Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Ptero gets kicked off CleanMPG for dissing the Volt

Chuck. · 03-23-2014, 06:19 PM

This might get a few responses, esp. since I was a very active moderator there at the start of this (but left for other things before Ptero was banned.)

The basic problem at CleanMPG is it's almost impossible to have a forum with lots of members yet have the majority of them hard-core believers. The founder chose to be even less tolerant than many of the hypermiling enthusiasts, and ran off newbies on the edge in spite of other members wishing to get them to turn around with more diplomatic means.

Yet the founder had this pipe dream CleanMPG would be his second career and be the only source of revenue he needs. He was envious of PriusChat, but oblivious their traffic had a lot of differing opinions and skeptics he would not tolerate, nor did he attempt to develop webmaster skills like the PC founder. Why I and a former webmaster helping him left is he chose to open up political threads to generate activity (i.e. money) It's been my first-hand experience that if you promote the discussion of religion, politics, and other hot topics, a few will flamethrow and degrade the forum environment - back door trolling. So I left for that and other things in my life.

CleanMPG had a great start, but squandered it. He should have written a book on hypermiling by 2008 when it was a hot topic...it will be years before pain at the pump will rise enough people will take interest in such a book like back then. Some of us made suggestions on how the founder could start a business and it was on deaf ears - he was intent that CleanMPG traffic would bring in thousands of dollars a month.

It did not help he had too much of this "you are for me or against me" mentality - way too competitive with other forums and made too many enemies. He did deal with some unsavory people, but still he alienated too many.

Having said all that, Ptero - you're thread over there reminded me of you as a bull reacting to the Volt as a red cape...you're hatred over that car was not expressed very rationally. I might agree it's not a Tesla, or GM does not have the best management, but they way you demonized that car in a forum of hybrid and EV enthusiasts had a predictable outcome. And that was all you talked about.

03-23-2014, 06:19 PM	#30 (permalink)
Chuck. EcoModding Apprentice Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 121 Thanks: 38 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts	This might get a few responses, esp. since I was a very active moderator there at the start of this (but left for other things before Ptero was banned.) The basic problem at CleanMPG is it's almost impossible to have a forum with lots of members yet have the majority of them hard-core believers. The founder chose to be even less tolerant than many of the hypermiling enthusiasts, and ran off newbies on the edge in spite of other members wishing to get them to turn around with more diplomatic means. Yet the founder had this pipe dream CleanMPG would be his second career and be the only source of revenue he needs. He was envious of PriusChat, but oblivious their traffic had a lot of differing opinions and skeptics he would not tolerate, nor did he attempt to develop webmaster skills like the PC founder. Why I and a former webmaster helping him left is he chose to open up political threads to generate activity (i.e. money) It's been my first-hand experience that if you promote the discussion of religion, politics, and other hot topics, a few will flamethrow and degrade the forum environment - back door trolling. So I left for that and other things in my life. CleanMPG had a great start, but squandered it. He should have written a book on hypermiling by 2008 when it was a hot topic...it will be years before pain at the pump will rise enough people will take interest in such a book like back then. Some of us made suggestions on how the founder could start a business and it was on deaf ears - he was intent that CleanMPG traffic would bring in thousands of dollars a month. It did not help he had too much of this "you are for me or against me" mentality - way too competitive with other forums and made too many enemies. He did deal with some unsavory people, but still he alienated too many. Having said all that, Ptero - you're thread over there reminded me of you as a bull reacting to the Volt as a red cape...you're hatred over that car was not expressed very rationally. I might agree it's not a Tesla, or GM does not have the best management, but they way you demonized that car in a forum of hybrid and EV enthusiasts had a predictable outcome. And that was all you talked about. Last edited by Chuck.; 03-23-2014 at 06:26 PM..