------
Membership Database
I have worked with oracle for 5 years so when it came to producing the database plus front-end tools and reports it was an obvious choice. The "database" consists of
a) one table which holds the members
b) one screen which allows querying and data entry into this table.
c) various query scripts which pull out the data (address lists for true grip / flyers etc)
d) two "reports" which are basically formatted output, used for the address labels and membership cards.
Unless the "new guy" is also very familiar with Oracle I envisage my design being scrapped - its an easy job to export the data so it can be pushed into something else that the "new guy" is more familiar with. We also back this database up nightly. An important consideration is the liaison between the IT support and the membership secretary..for us its an ideal situation - we both work from the same fileserver in the same office......
Website
The website that is there isn't really my doing. I just took the b&w one and applied a few splashes of colour. Ideally it needs to be redone as a dynamic site where owners can post their own links, suppliers likewise and various pages can be edited by committee members. Would also be good if the dealer/supplier discount thing was dynamic as well. Sadly I haven't even had time to finish the Titan website, let alone start on a new SIDC one.
Shop
The shop sits on the SIDC webserver, Lisa has taken on a bit of the admin, but when it comes to events she'll ask me for a spreadsheet of everyone who has bought a place at xxxx event. I have spreadsheets which use myODBC to talk to the mySQL database on the server and pull out the information. Again, if I had time I could write some very user friendly admin pages where all this could be done over the web. I also used to pull off the orders for Wicked Art (logo'd merchandise) and Craigdon (clothing) but Lisa does that now through a bit of cut-n-paste. Should really be made easier..oh for a 48 hour day...
Website Forums
Nothing much to do here apart from admin. Users who forget their email address/logins, or want to be added to the members only section...maybe having to delete or edit the odd post. Its a commercial product, all friendly web-based admin.
SIDC Server
You don't need to worry about this Its up in Telehouse in our data centre with some 60 other servers run by us, the SIDC pays Titan for rackspace and bandwidth each month (obviously at cheapo rates!) so we'd continue looking after this as a commercial affair. The MLR (Mitsubishi Lancer Register) also host their website, forum and shop on this server which helps pay for its keep.
SIDC Email
I'd carry this on as its related to the server. However one of the things is to produce a list of members email addresses regularly which needs to be copied to the Titan mailserver before doing email mailshots.
I also look after the day to day running of the finances in an accounts package but I don't see this as being part of the IT role.
#78
Ice man,
I never said that i didn't like Scoobynet or SIDC, both are very important sources of information for owners however i just find that judging by the attitude of some of the Impreza owners on the forum they have some serious ego problems and there seems to be too much posturing and cack spouting, and the impression that everyone who looks in to is forum after this latest episode will simply think that Impreza owners are moaning, big-headed self righteous individuals, and that is something i don't want to be seen as.
To me it is important what other people think about a particular car and the attitude of the people that own them, i know a lot of you don't care about that but i do. The Impreza is a fantastic car but it's starting to have an image problem, and these sorts of outburts on a BBS don't help it's cause at all.
I never said that i didn't like Scoobynet or SIDC, both are very important sources of information for owners however i just find that judging by the attitude of some of the Impreza owners on the forum they have some serious ego problems and there seems to be too much posturing and cack spouting, and the impression that everyone who looks in to is forum after this latest episode will simply think that Impreza owners are moaning, big-headed self righteous individuals, and that is something i don't want to be seen as.
To me it is important what other people think about a particular car and the attitude of the people that own them, i know a lot of you don't care about that but i do. The Impreza is a fantastic car but it's starting to have an image problem, and these sorts of outburts on a BBS don't help it's cause at all.
#79
Track Day Organiser
?
What a load of Twaddle
If you are so shallow to worry what other people think of impreza drivers enough to influence your purchase then I suggest you need help
What a load of Twaddle
If you are so shallow to worry what other people think of impreza drivers enough to influence your purchase then I suggest you need help
#80
Phil
Shallow is certainly the term. I did consider re-registering as ! but thought the irony would be lost.
But ? when my wife took our first Scoob to work she was asked if I was a drug dealer. We were so concerned about our percieved image we continued to purchase replacements, until the bug eye was introduced that is.
The Impreza is a good. not "a fantastic car" and it's image has been tarnished since age/residuals allowed people buy into image not performance. So the more outbursts the merrier IMO
Shallow is certainly the term. I did consider re-registering as ! but thought the irony would be lost.
But ? when my wife took our first Scoob to work she was asked if I was a drug dealer. We were so concerned about our percieved image we continued to purchase replacements, until the bug eye was introduced that is.
The Impreza is a good. not "a fantastic car" and it's image has been tarnished since age/residuals allowed people buy into image not performance. So the more outbursts the merrier IMO
#81
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Leeds - It was 562.4bhp@28psi on Optimax, How much closer to 600 with race fuel and a bigger turbo?
Posts: 15,239
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I was going to quote ?
but phil said it all..
Well said lisa... Your probably better off out of it.. let someone else worry about it. You and Lee obviously havent got better things to do..
David
but phil said it all..
Well said lisa... Your probably better off out of it.. let someone else worry about it. You and Lee obviously havent got better things to do..
David
#82
Scooby Regular
Lee & Lisa
I feel sorry for you right now and quite understand why you have had enough
I am embarrassed to be an SIDC member because of the bad image a few mindless idiots have now given it
I feel sorry for you right now and quite understand why you have had enough
I am embarrassed to be an SIDC member because of the bad image a few mindless idiots have now given it
#83
Lisa,
Whatever you may think of me, I have always had the utmost respect for anyone that has ever stood on the SIDC commitee (including regional organisers) What you and Lee have done over the last 2.5 years amounts almost to a permanent job but has become a thankless task.
Regardless of anything that has passed between us recently, I sincerely wish you and your family all the best for the future and have a very Merry Christmas.
Whatever you may think of me, I have always had the utmost respect for anyone that has ever stood on the SIDC commitee (including regional organisers) What you and Lee have done over the last 2.5 years amounts almost to a permanent job but has become a thankless task.
Regardless of anything that has passed between us recently, I sincerely wish you and your family all the best for the future and have a very Merry Christmas.
#84
I think part of the problem is that Scoobynet is bigger than the SIDC. YOu can't imagine this happening with the RSOC or Peugeot Sport boads, where there boards are externsions of the owners club, and you usually have to be a member to access all the features.
However as we all know Scoobynet is completely independent of the SIDC, and is better known as representing the majority of Subaru drivers - so in effect the tail is wagging the dog.
That leads to 1: less interest in joining the ownwers club as you can get most of the benefits through this bbs, and 2 scoobynet being 'confused' with the official owners club - even as we can see the likes of Joanthan Palmer being 'confused'.
Now this is contentious - but should scoobynet more to the fore to 'officially' represent Subaru members - just an idea to throw in...?
? - get a skoda mate - I hear all their owners are kind to small children and are active memebers of the local chuch community.
However as we all know Scoobynet is completely independent of the SIDC, and is better known as representing the majority of Subaru drivers - so in effect the tail is wagging the dog.
That leads to 1: less interest in joining the ownwers club as you can get most of the benefits through this bbs, and 2 scoobynet being 'confused' with the official owners club - even as we can see the likes of Joanthan Palmer being 'confused'.
Now this is contentious - but should scoobynet more to the fore to 'officially' represent Subaru members - just an idea to throw in...?
? - get a skoda mate - I hear all their owners are kind to small children and are active memebers of the local chuch community.
#85
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: a land full of corsets
Posts: 9,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
? - get a skoda mate - I hear all their owners are kind to small children and are active members of the local church community.
#87
Lee
You have surprised me once again. It's a little frustrating that you are happy to use the widespread appeal of this site to spread the word and sell your track day tickets but are clearly unwilling to accept anything negative to ever come out of it, and then resort to such lows as name calling and insults.
I (more than many) understand what it means to put masses of time in to this community, but you never see me posting up saying "you bunch of idiots have caused me to receive solicitors letters that threaten my livelihood". I (and most experienced and professional people) can see that it is a MINORITY that causes negative things, not the majority that makes all of this possible in the first place.
And all this talk about "I'm not surprised lee resigned, in-fact I would have resigned ages ago" is ridiculous. What did he think? That it was going to be a cushy breeze where he gets "status" and "connections" and "feel good factors"???? or did he decide to take the responsibility on to assist and benefit that SIDC members knowing full well it was going to be a challenging and frustrating job? When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
I'm sure everyone appreciates the time you and lisa have put in to the club for not a lot of financial reward, but there is no need to go out in a blaze of "glory" because you have decided you are not up to the job any more (for whatever reason). And I *do* mean, "not up to it" in the most respectful way, as part of being "up to the job" is being able to subjectively accept and deal with the negative and frustrating side of the job.
I'm sorry that this will probably come across as very harsh, but I am merely being blunt about the facts. I am very dissapointed that you felt it necessary to insult the scoobynet community in such an insulting manner, especially on a subject as controversial as the one in hand.
Beef : "ScoobyNet seen as the village idiot". What a uninformed and arrogant statement of your personal views. I would be very interested in the evidence you have to substantiate that blanket comment.
And, on the subject of the noise reductions. I too believe people deserved an apology. In the same way that peoples reaction to the situation were not ideal, I would have been happier to see a more fitting and better thought out response from Mr Palmer.
But I am sure he can see himself that his response was not what he would normally put forward. This is due to his frustration at people insulting his circuit and organisation (which was uncalled for and unnacceptable). This is also true for the people who posted these comments, in that their responses were probably not what they would normally put forward if it hadn't been for the frustration of the (I'm sure everyone is big enough to agree) unusual circumstances of the noise limit reduction.
------------
I am starting to think that ScoobyNet does indeed need to play a more official role in representing the Subaru driving community. Why?
Because we clearly have a full community here. Are we to hide our heads in the sand and say "bad people don't exist!! LA LA LA LA", or do we just realise that all kinds of people are able to post on here, so you will get the good AND the bad??
Regards
Simon
You have surprised me once again. It's a little frustrating that you are happy to use the widespread appeal of this site to spread the word and sell your track day tickets but are clearly unwilling to accept anything negative to ever come out of it, and then resort to such lows as name calling and insults.
I (more than many) understand what it means to put masses of time in to this community, but you never see me posting up saying "you bunch of idiots have caused me to receive solicitors letters that threaten my livelihood". I (and most experienced and professional people) can see that it is a MINORITY that causes negative things, not the majority that makes all of this possible in the first place.
And all this talk about "I'm not surprised lee resigned, in-fact I would have resigned ages ago" is ridiculous. What did he think? That it was going to be a cushy breeze where he gets "status" and "connections" and "feel good factors"???? or did he decide to take the responsibility on to assist and benefit that SIDC members knowing full well it was going to be a challenging and frustrating job? When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
I'm sure everyone appreciates the time you and lisa have put in to the club for not a lot of financial reward, but there is no need to go out in a blaze of "glory" because you have decided you are not up to the job any more (for whatever reason). And I *do* mean, "not up to it" in the most respectful way, as part of being "up to the job" is being able to subjectively accept and deal with the negative and frustrating side of the job.
I'm sorry that this will probably come across as very harsh, but I am merely being blunt about the facts. I am very dissapointed that you felt it necessary to insult the scoobynet community in such an insulting manner, especially on a subject as controversial as the one in hand.
Beef : "ScoobyNet seen as the village idiot". What a uninformed and arrogant statement of your personal views. I would be very interested in the evidence you have to substantiate that blanket comment.
And, on the subject of the noise reductions. I too believe people deserved an apology. In the same way that peoples reaction to the situation were not ideal, I would have been happier to see a more fitting and better thought out response from Mr Palmer.
But I am sure he can see himself that his response was not what he would normally put forward. This is due to his frustration at people insulting his circuit and organisation (which was uncalled for and unnacceptable). This is also true for the people who posted these comments, in that their responses were probably not what they would normally put forward if it hadn't been for the frustration of the (I'm sure everyone is big enough to agree) unusual circumstances of the noise limit reduction.
------------
I am starting to think that ScoobyNet does indeed need to play a more official role in representing the Subaru driving community. Why?
Because we clearly have a full community here. Are we to hide our heads in the sand and say "bad people don't exist!! LA LA LA LA", or do we just realise that all kinds of people are able to post on here, so you will get the good AND the bad??
Regards
Simon
#89
added to say..
Lee / Lisa
I really DO wish you all the very best, and as part of the subaru community thank you for your hard work. The above COULD be read in a way that would make you think I have no respect for what you have done.
This is not the case. My respect for what you've written in this thread is a different matter.
regards
Simon
Lee / Lisa
I really DO wish you all the very best, and as part of the subaru community thank you for your hard work. The above COULD be read in a way that would make you think I have no respect for what you have done.
This is not the case. My respect for what you've written in this thread is a different matter.
regards
Simon
#90
It's not just my view - I know a lot of people who feel the same.
When I first started coming here years ago, this was a friendly, welcoming, cosmopolitan site that was funny and interesting. I made friends from here, and SN was indirectly responsibly for my last two jobs.
But some time in the last year or so this changed. I used to visit religiously, and could usually be found in the chat room. Nowadays I only even view if something is bought to my attention. At some point it went from being the place it was to what it is now - somewhere you go for trolling, uninformed arguments, inanity and, basically, muppets.
I have very strong ties with both the Supra and the 200SX communities, and have met and spoken with a lot of people from both, people who also have links with other car clubs. Virtually all of them say the same thing about SN these days - it can't be taken seriously, and those people say others have said the same to them.
Oh, there's no doubt still the hard core of true enthusiasts who post useful tech info, go to events, etc etc, but all of this is totally drowned out by the flood of idiocy that abounds across the whole site. 'Scooby V Cossie' threads - *how* many of those have there been? The Bedford debacle - how much worse has that been made by bandwagon-jumping? Even when someone starts a sensible thread (eg Salsa-King in the press) the *first* post is a snide, sniping comment. If not the first, a thread rarely gets off the first page before someone is putting someone down, or critising someone/thing, etc etc. There's also the number of people who come across acting as if they expect SN and the Scoob community to owe *them* something, and that their ability to post meaningless nonsense and jump on every bandwagon as a right and not the privilege it is.
It's this which makes SN a very unattractive place to anyone not directly involved in the Scoob community, and doesn't really work wonders for those who are. Maybe there are too many members, maybe something this size *can't* hold the close-knit feeling it had not so long ago.
When I first started coming here years ago, this was a friendly, welcoming, cosmopolitan site that was funny and interesting. I made friends from here, and SN was indirectly responsibly for my last two jobs.
But some time in the last year or so this changed. I used to visit religiously, and could usually be found in the chat room. Nowadays I only even view if something is bought to my attention. At some point it went from being the place it was to what it is now - somewhere you go for trolling, uninformed arguments, inanity and, basically, muppets.
I have very strong ties with both the Supra and the 200SX communities, and have met and spoken with a lot of people from both, people who also have links with other car clubs. Virtually all of them say the same thing about SN these days - it can't be taken seriously, and those people say others have said the same to them.
Oh, there's no doubt still the hard core of true enthusiasts who post useful tech info, go to events, etc etc, but all of this is totally drowned out by the flood of idiocy that abounds across the whole site. 'Scooby V Cossie' threads - *how* many of those have there been? The Bedford debacle - how much worse has that been made by bandwagon-jumping? Even when someone starts a sensible thread (eg Salsa-King in the press) the *first* post is a snide, sniping comment. If not the first, a thread rarely gets off the first page before someone is putting someone down, or critising someone/thing, etc etc. There's also the number of people who come across acting as if they expect SN and the Scoob community to owe *them* something, and that their ability to post meaningless nonsense and jump on every bandwagon as a right and not the privilege it is.
It's this which makes SN a very unattractive place to anyone not directly involved in the Scoob community, and doesn't really work wonders for those who are. Maybe there are too many members, maybe something this size *can't* hold the close-knit feeling it had not so long ago.