Keeping it real

As a person who enjoys the interaction of social networks it is amazing to see, after reading a href="/b/FAKE-GEARHEADS.php">80Blazer80's blog/a>, that some people are just out to see how cool they can make themselves. For me, and I taking a leap of faith here, and Autolog members we are hear to have fun, converse and share knowledge of automobiles just for the fun of it. Not to see how much shameless self promotion we can generate to a profile.

At the end of October I was reading an article on the challenges faced by many Web 2.0 Companies since the national economy is seeing a economic slowing. Many social sites, like the Autolog rely on users to grow content and authority in order to gain advertising dollars.

(Let me be clear that I know nothing about the Autolog's business model, strategy or future plans and this is just an observation I am making.)

While many social sites rely on users to make the site what it is, there are many social sites that mimic other social sites to much and have not carved out a niche of their own and as a result many of these sites are facing major challenges. One site I am apart of, a href="http://www.cre8buzz.com/">cr8buzz/a>, is a prime example. Founded on a similar Web 2.0 concept with a slightly unique concept, cr8buzz ran out of funding and was in danger of disappearing. But lady luck was one the buzz's side and they are back in action.

Going back to 80Blazer80's point, social networks do have an inherent problem with people being fake or just not real people in the first place, using a site to inflate egos and do harm to others, remember the MySpace mom who drove the girl to suicide?

For me joining the Autolog was about sharing and interacting with people that have a similar interest in the automotive industry. A place where a person can join, ask questions, talk with others without the problems that plague other networks. So far, I could be wrong about this, I haven't seen anything like what happens on other networks (and is why I am no longer on those ones).


I would love to see the Autolog continue long into the future, grow its membership and continue to be a fun place to share experiences, pass along knowledge, and inspire others to just have some old fashioned auto fun.

I've found what makes some of the shameless self promotion on autolog different than other sites is due to the site promoting cars, which people buy and own, instead of themselves.

Sure, you can pretend to be someone else on myspace, facebook or any other social networking site. Still, cars are something that people always want to add to their "cool" factor. It's hard to look at sites like autolog and people with cool cars and not feel left out of the community cause you're not driving a 10 second car.

The truth is that the automotive community is open to everyone. How you choose to involve yourself determines your role and place within that community. Some people try to squeeze in by being fake or pretending to be something they are not. Same goes for cars as well.

Best example was a badly built Honda I saw at a show with an intercooler but no turbo. Why fake you're boosted? Cause it's "cool" to be boosted.

People will find that those who are serious about cars respect you more for being who you are and not pretending.

Great topic!

Yeah this site is wayyy nicer then any others I've been on, I haven't seen any negative comments or heard of anyone talking crap about stuff, I used to be on cardomain but I was recomended to this site by justa6 on carster which has seemingly run out of members an died out.

Perfectly said Flashwing! People sharing a common interest instead promoting interest in one's self.

Oldschoolmudder, first let me say your screen name kicks ass! It happening all around the net but I know a dude that is starting a new one as we speek to. I think networks will come and go but the really good ones will stick around always enticing people to start another one. Vicious cycle like what happens to mud when attacked by TSL Boggers and 500hp :)