Previous post editted to try and avoid for a "discontent" attitude.

 

Is that really surprising given that many of the active owners have had their cars from 2-5 years? I still enjoy my car, but there's not much left to see or talk about them. And face it, the roads in the midwest aren't exactly conducive to having good drives on a regular basis.

 

You it hit on the head. Thats exactly the root of the problem.

 

Actually, to me it seems like the more more "active" owners on this board haven't owned the S2000 for even 2 years, if they even own one now.

So let me clarify even further what I mean to say about the fan-fare for the car. This year, the group's culture shows to have less enthusiasm about the car and car-based activities than any other year.

I understand that with each new season, we have new owners, activists, and participants. With each new season, we start up a new culture. I just hope that next year's culture that we cultivate (as we had done in the past) would be more of one that's focused on the car. If we don't, it will become that inclusive group that that doesn't have the commonality with the majority of current owners and future owners that I've harped about for the majority of the summer.

 

I see your point, but I disagree.

As long as there is a group, people will come and go. Most of the meets last year were spent standing around in parking lots. We looked at and talked about cars a LOT, and it was good. I remember posts from people that were intimidated by that, and thought we were "clique-ish."

This year, we did those, but also did more social meets at bowling alleys and such. Are we really any MORE "clique-ish" this year? I don't believe we are. I think it can be intimidating for anyone joining a group for the first time. I remember being intimidated at the first UBAB I went to. You, Greg, S2kgirl, and several others all knew each other and there were times I felt like and outsider. I got to know you all and got past it. That's the basic nature of any group.

People buying S2000s and coming out to meets don't need to be treated like 2nd graders that just came to a new school after moving to a new town.

 

we should be more like them.

 

Wow. What a sad state we are in. I've seen a few unpleasant comments from people I used to have respect for over the last 2-3 months. I had no idea the social habits of some of the more outgoing owners was looked down on so much by the elite half.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. I don't see anyone forcing Tom Dick or Harry to attend a gathering and drink. If people want to go they will, if they don't approve then they shouldn't go. That should be the end of it. Theres no reason to tip toe around the subject and "hint" that certain behavior is not welcomed. If you don't like what goes on at certain meets then don't go. Instead plan your own meets hand out the rules and move on. Like Pete said, we are not second graders.

I'm glad to have met a lot of the people I now know after moving here. Yes it was because of the car and this UMW forum that I met them but The car has little to do with it now. That leaves the UMW forum. And from the looks of things half the UMW forum might split and go elsewhere to chit chat, be silly and unwind.

 

1. Unfortunately, the social habits (be it perceived or reality....as seen in 'non-active' owners' comments) of a few active can/may represent for the habits of others regardless or not if they participate in meets or not.

It's like a Civic/Integra tuner getting an unfair label of being a "riceboy" because of a few.

2. I don't think we are in a "sad state" at all. There's actual discussion about how meets are handled, where as before, the disgruntled would bemoan behind organizers' backs.

I've heard comments getting back to me from round about ways stating a particular event had too many old people, the event wasn't organized enough, nothing stayed on time, we stand around parking lots too long, etc. Rather than discuss directly with me or other organizers, we get criticism with either no aid, no solution, and/or no constructive feedback.

My criticisms have been out in the open, offered objective reasons to why I'm voicing my opinion, and solutions/options.

3. Their is no "elite half". There is though an active, outgoing group that has/have offended a few owners by there actions, words, so forth. We did use to have a certain tone amongst our owners. It was friendly and inviting in nature. Now? Some people, in fact, had been offended away from events and gatherings because of the new dynamic.

The UWM forum splitting because of how we meet is a plausibility. I mean you can't have underage owners at the Thursday night "bar" meets, right? The UWM forum splitting because of people wanting to use the board to unwind, be silly, and chit chat shouldn't happen. That's what the "Windy City" sub-forum is for. Otherwise there are boards like DudeRick.com that formed in light of more non-S2000 focused activity.

Post-script: Apologies for you losing respect because of some comments. Some of us do have an opinion on things. It's too bad that you don't hear of the comments that people have made behind others' backs. I, for one, would respect those individuals more if they could confront people about their thoughts (and I don't mean just S2000 related thoughts). Am I calling some of those people out? No...they can do as they wish. Am I going to test the waters to see who comes to my support by stating that I will no longer attend meets? No. I'll go to those that I wish to go to.

As for the using the terms "second-class" and "inferior" how you say I may treat or see some owners, is nor really fair. If and when it comes to planning an event in regards to location, date, time, etc. I would definitely take more into consideration the opinions of those that own the car, participate in events, and so forth. Why on Earth would I not when planning an S2000-community event? As for looking "down" at someone else as would the terminology suggest, that's false. I mean, I drive a Honda....really it/this is not that serious.

I have other friends, family, etc. that I should consume my time than stuff like this.

With that said, I'm done with yet another thread (especially one that started on a whole different tone in where I was asked for a suggestion and then provoked into a lengthy defense).

 

:grouphug:

 

Welcome