Moderator inactivity on the Cars subforum

I’m wondering why the Automobile subforum doesn't have any anti-trolling measures in place—and specifically, why people are allowed to push subjective opinions in technical discussions when, frankly, it’s supposed to be about science.

Take this, for instance:

I reported that post because, from where I'm sitting, the user is just trolling and doubling down on their personal bias even after I laid out the actual arguments. Is there any point in having an evidence-based debate aimed at an academic level, or is the moderator's stance that these threads should just be a complete circus?

Not to mention how, back in the day, I had a user insult me repeatedly over five straight posts and they barely received two warnings. It's just nonsensical.

Joshua Scott, don't sweat it—we've been keeping an eye on your reports. The consensus among the mods was that this wasn't trolling; it’s just a case of a user standing their ground and defending their position, which is why you guys are clashing. Whether he's actually right or not isn't really our call. We aren't experts on everything.
I'll draw a parallel to that other thread about the U-turn maneuver, where I Wonder was digging in his heels because that's what the judge told him, and he was dead set on being right even though basically everyone else was calling him out. Is he trolling then? Or is he just defending his take and how he sees the situation?
So, that's my take on the whole trolling thing.

As for the insults, my fellow mods know I don't mess around when things get personal, so please point out exactly where you think some disrespect went unpunished. That last insult was pretty much a blatant assumption, so he earned his little break. If you've got something else to say, go ahead. Thanks.

Honestly, I missed it—I totally lost my cool and gave Sledge a timeout for the CAPS LOCK 🤦... but he’s being insulting in his last post too, so he earned the grayed-out status.

Jeffrey Wilson67 said:Joshua Scott, don't sweat it—we looked into your reports, and the mods agreed this wasn't trolling; it’s just a user defending a specific stance, which is what these debates are about. Whether he's actually right or not isn't our call. We aren't experts on everything.
I'll draw a parallel to that other thread regarding U-turns, where i Wonder sticks to his guns because that's what a judge told him—he's convinced he's right while pretty much everyone else disagrees. Is he trolling then? Or just defending his perspective?
So much for trolling.

If someone holds a view that is factually disprovable, then it's trolling. Period. And that’s even a technical issue—engineering doesn't care about personal convictions.
And get this: he claims he has no technical training, yet he insists on acting like an authority; some users have even gone as far as calling him "toxic."
In my book, if there's proof he's wrong and he keeps pushing it—or starts veering the conversation off course—that's a troll.
Especially since it seems to me he knows exactly what he's doing and is just looking for a reaction.

As for the whole i Wonder situation, that's a legal matter, completely unrelated to cars. Why is he even bringing that up on an American car forum? 🤔

Regarding insults, the fellow mods know I don't mince words when things get personal, so please point out where any offense went unpunished. This latest insult was clearly intentional, so his suspension was earned. If you have anything to add, feel free. Thanks.

Once upon a time, a user insulted me five times in a row without anyone lifting a finger.

But here—here is a clear example of an insult.
http://www.forum.com/showpost.php?p=5...postcount=2717
I noticed his aggressive tone toward me started about twenty days ago, right after I explained why, technically speaking, an I6 engine isn't the best choice for a performance brand.
And turns out, the guy drives one—a BMW 530, or at least that's what his signature says.
He probably took it way too personally.

Jeffrey Wilson67 said:Actually, my mistake—I slipped up and gave Sledge a warning for CAPS LOCK 🤦 ...but since he's being insulting in the next post too, the suspension was deserved.

I saw that—the warning was applied incorrectly; the insult warning should have been on a different post.

Joshua Scott said:If you're trying to argue against things that are objectively provable, then you’re just trolling—plain and simple. And honestly? That’s even more annoying when it's about technical specs. Physics and engineering don't give a damn about your personal opinions or what you "feel" is true. Facts are facts.
And get this—he claims he doesn't know the first thing about technical specs and hasn't even gone to school for it, yet he still insists on acting like he's some kind of authority. Honestly, some of the guys on the forums have been straight-up calling him toxic—they're basically saying he's just out here spreading pure venom.
If you’ve laid out cold, hard proof and they just keep doubling down—or worse, start pivoting the argument to some random side topic—then yeah, you're dealing with a troll. Period.
And honestly, I’m pretty sure he knows exactly what he's doing—he's just straight-up looking for a reaction.

If you actually think he’s just trolling, then why do you keep going back for more? I don't know what you're trying to do here—you feeding me? Or just testing the waters? Either way, let's get to the point.Look, if you’re clashing with him and his debating style is getting under your skin—just ignore him. Seriously. I’m telling you again, I’m no expert on how people interact online, but I think everyone here should have the right to hold their own opinion. If you’ve laid out your arguments and they actually make sense, then hopefully the rest of us will see it and realize that Sledge is just plain wrong. Honestly, if he's bothering you, just hit that ignore button. It'll make life easier for everyone.

This whole thing with i Wonder is actually a legal issue—it’s not even about automobiles. What the hell is he even doing over there on that PDF? 🤔

So, I’ve just dumped everything into one PDF—car audio gear and the selection for the automobile's head unit—since they're all basically unrelated anyway. Might as well keep it all in one spot.
That wasn't even meant to be a tangent—just getting off track for a second.

It was a long time ago—some random guy on a forum spent five posts straight just straight-up insulting me, and honestly? Nobody even blinked.

I don't buy it. If you're actually right about this—and that's a massive if—then I’ll eat my hat.
I don't let insults slide—I'll shut them down every single time. That's why I'd love for you to flag those kinds of posts for me.

Alright, here’s my take on that insult.
I honestly don't get why people make such a big deal out of this—it’s just an automobile. Look, I know some of you guys live and breathe specs, but at the end of the day, it’s about how it feels when you’re actually behind the wheel. If you're looking for a status symbol to flex on your neighbors in Chicago, go buy something else. But if you want something that actually works without breaking the bank every six months, this is it. I was talking to Joshua Scott about this the other day—he’s always leaning toward the more "refined" options—and even he had to admit there's something to be said for the simplicity here. It’s not flashy, it’s not trying too hard, and it doesn't scream "I have a midlife crisis." Anyway, stop overthinking the tiny details. You're either going to enjoy driving it or you aren't. There's no middle ground.
I noticed his aggressive tone toward me started bubbling up maybe twenty days ago—right after I pointed out that, technically speaking, an I6 engine just isn't the right call for a high-performance sports brand.
So, turns out this guy actually owns a BMW 530—or at least, that's what his profile claims.
Maybe I took everything way too personally—honestly, my bad.

Look, it’s not like I'm trying to be outright insulting here—but honestly, that’s just not how you carry a debate. Besides, if my memory serves me right, you're still driving an Astra.

I noticed that the penalty was totally misplaced—that warning for insults was slapped on the wrong post.

Look, it’s just not right. You can't go around calling another guy on the forum a shepherd. It's uncool.

Jeffrey Wilson67 said:If you think he’s just trolling, why do you insist on feeding him? If his debating style gets under your skin, just ignore him—it's that simple. Look, I'm no expert on internet drama, but everyone has the right to their own opinion. If you lay out solid arguments and they hold water, hopefully, other users will see through the noise and realize that Sledge is simply wrong. Honestly, just put him on ignore. It would make life easier for everyone.

Then what's the point of calling him a troll? 😕

Besides, a good chunk of people here have issues with him—I know some personally who don't even drive Fiat vehicles yet find themselves clashing with Sledge—and they're active in this thread. In my view, if there's nothing intelligent or substantive to contribute beyond blindly glorifying the German auto industry without any actual proof, then banning him from the thread should be the solution. Problem solved.

And really, if you're short on mods with technical backgrounds, I know for a fact there are plenty of folks on the forums with Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering.

I highly doubt that's true. If you're right, I'll eat my hat.
I never miss an opportunity to penalize insults. So, please, point those posts out to me.

It was Headbanger—and naturally, he couldn't resist mentioning in one post that I'm reporting him to the mods.

It isn't a direct insult, but it certainly isn't appropriate for a civil discussion. As far as I recall, he drives an Astra.

If telling someone they're talking nonsense isn't an insult, then I don't know what is. Regardless, it's a personal attack, which—as far as I'm aware—should be avoided.

Here is the post where he mentions the BMW 530:

Joshua Scott said:So what exactly would make him a troll then? 😕

Honestly, a huge chunk of the people here have a bone to pick with him—and I know some of them personally, people who don't even drive Italian cars but still can't stand Sledge. If all he’s going to bring to the table is mindless worship of the German auto industry without actually providing any proof, then we should just ban him from the thread and call it a day. Problem solved.

I mean, if you guys are seriously lacking mods with actual technical backgrounds—look, I know there are plenty of people over on Reddit who actually have degrees, like masters in mechanical engineering or whatever.

Look, I’ve got plenty of gripes about him myself—really, I do—but we can't let pure bias dictate who gets sanctioned. It just isn't right.
All in all, I'm gonna dig through this thread and figure out where things went sideways—but let's be clear, I'm not banning people from the forum. We aren't going to start pulling those kinds of heavy-handed moves here.

It was Headbanger—and naturally, he just had to go and mention in one of his posts that I'm filing complaints against the mods.

If he’s already talking about filing a complaint, then I’m pretty safe assuming he’s already been warned—or basically given a yellow card.

If I were to tell someone— This is absolute bullshit. If that isn't an insult, then I don't know what is. Besides—the attack is clearly personal at this point—and from what I gather, that’s exactly the kind of thing you're supposed to avoid.

I’m not saying it’s actually good—quite the opposite, really—but this term pops up all over this PDF. I can't tell if they're just messing around or if they're being dead serious, so I did a little digging online. Look, I’m not claiming it’s okay or anything, but they aren't even slapping people with actual penalties for it; it’s just a warning for using inappropriate language.
As far as I'm concerned— It’s getting tougher. Tell him to shut it. Seriously. A guy shouldn't be talking to another member like that—it’s just not how things work here. You’ve got just as much freedom to post your thoughts as he does, so telling someone to pipe down is just plain low. It's ugly.

Here's the post where he brings up the 530i:
I honestly don't get why people act like this is some massive debate—it’s just basic math at this point. You’re out here acting like choosing between a BMW 530 and an Astra is some life-altering philosophical crisis. It’s not. One is a solid, reliable choice, and the other... well, let's just say you get what you pay for. And don't even get me started on the guys trying to defend those old Fiajat models like they're some kind of engineering marvel. They aren't. They're just headaches on wheels. I've seen better engineering in a Lego set. If you want to spend your weekends under a hood instead of actually driving, go ahead—be my guest. But don't come crying to me when your "classic" breaks down on the interstate. Look, if you want reliability, stick to the Germans or maybe a Toyota. If you want to play mechanic every other weekend, buy something else. It’s really that simple. People love to overcomplicate things just to feel smart, but most of this talk is just noise.

You're right about that. Probably just changed his mind.

Look, Sophia Scott5, when every single bit of information someone shares immediately triggers a wave of insults and belittlement, I think it’s time to step in. Personally, I find this topic really interesting, but I have to sift through ten useless posts just to find one quality contribution. Either issue a warning or start deleting those posts.

Alright, I’ll scroll through the thread and see where things are going sideways.

I’ll just repeat what I told my colleague in a private message—Joshua Scott is taking this thread way too seriously (personally, perhaps?). I respect his effort and how closely he tracks the FCA group, but you can't really expect a discussion about Fiat to go without some mockery. That's just how we are. I’m not a fan of Toyota, someone else might bash the Frenchmen, and someone else will likely mock the Germans...

So, Joshua Scott—thanks for your input here. I’ll always enjoy reading your posts, and I plan to just ignore the trolls. There isn't a better way to handle them than total indifference.

Mod team needs to take a look at Sledgehammer’s posts over in the FCA thread and make a call. To me, he’s just a straight-up troll looking for a fight, throwing out baseless claims and—worst of all—completely twisting what other people say. He constantly adds these weirdly aggressive rebuttals to someone's opinion that aren't even true and have nothing to do with the topic. I'll let the mods decide, though. Personally, I'm done feeding the troll.

Hey everyone

Tyler Richardson4 said:Look, man, if every single thing someone posts gets hit with a wave of insults and trash talk immediately, then yeah, someone needs to step in. I actually care about this stuff, but I have to dig through ten pieces of garbage just to find one decent thought. Either call people out or just wipe the trash.

Facts. 👍