New Registry Tech Data Section: Members Only?

[ZZZZZR1]

Cliff,

You keep deleting posts my friend....

Nobody is talking about deleting or taking away "free tech data or forum sections" (except you), but adding something to the members only section.


Those free sections of the clubs site are what makes this club so great!



David

[Paul Workman]

A word about advantages of formal course development...

A driver at a crossroads gas station - stops to ask for directions: "I'm lost. Which road should I take?"
Old man, sitting in a rocker: "Where ya headed?"
Driver: "I'm not sure. I don't really know."
Old man: "Then it really doesn't matter which way you go!"

The same can be said about tech writing: if there is no defined goal or outcome, then organization isn't important and if there is a positive outcome, it is in spite of the organization, not because of it...

There are two general approaches to course prep:

General knowledge
or
"Outcome-based"

Virtually everyone here is very familiar with the "General Knowledge" approach. General knowledge approach is what we all were immersed in during our school years. We wrote reports, we learned outlining, and the goal was usually focused on edification for edification sake...which was fine, far as it went. Success was typically in the form of a "grade": you get an A, B, C, D, or F, depending on how much/well the lesson was leaned.

The "OUTCOME" approach is entirely different, and so too is the organization of the (lesson) information! When I went to school we could take "shop". The "final test" might be - "build a bookcase". Everything learned from conceptualizing, to making a mechanical drawing, to materials and tools, etc, etc, was specifically focused on accomplishing the goal - the bookcase. In the end, there was no ABCDF...You either built the bookcase or you didn't, and THAT was the measure of success - the "final" test! ALL of information has a reason to be there, and has a desired result: what is a mechanical drawing? How does it help me (build the bookcase, etc? (Too bad "shop" isn't offered in many schools. It taught goal oriented learning and organization - applicable to many (e.g.,LT5) aspects.)

My points are these: Obviously, there are many like me here with a desire to have an organized, comprehensive treatment of all things ZR-1. And, I would favor an outcome-based format where all topics within are individually developed, to fit like pieces of a puzzle in the general scope of the desired product.

Bottom line? I've been involved in Instructional Systems Design and it's derivatives for a couple decades. I've written volumes of of tech manuals and "leader's guides" for stand-up technical trainers, conducted seminars here and abroad, and have done stand-up training All that to say - my hand is up to offer whatever meager input I can should we (as members of the Registry brotherhood) want to organize the collective expertise and experience of the many SMEs (i.e., Subject Matter Experts) into a formal "how to" (document). My thoughts are that much of the material could be web-based, for example, but certainly the endeavor would need to take advantage of ALL the appropriate media, including video, audio, text, stills, interactive, etc, etc. designed to produce a specific outcome.

This is a big undertaking. But, as Confucius said, "The longest journey begins with a single step."

Well... I have no financial interest in such an undertaking, and I'm not a board member, or have any sway in what may or may not be the direction (if any) this endeavor might take. I take no issue with anything already in existence or constructive and objective discussion here. My take is that what Jerry (correct me if I'm wrong) proposes is an enhancement for paid members, without necessarily changing anything in the public side of the forum. But, make no mistake! There's real expense involved here!! Such an undertaking is huge. It will require a lot of work by several individuals and use of their time. The media used has real $$ involved, e.g., video equipment, video processing, software, etc, etc. Therefore, (at this time) I see no problem excluding such a work to paid membership.

If we're at a crossroads, which way do we go?

P.

[tomtom72]

Paul,

What is in the maintenance tab over at the zr1netregistry site will remain open to the general public the way it is now? See I think it is important that that info remain open to the public as a diplomatic effort to attract new buyers to our paid membership. Okay it's viewed by me as a come on or a teaser of what you get if you join us.

Then maybe the new buyers make their way over to our forum and see our solutions sticky and get really juiced. They read our Technical section with all the threads and figure "Okay, if I buy this car I can get help, for free, if it breaks." Then they usually figure out all the free stuff isn't free so they join to support the free stuff.

Next the noob figures out that there is something about the inner workings of an LT5 that is not exactly straight up obvious....(okay, that is me. I didn't know what it was I didn't know, but I had a bad feeling that there is something out there that if you don't know it disaster will be following shortly.) If a backyard guy like me can figure out that there is something out past the edges any one can figure it out. The benefit of becoming a paid member will be access to that knowledge.

I'm sorry to be so passionate about the info over at the public side of the zr1netregistry site. I just feel it is the most valuable first impression recruitment advertisement we as a registry have in public view. Heck, I still search that tab when stuff happens on my car. Then our forum sells itself and hopefully the advantages of a paid membership in our registry. Okay I'm naive in my thinking, I admit that. I just feel some of the accumulated ZR-1/LT5 knowledge is best left in the public view as we now have it in the public view. Sorry for beating a dead horse, but I think there maybe a bit of confusion between what's on our zr1netregistry site and what's on our forum that non ZR1netregistry members have access to read.


Tom

[Aurora40]

I guess I have two more cents...

Nowhere have I seen it suggested that the forum will change. The idea someone will submit some information, and it will get locked away is absurd. If they post it on the forum, it would still be here. If they post a complete article with photos and such to the Registry, and say "place this in the members-only comprehensive maintenance section", they shouldn't be shocked when it is placed there. So let's drop some of these absurd arguments about theft or money (no one is getting paid) and whatnot.

Tom, you are saying the existing stuff should be left there? To me, that stuff sucks. The organization of it sucks, the info is old, and it is hard to find in the first place. If I saw that and thought "this is a taste", I'd think hard about whether I want to pay for the meal. I would be interested to see usage numbers on it. How many times a day/week/month are those specific pages requested? My guess is hardly at all, though I'm prepared to be wrong (and would love to know either way).

To replace it will take time and effort. Should that time and effort be made public, or a perk to members? I think a perk, but can see how reasonable people could disagree.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by tomtom72

Paul,

What is in the maintenance tab over at the zr1netregistry site will remain open to the general public the way it is now? See I think it is important that that info remain open to the public as a diplomatic effort to attract new buyers to our paid membership. Okay it's viewed by me as a come on or a teaser of what you get if you join us.

Then maybe the new buyers make their way over to our forum and see our solutions sticky and get really juiced. They read our Technical section with all the threads and figure "Okay, if I buy this car I can get help, for free, if it breaks." Then they usually figure out all the free stuff isn't free so they join to support the free stuff.

Next the noob figures out that there is something about the inner workings of an LT5 that is not exactly straight up obvious....(okay, that is me. I didn't know what it was I didn't know, but I had a bad feeling that there is something out there that if you don't know it disaster will be following shortly.) If a backyard guy like me can figure out that there is something out past the edges any one can figure it out. The benefit of becoming a paid member will be access to that knowledge.

I'm sorry to be so passionate about the info over at the public side of the zr1netregistry site. I just feel it is the most valuable first impression recruitment advertisement we as a registry have in public view. Heck, I still search that tab when stuff happens on my car. Then our forum sells itself and hopefully the advantages of a paid membership in our registry. Okay I'm naive in my thinking, I admit that. I just feel some of the accumulated ZR-1/LT5 knowledge is best left in the public view as we now have it in the public view. Sorry for beating a dead horse, but I think there maybe a bit of confusion between what's on our zr1netregistry site and what's on our forum that non ZR1netregistry members have access to read.


Tom

Tom, I think we're in violent agreement!

To B clear: For all the reasons you (and others) have stated, change not a damn thing on the open forum...PERIOD. Within the MEMBERS ONLY... some special, polished, reconstituted treatments...might be a nice perk...is my thoughts. But! Honestly, I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, with regard to access being open to the GP, or members only. I guess it would depend on final format and resources needed to buildwhateveritiswearetyingtodohere yaknowwhatImean?

My head hurts. It's Saturday. I feel the need for SPEED. Must be something I need to do on one of the few nice days left of the season, no?



P.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by IowaZR-1

A nice guy in my book...the registry members...kinda greedy.

explain this please? what's wrong with leaving it here and posting it somewhere that's members only that can be updated more regularly and without clutter. When I wrote the power key fix I wasn't a paying member of the registry and I wouldn't have cared if it was copied somewhere that was members only as long as it stayed here so that everyone could see it. I don't think anyone is trying to take away the solutions or tech section on this site which I feel should always be free. To me, there's the registry, and the net. The net has always been free and should remain so. The registry has always had a cost associated with it, from Larry's to Clint's to this one, and should always be so. I think the problem here is that people are viewing the two as one and they aren't. This is why I was against the combining of the names back when discussion about it came up, just to keep them separate.

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

First I would say what Bob said about the ZR1netregistry.com Maintenance section is almost exactly what Jerry said about Solutions http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....365&post123365

So you both (Jerry and Bob) think the same about the ZR1netregistry.com Maintenance section as Jerry thinks about Solutions. Now does everyone make the CONNECTION

I don't get the connection at all.

1) No one is talking about changing the forum that I've seen
2) Everything isn't about your "Solutions" thread
3) You made the thread in the forum, you can make it any way you want. If someone else thinks it is hard to follow, tell them to suck it. They can make their own thread, or compile the information any way they prefer. You did the work, you can make it your way.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Click on this and tell me if it is free. http://www.zr1netregistry.com/

There is a members only section in the top task bar. Forget that for a moment.

Click on the Maintenance in the left column and tell me if it is free. You should now be seeing ZR-1 Maintenance Tips. In the left column you will now see

ZR-1 How To http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_howto.htm
Troubleshooting http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_troubleshooting.htm

hum, the first interesting link I saw on there is dead....


Don't take this so personally cliff. all we're trying to do is help keep these cars on the road, kinda like I did when I helped get your parts back

[ZZZZZR1]

Cliff

I can say with all certainty, the forum and website info areas will remain free to all members / non members. Let me add that this was never discussed and this drama was not needed or wanted

Let's move forward.....

Cheers

David

[IowaZR-1]

Originally Posted by Kevin

explain this please? what's wrong with leaving it here and posting it somewhere that's members only that can be updated more regularly and without clutter.

Let me see if I understand what you are saying....post it here and somewhere only members have access to and can update it regularly there. The original person posting if a non-member is left out in the cold as to access to any updates posted by the members. Kinda like a non-member saying I figured out how to solve Rubic's cube in 3 minutes.....but a member replies....I can do it in 30 seconds.....but it's posted on the members only section.....got to pay(or become a member....same thing) if you want to know how. I see this everyday in the work I'm into.....there's tech service given freely and tech service you have to pay for. There is so much difference in the two....the one given freely actually care about solving your problem and you develop a relationship with them where the other's have the meter running just like a taxi taking you for a ride, once you're there, out you go and you're forgotten. I'd like to think we all have a common interest in solving each other's problems.