Clearing the air: ClassicCougarCommunity.Com and MC.Net

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Community Discussion
1

I just posted the following in a new thread on MercuryCougar.Net


Over the past few months I have noticed what I think might be a rift developing in the Cougar Community. If you have been around long enough you might have noticed this as well. A lack of communication is often at the heart of a problem, so I thought that I might be able to at least start the conversation.

If you are new to Cougars, you might not be aware that the Cougar Club of America used to publish a real 4 color glossy magazine. And The Classic Cougar Network published a monthly on line magazine and had one of the most comprehensive web sites ever, devoted entirely to classic Cougars. And this web site (MC.Net), owned and operated by a devoted Cougar owner, provided instant answers to urgent questions.

But things change. The CCOA publishes a quarterly PDF that is a shadow of the old publication (Props to Mr. Eos for keeping at least that alive!). The TCCN is dead and gone, and this site is now owned by a conglomerate that thinks we are ricers…

ClassicCougarCommunity.Com was started when it became apparent that the wheels were not turning at the CCOA and that TCCN was winding down. The next shock came when this site was sold to the current owners. Maybe this site will go on forever, but if it does it won’t be for love of the cars. The reason to be concerned is that this site (MC.Net) now holds a huge store of the collected knowledge of our hobby. It would be a genuine tragedy to lose that, the way the contents of the TCCN were lost.

Frankly, it wasn’t just so much about losing what we have, as it was the failure to move forward. Of course one of the first things we did was Ride of the Month. And the Dream Cougar Window Sticker Generator has been used now over 675 times. We also had to create new sites for the registries when the TCCN went down, and those are now up and running. The next project is a Hall of Fame to honor the most important Cougars ever built. None of this could be accomplished on this site (MC.Net).

So why the rift? I really can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I believe that there is a sense that you have to chose sides in order to use one site or the other. From my view I can assure everyone that this is not the case. Bob, the moderator here (MC.Net) is also one of the most frequent posters there(CCCF.com), and I still post here (MC.Net), as I am doing now. Further, I count Bob as a friend and if any one else can fully appreciate what he does here, I would be the guy.

So what is the point? ALL of us are smarter than any of us. The more people participate, the better things get. There is no litmus test. These two sites do not encompass the entire community. Forgive me for sounding like a politician, but I am certain that we have more in common than we have in differences. There is nothing to be gained from creating differences where none should exist.

So now it is your turn. What do you think? If you are thinking it, then probably other people are as well. What would make this hobby more fun for you? How can we make it better?

(posted to both sites!)

2

I, for one am new to both sites. Being new I, frequent as many venues as possible to learn all I can regarding this wonderful vehicle! As hard as I try, I can not possibly see why a rift of any type would result from people with the same love and passion for cougars would exist. Yes there have been people leaving one site for the other due to a misunderstanding or disagreement with board policies or how posts should be done. I completely enjoy both sites and the knowledge I have gained from both. Some times we need to remember we are adults and accepting that people act and react differently is all a part of daily life. Please continue the fantastic jobs you are doing and the quality efforts to promote quality information centers for us to use and enjoy! Thanks from a new guy, Rick

3

I’m with Rick.

I always figured the two sites are different facets of the same gem. What I’ve never understood is why some feel the need to disparage one site or the other. Some folks will naturally appreciate one more than the other, but that doesn’t make either of them “lesser”.

4

Bill again well said. This is how I see it. All of the sites you have mentioned I have visited. Got information and help from many members (thanks a bunch). The main reason I stopped posting on MC.net was because of the sale of the site. On the day I read the post about the site being sold, I thought It was a good thing for Logan (MC.net was his baby). The members make a site what it is and the new owners just miss the mark on that.

Helena the site administrator failed to make good on her posts and “spanked” anyone who questioned authority. I asked in a post directed to her about the ROTM not being opened. My answer…oh, never mind she never replied. Bob did ( thanks Bob) and she never responded to his inquiry about ROTM. MC.net is just a “cash cow for the powers to be”. They have no care or love for our hobby. If they did NOPI would not have its own discussion board.

I came here when I saw your post Bill. You said this was for the Cougar Community just in case MC.net went by the wayside. You created something great here with a wonderful atmosphere that all can enjoy and feel welcome. So a big THANK YOU to you and my fellow Classic Cougar Community members for making this site what it is.
Steven

PS. I still go to Mercury Cougar . Net, I agree there is great information in its pages. I just don’t post.

5

First off … thanks. I appreciate the work that you do in regards to supporting the site and the hobby. Having spent over 30 years in global IS infrastructure, I know ya’ll don’t always get the recognition you deserve. Also, I wasn’t going to say anything more on my leaving MC.net … but since you asked …

I recently stopped posting to the MC.net site with my wishes for good luck & good bye. We’re doing a Father/Daughter Eliminator project together and I was looking for a place to post periodic updates regarding progress we are making on her car together. Fortunately I have shared a couple of things Jenny and I have done and they apparantly have helped some other folks. To me, that’s what the hobby is about. There are some great people on both sites, and I wish them continued luck with their cars. I know you consider yourself a friend of Bob, but when you say there is an opportunity to improve communication … you could not be more correct.

First, I recognize that admins may wish to make changes on their site from time to time. That’s not the issue. Learning how to work with people is. Isn’t it more polite to reach out to someone before you start editing their stuff? I mean you build a lot more consensus when you work with someone towards a goal you may have … rather than just informing them that you just finished changing all of their stuff and shouldn’t they be happy about it?

Next, if the person asks questions trying to clarify how they are expected to post something and why they were not informed in advance … resorting to condescending comments and name calling is a very fast leap for any admin to make. Especially when you get responses like:
“… because you can’t follow some common sense and simple rules about how to post? And I go out of my way to fix your mess and try to help you with posting pictures? Feel free to grow up.”
Really? I didn’t know I was making a mess. I was just making a post to a discussion board.

Next, when I started recieving PM’s that began questioning if my daughter knew how to post, I said enough of an East Coast Idiot. Insulting me for nothing more than a few questions is a sign of a very insecure admin with a superiority complex. When he starts doing this to my daughter … he should be glad he is on the east coast because this 6’3" Texan is about to kick his @$$.
“Perhaps you should have let your daughter help you with your posting, I am sure she would understand what you apparently fail to. The sad thing is that I truly was trying to help you, no attitude …”
His comment about not having an attitude … yeah right.

Finally, I said enough … I’ll say good bye to a site I enjoyed and to some really great people. You’re right, the hobby is cool, information is great and most people are very helpful and supportive. Fortunately, there was another site that I could go and post to. If anyone has read this far, please note that I would have had no problem in making the changes that were suggested. I would have been happy to if “Asked”. I just had a couple of questions, that I wanted to discuss. If you read my good bye thread I did not insult Bob. However, I knew Bob was going to lash back and you can see that in some of his subsequent posts. In my opinion, that is indicative of a very insecure person. I added no retorts to his condescending comments that continued to come in either there or via his PM. I would prefer to just leave that chapter of our restoration story at the curb.

When you are trying to have fun with your hobby, your daughter and some really cool people on the internet … you really don’t need to deal with this type of BS. He does have a nice car, but he’s missing a couple of things. The value in the site is ALL of the people who post. If you are running people off … then you truly are the East Coast Idiot.

6

I’d just like to see the other board sufficiently devalued to the point that Don could purchase it.

And I, like other posters, am pursuing a graduate education. So, I don’t have time to play with all the fora that might exist in Cougardom, motorcycledom, Eurocardom, and firearmsdom.
I had to make cuts. 2 forums made the cut. This is one of them.

So, not only do I wish a downgrade of posting at MC.net til Umbrellacorp decides to sell it to Don (or whomever), but I also don’t have time for it.
By withdrawing my support from MC.net, I’m making a tactical capitalistic decision. It’s not so much an us/them thing.

7

As long as we’re playing true confessions. I have on more than one occasion made derogatory comments about MC.net. They are not directed at the membership past or present. They are a statement of my displeasure and disrespect for the new owners that have no regard for the site or the community that it used to represent. Nothing would make me happier than to see the current membership of MC.net migrate here and leave the corporate ownership twisting in the wind.

8

I’m with Al. But, until that happens and while there is more activity there than here, I will continue to participate there (and here) and moderate as needed (there).

9

If I didn’t have so much on my plate I would love to write a macro to download and save every post from that site. Y’know just in case.

That site was helpful for me no doubt. This one is no less helpful, but has what I think truly sets it apart from the other one, awesome, dedicated ownership and a real sense of community.

I don’t have anything against the posters there. I feel like pretty much all of my favorite posters from there have already moved over here though.

10

That’s awful nice of you to say, but now I’m kind of embarrassed. :blush:

ROFL! :buck:

11

When I first bought my 69 after being without a Cougar for 15 years the po told me about Cougar.net. I joined before my car was delivered. Made a lot of freinds. I am a creature of habit but also a freind for life. I am glad Bill started this site. I hope Cougar.net survives. If, Don or a group of us could buy it that would be the bomb. :beerchug:

12

DOH!!! I thought he was talking about the Farrah Fawcett posters…

13

I continue to visit both sites, but all my new posts will be made here (for-sale items being the likely exception that will be posted on both forums). I have noticed the MC.net has slowed considerably from what it was at one time while this site is noticeably busier. I prefer the atmosphere here and hope it will remain that way even as the site grows.

Thanks to Bill for having the foresight and commitment to create this community just when it was going to be needed.

14

Yes, I agree with your statement Bill… and I would rather focus on one site then taking the time to double post on two.

15

To me its quality over quantity. Theres a wealth of knowledge on both sites, but when any hobby becomes a buisness it ceases to be a hobby - MC.net is a prime example of that.
Bill has built a site that fellow nuts can enjoy - its not for the profit of it, or the qualtiy joke telling/stories - its for this wonderful sickness that we all have and all that it entails.

I say a heartfelt thank you to Bill and all of thoes who have added to my knowledge of these wonderful cars. You help has been apprecated and your friendship invalueble and thats why I’m here.

16

Thanks for all of the kind words!

People are going to have preferences between the two sites, and there is nothing wrong with that. My main concern is that it doesn’t become a stigma thing… Them and us… I want people to feel comfortable coming here and going there as they chose. Fewer walls.

My only caveat is that if you are going to do a “how to” or “build story” thread that people will use in the future, this site is here for the duration, we really don’t know .

17

Personally, I don’t see it as a “rift” or a “stigma”, and to me there is no "us’ vs. “them”. I see it as consumers spending their “currency” (time & $, but mostly time) where they choose. I have limited amounts of both, so why not spend it where I feel comfortable? Right now, for me, that’s the CCC.

I stopped visiting mc.net about a year ago, for one reason: the heavy handed and self-serving moderation. The fact that I was just one of many who felt that way tells the entire story. That’s all there is to it.

Thanks again Bill for giving us this forum, It really is a meaningful thing, because without it we effectively had no voice. :beerchug:

18

Chris, I am glad to have you here. I agree with your spending analogy. To me it’s like hamburgers (You don’t have to dislike McDonald’s to go to In & Out. You just go where you feel you get the best value. (Probably a better East Coast example?).

Bob means well. He is in a bad situation that doesn’t suit him very well, but he is trying to do the job. I am sure they could do worse.

19

Bill, I cant decide if you have a kind heart, or the loyalty of a Collie.

20

Bill is great ambassador for us. He looks for the good in people, and I look up to him. :smoke: