We just have to remember to not use this Forum as a vehicle for flaming others. That can be done in e mail. A little jab here and there in good fun is expected. I too have fell off my chair laughing, spit coffee on my keyboard, and laughed to the point that it hurt reading some of the posts.
Most of us here allow e mail from Lawnsite. Just click on the little e mail icon, and mail a person if what they have said upsets you. As we can all see, flame wars on the forum benefit no one.
At the same time, sharing our opinions have educated many about plowing and more.
I mean we all have our likes and dislikes, which naturally come out in a place like this. We just have to keep ourselves in check. There are many people who just read here, not even registered, and others who are registered, and don't post at all. Much of what we say is jibberish to them.
All the regulars know what each person here likes and doesn't. Lets face it, when we like something, we talk about it highly, and when we don't we can "rip it up" just the same. We are all above that here, and adults. Let's not get personal. Focus on the facts.
Yes we get off topic often, which as i said before is expected. It happens on all of the forums, not just the Snowplowing Forum. If we try to stay on topic, things should work out OK.
If someone wants to change the subject in mid thread, think about posting it as a new subject instead. Even if it is mostly relevant to the original topic. Start a new one.
Another thing that will help this and other forums here as I have said, is an FAQ.
It will not be easy to create, but it will cut down on rehashing the same topics over and over. When someone asks, we can then reply, "Read the FAQ for the Snowplowing Forum".
We already have one in a sense, since anyone can search this (or any forum at Lawnsite) forum for old topics. It may take longer than starting a new thread, but if we encourage newcomers to do a search, it might cut down on hearing the same things over and over.
Let's get back on track here.
~Chuck