Forum slow lately

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

How so? What does AI do to forums?

That's what this thread has mostly addressed.

The bots crawl the forum so aggressively that the DB becomes unresponsive to actual users.

Then once the data is scraped, it's offered in AI queries which satisfies the curiosity of those asking rather than nudging them to visit the website (which is necessary for ad revenue).

I was thinking the push of individuals for political measures to make cars more affordable was going to take away this forum's appeal, at least to me.

I'm not sure what political measures would make cars more affordable. Usually interfering in a market causes inefficiency, which causes things to cost more. The cost of a vehicle shouldn't have much impact on how interested people are in efficiency in general. Instead, the cost of fuel tends to nudge people into wondering how they can burn less cash.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

That's what this thread has mostly addressed.

The bots crawl the forum so aggressively that the DB becomes unresponsive to actual users.

Then once the data is scraped, it's offered in AI queries which satisfies the curiosity of those asking rather than nudging them to visit the website (which is necessary for ad revenue).

Ah! I see. So:

1. That explains why the site is so slow. At times it just doesn't load after several days.
2. Yep, I see. It seems Bing sometimes tries to give me a sum up of what other websites say. If I just go by that then there's no need to see those other sites. I don't go to the site, that site doesn't show me ads, that site doesn't make revenue. AI got what it needed from site, site can now die...

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'm not sure what political measures would make cars more affordable. Usually interfering in a market causes inefficiency, which causes things to cost more.

Measures, or lack there, of.
More affordable, or less unaffordable.
Incentives, or disincentives.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The cost of a vehicle shouldn't have much impact on how interested people are in efficiency in general. Instead, the cost of fuel tends to nudge people into wondering how they can burn less cash.

That's the case of the average car buyer. I don't see that as pertinent to the type of person who'd go to Ecomodder for information.

Or at least I'm not that type of person:

1. Got married and bought a $250 1993 Mazda 323, adjusted the timing off spec and got over 40 mpg as a result. Drove that for about 7 years.
2. Second car, got a $600 1985 VW Golf NA diesel that got me pulled over for going too slow, with the car floored going as fast as I could. I got over 40 mpg in it as well. I drove that for about a year.
3. Third car, rebuilt a 1972 VW Super Beetle with a $200 cylinder kit. I custom reground the cam, machined the heads, threw an AFR meter on it and customized the timing curve and carb jetting for best fuel economy. I only got 30 mpg average, but I still had fun doing it.
4. Forth car, got a $9,000 Nissan Leaf. Drove it a year, mostly off of free charging, did zero maintenance to it, then sold it for $7,000.
5. Fifth car, then I sold everything and made the mistake or right choice, I'm not sure which, of buying a $15,000 2013 Toyota Avalon hybrid that I've driven for the past 7 years. I think I'll just keep driving it for as long as possible.
6. I'm not sure what car to get next, if I do. I'm not the kind of guy looking for an SUV, and if prices go up, then think about fuel mileage. A free car with free fuel would be fine for me in my book. OR a cheap car with cheap fuel. I don't think the luxury of owning a newer sedan was worth the $15,000. I think I'd go back to an old VW as a daily driver if I get the chance.

[freebeard]

The site is live! Hope it's up long enough to post.

I currently have access 2/6; and the uptime hasn't coincided for days.

[redpoint5]

I suspect the forum is on the SA trajectory, but I'm going to savor 'em both while I can.

[Isaac Zachary]

Anyone else had to pass a few days without being able to access the forum?

[Piwoslaw]

I couldn't yesterday.

[redpoint5]

Follow me to the https://www.chevybolt.org/ forum. Smart folks there too, perfect moderation, and a more functional forum platform. Plenty of forum categories to talk about whatever you want (including global warming).

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Plenty of forum categories to talk about whatever you want.

About how much I love cars but hate them at the same time?

I might, but I also probably spend too much time on this forum as it is.

I was on the My Nissan Leaf forum for a while until I sold my Leaf. I might feel a bit out of place without owning a Bolt, although I would consider one of I needed another car.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

I might feel a bit out of place without owning a Bolt, although I would consider one of I needed another car.

Is that a veiled insult against me, who joined in 2017 and still doesn't own a Bolt?

All forums drift off the main topic once a regular community forms because there's only so much to regularly discuss on a narrow topic.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Is that a veiled insult against me, who joined in 2017 and still doesn't own a Bolt?

No not at all. My post was about me (I guess I'm a bit egocentric) and how I feel. No judgement on my part if you're on the Bolt forum or not. After all, I joined Prius Chat before ever owning a Prius, and in reality never truly had a running Prius and an still on that forum. I also see no reason anyone can't join and enjoy conversations unless for some reason it's prohibited by the forum owners and moderators.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

All forums drift off the main topic once a regular community forms because there's only so much to regularly discuss on a narrow topic.

True. Maybe I should have stuck around on the Samba, Astro/Safari, Toyota and Leaf forums.