Hostile Forums
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From: Raceland
Hostile Forums
I have one question but it's not narrowed down to this forum. Why do people get so damn hostile whenever talking about cars. I'm in a car club that has just RX-7s but I'm also in a club with Z06s, a viper, Porche 911s, and 2 S2000s and we NEVER get pissed off. I just don't get why in the Z06, S2000 and RX-7 Forums, people with different cars just don't agree on jacksh*t. Just venting I guess.
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From: St. Pete, Florida
Well, let me try to guess. People react in different ways when the S2000 is compared to:
Boxster and Z3: Lot of those folks think anything Japanese is inferior "rice," so S2000 folks get defensive.
Corvette: They have this massive but relatively low-tech engine, with lots of torque. We get defensive when they say a sports car with "no torque" is not a serious competitor. Same with Camaros, Firebirds, and Mustangs.
TT and SLK: Although not true sports cars, these are owned by folks who think "how you look" is the most important thing, and that the interior of the S2000 is too plain.
Boxster and Z3: Lot of those folks think anything Japanese is inferior "rice," so S2000 folks get defensive.
Corvette: They have this massive but relatively low-tech engine, with lots of torque. We get defensive when they say a sports car with "no torque" is not a serious competitor. Same with Camaros, Firebirds, and Mustangs.
TT and SLK: Although not true sports cars, these are owned by folks who think "how you look" is the most important thing, and that the interior of the S2000 is too plain.
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From: Laurel
"Car Guys" (including women) have a love for cars and will happily discuss nuances of performance and production in a good-natured, good-hearted way.
"Brand Guys" (mostly men because women are so much smarter as a group) derive ego fulfillment from their purchasing choices and tend to be the angry puffers you describe. Too bad for them.
Luckily, we seem to have a greater proportion of car guys here.
"Brand Guys" (mostly men because women are so much smarter as a group) derive ego fulfillment from their purchasing choices and tend to be the angry puffers you describe. Too bad for them.
Luckily, we seem to have a greater proportion of car guys here.
Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
I can think of two reasons people get pissy as you described.
The first is car loyalty. Using s2ki as an example: Most people here own, desire to own, have owned, or just plain like the S2000. We are thus somewhat partial to it. So when someone show's up proclaiming the M3 or Supra or Z06 to be the god of all cars, S2000 people take notice and generally get offended - a bit too much so probably. I generally take these comments with a grain of salt, because they are the opinion of 1 person. And opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most of them stink! Likewise, if I went to a Miata forum and started ranting that the miata was an underpowered chick car, the general populace there would defend the car as well. So, it comes down to people posting things where they know (or should know) that the comments will be unwelcome.
The second reason is a bit bizarre, but I think people get hostile just because they can. By this, I mean that people get big heads when they're hiding behind the avatar/screen name. Completely passive people in real life will turn into mean spirited know-it-all a-holes online. You say the Z06 is better looking than the S2000 (a 100% subjective measure), they'll argue for the sake of arguing. I see this all the time, it's not really prevalent here but it definately exists.
The first is car loyalty. Using s2ki as an example: Most people here own, desire to own, have owned, or just plain like the S2000. We are thus somewhat partial to it. So when someone show's up proclaiming the M3 or Supra or Z06 to be the god of all cars, S2000 people take notice and generally get offended - a bit too much so probably. I generally take these comments with a grain of salt, because they are the opinion of 1 person. And opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most of them stink!
Likewise, if I went to a Miata forum and started ranting that the miata was an underpowered chick car, the general populace there would defend the car as well. So, it comes down to people posting things where they know (or should know) that the comments will be unwelcome.The second reason is a bit bizarre, but I think people get hostile just because they can. By this, I mean that people get big heads when they're hiding behind the avatar/screen name. Completely passive people in real life will turn into mean spirited know-it-all a-holes online. You say the Z06 is better looking than the S2000 (a 100% subjective measure), they'll argue for the sake of arguing. I see this all the time, it's not really prevalent here but it definately exists.
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From: Austin
I like jschmidt's explaination. That seems to fit very well.
A few weeks ago I attended an FCA meeting (all Ferrari guys & girls and me). I got to talking with one guy who I discovered, we had met before on a hill country drive out to get some bbq a few months before. He was driving a viper at the time which was only a few days old. He belongs to the viper club, the FCA, the vette club and a few others. He says, just the love of cars, that's what its all about. It was very nice to hear those kind of words from an enthusiast that didn't seem elitist in any way about one particular car over another by making blanket statements.
A few weeks ago I attended an FCA meeting (all Ferrari guys & girls and me). I got to talking with one guy who I discovered, we had met before on a hill country drive out to get some bbq a few months before. He was driving a viper at the time which was only a few days old. He belongs to the viper club, the FCA, the vette club and a few others. He says, just the love of cars, that's what its all about. It was very nice to hear those kind of words from an enthusiast that didn't seem elitist in any way about one particular car over another by making blanket statements.
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From: Saratoga
Well, if you come onto this board looking for a fight and to "prove" that your FD is superior than the S2000, you're not going to get a very good welcome by the members here. Sure, we know we'll get our arse's spanked. We know that. But that's besides the point on why we're here.
Respect us, we'll respect you.
Respect us, we'll respect you.
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From: Au coeur de la Belle Province!
I never disrespect anyone until they do it. I think everyone needs to have a common interest, like the S2000 here. Sadly, there are people that sign here to flame this common interest.
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From: Santa Monica/West LA
Yea, what they all said.. 
I'm sure you know the adage, not sure exactly how it went but I think it goes a little something like this:
"A car is just a machine, made of metal, plastic, glass and rubber. It will not make you smarter, bigger, or better looking than everyone else.
If people judge you by the brand of machine you drive, then you live amongst snobs.
But in the end.. may the best machine win!"
I'm sure you know the adage, not sure exactly how it went but I think it goes a little something like this:
"A car is just a machine, made of metal, plastic, glass and rubber. It will not make you smarter, bigger, or better looking than everyone else.
If people judge you by the brand of machine you drive, then you live amongst snobs.
But in the end.. may the best machine win!"