While in Palm Sprung for the week, I read a few messages, including one on OT messages and the forum. I couldn't find it today as I forgot the title, but wish to add a few comments from my experience.
Both the Forum and the NG should be used by those seeking technical info - although the messsges from years past strored in Google may not be brought back to life, the writers can be contacted for more info.
OT Messges: Most of our NG user are members of the SDC, where Drivers is the centeral word. We are people and we spend more time talking with other members at meets than checking the color of dots on brake lines like Chevy folks. Would you want Ossifer Dave or Jeff Rice to limit themselves to technical and historical stuff. I found the articles on the hurricanes in Florida from Jeff the mostb informative stuff I have ever seen. I envisioned myself having to choose between taking the medicines home or the generator over to the neighbors. Such stuff is not found on the forum. Likewise, I never would have had such an enjoyable visit with Barry just from his technical information, had we not "met" through the NG.
I reguarally visit three other NGs, by subject: Republican, Religion and Military.. In order of politeness, from the worst, they seem to be Politica. religion and Military, although all are disgustingly close.
Please accept that some political stuff will get onto our group. I'm sure that somehing that Jeff said in reporting what he saw during the storms resulted in someone responding with a political remark that set off someone else. Would you want to limit Jeff to discussions of intake manifolds and local meets?
I sure wouldn't.
Spend two hours at alt politics.republicans, then come back here to the comparitive love, bread and roses.
Karl