wow...

Every time I log onto Ranger Forums there is a ton of new replies, threads and activity. It's as busy as this place used to be. Granted, the RF forum has a HUGE member base, but a small community like us always have stuff to post.

Last winter I practically lived on this forum and there was always activity, so the excuse of everyone being in the garage doesn't work for me.

I think it all comes down to the new layout and the chat that are killing the activity there once was. IMO, the site has taken a big plunge since the update. I think I'm lucky if I've even had 20 posts in the last 2 weeks on here. I don't have time to sit in the live chat and shoot the shit. I'd rather be browsing discussion topics and helping people, giving ideas or just learning something new.

Ive been hearing that old people will be gone, obsolete, irrelevant many times over the past 20 yes I said 20 years that I have been doing the minitruckin scene and I havent seen any that got that way. they may quit the scene but they never become obsolete.

on one hand its harder to build a nice truck these days since you have to go thru hell and make a frame, crazy notch, tubes etc and have everything nice as hell.. back in the day it was hard too. You had to hand make everything and there was no place to get the nice things that are available now. The whole scene is taking a hit just like the economy. It will come back so dont worry...

Well Mikey, you might be right as far as the new replies. I will have to accept your knowledge of replies last winter vs this winter as I am very sure you were on here more than I. Personally I think the chat may have reduced the replies more than the new format but I may be wrong. Again, personally I like the new format. I can move around more efficiently than in the old format. As for the avitar on the right - makes no dif to me.

As a Mod, I feel it is my job to keep up on the various threads and new posts to monitor for inappropriate activity and lately I find I simply do not have time to look thru every thread / new post on a daily basis. Regardless if I post a reply or not - it's just more than I can do in 1 nite. Now, given that statement I can only assume there is a lot of people posting something about whatever.

Eventually I think 1 of 2 things will probably happen - either the novelty of "chat" will wear off and more people will cruize the threads and post replies (like before), or more users will get used to going to chat to discuss there various problems. The down side to the second option is there is no lasting archive of what was discussed or the pictures that were associated with that discussion. I can only hope things will progress more to the first option and eventually return to the way things were. But I feel that the new "chat" has it's place on MBS. Hang with us Mikey and lets both see where things go from here.

alright you caught me. I wasn't out in the garage, but the driveway actually

proof


but I know what your saying the threads have slowed down a lot. Maybe with me starting the air ride on mine I can do my part to breath a little life into the forum.

I was talking about mazdabscene and to be specific the chat line not the scene as a whole. IMO Since the chat thing started I have seen a decline in the posts and quality information being passed on too the newer members. I also don

ITS THE WINTER TIME!!!!!!!!!! WERE DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE!!!!!!!!! IN THERE GARAGE BUSTIN ASS ON THERE TRUCKS FOR THE UPCOMING SHOW SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for caps but come on now, the "chat" is not killing the lack of posts on this site.

Just because information you gave it before got recognized. Doesn't mean it's not now, I randomly cruise alot of f-150 forums and search for topics regarding problems and I never comment on the thread it self. But I still gather alot of great information by searching the site.

If you all think this is dead you should have seen it 3 years ago when we had less than 100 members lol. You may have got a couple replys a "week".

and CL I'm not trying to pick on you. This goes for everyone in general.

I must also point out that my interest in the minitruck scene is beginning to severely lack. I'm nowhere near as interested in seeing what's new in the scene or what the latest trends are. With current finances, I do not see myself buying another mini any time in the near future.

As a toy, sure they are fun, but my only vehicle is a 4x4 truck now and I have realized the benefits of owning a 4x4 truck are immense. Not only is it reliable and practical, it doubles as a fantastic daily driver, a work truck and a trail rig.

I get much more satisfaction of driving off road than I do rolling low. I don't have to worry about the roads when it snows out, I don't have to worry if I'm going to make it over that speedbump in the parking lot and I don't have to worry about being hassled by the cops every time I drive my truck. Living in a rural area like I do now and will also be moving to, a minitruck holds no practicality or point of purpose in my life. Living with Kermit for 2 years was a tough ride.

So anyways, that's my 2 cents, so expect to see a lot less of me around here as you already have. I'll never outright leave as I have way too many friends I have made in the last 2 years and I wouldn't give this place up for anything. I have way too much invested into time,money and people from this site, and it was all for the better.

Owning and daily driver thats just lowered compared to one thats bagged. Is complete opposites, within a hit of a switch you would have to worry about speedbumps and what not.

its the holiday seasons

i kinda feel both aspects of this particular conversation.
1. the chat is new and some of the newer members go there and discuss topics, instead of posting them like we used to.i go in occassionally and talk for a lil while. its not that big of a deal to me if there is chat or not. if there is, i will use it and if not, then i wont!
2. the posts were up last year due to it being the only way to communicate a problem and hopefully figure out a way to resolve it. now with the chat, it can be asked and maybe answered in less than a fwe minutes versus waiting on a reply. the only drawback is as linn said "there is no hard copy to review like in a posting on the forum"
personally, i liked the old layout of the site, but the new layout is fine once i got used to it. there are still a few things i haven't figured out as of yet, but eventually i will. also i had to change my screenname, which irked me but i got over it as i made a new one to rep the custom tag i made for my truck.....lol...
so who knows... give it a few months and we will see what will happen.

jeremy