Antique Tractor Virtual Communities

Folks interested in antique tractors are some of the nicest people I know. Honest, trustworty and always willing to lend a hand. In the past 12 years of selling parts and tractor related merchandise I've only received 5 bounced checks and had one stolen credit card. In twelve years! And out of those 5 bounced checks, all were recovered except for one. Unfortunately it was a $600.00 rebuild kit, but as I look back I like to think it was my contribution to his Save the Tractor fund.

On-line communities are somewhat of a reflection of our off-line society. I say somewhat, because it seems people will say things to each other on the internet that they would never say face to face. Maybe it's the lack of eye contact, or we feel that our computer monitor is akin to a Darth Vader mask and some other persona temporarily takes us over.

But for the most part, on our own on-line Antique Tractor community at the YT Discussion Forums people are pretty darn helpful and kind to each other. For example, out of 1200 new messages posted each day, there might be 20 that have resorted to virtual fist fighting or name calling. If you think about it, that's less than 2% of the discussions. Looked at it that way it conjures up thoughts of the town of Mayberry.

Unfortunately that 2% or so of unkindly discussion ends up primariliy in one of the forums, Tractor Talk. The complaints I hear from others is endless. Most of the discussions in question start out as a political comment, or sometimes just the price of gas. People on each side of the political fence join in and you can almost sit there and count down the seconds to a complete conversational meltdown. I've asked that these conversations not be started at YT, for that very reason - the forum is like a little neighborhood cafe and right in the midst of it are people standing up and screaming. It makes everyone in the middle of their virtual sandwich want to walk out and not come back for a few days. So I delete those discussions, after all, it was made clear that these were unwanted and we have zero tolerance for disharmonious communications. Arguing is fine, but don't start bashing each other.

After deleting these types of discussions I see an onslaught of hate mail towards the site moderator (*me*), everything from threatening to sue me for violating their Freedom of Speech, to calling me a dictator and everything in between. And I get an equal onslaught of email thanking me over and over again for keeping the boards harmonious. I live my life in between a rock and a hard spot, if you will. I'm the kind of person who likes to make sure everyone is happy and having a good experience on the site. But it seems impossible to do that with so many people and it's disheartening. Of course I keep on trying.

To that end, last evening I stayed up late into the wee hours and created a new "OH Tee" forum. That's OT, or "Off Topic" for those lost in internet lingo. It's a place for Politics, Tractor Wars and other Controversial Conversations. I'm hoping that by making a place for people to talk and argue a bit about current events and such, that it will keep them out of the regular tractor forums where friendly folks, women, kids, grandma's and grandpa's just want to talk tractors and not politics. I hope it works out and keeps that 2% happy without disturbing the other 98% of the community.

The forum is unmoderated, and there is a disclaimer enouraging people to keep kids away and a good warning of what it's all about. I won't allow pornographic related conversation or anything close, and there is a "Report to Moderator" link on each post for people to alert me. If you're brave enough to take a peek at the new forum, here is the link. You've been forwarned! If you want to talk tractors just go to the regular forums.