Misc. thoughts from Heidi

[BilletTechnology]

Hey guys,

This post come from me and me alone. I was going to sign in under my screen name of old that I used before we had a business and that I used on the LX forums and the sister Charger Forums, and that name was Newtie.

I instead decided to come before you as myself under the BT banner.

Some here, and I can say only some, know how much the LX community means to myself and members of my staff here. I used to be able to say many here, but as time has passed, I see familar names we used to know have gone away from the board. Most that we knew are still driving their 300's but they no longer come to the 3CF.

I have to say I miss them. I miss them more than I can ever put into words. I miss folks such as Rambit, I miss Mr. Incredible, I miss CprlDaugtery, I miss DamageInc, I miss Freebird, I miss Big Papa Smurf, I miss WBGliger, I miss Maddog, I miss TorkMoster........ this list goes on and on. Linda where are you?, Pat you have been missed. Dubster, my great cuz from Canada, I wish you were here.

Where did they go? How sad it was that we did not hear from our friend Dano until he was injured greviously in his beloveed SRT recently. How sad that he stopped posting here last year. I suspect I know why he did. I suspect I know why many stopped coming and posting.

As a vendor on the forum, I am concerned sometimes on why many of the veteran posters have left the forum. I also understand too that at times, as with any forum or discussion board, people will disagree, and feelings will be hurt. The thing I loved about this board more than any other when we first started out our business, was the compassion, the friendships and the goodwill of those here. I drive a Charger and found that I was here on my off time more than any of the other boards, because of the people here. Many of those that became friends to myself and to members of team BT, did not have a piece of merchandise on their cars from us. In fact they hated the whole billet look LOL. They still don't have any to this day, and its freaking great that a car, these LX cars brought us together not the merchandise or the money, it was the cars!

My dad always used to tell me "Heid, companies are driving away the older workers because they don't want to pay the benefits and costs that are necessary to keep them on board. This is going to come back an haunt us as a nation especially on the industrial and manufacturing base, when these guys are gone and the computer can't teach the practicle hands on skills." Unfortuantely those words he spoke to me seem to become truer each day, especially in my business. I use his comments to work as an analogy if you will.

Another wise person once told me, "Heidi, don't ever write something in anger and send it. Don't ever speak something in the heat of the moment count to 10. It may do harm to you that you can never repair no matter how much you may have not meant what you said." I like many others have learned that lesson the hard way only after I ended up speaking or writing in anger, and ironically had been forwarned about doing. Many times in my situation I was forgiven because it was someone who love me. Many times it was not, because I was selfish and cruel, and looking back, no doubt lost someone who could have been a mentor and friend. This too can act as an anology within this forum too.

Can we bring back the 3CF to what it used to be. Can we find a way where we can find those that have left an maybe a truce can be had, or at the very lest a bridge can be built and eventually crossed? People working together instead of apart accomplish so much more. This concept is no different whether we apply it to our lives in general or to our interactions with each other on an internet forum. Some who know me very well, may think I need to double up on my meds LOL. I want to say that this is written from the heart and it is with hope that some in positions who can make a difference will wake up and realize that it is not too late.

Will my post make waves? Maybe? Leadership calls for speaking out when things need to be spoken about. Having a vendor status, should not allow me or my business to hide either and say nothing, and as a supporting vendor I feel we have an obligation to set examples and lead by example by the actions we take each day. Are we perfect; oh hell no. None of us are here. It is how we take adverse situations and move forward, that seperates all of us from sucess or failure.

[usnis0922]

Originally Posted by BilletTechnology

Hey guys,

This post come from me and me alone. I was going to sign in under my screen name of old that I used before we had a business and that I used on the LX forums and the sister Charger Forums, and that name was Newtie.

I instead decided to come before you as myself under the BT banner.

Some here, and I can say only some, know how much the LX community means to myself and members of my staff here. I used to be able to say many here, but as time has passed, I see familar names we used to know have gone away from the board. Most that we knew are still driving their 300's but they no longer come to the 3CF.

I have to say I miss them. I miss them more than I can ever put into words. I miss folks such as Rambit, I miss Mr. Incredible, I miss CprlDaugtery, I miss DamageInc, I miss Freebird, I miss Big Papa Smurf, I miss WBGliger, I miss Maddog, I miss TorkMoster........ this list goes on and on. Linda where are you?, Pat you have been missed. Dubster, my great cuz from Canada, I wish you were here.

Where did they go? How sad it was that we did not hear from our friend Dano until he was injured greviously in his beloveed SRT recently. How sad that he stopped posting here last year. I suspect I know why he did. I suspect I know why many stopped coming and posting.

As a vendor on the forum, I am concerned sometimes on why many of the veteran posters have left the forum. I also understand too that at times, as with any forum or discussion board, people will disagree, and feelings will be hurt. The thing I loved about this board more than any other when we first started out our business, was the compassion, the friendships and the goodwill of those here. I drive a Charger and found that I was here on my off time more than any of the other boards, because of the people here. Many of those that became friends to myself and to members of team BT, did not have a piece of merchandise on their cars from us. In fact they hated the whole billet look LOL. They still don't have any to this day, and its freaking great that a car, these LX cars brought us together not the merchandise or the money, it was the cars!

My dad always used to tell me "Heid, companies are driving away the older workers because they don't want to pay the benefits and costs that are necessary to keep them on board. This is going to come back an haunt us as a nation especially on the industrial and manufacturing base, when these guys are gone and the computer can't teach the practicle hands on skills." Unfortuantely those words he spoke to me seem to become truer each day, especially in my business. I use his comments to work as an analogy if you will.

Another wise person once told me, "Heidi, don't ever write something in anger and send it. Don't ever speak something in the heat of the moment count to 10. It may do harm to you that you can never repair no matter how much you may have not meant what you said." I like many others have learned that lesson the hard way only after I ended up speaking or writing in anger, and ironically had been forwarned about doing. Many times in my situation I was forgiven because it was someone who love me. Many times it was not, because I was selfish and cruel, and looking back, no doubt lost someone who could have been a mentor and friend. This too can act as an anology within this forum too.

Can we bring back the 3CF to what it used to be. Can we find a way where we can find those that have left an maybe a truce can be had, or at the very lest a bridge can be built and eventually crossed? People working together instead of apart accomplish so much more. This concept is no different whether we apply it to our lives in general or to our interactions with each other on an internet forum. Some who know me very well, may think I need to double up on my meds LOL. I want to say that this is written from the heart and it is with hope that some in positions who can make a difference will wake up and realize that it is not too late.

Will my post make waves? Maybe? Leadership calls for speaking out when things need to be spoken about. Having a vendor status, should not allow me or my business to hide either and say nothing, and as a supporting vendor I feel we have an obligation to set examples and lead by example by the actions we take each day. Are we perfect; oh hell no. None of us are here. It is how we take adverse situations and move forward, that seperates all of us from sucess or failure.

Rambit was awesome he was the first on here to welcome me..

[Cibalo]

Well said Heidi. When I was doing a search on the 300 this forum kept popping up with all the info I was looking for. However after joining I noticed that a lot of the people who posted the information were no longer posting. I've only been here for a few months but I've seen more people no longer posting as well. I hope this is just a minor bump in the road. It is the willingness for people with a common passion to help each other that makes a forum great but I'm seeing more hate around here recently. Lets hope things can change.

[MurderedOut]

I have to totally agree with every bit of what you said, Heidi.
Now, as everyone knows, there are many great members on this forum that strive to give the utmost attention and help to those in need. Some go way out of their way to help fellow members in need. The cumulative knowledge within this forum is priceless and is the reason why I, like many others, come back each day.

However, lately the informative side has been hidden by some members who do not know how to respectfully give their opinions. I live by the famous saying: "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it".
Now, I also stand by that everyone is entitled to their opinion; however, certain members on here make such distasteful and disrespectful remarks.

I, unfortunately, have been victim to such out lashes of negative remarks and opinions. And although I take each remark with a grain of salt, some may not treat the responses so lightly.

The bases of this forum is to educate and help each other, not to trash-talk or flame. I've learned so much from this forum and would hate for it to become over-run with a bunch of ignorant, classless people.

Where is the love?

[charlie D]

Heidi,
Very well put.This board used to be something to look forward to spending several hours at a time on sharing & caring so to speak.Then it slowly spiraled downward, moving towards opionated dreck.I like yourself ( and apparantly many others) would like to see it return to the days of yore.I guess only time will tell.And yes, this is my opinion.

[bac n black]

I had not been this excited about a car, as in the day I bought my 300C, I started to google looking for 300 clubs and parts for mods and found this forum. That is when the excitement really began. I was now not only an owner of one of the greatest cars ever produced but I was also connecting with people that had a real passion for this car, then I realized how great this car really is and how great the people that own them are; and it was all due to the afore mentioned folks by Hiedi, who seemed to have disappeared. They were and I am sure still are a wealth of knowledge and very giving in their willingness to share and help. I had recently posted noting how it is very difficult to get any real tech advice on here any more because all those in the know are no longer here. It would be great to have them back to keep the spirit alive and maybe we can all learn something from this. There are still some great folks on here, but we do need the experience of the pioneers. Like Hiedi I hope we can build a bridge of hope and healing. I miss them also Hiedi and I am sure there are others here that either knew them or knew of them miss them also.

[EL MOSTRO]

Originally Posted by MurderedOut

I have to totally agree with every bit of what you said, Heidi.
Now, as everyone knows, there are many great members on this forum that strive to give the utmost attention and help to those in need. Some go way out of their way to help fellow members in need. The cumulative knowledge within this forum is priceless and is the reason why I, like many others, come back each day.

However, lately the informative side has been hidden by some members who do not know how to respectfully give their opinions. I live by the famous saying: "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it".
Now, I also stand by that everyone is entitled to their opinion; however, certain members on here make such distasteful and disrespectful remarks.

I, unfortunately, have been victim to such out lashes of negative remarks and opinions. And although I take each remark with a grain of salt, some may not treat the responses so lightly.

The bases of this forum is to educate and help each other, not to trash-talk or flame. I've learned so much from this forum and would hate for it to become over-run with a bunch of ignorant, classless people.

Where is the love?

i could not agree more with u and Heidi...i enjoy this forums not to long ago and i'm really thankfull for all the help i had recieved in here..MurderedOut u are one of those members who are always helpfull with others not matter what..even what we call stupid questions u always give the right answers to people and in occasions u had answer some of those questiosn to me...thank u and thank Heidi i had the pleasure to meet her in person and everytime i go by the shop u guys treat me really good...so i will ask the same ...Where is the love guys? this forums is for help, love, learn and respect...nothing more

[stealthsrt8]

heidi, i couldn't agree more.

[ricardo]

times change, interests change, etc, etc. people move.

i see lots of mods for 2005-2007, but almost nothing for 2008 specifically unless it just the same as for series 1. not because none is interested or it is worse (it's better!), but i guess novelty is gone, vendors do not expect the same volumes any more, etc, etc,

[bruno]

Originally Posted by BilletTechnology

....Can we bring back the 3CF to what it used to be. Can we find a way where we can find those that have left an maybe a truce can be had, or at the very lest a bridge can be built and eventually crossed? People working together instead of apart accomplish so much more.....

Heidi,
Incredibly well expressed! As a member and vendor, I see that you are well aware of the long-time absence of many veteran members of 3CF (you mentioned many). Sure, some have just gone on with their lives w/o car forums and others no longer own an LX. Others left (some banned) because of certain things that happened here and are now active on other vehicle forums.

I would love to see that bridge re-opened, to re-establish the camaraderie and knowledge base that was once the heart and soul of 3CF. We need those veterans to help the growing newbie base. So many sign up to get assistance and then never return which I understand is common. However, it would be nice to create a community where members want to stay and participate, not one where many newer members are being insulted with sarcastic or offensive replies by those who should know better.

Even supporting vendors such as you, Heidi, need a strong membership that’s willing to use the services offered. I often wonder how some vendors are surviving at 3CF. Even their own threads sometimes go without replies.

I’m a believer in offering solutions rather than complaining. One step members could simply do is take a moment to welcome newbies in the Introduction Thread or wherever they might make their first post. There are only a handful of the same people who do that now. It might even be worth a try to send a thinking of you PM to a member you haven’t seen posting lately who use to do so. Some actually do log on for moments just to check their PM box.

It’s amazing how many new threads go unanswered, not one reply. No matter how many times one answers the same question over and over again, it’s still the first for the person who has posted it. Yes, it’s easy to say “use the Search feature” but even that comes across as unfriendly. If someone has helped a member along the way, a ‘thank you’ would be a nice gesture in return.

One turn-off for me in this forum are the few members who continually boast about their creations, asking for compliments, but who fail to acknowledge those who helped them get there and never return that kindness to others. Boasting, being selfish, it’s ‘all about me and my car’ does not sit well with me.

Heidi, I apologize for my long response in your dedicated forum but it is something I have wanted to say for a long time and your post inspired me to do so. Honestly, even I have decreased my 3CF participation for many of the reasons I stated and have been posting elsewhere. It never used to be like that for me. This place was always my home first and foremost. Hopefully, it will be once again for me and the other long time active members not seen around much anymore.

bruno