[mad brummie]

we're just one big happy family!!!!

[Dark Silver S]

Online forums have life cycles. However, they generally keep repeating the full cycle. This forum will continue as long as there are a) people who need to know something about a Mini, and b) people who need to tell something about a Mini. You and I might not be here, but the forum will.

I've been involved with a single product forum for a number of years. The product keeps evolving and generating technical questions, and the community has developed as a community. I would suspect that particular forum would continue even if the product ceased to be, as long as there was someone to maintain the server and software.

My thanks to Paul for keeping the Mini2 software fresh!

Long live Mini2.

[mimicar]

I'm not an expert on forums but I think most seem to be in a constant state of evolution. They have their good times and they have their bad times. This forum seems to be fairly constant. Posters are incredibly polite and well mannered here compared to some that I've been on. It's a pleasure to post here and I think that will go a long way in keeping this forum alive and well.

I'm pretty much of a computer illiterate, type with 2 fingers and flunked English in high school. I really appreciate the fact that this is a forum where I can post without getting beat up!

[ButtonIt]

The spirit of users in this forum is great. I think that's what keeps MINI2 the way it is. But, what will happen when the Ricers get in? In maybe two years time when all the kids (no-offence to anyone, you know the type I'm talking about) start buying old Coopers and S's and coming on this forum, being obnoxious and arrogant.

I'm not trying to be a doom and gloom merchant. I just think it's a good topic for discussion.

[Rakey]

Oh Chris you do worry, Ricers will soon be dealt with when they start crashing in on our lovely little family

I think as long as there is a love for the Mini, there will always be a Mini2!!!

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by ButtonIt

The spirit of users in this forum is great. I think that's what keeps MINI2 the way it is. But, what will happen when the Ricers get in? In maybe two years time when all the kids (no-offence to anyone, you know the type I'm talking about) start buying old Coopers and S's and coming on this forum, being obnoxious and arrogant.

I'm not trying to be a doom and gloom merchant. I just think it's a good topic for discussion.

I have no problem with 'ricers' coming here (if by that you mean people who throw shed loads of money and time at making their 'street' MINI faster on the sprint etc.), but we already do, and will continue to stamp down on obnoxious and arrogant posts, if people start regularly posting who dont reflect the kind of community we enjoy here, they are made to feel unwelcome, and will have to find somewhere else to play.

In fact, that 'next generation' of boy racer MINI owner could be more of an opportunity than a cause for concern.

[Martin L]

Quote: Originally Posted by ButtonIt

The spirit of users in this forum is great. I think that's what keeps MINI2 the way it is. But, what will happen when the Ricers get in? In maybe two years time when all the kids (no-offence to anyone, you know the type I'm talking about) start buying old Coopers and S's and coming on this forum, being obnoxious and arrogant.

I'm not trying to be a doom and gloom merchant. I just think it's a good topic for discussion.

Snob
I think we can deal with any unsavoury characters in here ricer or not
We all love MINI2 and will protect it's great community

Just look at the misunderstanding over M2m

I mustn't forget a great thanks to Paul and all the mods for keeping this place so well maintained. They've gotta be doing something right as I've been coming here on a daily basis for over 18 months now

Either that or I'm really sad..... don't answers that

[dcfkan]

For someone who is supposed to have a very short attention span (don't answer that ) I have been here since Aug 2001!

So I guess I am sad too

As for unsavory personalities, I guess we have a way of dealing with them in here with Paul and his merry mods, plus those of us who like to play busy bodies

DK :apple:

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1

What the hell is he talking about!!!???

Well its Max, so nobody really knows whats going on up there, but I think he's alluding to the progress of Information Technology,
MINI2 site is already available on BMW 7series wireless PDA's, but is so tiny that you can't see whats going on, I guess tht as long as people are passionate about Cars or other things there will be sites like this or whatever the future techological versions become.
I reckon we'll be able to read posts and contribute via thought transfer, and MINI will roll on and on and on .......

[Spacer]

I've been reading this forum for a year, but I only started posting after ordering the car. I have done a lot of searching to find out the bits and pieces, and I've found it the best source of info on the net for anyone buying a Mini (so thanks everyone!). Once I get my car, I'll start attending the meets, so you can all put a face to my name! See you all soon!

[stryder]

I wouldn't worry, even cars that seem really old like RX-7's have forums, and they stopped being imported to the US in 1995, but wait a few years, and there's the RX-8, so suddenly the forum that was stuck in the old same problems, and there's an entirely new crowd interested.

Also, there's always the problems and fixes, none of the cars are old enough to have real wear issues, so I'm sure new topics will start when other things get old.

Also, as warranties expire, everyone's going to be much more prone to finding new mechanics and working on it themselves, maybe the Maintenence forum will be the new place to be.

Finally, MINI's got obligations to their dealers to keep up a product line, so as soon as we get bored of the current crop of cars, new stuff will be popping up, like oh, the Diesel and the Cabrio. (and whatever they have in store for '05... Can't wait for the next Great Rumor Thread)

[KlausR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

There's a search function?!

What is a search function anyway?

To be serious: Not only new people interested in the MINI will give new life to the forum or the problems connected with the cars getting older will provide more topics. Also the whole car industry has become a rather fast business. I was quite amazed of the amount of annual changes made to the MINI as this is a phenomenon not so common with European cars. Take a look at the next years and you will see new model variations (Convertible 2004), new engines (2005) and a completely new model generation around 2008 with an increase of speculations and spy photos from 2006 on.

So there is no need to be afraid of the forum running out of topics, besides the fact that a developement in the user or posting structure is absolutely normal as the number of members and the age of the product changes.

Klaus

[uptick]

I think the allure of online forums is the boundary-less reach of its membership and the nearly interactive experience of information exchange on a common interest.

Newbies (and we were all once newbies) may be so excited about their MINI that they simply may not have taken the time-out, thus suppressing their excitement or testing their patience, to learn to search for or research an answer to an old question. Maybe they should have thoroughly read their manuals. Maybe they should have called their motoring advisors. Maybe they should have combed the FAQs. And maybe there is no answer to be found. So they post. And here on MINI2 you can generally expect a quick reply, whether its to curtly tell you to search for the answer, or its a full-length illustrated descriptive that threads on for many pages. It's the quick reply, whether its the answer, that forum members appreciate and expect of a forum that's very much alive.

For the more seasoned forum members, they may not have as much information to seek as they might have to offer. So they engage at their discretion. But MINI2 is not only about Q & A. It's very much about topical discussion, and regardless of how new or how old you are to the forum, discussion abounds when interest exists.

So long as there is interest, in any area or topic which MINI2 covers, there shall never be a dearth of MINI2 activity. People come and go, but MINI interest is ethereal.

[xplode]

ok doomsday prophets, i'll bite, because i'm a geek. the 2047 thing (really 2038ish) max was talking about is really very simple.

time in computers is typically represented as the number of seconds since january 1st 1970 (referred to as the epoch). so currently the time is 1065292071. that's in decimal. how do computers store that number? in ones and zeros, of course, which is 111111011111110001000100100111.

what's funny about that number? it's made up of 32 bits, and at some point we'll end up where all bits are 1s, what happens the next second? there's no more room to tick up - catastrophe!

or probably not, because by then we'll be using 64bit (or more) operating systems and we'll be able to count the seconds so far into the future the earth is probably not around anymore when we get to the endpoint. feel better now?

amd has already released a 64bit consumer processor, linux is 64bit capable, mac should be as well being a unix (bsd) decendant. only windows is not quite ready yet - bill is too busy thinking of ways to lock you into xp and coming up with enough mattresses to store his 40 billion in cash (your money).

for the picky, 32bits all switched on is 2147483647 decimal, so here's the endpoint in epochtime for 32bit operating systems:
> perl -e 'print gmtime(2147483647)."\n";'
Mon Jan 19 03:14:07 2038

next second as sun's solaris 2.8 would report it:
> perl -e 'print gmtime(2147483648)."\n";'
Fri Dec 13 20:45:52 1901

oops! 137 years earlier. different operating systems would likely come up with different results, but they'd all be wrong.


most scary thing? max in his writeup inadvertently (?) equated all things computery with windows and bill gates... if that was true, then yes we really are in trouble, and probably way before 2038!

i'll go hide under my rock now, throw a pebble at me again when you need me

[mad brummie]

hail to the computor expert!!!

thanks for that xplode.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by xplode

ok doomsday prophets, i'll bite, because i'm a geek. the 2047 thing (really 2038ish) max was talking about is really very simple.

time in computers is typically represented as the number of seconds since january 1st 1970 (referred to as the epoch). so currently the time is 1065292071. that's in decimal. how do computers store that number? in ones and zeros, of course, which is 111111011111110001000100100111.

what's funny about that number? it's made up of 32 bits, and at some point we'll end up where all bits are 1s, what happens the next second? there's no more room to tick up - catastrophe!

or probably not, because by then we'll be using 64bit (or more) operating systems and we'll be able to count the seconds so far into the future the earth is probably not around anymore when we get to the endpoint. feel better now?

amd has already released a 64bit consumer processor, linux is 64bit capable, mac should be as well being a unix (bsd) decendant. only windows is not quite ready yet - bill is too busy thinking of ways to lock you into xp and coming up with enough mattresses to store his 40 billion in cash (your money).

for the picky, 32bits all switched on is 2147483647 decimal, so here's the endpoint in epochtime for 32bit operating systems:
> perl -e 'print gmtime(2147483647)."\n";'
Mon Jan 19 03:14:07 2038

next second as sun's solaris 2.8 would report it:
> perl -e 'print gmtime(2147483648)."\n";'
Fri Dec 13 20:45:52 1901

oops! 137 years earlier. different operating systems would likely come up with different results, but they'd all be wrong.


most scary thing? max in his writeup inadvertently (?) equated all things computery with windows and bill gates... if that was true, then yes we really are in trouble, and probably way before 2038!

i'll go hide under my rock now, throw a pebble at me again when you need me

Nice one, so in a line..........are we doomed then or not

[Rakey]

I go out for a bowl of fried cat noodles and come back to this sad news that the world is to end soon

PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dcfkan]

Rakey,

You getting MINI2 withdrawal symptoms?

Had any moon cake yet?

DK :apple:

[Cooper i Do]

What the hell is he talking about?

I quess i am not the only 1 who does not understand a word.
I dont care if the world ends soon, as long as it isn't before the end of the year. I wanna drive my "S" first.


ps: If this forum was death we all will be.

[Rakey]

Yes had withdrawal really bad, wasn't easy getting online last few days in HK, but had fun.

Mooncake? Don't think so, but hey there are still 2 weeks left, please don't let the world end till I get home, I want one last drive in my car.

Oh and yes that is what I am missing more than anything else