Scott McClain

So let me get this right.

A ton of new people swarm to your forum due to Ghost's story going viral across multiple message boards, blogs, and Reddit. Something most people would think is a good, I dare say great thing. A chance for your forum to get great advertising. But instead of embracing them and welcoming them to the forum, you view them as extraneous non-members that are a bunch or troublemakers?

Anyone reading through Ghost's story would be outraged by the way he has been treated by Ford and the dealers in question. I have read not a single post across multiple sites that was in favor of Ford! And when people start venting on Ford, suddenly Ford starts to shift gears and take the issue more seriously and you shutdown the thread?

There seems to be a lot of great people on this forum, but I can't say much for management. Saying I disagree with the moderators is an understatement.

HCFX2013

This forum is for F-150 owners. People who drive Civics have no place on here but to come in and stir **** around. Certain people joined just to accuse ford and some accused ghost. So if people are going to join for the sole purpose of stirring the pot and aren't even interested in purchasing an F-150, they should not be welcome as active members here. There's a fine line between supporting Ghost and making the issue between ford and Ghost more muddled than it needs to be.

As far as I'm concerned, when new members say "I'm not even interested in buying from Ford now" they should just leave our forum. They are almost guaranteed to have only joined for this thread.

ymeski56

schmart

As you can tell by my post count, I don't post often, and have usually tried to have my posts be simply factual and not expressing an opinion. I didn't notice any impact by Meski closing and then re-opening the thread as it was totally resolved in between the times I checked into the forum. I was dismayed when Lenn closed it for good, but after reading through this thread I suspect that we general users aren't seeing the whole picture.

As in most areas of life, we view the situation through our position. I recognize that what I post here will likely be stuck here for all eternity. Once I click submit, it will be in the forum database and although I may be able to edit the post, I really can't get rid of evidence that the post was made. We assume that is the same situation for all posts made.

However, as an IT professional, I recognize that these "rules" don't apply to the database administrator. As an administrator, I can delete entries in the database and not leave any trace that they ever were there, especially not to the general users of the database.

So, when Lenn mentions that "outsiders" were flocking to the board and stirring up trouble, as a general user, I look at what I can see, and say "what trouble. I don't see any trouble", and then accuse the admins of some nefarious plot. However, if instead of jumping to the plot, I ask the question "Where did it go?" and then follow that line of questioning, then the whole story starts to make a lot more sense.

My current hypothesis is that the board started to be overrun by outsiders who don't have the same family centered views as this board has had. Extremely nasty posts could have been made, leaving items for moderators and owners to deal with. In that situation, as an owner, you have to make a choice... Do I leave the doors open, and allow these new people (customers) in the door and deal with all the broken items left behind, or do I decide that the profit losses (in this case polite people leaving) from letting the new customers have their way outweigh any new profits coming in. If I decide that is the case, then I am better off closing the doors and letting the situation calm down before re-opening the doors for business. As an owner, I'm going to lose no matter which option I choose. I just have to choose the option I think I am going to lose the least.

In this case, losing the least seems to be, lock the thread that was drawing the outsiders, delete the extremely abusive posts (and possibly the accounts associated with them), and try to get the rest of the board back on track. Once things calm down, the thread could be re-opened (which Lenn suggests may happen) and this 2 month old thread can go on as normal.

If we as users want to have the board get back to normal faster, I suggest that we all calm down and stop splashing around and making waves. Even though we may be impatient and want immediate answers, give it a couple of days. The board will likely revert back to its normal personality. If it doesn't... well the personality may have permanently changed, but you will have plenty of time to decide if that is good or bad, and if you want to continue with the board. You don't have to make that decision this minute, and making threats and splashing around because you don't like it only hampers the efforts by the administrators to get things back to normal, and through that normalcy, perhaps Ghost get to an acceptable resolution of his situation.

--Rick

GhostintheMachine

I think if people joined and made a quick reply saying the support me or goodluck or even in for updates nobody would have an issue with that.

If not they're more than welcome to discuss it on any other site it's been posted.

I apologize for linking the 2 sites I did. One was the car lounge and the other was another ford forum. The main reason I linked them over was because I had typed a novella when I initially posted. Also I posted from my phone not my laptop so trying to copy paste the whole text proved challenging (laptop was in my truck ironically).

I really thought when the last motor was replaced that would be the end of the story. You know start to end. I didn't know this would still be a discussion.

Again please respect the admin and mods. It's their site. They can do whatever they want with it. IF* and that's a big if they've received any communication from Ford regarding this mess that's their business. Last thing that would be fair would be for the site to see any corporate back lash from anyone Ford or otherwise.

Scott McClain

You call it stirring the pot, I call it trying to help a fellow Ford owner who has been mistreated by Ford. There is nothing muddling about trying to pressure Ford into doing the right thing. As a long time Ford customer ( 3 x F150's & 11 total Fords owned over the years ) I think I am more than able to able to say I have a interest in Fords and ecoboost engines.

You all should embrace new members, because they are all potential new customers. You have no idea if they are currently looking to buy a new or used F150, or in this case another Ford with similar engine.

So .....

rigrat2011

if I was a mod, i'd go do some digging for you and repost it.

but since i'm not. i'm not going to re-read 55pages.

good luck buddy, cause this time, its not a joke.

rigrat2011

well scotty...

since the mods have (and still trying to) make it known that it's a ford/ghost thing and not the world against ford for the fight of ghost.

btw, I really don't care how much money you've invested in the blue oval.

but, I got a feeling if you don't cease and desist promptly of your posts like this, you may not have an account to log on to.

i'm not trying to tell you to stop caring, i'm just trying to tell you that if you're so passionate about the fight for ghost, perhaps you should call up ford and ask, go down to YOUR dealer and ask them(since they've taken so much of your money so far, perhaps they owe you one for once), or go rally at the Dearborn plant.

my point is man, you make the decision as to where you get to stand. here with the rest of us who care about ghost's issues, or in the sinking boat with the other civic owners. it's up to you.

if you don't believe me, that' fine. have a good one it was nice posting this and it's too bad you'll never read it.

cause ask any mod here... i'm the worst of the worst. I've been banned so many times that these mods have lost their patience with me a few times.

so anyways, if i'm saying that I think you've gone too far, it's a safe bet that the mods have given you a vacation... or are about to.


as for the mods, you can wipe the coffee off of your screens now.

jwanck11

Ford, the Dealer(s) and Ghost are aware of what has transpired and what is going on. The rest are all but completely in the dark and uninformed.

I hope a reasonable outcome is reached and that all parties (Ford, Dealer and Ghost) live up to their accountability.

Scott McClain

LOL cease and desist what? I have done nothing wrong! Please quote me where I have made personal attacks, or foul language, or done anything out of line. If you are referring to disagreeing with the mods, or stating Ford is wrong in their handling of Ghost's problem, then yes I have. In fact you pointed out a good point. That the mods keep saying its a Ford vs Ghost thing. No its NOT! Its a Ford crappy customer service issue that everyone who owns a Ford, or is thinking of buying a Ford should be concerned about and freely voice their opinion.

I see 99% of the people across the various sites this story has spread to standing with Ghost against Ford on this issue. I see a handful of people on only this board wanting everyone to shut up and go away and let Ford handle this with Ghost. Ford had plenty opportunity to take care of this without all the bad press after the first or second engine, hell even the third. At this point, in my opinion and the vast majority or everyone elses they deserve a fire being lit under them to do something more than saying they have "top men working on it".

Ford has been my vehicle brand of choice for many many years, but at least in this instance, they have dropped the ball.