Contrary to what some might think, commenting at CC is a privilege, not a right. And we actively enforce our commenting policy, which is clearly stated in our “Welcome to CC” page, accessible from the top menu bar. Unfortunately, all too many don’t seem to have read it, or be willing to follow it. And just like with a driver’s license, after so many points, or one very egregious violation, one’s CC Commenting license will be revoked; as happened last night to one repeat offender who finally stepped way over the line.
I’ve barely tolerated suzulight’s almost invariably negative (and often factually inaccurate) comments for years here, and written to him a number of times telling him to tone it down. But I’ve learned from experience that my warnings rarely work, and invariably repeat offenders cross the line, like a moth to the flame. He left this comment at the Parking post last night:
I have no love or use for cyclists. They are all morons, think they own the road (at least here in Portland) and are simply too stupid to realize the human animal invented the automobile for a REASON. Run them all over.
This comment is hardly borderline. Advocating the murder of all bicyclists is pretty cut and dried. I suppose he could argue that advocating murder is not in the Commenting Policy. But calling them all morons is. As well as his idiotic comment that humans invented the car for a reason: to run over bicyclists, presumably.
suzulight has now lost his CC license, and I rather hope he loses his driver’s license too. Frankly, I’m rather relieved, as I long since tired of his negative rants/innuendos. And he joins a growing list of others that have taken involuntary CC commenting “vacations”.
Frankly, the whole job of reading all comments and moderating them has become a major chore (headache, actually), but I simply can’t abide stupid, negative, disparaging comments. I know that many of our commenters equate the number of comments to the success or popularity of their posts, but it’s mostly not the case. Yes, the number of comments here at CC may not consistently be as high as some other sites, but we will not allow our commenting to be degraded by negativity and stupidity.
There are days I feel like pulling the plug, one way or another. But whenever I’m discouraged, inevitably something really good happens at CC, or I get an email like this one, just this morning, regarding obnoxious commenters:
I can imagine the constant struggle you must endure between your love of old cars and the workaday need to keep the site going. But your efforts are appreciated more than you perhaps know by folks you hear from only occasionally…or not at all. Other than some news and sports sites, yours is probably the only site I visit almost every day.
BTW, morons are everywhere, so abandoning CC won’t get you away from them as I know you know. Not much of an enticement to keep going…but hey, it’s something.
The reality is this, and I have to keep reminding myself this: there’s a whole lot of CC readers who never or rarely comment. And somewhat unfortunately, they’re invariably the kind of readers I’d like to get more comments from! OK; I don’t want to pressure anyone, but it’s really heartening to hear from them (you) from time to time. And to hear less from those that just want to spread their mental pollution or feel the need to externalize every fleeting thought, no matter how banal or repetitive.
Thank you Mathew for your email today, and thank all of you commenters who keep it intelligent, interesting and civil. And let this be a warning to those that don’t. It’s a privilege, not a right.
Thank you!
Twits like this are what give car enthusiasts like us a bad name, and he totally deserved a lifetime ban. I cycle to work and locally to shops and so on, have done for years, even before having my Cadillac as my only car (I now have another daily driver, also a big V8 of course). It makes sense to cycle even if your automotive passion isnt for big broughamy landyachts like mine is, and prior to the Cadillac I owned an LTD which wasnt much better on gas. Usually people who cycle also drive and vice versa, and may be both avid cyclists AND car enthusiasts
True. Edited now.
so funny reminds me of that Curb Your Enthusiasm… “beloved aunt”…
I own a (not so big) V8 but ride a bike to work too. I’m with you brother. Also, thank you Paul. Your site is a wonderful daily read. I’ll contribute that article one day.
Hello Paul (and everyone else),
Firstly I absolutely agree with all the positive and encouraging comments about the site in general and your work in particular. I come here almost daily and enjoy most of what I see here.
With that said, as this is a thread specifically about commenting and commentators may I be permitted to just throw in one negative here?
As a person originally from Britain and now living in Canada I have become increasingly irritated at the anti-British sentiment that surfaces in just about every article about a British car.
True to form, just a week or two ago there was an article about an MGB and, sure enough, there was a blatantly ignorant comment that basically implied that “Brits” had no idea how to design or build anything at all.
I drafted a witty and withering riposte to the poster but, just as I was about to post it, I decided I didn’t want stoop to his level so let it slide.
I know I should just shrug this sort of thing off as I know it is just the ignorance of a few small-minded people but when it crops up again and again it becomes annoying.
I don’t even get what the basis of it is really. I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in all manner of old British machinery and have literally NEVER suffered an electrical or mechanical failure that has left me stranded at the roadside, and very few other issues either. I AM NOT SAYING that British cars were by any means perfect, not even close, but they were not, in general, as bad as gets made out.
No, this has become one of those internet themes (memes, even) that just becomes ingrained in the sub-conscious and gets trotted out time and again by people with little imagination and no respect for the actual qualities and vast achievements of people from a different country than their own.
My beef with you, Paul, is that I have mentioned this to you before but I have NEVER seen you post a rebuttal comment to anyone posting an anti-British comment on here.
Ergo, it APPEARS that you, as an American (-ish, I know you are from Austria) condone this as “just joshin’ ya, folks”.
Well, we used to accept all kinds of derogatory comments to all kinds of groups of people such as the disabled and visible minorities but we don’t accept them any longer.
So, as a Briton I am taking a stand. Please don’t allow negative comments against this proud nation and its’ people any longer. (Or against any other nations come to that).
Unless, of course, you think of this as an American site for American readers, in which case no doubt you don’t give a rats’ about me and my fellows and I apologise for bothering you.
Thank you for considering this issue, and keep up the otherwise fine work here.
Regards,
Simon.
Simon,
You bring up a very good point. Yes, there has long been a popular culture meme in the US about British cars, as well as French and Italian. There’s an unfortunate knee-jerk reaction tendency among too many when the hear/see the name of a British car, and respond with the inevitable “Lucas – Prince of Darkness” comment or such.
I have never taken on the subject directly in a post per se, but I am all-too aware that the reality is never as simple as many like to make it out to be. And that most Brit cars, especially like the MG, are fundamentally sturdy cars that are very easy to keep running and enjoy great support. And whatever weakness they might have had, there are ready fixes for them now.
I did address this issue most specifically in my Peugeot 504 CC: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1976-peugeot-504-one-continents-french-mercedes-and-coty-is-another-continents-most-rugged-vehicle-is-another-continents-pos/
Like many things, it’s not a simple and clear-cut issue. regardless of the merits (and flaws) of a particular European car, there were issues that exacerbated problems with them in the US. One was that many American buyers were simply not attuned to different maintenance needs of foreign cars. Service and parts were often spotty/indifferent. And starting in the late 60s, US-bound cars had unique emission control systems, and were often equipped with power-sapping and heat-creating accessories like automatic transmissions, power steering, air conditioning, etc.. These all-too often had a deleterious effect on reliability.
One could rightly say that the cars imported to the US starting in about 1970 or so increasingly were different from their domestic market counterparts. That alone was a big factor.
Then there’s just plain old American chauvinism/exceptionalism. There’s a real tendency to that here, with cars. Americans will hear about a few bad experiences with a British, French or Italian car, and quickly they become a huge thing (“Fix It Again Tony”; “Lucas Prince of Darkness”).
Undoubtedly, these reputations were earned to some extent or another, but they were often vastly exaggerated, depending on the specific car.
This issue is even one here with domestic cars. I get endless blowback about my Deadly Sins. I try endlessly to explain that it’s more about the business decisions GM made than the cars being necessarily bad per se. Some were; others not. Some in between.
The point is that it’s an endless education process. I have responded to some obviously knee-jerk comments about Brit, french or Italian cars. but I can’t fight the war on all fronts. Hopefully most readers here will have learned that stereotypes applied to cars are as intrinsically flawed as when applied to people.
I think that goes with any type of car. Me being the Volkswagen guy, I fight a myriad of stereotypes about VWs. I even wrote a COAL as a rebuttal to a comment about how crappy and unreliable water-cooled Volkswagens apparently are.
I’ve made the British, Italian and French car jokes before. Simply in light hearted jest. Every car has its quirks. Heck, I love and hate the things about my VWs that drive me nuts. It wouldn’t be the same without them.
And i have to say, while I have made the Lucas wiring jokes before, I have also said, upon hearing the exhaust note of a TR6 that I don’t care how much trouble one may be, I’d welcome that sound in my driveway any day.
Hi Simon,
Have you written a similar note to Jeremy Clarkson regarding his views on American cars?
As someone who was one of the last rear-engine Skoda holdouts in Canada, and as someone who still owns an AMC Matador sedan, not to mention a DAF, I’ve taken my fair share of hit pieces.
I would strongly argue that the answer is not censoring everyone else who may offend you, but rather develop a thicker skin.
There is a reason why British car guys hang out with other British Car guys, and muscle car guys hang with muscular car guys and so on and so forth.
The British automotive industry, once a world leader, did implode. Sorry, but it’s true. But what a spectacular ride it was while it lasted.
I do love British cars; my old man had a Healey 100, and I have a long-running urge to buy a Rootes product which may happen.
That occurred to me too. American cars have long suffered at the hands of Europeans (and other continents, for that matter) with knee jerk reactions regarding bloat, indifferent quality and gas guzzling.
And, of course, the stereotypes regarding American cars are a little too true in some cases. The 1977 Plymouth Fury Salon was a fairly awful car, but on the other hand the 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88, while similar in many specifications, was really a better transportation device / value than just about European car priced similarly, or even much higher, especially for American conditions.
There is good natured and bad natured commenting, and each of us has a slightly different sense of what that is, and that might even vary by the day and our mood. But, turning every car, (it’s a CAR, for heaven’s sake) into a political correctness zone would make for a rather dull website.
For whatever it is worth, “Lucas, Prince of Darkness,” is rather humorous the first time you hear it, especially if you live in a virtually British free car zone like I do. This website is about how “every car has a story,” and frankly I want to hear about Lucas or Chrysler’s infamous ballast resistor as much as I want to hear the positive side of the story.
First of all, I want to thank you Paul. Thanks to your hard work I have a site that I can look forward to seeing everyday! I find it continuously interesting and informative. I also appreciate the work of the contributors and the commenting public. I appreciate the varying views and opinions and I’m glad that open hostility and trolling is not permitted and is removed. Whenever I post comments I hope that they are interesting and sometimes entertaining. A round of applause for Curbside Classics!
What he said.
What THEY said! Recently discovered CC, and I read and enjoy it daily! Has become one of my favorite car sites. Doing right by banning the
A-holes 🙂
As I read through all of the interesting/amusing/informative comments under CC articles, I don’t think about the ignorant/hostile/abusive comments that had to be removed. Hopefully they are few and far between. I can’t imagine the constant work that goes in to monitoring comments on a website like this, but I do appreciate the end result. Thanks!
CC is not like other automobile blogs, which makes it one of my faves. Thanks to all the writers and 99% of all the commenters.
I read your blog faithfully every day. I rarely comment, unless I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute. Thank you for your efforts, and keep it going.
Delurking, to chime in as another 98% lurker.
I like the vibe (bad pun time) here and appreciate the fact that effort is made to curate the comments.
Paul, I just tried to write a comment about how thankful I am for your hard work on this web site, and it came out sounding so much like a teacher’s pet that I had to delete it and try again.
Your intelligence, knowledge, good-naturedness, life experience, facility with the written word, and ability to master the mechanical realm are an inspiration to me, and I truly appreciate the ways you have encouraged me in my writing.
And your work moderating the comments is very appreciated, as there is often quite a lot of additional learning available in the comments section.
Please keep up the great work!
Thanks Paul. This is one of the reasons I love this site. The comments are not what most of the other sites I read have devolved into. People may have different opinions but here they are (usually) reasoned arguments.
When commitments to work, family and friends mean I cannot read or post as often as I’d like it’s easy for me I can just take a break and come back later. When I consider Paul can’t do that and has to post, edit and monitor this site on top of the challenges of daily life I find these kinds of posts important for us to read. Not sure how you do it Paul, and it’s not said often enough, but we appreciate your hard work and commitment to CC.
+1
Paul, I’m one of those people who while I don’t comment much, I do appreciate your endeavors to keep this place going. So thanks for taking the time to maintain such a healthy/useful site for car knowledge. When my friends ask me where I’ve picked up all of my miscellaneous car-knowledge from over the years, I always point to CurbsideClassic. This place has been my breakfast-read site for a while now. It’s given me insight to so many different makes/models of cars that I otherwise would know nothing about. As a result, these days it’s rare for me to take a drive where I come across a car that I know absolutely nothing about.
What originally brought me here was the car information; however, I find myself increasingly scrolling through the comments sections and the COAL’s because there’s a lot of good life-stuff there. As a young 20’s person, it’s a bit enlightening/refreshing to read the insights and reflections of people who are a little further through life. So please keep on doing what you’ve been doing. You’ve managed to foster a very nice niche here in this corner of the internet.
Thanks to your professionalism Paul, you have a very solid community and fan base here that have your back. And it reflects highly of you. I am amazed at the quality and level of work and commitment you devote, day after day. As commenters we should all share appreciation, gratitude, and respect.
I recall the same commenter making very strong homophobic comments weeks ago, that you obviously had to delete. It made me realize he had serious anti-social issues, showing so little respect to you, and such a professionally run automotive blog. Using it as a soapbox for his hate. While ignoring your hard word and tolerance.
Your patience is amazing.
One of the longtime readers/rare commenters chiming in:
Thanks for putting up with the Internet, Paul. Comments make or break automotive sites for me, which is why I can’t go to TTAC anymore. But either as a result of your constant moderation, or a loyal contingent of people who “get” CC, or both, this place is very fun to browse around in every day.
Out of curiosity, from a web publishers standpoint, what are your options for commenting systems? Does something with upvotes/downvotes allow us to take part of the moderating burden off of you by burying or flagging people who are obviously jerks? Or, does that just take away your ability to moderate the narrative?
First of all, I’m not the only one who reads and moderates comments; all the Editors here do, to one degree or another. But I still read them all, even the ones that have already been trashed. And in good part because I like to read what you all have to say. 🙂
I’m leery of turning the comment moderation over to the commenters. There’s pros and cons to that kind of system, and the cons may create a new set if potential issues.
Over to commenters or to moderators? I’m on a couple of forums where there are moderators who seem to do a good job. One for Ford Trucks and the other for World Affairs (http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/index.php).
World Affairs covers many international issues which can be hot buttons for some. The moderators, scattered over the world, keep a watchful eye out for even disrespectful speech. Being a forum, started by military folks, decorum is usually respected or you are banned. Been running that way since 2004.
The CC community is by and large a friendly bunch. I read each and every comment that gets posted to my articles (really, it is the least I could do, since you were kind enough to read my post in the first place).
In the four months I’ve been doing this, I’ve deleted only one comment. That said, it does require constant vigilance. Much like kudzu, if you allow bad comments to get even a toehold, it will soon overrun the place (witness TTAC). Thanks to Paul for his continual weeding of our garden.
Paul: Thank you so much for this blog. It is a lot of fun. I love hearing why people buy the cars that they do. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and love the cars from that era. My father appreciated cars from the 20’s to 40’s. It’s fun to see people appreciating the cars from the 80’s and 90’s. I thought most of them where junk at the time and would never be appreciated. But I am learning now. My life has taken some severe downturns and your posts have been a fun diversion. Please keep it going.
Thanks
Thanks from another rare commenter on running the best site out there! Sorry this has to be a part of it. I wish all would treat posting on the internet the way they would a televised interview and carefully consider their comments before making them 🙂
As someone deeply into cars as a hobby and car design as a career I applaud you for weeding out commenters like this. I was run over and dragged down the road on still attached to my mountain bike with the result being a broken neck. The motorist who had shot the red light made similar comments after this near fatal “accident “…..incidentally many car companies (Rover, Humber, Sunbeam et al started out making bicycles which were arguably the vehicle that gave folks their first taste of independent travel. A true enthusiast of fine machinery should also find pleasure analyzing the engineering of bikes….I love this site and certainly feel privileged to read it most every day…..
Thanks Paul, for your hard work and effort.
A lot of folks out in the CCsphere appreciate it in a big way.
There are innumerable places on the net where you can say virtually anything. The civility of CC is a breath of fresh air. Haters please post elsewhere!
Please keep fighting the good fight! This site is one of the best. Also, iirc, the bicycle was invented before the automobile. Sheesh, some people…
Well done. CC is one of a tiny number of websites where I even bother reading comments – the intolerance and lack of basic civility on most of the WWW is appalling. Posting nonsense about running down cyclists – even if, by some tremendous stretch, was meant to be darkly humorous – has no place on a site like CC! The depth and breadth of knowledge and insight here at CC is amazing – weeding out people who refuse to understand that is much appreciated by this reader.
+1 to all of the above. As I see it, we read / comment / contribute to CC to share our interest in old (ish) things with wheels, not to push agendas or insult people we disagree with. It doesn’t seem a big ask to keep the discussion civilised, and I for one would be put off contributing if I thought my effort would get a response like the one Paul has quoted.
Thanks Paul! Every day for years on end you’ve encouraged a commenting community I’ve seen nowhere else, and held the line against the rotten eggs. Even when I don’t comment I read and appreciate CC daily. Thanks!
PS: Regarding the picture of the revoked license, I once worked with someone whose last name is Sample. I wonder if he ever has trouble with his ID.
Thank you, Paul, for diligently enforcing the commenting policy. Like Tom said, you can’t let certain commenters get comfortable making inappropriate comments or we end up losing the genial atmosphere and “dinner table civility” you call for and which makes CC’s discussions so delightful. The comments, for me, are required reading like the articles themselves… what other site can you say that about?
It’s good that you don’t let people get ridiculously off-topic and political, too. I don’t know the political affiliations of anyone here and I couldn’t be happier!
It’s a hard slog running this site (I can imagine) and this is another key part of it. At least the offenders don’t keep coming back and trolling, for the most part. And any who do continue to read the site but leave angry comments should realise that it’s not always Paul that’ll delete their comments, sometimes the rest of us may get there first. After all, when much of the US is sleeping, Australia is wide awake…
+1 on the political reference. There aren’t many places to get away from it these days.
Time well spent here on CC
+1+ on the politics, this is one of the few, if not only, blogs I can read now because the rest have become so toxic it isn’t worth the effort.
I want to thank everyone who puts in the hard work necessary to make this site so enjoyable. Do I agree with everything I read here, I do not but for the life of me I don’t understand how negativity towards others makes one’s life any better. As my mother used to tell me, “if you can’t say something nice about somebody don’t say anything”.
Amen.
Agreed on the politics. The internet is international. it’s so nice to have a site free of politics. When so many of us live in other countries, any one country’s political squabbles are irrelevant.
Thanks, Paul
Believe it or not I can actually be quite a smart ass, but I clamp down hard on myself here. This site is an oasis in the desert.
Thanks Paul. The restraint here is a welcome relief, why I visit several times a day and spend a lot of time in the archives.
I did not know how difficult it was on you to moderate everything all the time. Or that it was even necessary.
It should have clicked at some point. So many well informed, congenial people commenting, it really surprised me you had to do this. Clueless in a lot of areas am I.
CC is an invaluable resource and it would be the automotive web’s loss if you were to pull the plug. Understood if you feel the need for your own sanity, but it would be a sad day for many, this ordinary slob included.
Well, the fact that I still come here to CC and enjoy the discussion is proof enough that the system works. I know that as commenters, there are certainly people who do parrot stuff that can get obnoxious or tedious (I’ve been guilty of that here a couple times). I also understand that there are frequent commenters here, who can get barely tolerable somedays, either for Paul or the others. (Certainly there are some for me, I’m not going to say who or call anyone out). But, I can say, without exaggeration, that CC is the friendliest, most civil site I’ve ever visited in my entire life. The rampant toxicity and refusal to put the hammer down on certain people is what caused me to leave the last Automotive website I joined, so the fact that I can still enjoy coming here says volumes about the efforts of the editors to keep this place civil.
On behalf of all of us, thanks for taking your time to keep the peace. It’s certainly an unenviable position, but your hard efforts are worth it for making this community what it is.
Well said J of E. A motoring site that stands up for cyclists. How cool is that. “Rampant toxicity”, I love it.
A thousand times yes. I’ve moderated and adminned a fair number of forums, and it’s usually been about the same: most people behave themselves, but a few don’t. Of those few, some are just shit-disturbers (Canadian term for someone who likes to make trouble for its own sake); some fancy themselves awesome rebels, stickin’ it to the man by constantly testing the rules (yep, they’re still there…yep, they still apply…), and some consider themselves exempt (…nope, they still apply even to you). With a very small number of “Oops, sorry” exceptions, the common thread that binds all of them is their misperception of the moderator as some kind of power-crazed traffic cop with an itchy ticket finger—or they dispense with the niceties and just jump directly to accusations of censorship and/or nazism.
In reality, the job is much more akin to that of the janitor with mop bucket and assorted other tools for scraping up feces, vomit, and maliciously emplaced chewing gum.
Thank you for making and keeping this site, Paul. The signal:noise ratio here is highly excellent—in fact, come to think of it, it’s vastly better than any other automotive internet forum I can think of.
Daniel, I just love the way you word things!
Thankya kindly! »doffs cap« I’ve got a bunch of posts (CC Tech, COAL, CC Toolbox…) queued up for when I will find time to extract them from my head!
I missed suzulight’s anti-cycling comment because, ironically, I took advantage of yesterday’s beautiful weather and took a long, long ride on my bicycle.
Thanks for keeping it civil, and for keeping people like me safe.
On the surface of it, that comment appears to be macabre’ humor or hyperbole. I can’t comment on any of his other posts.
I don’t agree. Given his track record here, he probably wasn’t trying for dark humour or overheated hyperbole. Either way, it’s not even a darkly-funny joke. I’m sure he had plenty of excuses when he was banned; no need to be making them for ‘im. 🙂
I’ll defer to you Daniel. Sometimes I give people too much credit. 🙂
Paul and fellow CC’ers, you are my number one automotive team. Thank you all for making this a go-to place where we can share, correct each other nicely, fill in the gaps, and learn.
I have watched from the side lines how contributors have shared with wrenching honesty about their lives. This can only happen in a space where we can trust each other.
Paul, thank you for your careful monitoring of CC. I sat at the sidelines for a long time never thinking I would contribute, and eventually I did. I wrote an article about something I love, and hopefully in future I can realise my full voice about my love for cars and more. Let me encourage all of you who want to ‘put your toe in the water’ and write an article to do so. Once you have taken the plunge you will enjoy the journey, it’s a life enhancing moment!
Thank you Paul, and all the contributors. CC is part of my daily reading routine. We appreciate you more than you know. Sorry you have to endure the stupid. Hang in there!!!
Thank you for highlighting this issue Paul!
In my several years here writing for CC, the negative/disparaging/insinuating/insulting/hateful comments are the only thing blemish on the otherwise wonderful world of Curbside Classic and the source of much unneeded stress and discouragement.
Let me say this once and for all: I am a volunteer writer who loves cars and enjoys writing about them. I have a stressful full-time job, but I still contribute articles, taking the little free time I have to pursue something that is a passion of mine.
If I make a factual mistake and you want to politely correct me, or if I state an opinion you want to politely disagree with then go ahead, be my guest, I welcome it. But if you want to say something hateful and attacking towards me or any other party, that’s just not cool.
I feel a lot of readers don’t realize just how much time and effort goes into a single article. I’m talking multiple hours a day for multiple days, sometimes weeks. It’s an understatement to say it hurts when all a reader can find the time to do is muster negativity. To be blatantly honest, it’s a dick move.
+1
The time it takes to write something is astounding. If you consider that a COAL is theoretically just writing down your own thoughts, memories, and usually already facts of which one is aware and digging out some old and/or relevant pictures, it may be astounding that a moderately sized one of a thousand words can easily be a 5 to 6 hour affair, and a longer or more researched one can easily be 8 to 10 hours or more if editing, re-reading and re-writing is considered (for me at least, I hesitate to speak for everyone else but would be surprised if I was way off. I still have ten fingers and can type fairly well…).
Even an Outtake is rarely less than a half-hour to an hour affair (for those that don’t do them every single day or multiple at a time). The items I posted from the Ireland trip a few weeks ago were generally one to two hours each, done late at night or while the rest of the family was napping/resting etc. It’s time well spent as it is enjoyable and interesting for me personally but also the reason I generally won’t write anything about a car I don’t personally find interesting in some way.
And a well-researched and illustrated article like the ones that Roger, Paul, Don, Robert, and many of the others regularly post – I’d imagine easily 15-20 hours or even more once all aspects are considered. For those of us with kids at home, jobs, and other life challenges it’s a significant commitment that doesn’t always gel with the other real responsibilities.
I’m certainly not complaining about the time aspect of it, I just wish I had more of it, and thankfully have had very little (or at least noticed very little) negativity towards mine and in general most posts. Don’t get me wrong, if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t do it, and I heartily encourage anyone to give it a shot, it’s a thrill to see your words out there!
If someone states an opinion and a reader has a completely different opinion there are definitely ways to express that point in a reasoned, adult manner and a lively ensuing debate is often enjoyable that more often than not ends on a good note. Arguing for the sake of arguing is not the same thing though. If a factual mistake is made, it is usually a trifle embarrassing for the writer, but all of us welcome someone pointing it out politely and virtually always it is corrected or noted/confirmed in the comments. Questions are always welcomed and encouraged and I believe that every single writer reviews their own writings/commentary for at least a couple of days after they are published and then sporadically looks in on them again every once in a while.
Thanks to everyone for reading, if there were no readers there’d be no reason to write.
To piggyback onto Brendan and Jim, I will echo what they have said about the time commitment to writing anything that appears here.
My first impression of CC came about in late 2011 and I wondered how that Niedermeyer guy kept cranking out articles. Fast forward a bit, and I got a huge insight into what is involved. I am still amazed how he does it.
The quickest articles, for me at least, are the QOTD’s. Anything more intensive will take quite a while – even if it pours out of me, it’s three to four hours minimum and that is before editing, inclusion of pictures, scheduling, etc. I’ve been toying with a new series, but it is research intensive – between that and remodeling a basement, working full-time, having a family, and life in general it’s not happening as fast as I’d like.
Using the Trash button I see below comments has been a rare event, but there are infrequent times it is called for. That is the only thing that has ever really sullied CC for me. I realize my comments are at times not as elegantly articulated as they could be, but well, some I have read I just don’t comprehend the thought process.
Agreed about the time, Jim. I’ve written only one COAL, a few years back now. I’m amazed at how some of the guys here find time to write so much and have a life outside CC!
I couldn’t have said this better myself. Well put, Brendan. Thanks to you, the other contributors, and especially Paul for all the hard work and dedication. It makes for a website I can’t wait to log onto, and one that brings back many memories and makes us think, on many different levels.
Although I haven’t written any articles (yet, anyway), I’m a daily reader who appreciates all that is put into this site. Besides, just by merit of being on here, we’re all more alike than we’re different.
Finally, extra kudos to Brendan, for being a fellow BMW guy. When I looked quickly at one of your past photos, I though it was of my own 2016 Black Sapphire 428i coupe’s twin!
Keep up the great work, everyone.
Best Regards from Daytona Beach,
-Chris Rego
Thanks Chris! The 4 Series is a great BMW and a logical next move for me!
I read CurbsideClassic everyday.
I never before learned so much about American cars and the about the role of these cars in their owners life. Many times the comments here are telling a story as much interesting as the post above them. The atmosphere here is friendly and pleasant – every evening I open a beer and read the stories, the vintage tests, watching the photos you guys made – I comment very rarely but still, I feel its a place for me.
(sorry ’bout my bad English, I’m from Hungary)
Big thanks to Paul for keeping this site like this – no need for agressive arguments and threatening here, CC is not for that.
And don’t you learn so much about America, too?
Yes of course I do! The way of Americans live is connected strong to their automobiles. So if you read American car stories you can learn much about America itself too.
And I cant’ get enough of that. I live in Central-Europe and the car culture is very different here than west from here. In America to have a car is a common thing since the 1920s. Hungary is about 50 years late to that. My family has their first car in 1975, a Skoda S100. Now I drive a 1990 Mercedes 200E.
So its very interesting for me to read about what was it like to be a kid in late 1950s USA, and going to check out the new models in the showrooms in every November. Or what was it like to have a ’61 Ford as your first car in the early ’70s.
Redriot, your English is just fine. Both your posts are very well written.
It’s fascinating to read about cars from other countries and one of my favorite die cast models is a Volga.
There’s an episode of Wheeler Dealers that I have saved that features an FSA [?] Syrena. Fascinating car that I’d never heard of before and an interesting back story.
So you’re not alone in cross Atlantic curiosity about other cars and lives.
The side roads that a fascination one has for old cars will lead to discovering history, tales of business, social upheaval, industry, union relations, personal stories, music and all sorts of things. Start one place and end up somewhere else. The highway of the mind. And a wonderful road to travel.
CC does it best with it’s writers and commentary from readers.
And I’d really like to know more about your family’s Skoda !
I’ve learned so much about people from other parts of the world from this (only one I read daily and occasionally comment on) great site. We all seem to share a common bond when it comes to old cars no matter who we are or where we live.
The comments are often as interesting as the article, and I appreciate no politics and very few rude comments in general (although I have caught a few from a previously banned commentator before they were removed).
Appreciate all the effort Paul and his editors put into keeping this site’s quality up, it really has expanded it’s content from the original old cars still patrolling the streets articles in which Paul obviously put in many hours of effort into.
Would hate to see this site go away, but would totally understand considering all the time, effort and frustration it requires. Thanks Paul and everyone else involved in keeping CC in worth visiting daily condition.
Thank you Paul, and thank you to everyone. This is probably the only website that I visit in a hugely regular basis, and that’s because of the friendliness and huge levels of knowledge of editors and commentariat. I myself waited more than a year to start commenting. And I can’t even imagine the hard work you all have to keep this website clean, and the total gem it is. And I still plan to reinforce the Euro team in about a year or two.
Silly question paul- is there a bot or an app that can look for offensive words and phrases, and flag those for your attention, and just assume the mass of posts is okay?
Paul, I know it’s been said above but I really value being able to come to CC every day and never ever leaving annoyed or frustrated. Please keep it up.
Thanks
Craig
Thank you, Paul, for your hard work, and that of the other editors and writers, that keeps this site civil, polite, and genuinely informative. I look forward every day to seeing what articles are up; there’s always something I can learn! Bad attitude from commenters works against that, and I appreciate your efforts to keep the conversation civil, polite, respectful, and on-topic!
Excellent sites like this don’t just happen. Thanks for reminding us that considerable effort goes into all aspects of this site, not just the articles. Deleting commentary is not easy when you want to encourage discussion, but the internet is rife with examples of why editing is essential to good journalism. Well done, sir.
This site is an island of sanity for me in an increasingly nasty and polarized Virtual world. I don’t comment often here, because (following my parents’ stellar example) I think I can learn more by letting others talk, My automotive knowledge also doesn’t run very deep. I love cars, but I really don’t know how they work (I can change the oil and tires, but that’s about it), and I really don’t like showcasing my ignorance.
I hope, like your old pickup, you just keep going. . .
as one who should do more, the best I can do at this moment Paul is to say thank you.
CC is the one and only thing I read every single day and would miss it terribly.
we all have moments of “foot in mouth” disease but hateful and spiteful is of no use to anyone.
let us all remember that old adage;
before putting mouth in gear, TAKE BRAIN OUT OF PARK !
Ya done good! Don’t worry about culling someone with a defective brain housing assembly.
Thanks Paul. You and this site are more appreciated than may be apparent. Like many others here, I have CC as one of my bookmarked ‘daily’ sites, and it gives me (at minimum) several hours a week of interesting and pleasurable reading.
as one of your silent readers, thank you for Curbside Classic! It’s my go-to after the day’s news gets to be too exhausting and I need a break (that’s happening more and more). We all need a place that’s civil, curious and generous these days, and I (along with a bunch of other people who never comment), appreciate it more than you can know. Thanks Paul!
I also echo the above comments that CC is one of the best sites out there, automotive or otherwise. A big part of that is the civil and intelligent comments. I always figured that happened organically, but I guess it is actually from diligent attention by Paul. Nothing stays in good condition without maintenance!
I don’t comment, or even read, here as often as I like owing to my life being way too busy. It’s taken me a couple hours just to get this comment written! I often only check in here every few days. The articles I find most interesting are often not today’s and the commenters have moved on by the time I read it. It’s the same problem I have with Facebook. If you don’t comment in the first few hours, forget it.
Thanks for all work by Paul and the other authors for a fantastic site!
Thanks for all you do Paul. CC is a treasure because of your hard work.
I want you to know Paul that I really do appreciate all your efforts here at CC, yours and all the other contributors. This is one of the saner websites out there, overwhelmingly very civil and a real relief after reading some of the vicious comments on other car sites (TTAC anyone?) or other more political news-type sites.
CC is like an oasis of peace and calm that I enjoy reading daily, and I hope it continues for many years!
All the comments above voice why I enjoy coming to the site. It’s the only site I read the comment section on as it is so civil, informative, and interesting.
Well said!
You do a grand job, Paul. CC is one of my daily reads.
Dear Mr. Niedermeyer,
I currently subscribe to twenty car blogs.
I always check yours first.
Thank you for you amazing labor of love,
Sincerely,
Paul Trautman
I never realized that the moderators read all the comments.
I’m sorry to hear that it’s an issue with some of the readers.
I try to look past some of the comments that would come across harsh about the writers opinions of the given vehicle, thinking it was a one time thing.
But I’ve seen a few names do it repeatedly and I’m glad to know they can be kept off the sight.
I’ve learned a lot from this site and I see quite a few of intelligent and thoughtful people sharing opinions
Thanks to all of you for this.
Amen! There are times when I’ve written something poisonous and I’ve had to retract/delete during the edit process (hopefully before a screenshot, erm), but I’m glad CC has high standards and this is a good reminder of that fact.
Keep up the great work Paul, this site is a true gem I’ve always wished for since I was a kid and I certainly don’t want it taken away or for it to devolve into something different.
I think the internet in general needs this kind of frank discussion or at least some kind of user registry and accountability, but I guess that kind of misses the point of information democracy and freedoms.
Interesting times.
What everybody said.
There are SO many stay-away-from-the-comments sites on the internet. This is one of the few you’re-not-done-until-you’ve-finished-reading-the-comments-and-don’t-forget-to-check-what’s-added-to-yesterday’s-articles sites.
+1, NLPT.
This is one of the few places where I actually look forward to reading the comments, because (generally) people are well informed, and are civil with each other……even when they disagree. I can tell that probably the average age of the people that post here are maybe +35? The worst is on Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel. I love Leno’s shows, but the people that post in the comments section are, for the most part, trolls and guys just looking to knock each other down on something that someone spent a lot of money and time–and passion–on. I’ve told myself not to read the comments, but it’s sort of like a car crash……it’s gruesome, but you just can’t seem to look away from it.
I remember watching an acceleration video (not on Leno’s show), but where the driver was filming the speedometer of a Ford GT40 doing a top speed run, and one of the comments was something to the effect of “lame……running out of breath at +200 mph”. It was at that point that I really realized that any idiotic opinion could exist out there.
I know Americans have a different sense of humour from British people but when I read suzulight’s post about cyclists I just assumed he was taking the piss and didn’t expect to be taken seriously.
I get your point. If it had come from someone that I didn’t know, or was not known to be a problem commenter, I would have thought twice about whether this was meant to not be taken seriously. But suzulight has a very long history here at CC, and has repeatedly shown a very nasty side, including borderline racial and homophobic comments, as well as just being negative in general. He has “issues”, and I’ve long tired of hearing them. This was just the final straw.
I have pretty thick skin and can be somewhat boorish and short at times. Some people might say I am insensitive. However, I do cringe when I read untoward comments on your site, and try to check myself when I’m visiting to avoid inciting that same reaction in others. I really enjoy the site on a regular basis; it’s fantastic. More than that though, I respect what you’ve cultivated. Thanks to Paul for creating this place, and to all the writers that contribute.
I am on CC nearly every day, largely because it remains a class act. To write about one of man’s greatest passions (“Four things greater than all things are” is now five, to murder Kipling) and to remain civil is a great accomplishment. To do so and to still teach me something new consistently is masterful. I have grown to respect so many commenters, some of whom are very opinionated but all of whom have something g valuable to add and to enjoy each of their contributions. My thanks to Paul and all for a job well done.
The very thing I commented on early into my curbavouring was the positive vibes from the posts and it has kept me coming back. I have no clue what it takes to run a cite like this but I sure am thankful for it and the people who make it work.
Cheers Paul!
I also appreciate the hard work and effort ypou expend in husbanding this site. As a lifetime “gearhead” I appreciate the information and camaraderie that comes from this forum. Have thought about submitting a couple of my own “Coals” form time to time, and indeed, I can be somewhat wordy ,so no doubt my occasional answers may well have approached that level. Too late to say “In Short”, however, I want to congratulate you for this site and your patience.
I look forward to 6 o clock pm every night Its time for Curbsideclassic
Always a good time Thanx Paul !
I actually don’t get to read CC every day, even though I contribute and occasional article when I feel I’ve got something to offer and Paul agrees. CC is such a creative juggernaut that it’s hard to keep up, and that points to the editor and the kind of people he attracts to this site. It’s special.
I have complete faith in Paul. I submit every article for a thumbs up or down, and take no offense when one isn’t accepted, no matter how much time I’ve put into it, because I respect the vision he has for this forum. In fact, his willingness to include writing that stretches the envelope of CC just far enough without breaking entirely out of the core subject is masterful.
Our family teaches. It goes far beyond the standard male competitive fact blurting that drags down so many other forums. Cars as vehicles in a symbolic sense bring comments that I learn the most from. Thank you, Paul, for keeping things moving so well, and taking the high road whenever a fork appears.
I don’t post that often here—mostly because what I have to add has already been said, but I enjoy reading all of the articles at CC, because they are almost always factually correct, and though I know a fair bit about cars and models, there’s always one (ie: Graham Sharknose) that is mentioned on here that I’ve never heard about before. Also, I like the idea of capturing old cars (in varying states of restoration and decay) and wondering what their story is.
Thank you all for your outpouring of support and encouragement. It means a lot to me and the rest of the CC gang!
We will keep CC a pleasant party, even if it means there’s not quite as many in the room. Quality over quantity!
Ah, suzulight. I once ran afoul of him for having the temerity to suggest that the 390 Ford was the bottom of the barrel for sixties’ musclecars. I believe it stemmed from a CC on movie car chases in which I mentioned the fantasy of the 390 Mustang in Bullitt actually being able to keep up with, let alone catch, the 440 Charger. Rather than a civil debate about the merits or failings of the 390 (one of the biggest was Ford’s insistence to use the same, smallish AutoLite 4v carburetor on all their V8s, including the smallblocks, which is exactly what I’ve read the Mustang prepper stuck with), suzulight simply resorted to the same sort of angry, intolerant name-calling as he evidently recently displayed regarding bicyclists. Paul has been more than fair with him.
I *wish* ANY post on my personal blog got as many comments as anything I post here.
It’s Easter, which makes these Golden Rule comments all the more appropriate. Paul, we readers spend so much time here because the stories are from the heart, not just the side of the road, and they’re damn interesting. Nearly all of the commenters understand this.
CC and BaT are among the sites where the journalism rule “don’t read the comments” doesn’t apply.
-Rich in Vancouver
This site is the best! So many great posts about cars of “all stripes”, along with stories that people who love cars can really relate to. Been hooked since the TTAC days.
Thanks Paul, CC writers, commentators, etc… I really enjoy this site and have since I discovered it about 4.5-5 years ago. I visit it everyday and have went back and read every post and nearly every comment on the site. I have always enjoyed anything mechanical: small engines, boats, bicycles, motorcycles, trains, buses, cars, etc… I seldom post anything as I have limited use of my hands, my wrists go numb, and some other health problems due to an accident I had and a tumor that was in my spinal cord. I enjoy reading the articles, especially the COALs, as they provide glimpses into the author’s own lives as well as their interactions with the featured cars. I feel as though I know Paul, JCP, Ed S, DougD, Plaut, as well as many other writers/commenters through their writings on this site. The last thing I posted on here was about how the back seat in 80s model Ford SuperCab pickups folded flat to make a platform. Paul thanked me for that comment; the first time he had responded to something I had posted. I thought that was neat. I cannot understand why anyone would want to make any type of derogatory comment here at CC. It is about cars, trains, and other mechanical things. If you don’t like those things, just don’t come here. And if you do like those type of things, welcome to a unique, knowledgeable online neighborhood. Treat it and respect it as if you were at a friend’s house.
Hey Paul,
I believe I could number my comments on this site on both hands (with a few fingers to spare!) but I read it almost daily and sometimes check in several times a day to see what is new.
You and the gang do an excellent job and are to be commended for this site’s contents being of consistently high quality. I can only imagine what a chore it is to police everything that gets written here and you have my most sincere thanks for all that you do to keep it “clean”.
I think I can safely speak for many people when I say that being able to come here is like finding water in the desert, not only in the vast expanses of the internet, but in many of our lives as well.
I recently went through an ugly divorce and subsequent job change and my life was pretty damn grim for about a year. Being able to come here and lose myself for an hour or two a day, reading about something I love (automobiles) written about by fellow enthusiasts who offered their own unique insight and experiences in a congenial, easygoing fashion was a true blessing….For a little while each day, the bull$&!# went away….That has made THIS site priceless to me on more than one level and leaves me deeply indebted to you and the everyone else who keeps it going. At 45 years old, It’s the only “club” I’ve ever wanted to be a part of…If even on the periphery.
Many, Many Thanks for all that You and The Team do,
Jon Holbrook
When I first discovered CC and saw that anyone, including myself could add comments to the stories, I thought wow, this is what i’ve been waiting for for years.
I was fairly new to the web at the time, I quickly learned, (I hope!!!) That it is better to keep quiet if you have nothing constructive to add to the discussion.
Just like to expess my sincere appreciation to Paul & all the writers who run this site.
I can only add to the comments above about my enjoyment of this site. Not only the well written articles and intelligent discussions but the lack of toxic rhetoric makes it one of my favorites. You guys do one hell of a job.
Paul, I’ll echo the others and offer my support and interest in the longevity of this forum. I am wondering if some other system of comment without words would help you hear from the many readers out there who don’t always feel compelled to write something? Perhaps similar to Facebook’s “like” off to the side of a comment? I would respond affirmatively with a “like” to the comments that resonated with me. No need for an “unlike” box because the number of “likes” generated would clearly indicate how well the comment was received. Perhaps it would also narrow the field of comments to a more manageable number?
I’ve been privileged to have followed CC since the TTAC days, but only more recently have become a sporadic commenter. CC is one of two Automotive websites that keep me coming back year upon year as others fall away. I am hugely grateful to Paul and the other writers here (as well as the many knowledgeable commenters) for maintaining a site that is always pleasant to visit, whether for a quick glance or an in-depth read. Thanks again, Paul. What you have built is amazing, and, as icing on the cake, feels like a real community. Please keep doing what you do!
David
Paul, the primary reason I keep coming back to this site, and occasionally commenting, is because of the hard work you do to keep the commentary positive and inclusive. This is such a rare thing on automotive blog sites or auto websites-sometimes, on the other ones, I read the commentary for a little bit just to see what sort of new and negative thing the commenters can come up with (Not much!). Here, if I do click on an article (and I do most), I read every single comment, because I know that the community will, for the most part, be trying very hard not to put each other down, and each commenter will be trying to add to the discussion with a personal story or a bit of technical knowledge that is worth sharing. Each little tidbit, even just a “My dad had one of those!” or “I saw one yesterday” is accepted and valued. In education, this is called cooperative learning. It started here with the positive tone of your postings (with negative content placed in proper context, e.g., “Deadly Sins,”) and over time you have taught us all how to do this. Like your father, you really are a teacher. You just do it in a little different medium, on a little different topic, using slightly different methods. I look forward to meeting you in June.
Thanks for all your hard work, Paul. CC is a fun and informative site that I enjoy daily!
Be encouraged! Your efforts to keep CC free of the vitriol that plagues so many website comments sections really makes this a nice place to visit.
Oh, right! Thanks for reminding me. I like the pictures of the vehicles, too.
I very much enjoy this blog. I don’t have the depth or breadth of automotive knowledge the rest of you do, so I learn so much.
Glad to see the latest hate comment deleted.
I’ve seen it a couple of hours ago and was going to E-mail Paul about it, but staff over at CC did what they should.
This was the first time I’ve seen a troll coming back. How often does this happen?
Sometimes the trolls slip through the cracks. But we’ll just plug those up.
Registering may be a great idea. I’m fine with that.
+1 to everything above. Also thanks to all of you for the informative and thoughtful comments and stories we get in response to the content.
Wow. Step out for a couple of days and all patooey breaks loose!
I’m frankly tired of the “(poster) hates (subject)” comments, but if you start banning those, you could wind up on a slippery slope.
Wishing for the death of an entire class of people based on a commonly-accepted legal behavior is another matter entirely. Especially when that commenter has, um, er…a history.
CC started out as a colorful yet respectful space and I’m glad, Paul, that you and the other contributors are keeping it that way. Thanks again for ALL you do to satisfy our appetites for CCs old and newer!
*This* is why I write for this site.
Thank you, Paul. I hope you dropped the mic after you hit “publish” on this post.
Echoing what’s said above. You’re work and diligence at keeping things civil here are much appreciated. I used to fancy myself the definitive automotive expert, at least in a couple of genres. Over time I have realized that is, in fact, not the case and I have been advised or corrected a time or two in the comments but it has always been polite and amicable. I appreciate being able to communicate, learn about my favorite subject and state opinions openly without being, or seeing others, subjected to undue hostility.
Just like everyone else already said, Thank You Mr N for creating and maintaining the one place on the web I go to every day, that I know I will find something interesting, that I will learn something at, and with a lively, intelligent comment section that’s not crammed full of “trolls” fighting with each other. Oh, and thank you for not banning me because of my rambling, incoherent posts!
Another of the usually silent yet faithful and appreciative lurkers here. Ditto to all the preceding positive comments. Regardless of the subject matter, every blog of interest I’ve ever bookmarked seems to follow a relatively short-term life arc of friendliness and civility (even in disagreement), to its seemingly sudden discovery by the masses and the inevitable ensuing decline into something unbearable. For example, who could imagine a forum about something like gyrocopters could turn into an ugly swamp of intolerance and name calling, but I digress.
CC has continued to amaze me as to how it has managed to stay the thoughtful, entertaining and respectful place it is for such a long time. I know it’s not easy. Thanks for that.
Paul, et. al.
Your work in maintaining this site is certainly appreciated. I consider myself an auto enthusiast for the simple reasons that (a) I can still pick most cars by make model and within a few years of it’s MY, and (b), I’ve read “Iacocca”, “Tucker: A Man and His Dream” and a couple on GM’s history (but sadly not DeLorean’s yet) 🙂
This side has proven an education way beyond my expectations. I admit that I don’t comment a whole lot because there are a lot folk here that know a whole lot more about the subject at hand and I don’t think I would materially contribute to the thread. The exception are models I have personally experienced (or somewhat vicariously, as one of my uncles who had the rare positive experience with a Chevy Vega!).
Please don’t be discouraged and keep up the good work, and many thanks.
Paul man, you’re alright. Keep up the good work, and I’ll keep giving you grief about ’80s Benzes!
And as a double-show of support, here’s a pic of the best ride in my whole fleet, from the day I brought it home. 12,000 km later, it’s still my favorite way to commute!
I like this site because of the generally positive attitude. I started looking at CC regularly for a couple reasons. The cars aren’t for sale. And the posters don’t hate everything. I look at these sites because I just love cars. Can’t afford a car to play with right now, but still love reading about them and have leaned a LOT in my time looking on here. I can find positives in the lowly Mustang II which seems to universally gather haters whenever one shows up on the internet. lol Keep the articles coming. I’m still looking through the backlog and finding more and more great articles here everyday.
Paul, I love this site and probably could post more often than I do. I like the fact that your red line is at a place beyond where people respectfully, and sometimes not so respectfully, disagree about something that we’re passionate about–vehicles of all sorts. Being outright nasty and disagreeable about it all is a good reason to be banned. But, please don’t make us stop poking fun at old British cars. Tee hee!!
Paul,
Thank you with managing this site. We do not agree on everything here but I’d like to think we all know where to draw the line. I missed all the drama and whereas I have my issues with cyclists (anyone who jogs and has to share a path with cyclists will know what I mean), saying what he said was beyond said line.
Dr Neidemeyer, I was born such a car nut that I am told I came out of the womb on wheels, nearly scuttling the midwife and making car noises when slapped. This site has been a delight for one so born. Rather foolishly, it never occurred to me that there is hard scrubbing work (moderating) always going on to keep the place as the lovely refuge of knowledgable eccentricity that it is. I just assumed people were all decent, possibly humbled a bit by the frequently remarkable standard of writing. I salute you for your enterprise, and don’t despair; to give many people pleasure, as CC surely does, is to add something worthwhile to the world.
Please let me join in on the “Lets Polish Paul’s Helmet” party. Great job Paul,
all the accolades being given here are because you have navigated this boat
through some rough waters. I salute you /°-°
The fact that there are so many countries being heard from is a treat (I have lived
in 8) and cars and trucks and well, everything from somewhere else those are
special treats. Can’t wait for the first alien post.
Thanks Paul and all the scribes who make this one of the best sites in cyberspace.
Be warned, I have been known to “drive over” to meet my online friends.
See you all tomorrow.
At some point in the last couple of years Paul responded to a post of mine that asked a technical question about a particular car. Of course there was no guarantee that he’d respond, and I wouldn’t have gotten my feelings hurt if he hadn’t.
But I had also assumed that Paul, or a site admin, wouldn’t necessarily even read my post. In hindsight, it’s nice to know that the powers that be will read my posts.
The demands of my job, trying to get paperwork done before the tax deadline, and some other responsibilities means I haven’t been visiting and commenting near as much as in the past. It’s hard to imagine but I sometimes go a day or two without even logging into the ‘net. Sometimes I just have to get caught up on my sleep because I have for many years been getting by on a little more, or even less, than 5 hours a night.
Having said that, I’ve been a car nut since I was a little kid, and I’m approaching retirement age. I most certainly enjoy learning more about different cars from Paul and all the other contributors. And, as others have said, I also enjoy reading the comments from people who have previously owned or worked on some of these vehicles. Thankfully, most of the time this site isn’t afflicted with some of the “interesting personalities” who tend to stir things up on other sites. Am very much grateful to Paul and all the other contributors and moderators who make this site what it is. The lessons in automotive history are still interesting when they deal with trucks and busses. And, also aircraft, as I was interested in aviation since childhood, too.
Late to the party, as usual, but I had to express my thanks to Paul and the rest of the staff for keeping this blog high-class. This site is kinda similar to Woody Leonhard’s blog on Windows in that the owner personally takes responsibility for the quality of the product, and also that the commenters are knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge. As many said above, this site is the first or second I visit every day.
I feel that I know most of the regular writers even though I will probably never get to meet them.
Keep on keeping on Paul, remember: Illegitimi non carborundum.
For just about three years I’d been a huge huge fan of CC
I wish I had known it way before!
I’m a daily reader, although I rarely comment.
I strongly appreciate the work Paul and all the other guys have been doing.
Many thanks and keep it rolling!
There’s an expression you sometimes hear with respect to various things, and it certainly applies to a website like this. It’s like a duck: you see it (seemingly) serenely gliding over the water. You don’t see it paddling like hell below the waterline!
Since Paul’s original post, I’ve had a thought: People here have really let their guard down and revealed a lot of themselves on occasion. I’m thinking of R. L. Plaut’s comments on his marriages in his COALs. In response to one of them, I posted about how I had a meltdown when a college romantic relationship went south. People here have also come out as gay or transgender. This wouldn’t happen if people were afraid the trolls would pounce.
Regarding generalizations about cars from a given country: I had 3 Peugeot 504s in the ‘90s, and in my perception, Peugeot was wrongly tarred with the same brush as Renault. I experienced one alternator failure, but the car was old enough that I couldn’t really say, “Marchal, prince of darkness.”
Just wanted to say thanks Paul, and all the other Editors and contributors. While I rarely comment these days I’ve been a reader from day 1, and like many others here, is is one of few sites that I check every day.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you for taking the time to scrub the comment sections of the negativity that clouds so many other sites. Between that and the consistent quality of the writing, it makes my daily visits to this site the most pleasurable web browsing of my day.
I will echo my fellow Kiwi Styles: thank you to all involved, Paul especially, in the production of CC. Increasing work/life demands means I rarely have time to comment nowadays, and also haven’t had time to write any articles of late. But CC remains the only site I visit every day, because in the madness of life, it’s so nice to be able to come somewhere where the comments are so well moderated.
To Paul and everyone else who makes CC what it is: you do a stellar job, it’s so appreciated.
I know I’ve been in that hot seat, quite a few times.
Thank goodness for the edit button.
Just like a dreaded letter from the RMV…You don’t want to get a PM from Paul…
Because it won’t be to chat about the weather or the latest stock market points.
Thanks, for a great job, Paul and for being tolerant of my automotive rants. 😉
Hi Paul, sorry, not much time for commenting these days but I keep coming back to read and always enjoy the articles. Sorry to hear that keeping the site enjoyable has become a chore. Please keep up the great work and rest assured that the silent majority is grateful to you for keeping the trolls in check…
Thanks, and nice to hear you’re still around.
Thought I’d add my echo to the chamber to thank Paul and my fellow CC participants for keeping this site classy. I’ve written several articles for CC, and I can confirm that the amount of time and effort required to research, write and edit is stunningly large. This is truly a labor of love for everyone involved, and that is evident in the general civility and on-topic nature of the commentary.
A personal thanks to you, Paul, for your patience with me. I tend to hone my comedic skills in my writing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Actually, most times it doesn’t. Nevertheless, Paul, you’ve always been supportive and I think every writer on this site thanks you for helping good writers become even better ones.
Count me as appreciative of the editing of both articles and comments here. Paul, you offer a unique brand, and can tell a heck of a story. And, your comment editing is part of what keeps it interesting.
I read TTAC for the articles, but the commenting is heavy on time wasters. I’ve never commented there, and rarely bother reading the comments. The comments here are half the fun!
Thanks Paul!
I come to this site daily to educate myself, and especially enjoy reading the comments section, as that is where the real education sometimes comes in. I wish sometimes I knew more, so as to be able to knowledgeably comment, but find that my window of experience is far too small, so I content myself with the occasional comment, and really enjoy the site.
I’m late to this but I’ll chip in. First, congratulations and thanks to Paul for making visible what’s in front of us but overlooked, the curbside classics on our streets. This was inspired. Second, he has cultivated what I can only scholarly approach to things overlooked everywhere else. Last but not least, the civility here and insight is a delight.. I wasn’t aware there were uncivil posters here which means Paul has done huge work in keeping it pleasant as an open forum. Some days these people must be draining. I hope the enthusiasm and decency of the CC crowd makes up for it. I think it must!
Regards,
Richard
Since late last year, I seem to have been locked out of CC.
Suddenly last week, I’m getting all the back CC emails I haven’t received for the past six months – no problem here.
Last fall, Microsoft suddenly decided ‘I wasn’t me’, and blocked my email.
This happened while I was out of town, and Microsoft has compatibility issues with my Chromebook. So it took a week of technological aggravation and my return home before I was able to restore my email.
I’m wondering was it this that got me suspended, or did I post something here that was a violation?
I apologize for posting here, but your ‘contact’ site limits the number of characters I can type.
Respectfully, Mark DiSilvestro
You weren’t locked out of CC. Did you ever try going to the site directly? https://www.curbsideclassic.com/
Apparently our email notification system stopped working a few months back, and now it’s suddenly sprung back to life, spontaneously.
So you only visit web sites in response to getting an email?
The overwhelming majority rest of us just enter curbsideclassic.com into our browser, and/or have it as a “favorite”, or a tab for it, or bookmarked.
Many years ago, I got kicked off another forum without warning because my WebTV email inadvertently got filled up. I emailed them but got no reply.
So, naturally, I thought my recent email blockage had triggered the same from CC.
I’m not an experienced computer nerd. Evedntually, I tried to update to a windows machine, and it turned into ‘The Dell From Hell’!
Three years ago, my brother got me this Chromebook in exchange for getting his wrecked Toyota pickup back on the road. Except that it can’t perform certain tasks, like burning CDs, this Chromebook has worked out pretty well for me.
I’m sure I tried to contact CC somehow. But after a week of dealing with Microsoft, maybe I just got too frustrated to think straight.
Chomebook just doesn’t work like a windows machine. When my email got blocked, I had to search for an alternate Microsoft help site as their main site doesn’t ‘do’ Chromebook. And then the new password they kept sending me on my other email account was incomplete due to a compatibility glitch with my Chromebook. Then, they wouldn’t phone the correct password to the number where I was staying. So I had to wait until I got home to find the correct password on my answer-machine.
A friend, who works for a computer IT company, is always telling me what I should do when I can’t get this thing to do what I want, and didn’t understand why I had problems – until he came to visit last year and tried to perform a simple task that I couldn’t. After a few minutes I started hearing him whine “I don’t know why this isn’t working!”, then later “It should be working by now!”
I exclaimed “Welcome To My World!”
Eventually, he got it to work, but it took awhile!
Thanks for your quick reply.
Happy Motoring, Mark
I use a chromebook too. No problem going directly to websites, and I get my emails via Outlook without issues.
Paul,
So far I’ve been receiving the CC posts from Dec 5, 2017 to Jan 31, 2018, but no current ones.
I also requested email notification of follow-ups to my question here today – but only found your reply when I went back to this page.
So there may still be a CC email notification problem.
Happy Motoring, Mark