Pet Peve

[Rick Byrnes]

Since I have had some time not in the shop lately, I have spent a lot of time this site.
This and a couple of technical sites I visit occasionally are most of what I do other than lots of e mail.

Land Racing Forum is a great place, and there are many really savvy guys to offer opinions and help out.  To me it is somewhat representative of the LSR community, particularly Bonneville.  We are really a small community, and those of us that are active really want to know each other better.
BUT
A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE don't really identify themselves or include e mail in their profile to aid the rest of the community.
Many times I would be inclined to write a private note, but can't because there is no name or contact info.
When I'm on the salt, during the racing part of Speedweek, I have little time to truly get to know someone.  Were all so interested in everyones creations that personal contact for me means I forget the name or face an hour later. (of course I have CRS syndrome that can be blamed.)

Can I suggest a campaign of encouraging you guys who haven't to fill in lots of the profile info.  Or just sign your name.  Make it more personal and you will be remembered by this old fart when we meet face to face.

We are really a friendly community and would like to know you better.

[Stan Back]

PM sent.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Rick, you've hit upon a long-standing hassle.  Glen Barrett and I - and others - have long urged folks that sign up into the Forum - to give us more information - like where they are, so that maybe we'll know a racer in their general part of the world that can offer at least advice from someone near home - and maybe is close enough to drop by the shop for a bull session.

I use my race team name -- Seldom Seen Slim -- on the Forum, but my real name and location are there for all to see, too.  All the stuff is there.  I can understand, I guess, why so many are hesitant to give much information on the web -- too many stories about the bad guys using the data in a nefarious manner.  If that's the reason that you, dear reader of the Forum, holds back -- well, there's not much that I can do to reassure you that it isn't an issue.  The scammers and spammers are more devious than am I - and they'll probably figure out how to get at you no matter what I say.  I'll offer this,m though -- I've had one or two occasions during my almost two years of owning the site - when someone has reported a scam/spam attack - or at least something they think was one such.  Take that into perspective -- the Forum gets about a million individual hits per month, and if you do the math -- it comes out about 1 naughty instance per 12 million opportunities.  There -- that's not bad odds, is it?

So - to rehash - please at least list your real name and the area where you live.  If you'd be so kind - please put your email address in the personal profile, and if you don't dare do that -- well, the Personal Message thingie does work, but since many folks don't check their messages often (usually because they haven't clicked to ask the machine to send a notification email when they get a PM) -- since many don't check the PMs -- put your email in the profile in the area where it asks and click "Don't show my email to anyone but let them email to me".

Thanks for the reminder about this, Rick.

[willieworld]

i think they are in the witness protection program---      willie xxxxxx

[Nortonist 592]

For peope who go out on the salt in August and fry themselves and say they had a great time (and ditto for El Mirage in July) shouldn't that be the witless protection program?

[Rick Byrnes]

Stan Back, and others.  I know for some there are real reasons for not identifying yourself, but if you start going thru the list of all active contributors, there really isn't reasons enough to go around.

I spouted off once and now I'll be quiet about it.

And no slim I really didn't mean my note as a reminder to you, but to all the others.
As for me, and I'll bet most of the rest of you, there is already so much info out there about us, I don't personally think anything I wrote in my profile here will help anyone defile me or my character or my empty bank accounts.

Google has a good enough photo of my house you can see whats on the dining room table   :-d
both satelite and drive by.

OK, I'm done

Ready for bed.  The three grandkids wore me out.

[Cajun Kid]

FYI,, my info is posted,,,

I think,,,

Charles

[Stainless1]

Rick, I never post who or where I am because I am trying to remain anonymous... the fewer folks that know who you are, the less the chance that they will recognize you when they catch you....

[Peter Jack]

Good post Rick. I know that sometimes I'll see something, usually in a picture, where I think the guy really needs help. I don't want to point this out on the general forum, usually either because I think it may cause embarrassment or it's something that may cause a long wrangle on the thread that may not necessarily be helpful.

I've had several instances where I've made a comment and the individual has pm'ed me or e-mailed me and the result has been an interesting and helpful correspondence that maybe neither of us wanted public.

Contact information can definitely help.

The other way of corresponding, and I've only used it once, is to go to the chat room anytime other than Tuesday evening. The two or more of you can rattle along freely and get things clarified really quickly. All it takes is a little coordination.

Pete

[floydjer]

+ 1 on all points.  JERRY