LandofMinos,Top Gear Australia sucked, 2 out of 3 hosts MUST DIE

Any more omphaloskepsis, and we're all going to fall into the hole in our navel, and wink out of existence.

Time for a beer.

DoctorNine

@crankcase: eh... i guess... Maybe it is more interesting that way. Like, you can still be a big hockey fan and be biased toward the wings, like me.

GO WINGS!!!

Tony87

Lately things may have gone astray but I attribute some of it to the subject matter (ie, Max Mosley's recent lapse of common sense).

I hope that one day, I too will be an accepted regular participant in all that is Jalopnik!(wow,kinda like joining a cult!)

Now back to bidness....
I don't believe not liking a particular marque or racing series makes anyone less of a "car guy". Quite the contrary it's the differences which make being a car guy more interesting; this site wouldn't exist otherwise.

crankcase

I adopted the TJACK or Threadjack nickname in a somewhat ironic manner when a starred commenter (essentially from Gawker's Consumerist) dished out some discipline on me, before other Jalops came to my defense. [jalopnik.com]
Perhaps many of my attempts at irony are too obscure or even a little obtuse, and my comments are WAY less than 10% as witty as I think there are.

Mark Miller

Buckster

Reading autoblog makes me feel like I've jumped into a junkyard fight between a cracked out tweaker and a guy with a sledgehammer (actually that analogy gives autoblog a bit too much credit), but, despite all of its civility, TTAC is no better. With internet censorship that puts the Chinese government to shame Farago maintains a very civil site that is free of any comment that could possibly be interesting.

It's hard to say what makes Jalopnik a particularly good site, but I don't think that it's civility. Instead of just saying that we should all be civil I think a better rule of thumb is that if a person is going to be uncivil then they should at least do it well.

Sexist comments have to be really great, like tits on glass.

Profanity should be used sparingly, otherwise it looses its effect, but there are times when fuck or shit is the appropriate noun/verb/adjective/adverb.

Comments that contain -isms or -phobias have to be particularly funny or pertinent. Obvious hatred speaks poorly of the commenter, but some of the best comedy ever is, for better or worse, based on differences.

Anyway, hopefully someone hasn't said all of this already.

no_slushbox

I admit to being so guilty of this transgression. I'll come up with some snappy retort, usually referring to my first love L-body Charger or my "wife/girlfriend" Darryl Hannah. I'll walk around full of myself for coming up with such wit and snark only to return to the thread later and see that it elicited 0.00 response or maybe even be taken the exact wrong way than it was intended.

By all means, I think we should continue to post that which we may find funny. Just, we should have a real expectation that some are just plain bombs.

SundaySunday

Defend this place like you would the NRA, Mr. Heston!

danio3834

You can't tell me that Pearl Necklace was written in all seriousness.

ZZ Top are now not so bitter old men chuckling at the rest of the world. They always have been.

I mean, the only guy in the band who doesnt have an enormous beard is the guy with the last name "Beard".

C'mon, those guys are genious.

danio3834

I polish my trophy every day.

danio3834

I've also found that you can refresh the page ("reload" button or Ctrl+R) even while you are composing your comment, so this reduces your chance of missing another's comment.

Maybe there should/could be a "User FAQ" right up there next to "Submit a Tip".

I'd like to second the call to keep this a friendly blog for women.

Since the haterz have been asked to cool-it, I'm coming out of the closet...
Can I say this? "I don't like cars." -- Le curé.
Movie Diva [1981] (Supposedly about opera but it's a "car movie" in my mind.)
What about "motorphobia"?

Everyone is now free to regard my comments as less than 10% as witty as I think there are. (Thanks @SundaySundayFnC for that.)

Mark Miller

He was Jimmy Hendrix's favorite guitar player and that's good enough for me.

Okay, where did I screw up the apostrophes? That was a tough run.

mytdawg

I believe your comparison is inverted like Eric Carlsson.

SCROGGS!

In the wake of the "attaboy, Navarro" and "don't tread on me, Navarro" comments (thanks for chiming in either way...there were more views and feedback for this than all my ad reviews save the Ferrari one) I've read this AM, I feel like giving shout-outs some of my favorite commenters here, starred and unstarred, but to do so adequately would take more time than it took to write the above post - and unfortunately, more time than I have today.

I'll leave it at this: I still think this is the best car-related blog on the 'net, and much of it has to do with the commenters.

Al Navarro

Capt. Mazda Sisko

POLAЯ

I agree.

I've been pointing out here for quite some time just how much bitching there is about every new car reviewed, or every type of racing covered, etc. For a site devoted to "the cult of cars" it sure seems some only want to insult everything that's not their favorite car/mfg/motorsport.

rlj676

"You'd think nothing could be more boring, until you see some of the folks in the stands, and then you realize just how fascinated they could be by a shiny car going in circles for a couple of hours."

Elhigh

nytmare

Love your take on the forum, Al. This is one of the very few car sites that is fueled by reader feedback, and yet somehow continues to not suck. I think it's mostly self-policing that keeps it that way.

Elhigh

@graverobber- Same great taste, new low price!: Dude, if you're not the funniest guy here, I don't know who is... well maybe Ash, Peabody, and Braff are in close contention, but anyways...
Oh, and all of the meth is being hoarded by the mysterious nights/weekends editor! If you can find him you can have some, but tell him to show up for work for f*ck sakes!!!!

@Starlton Heston: Both you and Al Navarro have valid "suggestions" that many can learn from and take into consideration. You have exercised your right to rant and I hope it felt good, brother. A COTD is not the be all and end all, and to me it had become rather diluted after Leaverman, well... leaved, but Matt and the crew are working hard to award COTD to anyone other than me... err... yeah their doing a good job.
Zanks.
Keep your chin up, brother. You got a star without being thrown under the quadruple secret probation bus, so you must be doing something right!!

/Lovefest

POLAЯ

SeanKHotay

Generally I just scoff at poor commenters (jackers, haters...) because I know they probably won't last on the site. Furthermore, the best comments here I find are often o the more "niche" posts (PCH, EOTD...) while the more mainstream popular ones often suffer from comments from people who aren't familiar with how we behave here(sorry is that classist?)

franzouse

"But if anybody objects (especially my use of the 'c' word) I'll try and limit it to emotion fuelled rants."

Car?

Stoatmaster

But even that's iffy.

Adamskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy

...and Mr4speed has a point. Even when I'm bashing an import, I still secretly like it. It seems like some people only like CERTAIN cars. And is that really a true car guy?

Tony87

LotusGrrl

Mr4speed

Unevolved 8.04

Mr4speed

While you bemoan the currently fashionable trend of Christianity-bashing (as an example) the Judeo-Christian morality mode has been around long enough that it handle a little abuse by currently trendy loudmouths, and the major-brand religions have made enough missteps along the way to deserve all the invective they can gather. Therefore they are fat and well-deserving targets.

In turn, the 'politically correct' squad will get their abuse in good time (already are, as you will notice from listening to more than 10 consecutive seconds of talk radio.) Black folks call each other 'nigger' often enough in public, and white folk will allowed to do so again by and by.

I think it was Lenny Bruce who said, "You use that word enough, and it ceases to mean anything at all. Niggerniggerniggerniggerniggerniggerniggernigger!"

What goes around, comes around.

Personally, I will continue to assume many many offensive comments in this forum are intended sarcastically, will attempt to make it obvious when mine are, and will do my best to gently remind fellow commenters (and especially Jalopnik Editors) of the proper use of your/you're, it's/its, to/too/two, et al.

And I hereby foreswear the use of the term "Fagstangs." (except this one time).

lascauxcaveman

++ Gawker Media, a propos moderation: Where the hell did the "!"-button for "Report this Comment" go?

wonkydonky

I think most of the hate for NASCAR that you'll find here has more to do with the phoniness than the old-school tech or perceived class of the fans.

Most here would agree that the local dirt 1/2mi on a Friday night is a bitchin' scene, even though it's not any more advanced that NASCAR. Why? Because it's authentic in the way that the "Toyota Camry brought to you by AMS Oil on the Goodyear Super-Slow-Mo" can never be.

Mad_Science

Additionally, Mr Barrett, I don't think I ever gave you props on your 6-wheeled Roller. I have a spare one in 87th scale should you need one for your desk.

mr.chophoppers

I must say though, that I see very few transgressions here at Jalopnik, but maybe that's because I never visit any entries that involve Mustangs or Camaros. With that said, please pardon my attempted phishing.

mr.chophoppers

As far as COTD, I think a wrestleman said it best, when he asked "do you use your powers for good, or for awesome?" Awesome [jalopnik.com] is what we should be striving for in our writing, not gor the glory, but because it helps elevate this place above anywhere else on the interwebs (just because it's easy doesn't mean we should aspire even higher).

Maymar the technophobe

I don't get to read as much, but I'm very glad to see Jalopnik doin' its best to keep the joint classy.

I still read comments every day, though, so you guys keep it up.

skaz

Then again I don't take it that seriously. I'm just here to learn something and poke fun. I'm never sure if it's going to involve scuba gear or Valvoline but that's why I keep coming back.

It's like an AA meeting for motorheads.

mytdawg

add suv's to the mix as well.

Some people have short memories, and some didn't even exist in the 70's around here.. but station wagons in the 70's are like SUV's of today.. no one really like them then either, and it's only now, that they're obscure and trigger memories of bouncing around the back seat and hatch with no seat belts and child seats and having your dad yelling at you to stop kickin the cooler full of beer that they've become "cool" again.

What most of these prepubescent kids don't realize is that the SUV's of today are probably gonna provide an endless supply of big CI engines to power the next generation of le-mons volvos. I'm all for doing good things for the environment, but for the love of god, enough with the holier than thou statements about h2's and gas mileage and safety concerns.. We (the royal we, the suv drivers) *like* our vehicles.. perhaps that's hard for you (the prius for every family for every task) to understand but that's life.

Someday soon when the h2's are in the junkyard during some half priceday.. one of us jalops will be ripping out a low milage 400hp L92 to shove in place of a camry hybrid powertrain to lap altamont with.

And that in the end is what it's all about. We all love tq*rpm/5250 fun, regardless of what's driving the wheels

So enough with the suvophobics.. enjoy the multiculturalism that is the highway and the uncommon octane dna that binds us.

WheatKing

I also definitely do not think this is a "we all know who this is about, but let's not name names" kind of thing. Jalopnik has grown a lot lately, and it's attracted a number of commenters that need some guidance. Mostly, they're not going to read this, though, sad to say.

@Mike the Dog: Beautiful engine.

@Mr4speed: I think you're experiencing what's true anywhere on the internet. You've got to grow a pretty thick hide to read comments anywhere. This is actually one of the most civil places in existence. Try reading comments on Autoblog, or, God help you, Youtube. [shudder]

@UNÆVÒL\/ED: Carburetors and 4-speeds make for some awesome races. (Remember the Daytona Coupes on the Ford Windsor engine post!) But I know what you mean.

dculberson

No, but honestly, this was a long time coming. I'm happy somebody did something about this. If we all want blogs to have a better image, doing a little spring-cleaning helps a whole lot.

Joetimek

But Nascar? For me, being an Aero major, it's just hard for me to get excited about such a technological anachronism. I mean, come on. Carb'd engines, 4 speed transmissions and eternal left turns. Yeah, I know there's a certain element to it that appeals to some, but really. I went to a race at TMS last season and sat on a balcony overlooking the track and fell asleep. Twice.

Unevolved 8.04

om nom de plume

I did read every post in this thread-10 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Mr4speed

Good to see I'm not the only dork here pseudo-versed in arcane poetic meter. Cheers.

staircar

@charles_barrett: I always look forward to your commentary- usually after hours, for your witty repartees. That being said, I'm a little afraid of what your active mind may let loose in the unbridled climes of Fleshbot, so I'll keep our online relations Jalopnik-esque.

@Starlton Heston: Get some sleep man. This place is a bit of a pissing contest, but in the end it's a place where (mostly) like-minded folk can congregate for a simpatico about a shared love for all-things cars. This is a little back-water of the Internet, and is an example of how our society has shaped this new communication tool to our purposes.

I noted in an earlier post that we're not really paying for this opportunity to interact with our brethren, and so I feel we all need to cut each other some slack and be polite. I know that many of my posts may have been groan-inducing, and I'm thankful to Ray and the team for not sending me to the corn field for that. Let's all just be who we are, express what we feel (being respectful of others) and ruminate on what Murilee would look like without that beard.

See what happens when I get home and I have a drink? It's not pretty.

Okay, peace out brothers.

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives

You have no need to strive for acceptance, buddy; we love you for what you deliver on a regular basis. I advocate not worrying about COTD status... I earned one, but POLAR lobbied heavily to Matt H. on my behalf, in a gesture of friendship that I appreciate greatly. Yet COTD is not why we are all here, and that goal of the brass ring can be problematic.

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

One thing I'd add (and I apologize if someone else has already stated this): Your meme is probably less than 10% as witty as you think it is. I'm as guilty of this as anyone, so I'm also stating that for my own benefit as well.

Anyways, thanks all for making this site miles better than any other automotive site on the interwebs.

SundaySunday

To all Jalops: As I see it, a joke about gays is not automatically an antigay joke. Gay skin can be pretty thick. I have tried to step down off of my soapbox now that I know that I am an accepted member of the Jalopnik community, sexuality notwithstanding. Just be wary that you are but one or two errant mouse clicks away from "My Activity" page, which could send you headlong into my Fleshbot posts, which are often not PG-rated. Welcome to Gawker Media...

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

1) i have reached a final conclusion that what i said earlier stands... why the hell is this coming from a commenter and not the staff themselves? It is aggravating.

2)same vein as #1, but regarding img posting... I've said it in comments a million times, others have as well, yet they don't even place it in the FAQ as requested so seeing this now be a circle jerk over someone putting it in this post at request of someone in this particular post.. is frustrating

3) I think the guidelines are bullshit, some are valid and kinda of common sense but: almost cause it seems they may be geared to certain people, but lets be "civil" and not name names... fuck that shit. i was beast over the past few weekends to the people coming to jalopnik and trying to play nanny and speak up against are practices and it turned into a seemingly sexist thing, at the victim guidance and manipulation.. k so since I spent my weekend commenting hard and defending our way of life on this particular board, i might be a bad guy? maybe it's not about me but I'm through worrying about getting banned, cause really the editors aren't involved.. they seem to just look every now and again if its a post they might have some interest in and then pipe up. And if something is wrong let me know, or anyone know be involved that much then!

4)sadly this site really makes me feel passive aggressive. I go from just not trying to comment to feeling like i gotta be on it and get my piece in and compete... COTD is an incentive of sorts but it IS indeed kind of wack how there is a lot of dick swinging going on with off the wall elaborate references to some wild shit, one up manship, everything that makes me question why i strive for acceptance here. on the level, is it worth it even?

I feel exhausted.

Jalopnik, is this the end of us?

om nom de plume

All I can really add is a dash of left field, some spontaneity (appropriate or not), and an occasional moment of intellectual lucidity (but those are few and far between).

Years of substance abuse has removed most of my cerebral capacity. So lacking any real value I have to go for dick jokes.

mytdawg

im such an asshole.

icantthinkofone

icantthinkofone

hootjigga

Please Don't Feed The Trolls!

I myself have been a repeat offender on this count lately, and will have to try doubly hard to not to dash of an indignant response to every bit of ignorant asshattery that shows up here. Also- A tip of the hat to БЯд╒╒ ∞ for the how to in embedding pics!

Mike the Dog

@ViergangFuchs: A well thought out comment--the pendulum does swing from extreme to extreme and PC speech has gone to crazy lengths. No one is saying no free speech; I think the message is, pay attention to the context. Being around children, at a religious service, with your grandparents might be a standard you don't observe everywhere. But if you want some free speech, go look at Craig's List rants and raves. Horrible stuff. And humor is even more complex. When we're in Jalop's house, we have to play by their rules.

@Everyone: if you are not sure your comment posted, you can do a check on your page and see if it showed up there--might have to give it a second or two but it shows up there first.

NovaloadMissesPolar

NovaloadMissesPolar

You're a righteous dude, Al Navarro, and you have my utmost respect.

POLAЯ

But seriously, good job Jalopnik, so far. Now try not to screw up.

discontinuuity

Geez, I go away for a few hours, and I miss this.

UDMan

hooligan

Pete Gaines

readplays

The two articulate POVs already espoused here about censorship/free speech were great examples of the "long form" of commenting...which, like the one-liner, have their place.

On the drive home, I had a thought...and that these aren't rules (or RULEZ!). Just some guidelines for you to keep in mind or ignore.

Al Navarro

Can we just sum this up by stating Keep it Casual?

These are good guidelines to comment by, but I say to rules;

"Rules? Where we're going, we don't need rules". And thats why Jalopnik t0t@11y PWNs pther car sites.

We r s0 1337

lolz

danio3834

DWMILLER

-Some- good ideas, but I hope it will lead to reduced Kotaku/Deadspin Chowderheadedness, and Not to any ridiculous PC-Gestapo-Stasi-ism.

->As far as I know, Dissidence is still Legal. (even under 'Dubya')

@DonModro:
"So I guess this rules out any comments about how the new Camaro will look in 10-15 years when they can be found on blocks in trailer parks, huh?
Bummer."
-at the very least. (no more 'Top Gear' Alabama vids, I guess.)

Ex: I find it especially hard to 'keep my religion' when the crazy Jezebel stormtroopers invade, like Calraigh, (in the Danica post) et. al. (with the exception of SarahMC and a few others)

There will -Never- be any sizable amount of women commenting here, bad behavior or no, unless it's a Danica, Ashley Force or other female-centric post.

If female is what you want, go to Jezebel.

It is a mistake to Agendize the Demographics, and not let the 'market' decide for itself.
If you want to be a 40-year-old virgin singing "I'm an Oscar Mayer Wiener" in a chorus led by the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, then that's your personal choice for your own life.

And don't let Nick Denton or the writers hear that you're suggesting Anything that would dampen pageviews even 1% (comment-driven or other), unless you intend to reimburse them financially. Just ask Felix Salmon at Portfolio: [www.portfolio.com]
[www.portfolio.com]

Agreed that profanity should only be used the way an in-field sniper uses bullets.

++ No Whining About Not Winning COTD, or About Other People Winning It.

A certain amount of Creative Stupidity can be excellent.

+ I actually Love how some people go off and show how smart they are; especially when it's their own stuff and their not Bogarting somebody else's material. Ex: 13oostedwgn's Jellied Sparrow Tongues

And please, for Whoever's sake:
No Proselytizing Of Any Kind Whatsoever (sacred or secular) in comments.

Ex: Just because I'm Jewish, I don't Synthetically go around saying things like the first time I saw an Aston Martin was like the first time I met Rabbi Shmuley Boteach; so I can Re-Brand the site or the stream.

In short: ->what he said: @Paul Y. is Going Dumb at the Sideshow:

wonkydonky

The past thirty years has seen a curious inversion in the notions of censorship and free speech. Most censorship prior to about 1990 in this country was expressly moral in purpose; we disapproved of certain expressions of "speech" because they stood in contrast to, or were designed expressly to attack, the guiding Judeo-Christian principles on which the USA was built. The forces working against that censorship were inexorable and probably could be said to have triumped around the time of the NEA's sponsorship of Piss Christ. It is now fully permissible, nay, even laudable, to attack traditional values in the name of "fighting censorship". Surely we all agree there's no longer much effective moral censorship going on in this country; an hour spent watching HBO will demonstrate as much.

Having won the battle against "censorship", which was really a battle against a certain moral stance, the victors have become quite vicious when faced with statements which displease them - most of which are branded as "hate speech" or something similar, the way the old Popes would use the concept of "heresy" to stamp out opposition. Therefore, it's now quite acceptable to, as an example, refer to Christianity in the vilest terms possible, and with the most hateful intent - but show an equal amount of expressive bile to one of the "protected minority" groups, whether those groups are ethnic, sexual, or behavioristic, and one will quickly learn the limits of society's tolerance.

As a rather rabid Judeo-Christian, I watched the past two decades with distaste, and yet with the belief that completely free speech is too precious to threaten for the sake of my beliefs. When I see that the men and women who use the First Amendment to batter Christianity are more than happy to squelch it in the name of the "progressive agenda", well, then, my sense of fair play is offended.

Mr. Navarro's comment regarding Randy Moss is instructive, I think. Should I allow Mr. Moss's presumptive ability to beat me about the head and shoulders to quiet my tongue? In the modern era, the threat of force, whether a humorous comment like Al's or the more serious understanding that making the wrong joke may lose you a livelihood for reasons of political correctness - well, it's un-American.

Self-censorship is laudable, but we should go no further. I have no wish to engage in "hate speech" as it currently is defined, and yet I have a nagging suspicion that "hate speech" may be defined in any way which suits the powerful.

ViergangFuchs

LandofMinos,Top Gear Australia sucked, 2 out of 3 hosts MUST DIE

You'll notice most COTDs recently have been just that. The days of linguistic diatribes appear to be over.

I'll admit to being a fan (and participant) of the somewhat masturbatory linguistically overwrought comment. I get your point, but I've actually learned a lot as a result of looking up the references in others' comments.

Mad_Science

Eric Merrill

DoctorNine

POLAЯ

Great mediation Navarro, I especially enjoyed the "club of gentleman" phrase and statement. I would, one day, love to see the chance for more positive Jalopnik-Jezebel cross-commenting...our last fiasco is probably the darkest hour in Jalopnik's history.

Eric Merrill

Never ask directions.
And never share your Grey Poupon.

DoctorNine

I think the distinction that needs to be made is that between governed censorship and personal censorship. People that expound on the First Amendment often come across as a spoiled child, more interested in their right to free speech than any effects their speech might have. The First Amendment (Used here to refer to the general right to express oneself, not necessarily the US Constitution) is not a "use it or lose it" proposition.

I find the following paragraph of your comment particularly stimulating:

"So-called "offensive" discourse is a weapon of freedom, and one needn't agree with the sentiments to understand their value. When we, as a society, self-censor our way out of expressing dangerous ideas, we give those ideas power beyond our wildest dreams. The minute we make it a thoughtcrime to speak an offensive idea, we invest that idea with unwanted legitimacy."

When you get down to it, you start to realize how circular and truly dangerous these ideals really are. When one realizes how many truly dangerous and damaging ideas and actions can be derived as an expression of free speech. Hate speech, for example. Certain linguistic things are taboo in most societies for the simple reason that they serve no greater purpose than to alienate and ostracize.

I may be going out on a limb here, but I saw a bumper sticker the other day that really hit home. Something like "Break the conventions, keep the commandments." At the risk of bringing religion into this discussion, I think it's worth considering, or at least the ideals behind it. That phrase implies that there are certain things to be kept sacred, certain lines that should never be crossed. But at the same time, modern-day conventions and taboos should be stretched, in the name of progress. Frighteningly enough, it's up to the individual to determine where that line stands. Anyone that tries to define that line is called out as propagating censorship.

@M0L0TOV: Dude. If I punched my name into Google Jalopnik would come up? Sweet.

Unevolved 8.04

replace the ' with a...

Thanks! I've been annoying myself with my attempts to link an image.

Woo Hoo!

Bret

brownie

Kidding aside, that is a pretty nice looking list of guidelines. Proof reading posts goes a long ways to keeping things readable (for both editors and commenters)

Schweppes

What I'm really trying to say is, you stay classy Jalopnik.

Maymar the technophobe

I second and third your "So let's revise the above list to add something about not trying to show off how fucking smart we all are." suggestion. (Despite your use of a curse word.)

I hated those dudes in college that would ask questions that weren't about showing how little they knew but rather how much.

Al Navarro

To post a photo in the comment:

'img src="http://shotofmyawesomecar.jpg"

replace the ' with a <
But don't close the tag with a > or it won't work.
Also, if your image is large (preview to make sure), add height=x width=x after the quotation marks that are at the end of the URL and replace the x's with numbers. Again preview to make sure the image looks right...

Braff is Thad Longlove

All that aside, can someone tell me how to link an image and have it display within the comment?

Jalopistan is my favorite autosite, this class commenting class can only help to things entertaining.

Bret

nosirrahg

Al Navarro

korvetkeith

HERE IS A PHOTOSHOPPED PHANTOM LIMO!!

Braff is Thad Longlove

POS won't start.

hoselshaft

I specifically take issue with:

Make every comment as an opportunity to win COTD

No, no, no, no, no. Let's set aside the obvious grammatical error (a complaint partially about proofreading that wasn't proofread?). COTD sucks. Gunning for "COTD" is probably one of the most annoying constant themes here. Sometimes I can't tell if I'm visiting a forum populated by car lovers, or a forum populated by the annoying kids in college who felt the need to quote Proust or the Bhagavad Gita in class to demonstrate to the rest of us how well read they were. I hated those assholes.

There's nothing wrong with short comments that are on point. In fact, they're great. So let's revise the above list to add something about not trying to show off how fucking smart we all are.

brownie

We can tell the difference between a comment that is and is not mean spirited. I think that quality goes a long way into making this a better internet environment and not just the next spot for Youtube-level comments where the apparent goal is to see who can out "idiot" the next person.

Braff is Thad Longlove

Has this war finally been won for all intents and purposes (see: Two Ladies Share a Cup for an example) only for us to now turn back upon ourselves, as a culture, with a gleeful escapade of self-flagellation? How much genuine racism or "homophobia", whatever that really means, exists on Jalop?

Whenever I read someone's smug discourse on racist/homophobic/whatever behavior, I hear two things in the back of my mind. The first is a Puritan minister declaring that he will be the one to determine what is a sin and what is not; the second is Winston Smith's final voluntary submission to Big Brother's love.

So-called "offensive" discourse is a weapon of freedom, and one needn't agree with the sentiments to understand their value. When we, as a society, self-censor our way out of expressing dangerous ideas, we give those ideas power beyond our wildest dreams. The minute we make it a thoughtcrime to speak an offensive idea, we invest that idea with unwanted legitimacy.

Just my two cents on this.

ViergangFuchs

Allow me to say I'm very unsure of my final feelings on a commenter not the EDITORIAL STAFF trying to put rules in place and creating a guide...

but i have to get to this later for some true thoughts and commenting.

i dont focus on punctuation because this isnt me emailing work people and everyone should be able to figure out the intent just fine. and one can get thoughts off their head faster just cranking them out.

aggh FUCK I said i'd get to this later and i will...

p-zout

om nom de plume

cyclopticgaze

Jalopy Jolopy,
Pentameter troubles me
Whenever concerning the
subject of cars.
This hobby for me is just
procrastinatory:
A Mercedes-Benz showroom
Sat on my arse.

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

M0L0TOV

The days of wine and roses, indeed. Not that my current hi-fi rig is anything to complain about.

Al Navarro

Still, by and large, I've been impressed by how civil jalopnik generally is.

I still think the internet needs a civics exam in order for jerks to be allowed to use it, however.

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle

[i27.tinypic.com]

discounteggroll

"Good commenting WAS natural in the past...NOW IT just seems forced"

Miscellanea

At least clicking the link provided by using the "reply to" button brings you back to the post in question. While not as convenient as having the quote in the reply, it does keep down the clutter.

I usually try to be relevant, coherent, and occasionally witty, but it doesn't always work out that way.

I've not really seen the justification for this post. Generally speaking, the comments on Jalopnik have been civil. I can tolerate an occasional asinine remark. Until/unless it gets out of hand, I don't see the need to start policing.

Perhaps I haven't read the worst offending threads, but in the world of blogs, Jalopnik seems to maintain a level of decorum not often found in such an informal medium.

Man, this post is bringing out all the seriousness. Someone say something about Trucknutz, quick!

smalleyxb122

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Euromobile

Miscellanea

And I am blushing with embarrassment in getting "far be it from me..." incorrect. Mea culpa.

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Very nice. Okay, let me try a double dactyl:

Higgledy piggledy,
Ray Wert and Murilee
Martin et. al. watched
Jalopers deprave.
Wary of commenters'
insensitivity
Navarro noted
we auto behave.

staircar

Really? Even Malapropism?

Andrewpetty

joshman

(lifehacker/gizmodo/consumerist regular exploring here)

There is something called "nested comments", which allows you to easily see what people are replying to (their replies appear right after the post they're replying to, instead of having a clusterf*ck of linear posts)

[lifehacker.com]

I like it, but one flaw in it's nature is that if you return to an article, it's not as easy to see what new stuff has been posted since your previous visit

discounteggroll

SLR_BlowerMania

Mysterious Utility Bento

For the record, I actually love thread jacking/meandering when the topic goes from a Hybrid SUV to the merits of various artisan-quality beer and such.

However, did anyone else get spammed by that blogger who threadjacked and double posted in the recent Dodge Challenger post? That was weak.

Al Navarro

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives

Skydiver

@charles_barrett: God bless you for this post. May I also add that it's "COULDN'T care less?" (May I also gently point out that it's "Far be it FROM me?")

PatFromGundo

I was skeptical of the one-liner (CR)(LF)
prohibition but am no longer.

milo_carrera

Bumblebee

Jalopnik is to Autoblog as Burger King is to Macdonalds.

As Carburettors are to Engine Management

As French Knickers are to a Thong

As The Black Crowes are to ZZ Top

As Bishops Finger is to Worthingtons

As a Riva Aquarama is to a Bayliner

As Martin Logan is to JBL

and as Grenada is to Tenerife.

I'm staggered, constantly, by the quality of writing. Even the most disposable of comments has a depth rarely found in most news-store journals. Virtually everybody on here deserves an official title.

Pats on the back, all.

We has teh skillz.

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

It seems Al's doing some wierd thing called "being responsible."

As Al's writing has let us peer deep inside the love affair he's had with his Se7en, you get the idea that he must love his wife and kids a lot. Must be tough, but cars come and go from the reality garage, but as anyone who's lost someone close to them knows:
"...for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

SwatLax

I am trying to be a better person/commenteriat/Cotomer Sevis Rep/etc ....

...But I'm trying Ringo, I'm trying real hard to be the shepard...

Braff is Thad Longlove

In all seriousness though, hats off.

staircar

Ruls piss me off.

Buckster

The piece perfectly captures the spirit of discourse that I love about this site.

Telling me wagons aren't cool is one kind of bad, but if all you can offer is "yeah but its still a turdstang", please find somewhere else to waste time.

Mad_Science

Unevolved 8.04

Unevolved 8.04

rexplex

@rlj676:

Indeed.

Seth L