Personally I don't have any problem with people requesting help or info
about non-Vanagon topics.  You all just seem so smart and gosh darn likeable
that the urge to request help/info on a non-Vanagon topic can be very
enticing.  And I say go ahead and indulge yourself.  BUT, responses to
non-Vanagon questions should be made off the list.  I don't mind someone
soliciting help on their Audi Convertible, Thing, UPS, GTI, Lunar Lander or
whatnot, but having a thread about it is BORING.

It's not like off topic requests are that frequent...what a few times a
week.  How hard is it to delete a message with "Thing" in the subject line?

Humbly,

Cory
'90 Syncro Westy

> Since Bill opened the forum on our opinions on this issue of off-topic
posts:
>
> I have no experience with Things, so no help there. But I disagree with
the
> idea that one question seeking a recommendatin on obtaining a second car
to
> suppliment our sometimes fickle Vanagons is wildly off-topic--Especially
when
> you mention "Thing" in the subject line. I think a good number of us are
> interested in following posts that are slightly off topic--like
occassional
> threads about recommendations on other VW models which many of us own, the
> introduction of the "concept" 2002 Microbus, talk of the VW Sharan or New
> Beetle, or even other marques altogether within reason. So Jay, I think
you
> are looking in the right place for information. I'm just sorry I can't
offer
> any information specific to your question.
>
> Naturally questions come up from one source that many of us have questions
> about--sometimes current questions, sometimes future. The very nature of
the
> list is the public forum in which one person asks a question and many more
> benefit from the answer and discussion, new questions come up, tangent
> subjects take off, the whole thing snowballs and with luck we all have
more
> information than we had when we started.
>
> In my opinion, as far as the list goes the possibility of wasted band
width
> comes in when someone decides to dictate what is acceptable and then some
> Jackass like me feels the need to debate it further, promoting his own
views,
> and then the back and forth, and so on. To avoid all this one could argue
> that the list should be kept to Vanagon related issues and not discussion
of
> what one thinks should be on it.
>
> But I'm sure we can all benefit.
>
> And I should also mention I have learned a lot from seemingly off-topic
> information on the list like Bill D's own very informative posts on Gardia
a
> while back.
>
> In short, in my opnion, I don't think one Thing question threatens the
> integrity of the list.
>
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>
>
> n a message dated 2/7/2001 8:35:57 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> jayshark@ARACNET.COM writes:
>
> > well, now that my plan to buy a Syncro Vanagon has fallen apart (I
already
> >  have a 90GL) I'm feeling an urge to buy a Thing.  Does anybody have
one?
> >  Comments?  Good web resources?  I'd appreciate anything, as I don't
know
> >  much about these vehicles.
> >
>