OTQ Forum Rules Question and moved thread.

[ddog]

Ok, been down this road once before, so maybe someone can clarify please. From the OTQ forum rules:

[ QUOTE ]
This is basically a forum to ask questions of a technical nature about topics not related to Fords or diesels. Example topics would be construction, computer problems, repairs on other vehicles, etc. We have a large userbase with many talents, this is a way for you to get help from other users on technical issues.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ok so my thread in General Diesel (Discussion about diesels in general, All brands welcome, etc) about a transmisson problem(OD Kicks Out, OD OFF Light On, Towing Dodge Cummins) with a Dodge Cummins Diesel gets moved to OTQ. If you take the first bold topic in the OTQ rules its clearly off topic in OTQ. It may fit based on the second bold section of Example topics "repairs on other vehicles" IF it were a transmission question on any other vehicle without a diesel Engine. Now the General Diesel Rules themselmselves are rather vague with the primary focus being no brand wars, bashing etc. But They do empasize its for TECHNICAL discussion not who can outrun who etc. It seems that most all the Dodge Cummins related questions are in General Diesel, I did search on the topic before posting. Could someone perhaps clarify what goes where. I understand moderating is not perfect, etc. But some clarification of the rules may make everyones life easier including the mods. IMO I posted in the most correct forum based on the rules as listed.
Thanks,

Derrek

[Diesel Jay]

The 'General Diesel' forum is for discussions of diesel engines & technology, in general. That means discussions centered around the Cummins, PSD or Dmax motors are fine, but discussions comparing the trucks they come in are not. Likewise, discussions comparing axles, transmissions, interiors, frames, etc. between the brands wouldn't be appropriate there.

Given all of that, the only real place for that thread was in the 'Other Technical Questions' forum.

Regards,
Jay

[ddog]

[ QUOTE ]
The 'General Diesel' forum is for discussions of diesel engines & technology, in general. That means discussions centered around the Cummins, PSD or Dmax motors are fine, but discussions comparing the trucks they come in are not. Likewise, discussions comparing axles, transmissions, interiors, frames, etc. between the brands wouldn't be appropriate there.


[/ QUOTE ]

Jay,
Thanks for the reply.If the above paragraph (or a modified version of it) was included in the rules for the General Diesel Forum, you wouldn't have found my post there. My reasoning for General Diesel was the fact that the trans problem may have been specific to Cummins powered trucks and that's where most of the Dodge owning/knowledgeable members appear to hang out. So is it a diesel engine technology comparison discussion forum only or can you post a "My Cummins wont start" thread ?
Thanks,
Derrek

[Diesel Jay]

[ QUOTE ]
So is it a diesel engine technology comparison discussion forum only or can you post a "My Cummins wont start" thread?

[/ QUOTE ]
It's not only for comparisons -- I just used that as an example, as that's the predominant theme when other brands are mentioned. A post about "My Cummins wont start" would be perfectly applicable.

As for your suggestion, we've kicked around the idea of a "Sticky" at the top of the forum that explains what I've noted. Maybe we'll get that implemented, to avoid confusion.

Regards,
Jay

[ddog]

[ QUOTE ]
As for your suggestion, we've kicked around the idea of a "Sticky" at the top of the forum that explains what I've noted. Maybe we'll get that implemented, to avoid confusion.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think that would be very useful, there seems to be an internal interpretation/knowledge of what goes where that's not necessarily included in the rules for each forum. These interpretations generally don't come out unless someone asks.It seems you could just add it to the Forum Rules Specifc Rules for this Forum Section that already exists. Most of the Forums Rules are of course fairly cut and dry by Forum Title and definition, with General Diesel being kind of vague as has been discussed and the rule I quoted for the OTQ being somewhat contradictory. The rule in OTQ is what prevented me from posting it there in the first place. Seemed more General Diesel to me and that my odds for a response would be better as well. Thanks for your replies and consideration.

Respectfully,
Derrek

[Diesel Jay]

[ QUOTE ]
This is basically a forum to ask questions of a technical nature about topics not related to Fords or diesels.

[/ QUOTE ]
I guess the problem stems from a matter of interpretation. I think Jason intended that the "diesels" portion of the OTQ rules meant just that -- diesel engines. Personally, I thought this was further clarified by further spelling out that "repairs on other vehicles" were applicable in the OTQ forum.

The question at hand was about a Dodge transmission. That's not a "diesel" question, thought it is a repair on a non-Ford vehicle, so I naturally would have thought to use OTQ. I can see, though, how others might interpret it differently. Would a "sticky" at the top of the General Diesel forum might further help to clarify things?

Regards,
Jay

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is basically a forum to ask questions of a technical nature about topics not related to Fords or diesels.

[/ QUOTE ]
I guess the problem stems from a matter of interpretation. I think Jason intended that the "diesels" portion of the OTQ rules meant just that -- diesel engines. Personally, I thought this was further clarified by further spelling out that "repairs on other vehicles" were applicable in the OTQ forum.

The question at hand was about a Dodge transmission. That's not a "diesel" question, thought it is a repair on a non-Ford vehicle, so I naturally would have thought to use OTQ. I can see, though, how others might interpret it differently. Would a "sticky" at the top of the General Diesel forum might further help to clarify things?

Regards,
Jay

[/ QUOTE ]

IMVHO I think specific questions about certain trucks whether they be diesel or not are "most" on topic in the OTQ ... The General Diesel forum is for more general type DIESEL discussions with the limitations of the comparing and brand type threads not being appropriate there. I guess you gents might need to discuss this and come to a conclusion ... and no I don't need to know what you decided since that will be apparant in whatever moderations you do with the threads.

Larry

[ddog]

[ QUOTE ]
Would a "sticky" at the top of the General Diesel forum might further help to clarify things?


[/ QUOTE ]

I answered above that making use of the Specifc Rules for this Forum that already exists under the Rule For this Forum Sticky with details of what is considered on Topic for that forum would be one way. A separate sticky of course would be another. I don't know which is easier from an administrative standpoint.

[ QUOTE ]
The question at hand was about a Dodge transmission. That's not a "diesel" question

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes and No. Its a question about a Dodge Transmission attached to a Cummins Diesel. Not starting a semantics discussion here, but through the course of the day since my mission was to try and help my son who's on the road, I have since discovered through other research There are specifics of the Diesel engine technology in the Cummins directly related to and affecting the Transmission and overdrive operation. In this instance a solution applicable to a gas engine may not be correct for the transmission when its attached to a diesel.(Knowing what I know now)If I had asked Throttle Adjustment on my Cummins Diesel affect my Transmission shift into OD, That would be on Topic in General Diesel? Sometimes it boils down to where is the question going to get the best response.

[ QUOTE ]
This is basically a forum to ask questions of a technical nature about topics not related to Fords or diesels. Example of topics includes construction,... repairs on other vehicles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again semantics(actually English), but the entire paragraph when taken in context indicates clearly for instance that a Ford gas engine discussion or Ford Transmission would be off topic in OTQ (its related to a Ford,in fact there is no forum with rules that allow pre 99 gas engine Super duty Discussion). "Repairs on other vehicles" in the susbsequent line would then imply "other vehicles" that aren't Fords or Diesels. Thus the contradiction and the interpretation issue. Taken Literally, General Diesel is a valid choice based on the current rules as written.

So in summary, some clarification and some definition of what is on topic where would be a great Idea.

Rspectfully,
Derrek

[roofeditor]

Useless chit chat now? Time to come to a close?

[bmw1200]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]