Thanks mate... here we go.
Thursday, May 23, 2002 7:37 AM
Hi John,
We have not properly met yet, and would like to take this opportunity to
respond to the recent talk about my EA-ED Falcon discussion board (and
that
of Sundeep) merging with Ford Forums. Firstly, I (Jack Travis) would
like to
thank you on the generous offer - to be honest I never even dreamed of
such
a merger. I have been in regular contact with Sundeep via MSN Messenger
and
most recently, he has forwarded me your original e-mail.
I'm aware that you have been forwaded our proposal for the E-Series
Network
(ie my EA-ED site, and his EF/EL site). Here it is again just in case
(and
there was a slight typo last time):
E-Series Network
----------------
EA-EL General Discussion
EA-EL Modifications inc. audio
EA-EL For Sale
EA-ED Club: Technical Problems
EA-ED Club: Events & Meets
EF-EL Club: Technical Problems
EF-EL Club: Events & Meets
Having forwarded the proposal, I want to be honest to you about my
concern
with this merger. My site started as a simple EA Falcon site, and was
the
first serious site of its kind. This is probably because the EA as a car
has
been heavily defamed over time - it is almost regarded as laughable to
admit
to liking the car among many enthusiasts. My page became well respected
for
challenging this common opinion.
In making mine an EA-ED site (the EA-ED being exactly the same shape of
car), I have been trying to avoid a situation with, say, ED owners (the
ED
being a very well respected car) 'taking over' so to speak. The EA
owners
are some of the most humble and shy enthusiasts I have met, and there is
a
fine line between giving them an intimidation-free environment and
welcoming
owners of 'superior' models.
For this reason, I feel sure that I would lose a large number of my
350-odd
discussion board visitors if the General section of the 'E-Series
Network'
was merged with the normal Aus 'Pub' as has been proposed. For me it is
a
major push to merge EA-EL discussion as it is.
Obviously it is not my place to dictate the format of this merger, but I
am
interested in hearing your thoughts on my concern.
Anyway, many thanks again for the offer and I eagerly await discussing
the
matter further with you.
Best regards,
Jack Travis
--------------
Friday, 24 May 2002 4:25 AM
Jack,
First off let me say that this is not an attempt to push away your
members. I have been giving serious thought about this and do not see
an issue with the general discussion area. My only real concern is that
there will be repeated posts in the two areas. Other than that I do not
have an issue.
There was a similar concern with the TOC NSW club coming on board with
FF.com with them losing the members. They thought that with a merger of
the two sites forums that there would be a loss in communications and a
loss of members participating. In fact they have actually increased the
participation and interest with the move/merger with FF.com. They do
have a private area for the members only to post that is separate from
the main board. We at FF.com try to help out as much as possible with
the boards that we have merged with. We are always looking to better
the communications between the owners and I see that this is a step in
that direction with your site an members. It will also give my existing
members a new outlet to discuss their vehicles. I have been getting
requests to set up discussions for specific models as of late. This
merger will clearly benefit both sites. Of course there will be some
pitfalls that we both will have to over come.
The only issue that I can foresee with this merger at this time is the
members. Some of your members may not like the idea of having to sign
up again for a site, but I do have a solution. If they are already
members on FF.com I have the ability to merge their posts from your site
into the totals for FF.com by assigning their user name to the EZB
username. For the members that are not signed up on FF.com I can also
make a special signup page that will be less intrusive and quicker for
them than the normal FF.com sign up page. I can then so as I would above
with existing members. I am all about making things easier for all.
I am of course open for suggestions and comments. This is not a one
sided event. As with any merger there are two sides to the entire
process. I look to get feedback and input through out the process. I
would expect that you have more questions and if so please ask. Also I
will need info from you as far as setting up the layout colors, etc.
This is the next step after discussing concerns and laying those to
rest.
I look forward to discussing this further with you and taking this to
the next level.
John Oliver
Owner: FordForums.com
------------------
Thursday, May 23, 2002 8:50 PM
Hi John,
Well I have had a bit more time to think about it, and it seems that the
only thing still requiring negotiation is the number, and titles of the
new
forums. For colours, I would basically aim to have the same as what I do
already. For confirmation purposes, my current URL is below:
pub21.ezboard.com/bilsautomotive
It would be greatly appreciated if posts could be copied from the
ezboard to
the corresponding new forums at FF. Many of my members have signed up at
FF
already, and if you could assign their ezboard posts to the FF username,
it
would be great - but I don't expect I will need to bother you with
creating
a special sign-up page for the remaining members as it sounds like a lot
of
work. I will let you know how we go with the transition, and will offer
any
further cooperation I can.
Regarding the forums, I have decided that the 'For Sale' forum can be
integrated, as many people tendeded to sell on my ezboard For Sale
section
as well as FF. I realise the NSW Tickford club has their own, but I do
not
see it as necessary for the EA-EL network. My ezboard For Sale forum's
contents can be copied entirely to FF's For Sale section.
The final point of negotiation, then, is over the General discussion
section. I understand your concern about people making posts in both
areas.
However, my believe (that an independent EA-EL General discussion
section is
necessary) remains, and purely because I feel that my ezboard has a
different social group to the Pub. Many, if not most of my members'
General
posts are EA-related, too. I will not rule out the possibility of
merging my
General discussion forum and the Pub in the future, after the
FF/E-Series
merger has had time for the dust to settle - however, I feel that
initially
it would be pushing things too far.
My intention is to delete all my current forums once the posts have been
merged, and leave just one for feedback and help regarding the merger.
Do I
have you permission to post our e-mail correspondence for my members to
see?
That about covers everything. Thanks mate,
-Jack Travis
eafalcon.com/
--------
Friday, 24 May 2002 12:52 PM
Friday, 24 May 2002 12:52 PM
Jack,
If you would like to have the same titles we can use those. There is a
matter of the descriptions pf the sections I know that they are not on
the EZB but we can have them or we can not have them it is up to you.
I have seen that there is some concern over the move on your site. Some
are saying that the sections will be hard to find. But that is far from
the case. Rest assure that I think that we can come up with a solution
to the location issue. I can suggest the following.
e-network.fordforums.com Something along those lines. I can
create the sub domain where the users will go to that instead if they so
wish and not have to rifle down into the aussie section itself.
I will be needing to get some information from you so that I can log
into your account on the EZB so that I can get an admin from another
site of mine to do the merge. I do not do that part of it. I will be
handling the creation, the melding of the existing members and the new
posts as well as just about everything else. I will send the info I
need to you in another email separate from this.
I also noticed on your forum that there are members talking about post
counts. They do not have to worry. If I have their old name and new
name I will be able to merge their old posts from the EZB import with
the name that they choose on FF.com. Post counts will not be affected.
So that is not something that they have to worry about.
I will create the areas on my site and place them up there for the
members to start posting into. I can tell you that I have already been
in contact with my co admin and he is out of town for the weekend. It
is a holiday weekend here in the states. I have to also ask about the
forum ILS Automotive. Is that one going to be moved as well?
I do not see an issue with the Gen Discussion area separate. I will
need to have a list of moderators that you will want to see on the
forums at FF.com. Please email me with those.
Thanks
John Oliver
Aka LunaticSS
Linear Mode
