Received my renewal form today, which is interesting timing since MMBA is going through a transformation right now. There's two faces to the MMBA: The forums and everything else. Other than the trail guide, the forums are garbage. Don't believe me, go post a question on any thread. You will be attacked from all angles. You want real mountain biking information, your way better off at MTBR or another forum.
Now MMBA the advocacy group. The problem here is that the forums is the face of the MMBA. That's where most people interact. The MMBA does all this great advocacy work, yet unless you go to the forums, you won't know much about it. I would NEVER recommend anybody to the MMBA forums and have many times told people not to go to the forums. When I joined, I was told not to go to the forums.
For all the good it does, I shouldn't have such a negative image of the MMBA. All from a forum where some of the bad posters are not even members. I think maybe I need a break from MMBA. Give it time to evolve and mature. Let my membership lapse for a year or two and then come back and see how things have progressed.
I couldn't agree more. MMBA is a great organization tainted by forums dominated by immature assholes. I asked a question on a race and the first three replies were just useless garbage insulting my intelligence. I had one post on those forums and that is it. I haven't been an MMBA member in 4 years just because I was so insulted that i don't want a dime of my money going to support those dicks. The advocacy suffers because of those forums. They'd be much better off just getting rid of it.
ReplyDeleteI second the comment above. I haven't been to MMBA.org in well over a year.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is that you don't even need to be a member of MMBA to post on the forums. Judging a whole organization by the response of a few anonymous posters seems nearly as immature.
ReplyDeleteThe money spent for membership doesn't go to support the forum posters, or the forums or website, in any form.
I guess the voice of a few people (members and non-members) represent the whole organization, huh?
ReplyDeleteI remember Darren's one and only post. I believe he was asking about the Ruby XC race back in 2008, maybe 2007. The first two replies were people insulting him and his lack of knowledge. I believe Darren is co-owner of a bike shop now, could be wrong. Been awhile since touched base.
ReplyDeleteCan't really turn off the forums from non-members in case somebody from out of state wants to venture too michigan and needs trail info.
There's a snowboard site that makes you become a member in order to reply to threads, otherwise you can read all you want. For people traveling, they had a section for outsiders to ask questions all they wanted without becoming a member. I haven't been to that site in while but I think I have it bookmarked somewhere. Membership was $5, but you got great coupons to ski resorts.
I can see their perspective against the MMBA. The organization is hosting the website so they are ultimately the responsible party. I have no plans on returning to the forums other than to check racing updates and/or trail conditions. There are too many other forums on MTBing that are actually constructive.
Guppie,
ReplyDeleteThe MMBA is currently going over its forum rules and revising a bit. The MMBA has already started cracking down more, but I do agree that more needs to be done. I am trying to work toward a better system.
Mind you, this will apply to *everyone.* Under the proposal, if someone insults you, it will *not* be acceptable for you to reply back with an insult or a chastisement (because that is in violation of the rules and makes the forum exactly what you are complaining about).
Users will be strongly encouraged to use the "report this" button on the offending post so the moderators can delete the appropriate posts. If a moderator says something offensive, again, use the "report this" button. In addition to reporting the post, if you feel that there is an "abuse of power," then you can email the board, or the president, VP, communications, or whoever you are comfortable with.
It will be a process, but it is one that has been implemented in another forum that now has a great reputation.
Regarding MMBA.org as a whole, it is much more than just a forum. The MMBA posts a lot of our important information on the main page, and the website is an archive of lots of information. Check it out.
...and yes, this blog comment is my opinion and does not represent the MMBA, but it does reflect some things that I am currently trying to work on.
You can really narrow down the offending posters to just a handful of people. I went over and looked at Guppies post on the Tailwind topic and saw that somebody actually took the time to reply just to insult him. Nothing constructive, just insult. That's the culture of the forums.
ReplyDeleteYou should still send in your renewal.