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Last night, a GH thread was started inquiring about a number of members. Answer of course is a lot of them are here. It went on to the focus of that forum and CleanMPG. There may be some misunderstandings about CleanMPG, based on the responses last night.

The focus of CleanMPG (as I understand it) is seeking better fuel economy in any vehicle. Seeking cleaner and renewable energy sources is also a theme. Hypermiling is encouraged here, but if someone joins and simply quits agressive driving, that's also a good thing.

As forums grow the diversity of opinions grow. Still, it's up to the administrators to steer the direction of a forum. I've seen both extremes: boards that never grow because only one narrow point of view is allowed, boards that become huge but lose the message.

Back to last night, it was mentioned that Wayne was frustrated when people gave bad advise in regards to better fuel economy. I strongly suspect that some of those times, it was people that simply had little or no desire for better fuel economy. Some people buy a hybrid and expect an improvement in fuel economy without any change in driving habits at all. Still others thing a hybrid version of a poser vehicle is good while I see it as wasteful. Got an unpleasant response to my defense of Wayne.

It amazes me that a suggestion such as work commuting in a sedan rather than a Suburban, or driving at a steady 65mph rather than 80mph is seen by a few as intolerant. I don't expect everyone to hypermile in compact hybrids, yet some insist I do. A hybrid forum should encourage better driving habits and the choice of moderately-sized vehicles. A hybrid vehicle is no better than the driver.

As CleanMPG grows, it a good thing to keep the focus on driving for better fuel economy even as new members join.

One final note: a forum like CleanMPG should be a haven from hostile members. If all someone wants to do here is undermine the forum or always disagree with the core beliefs they should not be here. The issue is right to associate, not free speech.

Still, it's up to the administrators to steer the direction of a forum.

I think that this is true for the most part, but the rest of us need to help out as well. If we see a potentially valuable thread moving off-track it is our responsibility to drive it back to the point. The temptation to move off-topic can be difficult to resist, but giving in just clutters up the forum. I have left once-valuable forums simply because I could no longer get through the nonsense.

The admins shoud be setting our course, but we all have to steer.

Agreed.

If the administrators and the active members are working together, things will work very well. :)

Chuck,

No need to defend Wayne over there. This site was created to be a haven. If they don't like the techniques discussed here they don't have to come here.

The good thing about this site is it is run by two people, one that finds FE important but is laid back and one that is very intense about it. Having the diversity will help keep us on message because we both agree about the goal and will also give us a reasonably broad view.

If someone wants to come in here with an SUV getting 10mpg and wants to do better then they should be here. At least they are doing more than the guy driving the hybrids at 80mpg as far as wanting to change. Of course we will try to nudge him into a more FE vehicle, but even if he MUST have his low FE SUV he should be welcomed to the community for at least trying to make a change in his attitude about fuel.

I had mixed feeling about that thread over there, but once started gave my two cents.

I was doing more than supporting Wayne. I too have frustrations with members over there promoting wasteful driving habits such as speeding, but driving a hybrid makes it "OK".

In an attempt to conclude my remarks diplomatically, being green can't be done on autopilot (i.e. just getting a hybrid) - it's a hands on experience.

I had mixed feeling about that thread over there, but once started gave my two cents.
Had to throw in mine as well. Just to draw some distinctions as I saw them. For the benefit of the audience of course. :)

I also made a couple of suggestions there.

I probably disagree with Wayne and Tom in a few areas, but I find that this group allows "friendly" disagreement. I believe there has to be some basic agreement about the group goals to have a productive experience, the basic agreement here I think is the fact that we all consider improving our cars efficiency and reducing emissions a priority. The disagreement is how we get there.

I like CleanMPG because:

- There is leadership... i.e. someone is in charge.
- Lots of current information clearly presented and continuously updated.
- Great friendly people... anyone who is a friend of the environment is my friend.
- The first priority is not to get into the HOV lanes or save money.

...just my 2 cents.;)

Katz6768,

The consensus of conservation and less pollution is something not everybody shares at the other place. :( This is related to your other observation about forum leadership - it should be active in forming a consensus.

In a couple of places, I've seen the "self-moderating" forums fail. Every group of people needs someone to lead to some degree. Governments are necessary to maintain civilization. There were a couple of extreme examples of troublesome members I took some flak for dealing with myself. It never should have come to that - the administrator needs to deal with those few that are bent on ruining the peace. Pure self-moderation does not work.

A good example of groups gone wrong is those where no one moderates and no one needs to have an Id to post information. Human nature is to behave badly if there are no consequences or controls. The Internet gives people that sense of "I can do or say anything because they don't know who I am or where I live". The moderators and the sign-up are there to overcome that.

This place is great! I followed Wayne to GH from driveaccord. Waynes love of the hypermile is as great as a F1 drivers will to cut a fast lap. Its all motorsport to me. I will never get to waynes level. Heck dont want to. And the desire to have the fastist lap has left also. Still dosent mean that I cant bust out a FAS or have some fun in the twisties.

psy