Would you like to have a private forum for MG ZS EV owners?

[AussiePete]

Folks I am absolutely against this. Splitting the group creates a divide which is unnecessary as anyone in the group can contact others with PM if the want to discuss something out of the public eye. Forums like this present a place where people can learn, share and be part of a wider group with sharing at the heart.

There are also real issues with validating ZS EV ownership. Data Protection is one, photographs is another and what about people who sell their car do they get removed.

Please don’t do it, keep the group as one.

From a devout ZS EV owner

 

[AussiePete]

The suggestion was made to be by a member who wanted to post sensitive/private/leaked information about the car that they did not want the manufacturer or anyone else outside of the community to see.

I would create a new child forum of this forum which would be visible to all, but only open to those members who are manually added to a new user group.

The disadvantage of private forums is that they require someone to grant (and maybe revoke) access.

The advantage is that it gives privacy for members under certain (probably rare) circumstances that they are needed.

GDPR is a consideration and I certainly don't want to get involved with gathering any more information than is absolutely necessary. Honestly I would rather the community appoint someone who they trust to confirm ownership, and that person manages admission to the private forum.

@Stuart Wright it just won’t work. A manufacturer will have a ZS EV and will register ?

 

[AussiePete]

Yes protection issues are a bit worrying however it is my understanding some of the discussions we have had especially concerning the comfort 2 update could land us in trouble with MG. Exactly what the issues are is unclear but it relates to information MG sends "in confidence" to their dealerships coming out in the open.
For example the specific instructions that customers should be charged for the comfort 2 update etc. Apparently this could have enabled a class action which may cause legal problems and delays for MG.

How would it land us (MG owners) in trouble with MG?!?!?!

It may land dealers in trouble, but then the dealers have a duty of care to their customers and must act in an honest and fair manner - unless of course dealers want to land in trouble with their customers and be plastered across the press for being unfair. In any case dealers have ways to share without exposing themselves.

 

[AussiePete]

There is now a private forum for Premium Members. This is an area where members can talk about any subject out of the public eye.

@Stuart Wright - are you saying you’ve now setup a private ZS EV group even though the vote said not too?

 

[Paulie68]

@Stuart Wright - are you saying you’ve now setup a private ZS EV group even though the vote said not too?

Edited, Unfair assumptions made, so I'm taking them back.

 

[KasEV]

How would it land us (MG owners) in trouble with MG?!?!?!

It may land dealers in trouble, but then the dealers have a duty of care to their customers and must act in an honest and fair manner - unless of course dealers want to land in trouble with their customers and be plastered across the press for being unfair. In any case dealers have ways to share without exposing themselves.

@AussiePete
Not sure of the exact legal details and circumstances but I am told it would be illegal to share information which we have not directly received and been granted permission to share. This is not only in relation to MG. Applies to anyone else.

 

[KasEV]

Looks like it, private forum just for those who stump up £36pa.

Stuart isn't an MG owner, so I assume he's running the forum for a profit, rather than for the love of the marque. This is fine, we all have to earn a quid, but it's the wrong way to do it in my book.

@Paulie68,
I am in absolute agreement with you.
I think we will end up with a 2 tier forum with those can not afford or do not want to pay losing out on some of the discussions.

 

[Gomev]

@AussiePete
Not sure of the exact legal details and circumstances but I am told it would be illegal to share information which we have not directly received and been granted permission to share. This is not only in relation to MG. Applies to anyone else.

So basically illegal to share any piece of information we hear regarding anything from anyone anywhere !

 

[jamesie]

Looks like it, private forum just for those who stump up £36pa.

Stuart isn't an MG owner, so I assume he's running the forum for a profit, rather than for the love of the marque. This is fine, we all have to earn a quid, but it's the wrong way to do it in my book.

To be fair to Stuart he will have costs for the hosting of the forum and his own time for the development of the forum and moderation. It's no different really to YouTubers that use Patreon to raise funds and give further information/privileges dependent on the level of subscription.

We don't have to pay a membership fee. The Premium Members don't have to post in the private forum. So, there's no pressure really. Not sure why anyone would want to post in a private forum anyway, tbh.

 

[Stuart Wright]

So there we have the real reason for the question... looking to increase monetisation of the forum by bilking £36pa from as many of us as possible to be in the secret forum club...

No, when I posted this poll (8 months ago), it was originally to address a question from someone who wanted to post information not viewable by the MG organisation.
Creating a private forum is a trivial thing to do and so I did it for Premium Members to give them a place where they can discuss things out of the public view. Anyone who wants to register as a premium member can do so to use that forum.
I posted a reply here because it's a private forum which some people might be interested in.

As a prospective but not an actual owner yet, I think this is a completely unproductive and devious proposal. There are quite enough secret societies on the Internet already, without limiting free speech and information here.
ZZDave

Yeah, like Facebook groups which you have to request to join before you can see any of their content.
It sounds like you're not aware that speech is limited by the UK's law. The classic example from the US is

shouting FIRE in a movie theater.

And on a forum speech is further limited. You can't use certain swear words on here, for example. So there is no such thing as 'free speech' in public. On MGEVs.com, it's about as free as it can be while maintaining something that most people will actually want to join in with, though.

There are also real issues with validating ZS EV ownership. Data Protection is one, photographs is another and what about people who sell their car do they get removed.

The purpose of the private forum is different from the original purpose proposed here. Originally it was to share information which people preferred MG not to read. Now it's simply for Premium Members to use rather like an exclusive lounge at an airport.

@Stuart Wright it just won’t work. A manufacturer will have a ZS EV and will register

The purpose has changed, so that's not a relevant consideration any more.

Stuart isn't an MG owner, so I assume he's running the forum for a profit, rather than for the love of the marque. This is fine, we all have to earn a quid, but it's the wrong way to do it in my book.

Ok, I really don't like it when people start to make assumptions about me that are so wrong.

As my signature states, I started the forum because I saw the ZS EV in 2019, I was impressed and thought that it would be a successful car. If I was going to start a forum to make money, I certainly wouldn't make it about one specific type of car (electric) from one specific manufacturer. Who is going to advertise? MG themselves, MG dealers and accessory retailers and manufacturers. Plus companies who want to appeal to people who would buy an MG rather than, say, a Tesla. That's it. A market that's so small, it's honestly not worth bothering with.

My other forum, AVForums.com has advertisers from the TV, home cinema, hi-fi and tech industries, both retailers and manufacturers. So I know full well that if I'm going to start a forum for money, it needs to be about something with way more revenue generation potential than the MG ZS EV (remembering that in 2019, there was no sign of any other electric MG coming).

Given the amount of time and money that I've already put and will continue to put into growing this forum, it's unlikely to make a profit for years, if ever. If my time is taken into consideration, AVForums.com didn't make a profit for maybe the first 8 years. Ballpark.

So do not start making assumptions about what my motivations are.

I'm growing this forum because I think the subject of the forum warrants a dedicated community and I'm enjoying it. Except when I read comments like yours @Paulie68.

I wanted to let people know that there is now a private forum and, yes, I want you to pay for access if you want it as well as supporting the forum and the podcast.
It was probably a mistake to post a reply in this thread, since this thread is about a private forum with a different intention.

 

[KasEV]

So basically illegal to share any piece of information we hear regarding anything from anyone anywhere !

@Gomev
I think if you want to take it to the extreme then you can interpret like that and in fact that is exactly the judgement that was recently given in the high court in the case of Megan and Harry vs The Sun newspaper.
In our case the fact that MG writes a letter to a dealership doesn't mean we can then start sharing the content of said letter without MGs permission. If you need more information on this you may want t to check the judgement in the Megan and Harry case and the legal reviews.

 

[Les burrows]

I have only just found this thread and read what’s on it so far, one thing nobody seem to have mentioned is that is MGEVs is not the only forum that has discussions about the ZS ev, there is also Speak ev, and the MGs owners club forums, both of which several members on this forum MGEV that are also members on the others I have just listed and there may well be others also that I’m unaware of.

If anyone thinks that MG, or any other vehicle manufacturer does not know about or monitor forums to what ever degree they must be stupid, if there are comments good or bad about anything they produce the best thing is for them to see them comments and if they are meaningful comments they would be stupid not to pay attention to them be they good or bad and to act upon them.

I don’t know the the split or the figures but all these forums appear to have more negative than positive discussions at times, thats because people join these forums at first when they are considering buying that make or model of vehicle or if they have problems with one, and they can be influenced one way or the other by the forums, so it is very much in the manufactures interest to monitor them, and to sort out any problems that are being discussed and then inform people be it there dealers or owners that they are doing so, also on the other side it is also very good to post the positive opinions they can read as well so they can continue with and where possible make improvements to or add to other models in there range

So I don’t see the point in a area only being available to certain members as the same comments and information is in other places anyhow, plus if this is for ZS owners only what about MG5 or HS owners I’m sure there are similar good and bad points across the range, plus someone said earlier Stuart might not be eligible to be a member of this new arm as he does not drive an MG and maybe Miles of Chorley group might not be eligible as he is an employee of an MG dealership so we could also loose he’s very informative inputs on the forum also.
Think about it
Les

 

[Tim Green]

Absolutely, everything should be out there, end of story.

 

[AussiePete]

@AussiePete
Not sure of the exact legal details and circumstances but I am told it would be illegal to share information which we have not directly received and been granted permission to share. This is not only in relation to MG. Applies to anyone else.

KasEV, tell me any other retailer which has litigated against its consumers for any reason.

If there is an issue which effects consumers you have some protection under whistleblower legislation.

 

[AussiePete]

@Stuart Wright if the purpose of the premium forum is different, then what is its purpose?

Forums get their value from contributions by members, which is given in return for membership. I initially joined this group due to the openness of sharing of information, I don't join or contribute to "exclusive" groups where they choose to segregate some from others.

You've also mentioned FB groups where content is closed to the group. Yes there are groups like that, however in general membership is open to anyone - there is no criteria for membership other than to ask to join.

I will now reconsider my membership of this forum and the sharing of information which I have been doing for the benefit of the forums members.

 

[Paulie68]

No, when I posted this poll (8 months ago), it was originally to address a question from someone who wanted to post information not viewable by the MG organisation.
Creating a private forum is a trivial thing to do and so I did it for Premium Members to give them a place where they can discuss things out of the public view. Anyone who wants to register as a premium member can do so to use that forum.
I posted a reply here because it's a private forum which some people might be interested in.


Yeah, like Facebook groups which you have to request to join before you can see any of their content.
It sounds like you're not aware that speech is limited by the UK's law. The classic example from the US is

And on a forum speech is further limited. You can't use certain swear words on here, for example. So there is no such thing as 'free speech' in public. On MGEVs.com, it's about as free as it can be while maintaining something that most people will actually want to join in with, though.


The purpose of the private forum is different from the original purpose proposed here. Originally it was to share information which people preferred MG not to read. Now it's simply for Premium Members to use rather like an exclusive lounge at an airport.

The purpose has changed, so that's not a relevant consideration any more.

Ok, I really don't like it when people start to make assumptions about me that are so wrong.

As my signature states, I started the forum because I saw the ZS EV in 2019, I was impressed and thought that it would be a successful car. If I was going to start a forum to make money, I certainly wouldn't make it about one specific type of car (electric) from one specific manufacturer. Who is going to advertise? MG themselves, MG dealers and accessory retailers and manufacturers. Plus companies who want to appeal to people who would buy an MG. Rather than, say, a Tesla. That's it. A market that's so small, it's honestly not worth bothering with.

My other forum, AVForums.com has advertisers from the TV, home cinema, hi-fi and tech industries, both retailers and manufacturers. So I know full well that if I'm going to start a forum for money, it needs to be about something with way more revenue generation potential than the MG ZS EV (remembering that in 2019, there was no sign of any other electric MG coming).

Given the amount of time and money that I've already put and will continue to put into growing this forum, it's unlikely to make a profit for years, if ever. If my time is taken into consideration, AVForums.com didn't make a profit for maybe the first 8 years. Ballpark.

So do not start making assumptions about what my motivations are.

I'm growing this forum because I think the subject of the forum warrants a dedicated community and I'm enjoying it. Except when I read comments like yours @Paulie68.

I wanted to let people know that there is now a private forum and, yes, I want you to pay for access if you want it as well as supporting the forum and the podcast.
It was probably a mistake to post a reply in this thread, since this thread is about a private forum with a different intention.

Hi Stuart, You're right, I take back my assumptions about your intentions, my apologies, the wording was too harsh and I meant no offence. I do think having a Paywall between members and some sections of the forums isn't the way to go, but it's your forum to manage as you wish.

 

[JodyS21]

No, when I posted this poll (8 months ago), it was originally to address a question from someone who wanted to post information not viewable by the MG organisation.
Creating a private forum is a trivial thing to do and so I did it for Premium Members to give them a place where they can discuss things out of the public view. Anyone who wants to register as a premium member can do so to use that forum.
I posted a reply here because it's a private forum which some people might be interested in.


Yeah, like Facebook groups which you have to request to join before you can see any of their content.
It sounds like you're not aware that speech is limited by the UK's law. The classic example from the US is

And on a forum speech is further limited. You can't use certain swear words on here, for example. So there is no such thing as 'free speech' in public. On MGEVs.com, it's about as free as it can be while maintaining something that most people will actually want to join in with, though.


The purpose of the private forum is different from the original purpose proposed here. Originally it was to share information which people preferred MG not to read. Now it's simply for Premium Members to use rather like an exclusive lounge at an airport.

The purpose has changed, so that's not a relevant consideration any more.

Ok, I really don't like it when people start to make assumptions about me that are so wrong.

As my signature states, I started the forum because I saw the ZS EV in 2019, I was impressed and thought that it would be a successful car. If I was going to start a forum to make money, I certainly wouldn't make it about one specific type of car (electric) from one specific manufacturer. Who is going to advertise? MG themselves, MG dealers and accessory retailers and manufacturers. Plus companies who want to appeal to people who would buy an MG. Rather than, say, a Tesla. That's it. A market that's so small, it's honestly not worth bothering with.

My other forum, AVForums.com has advertisers from the TV, home cinema, hi-fi and tech industries, both retailers and manufacturers. So I know full well that if I'm going to start a forum for money, it needs to be about something with way more revenue generation potential than the MG ZS EV (remembering that in 2019, there was no sign of any other electric MG coming).

Given the amount of time and money that I've already put and will continue to put into growing this forum, it's unlikely to make a profit for years, if ever. If my time is taken into consideration, AVForums.com didn't make a profit for maybe the first 8 years. Ballpark.

So do not start making assumptions about what my motivations are.

I'm growing this forum because I think the subject of the forum warrants a dedicated community and I'm enjoying it. Except when I read comments like yours @Paulie68.

I wanted to let people know that there is now a private forum and, yes, I want you to pay for access if you want it as well as supporting the forum and the podcast.
It was probably a mistake to post a reply in this thread, since this thread is about a private forum with a different intention.

Wow Stuart, so you are Mr AVForum. Well done mate you did well there, I used to use it a fair bit.

 

[Stuart Wright]

@Stuart Wright if the purpose of the premium forum is different, then what is its purpose?

Forums get their value from contributions by members, which is given in return for membership. I initially joined this group due to the openness of sharing of information, I don't join or contribute to "exclusive" groups where they choose to segregate some from others.

You've also mentioned FB groups where content is closed to the group. Yes there are groups like that, however in general membership is open to anyone - there is no criteria for membership other than to ask to join.

I will now reconsider my membership of this forum and the sharing of information which I have been doing for the benefit of the forums members.

I really don't understand why anyone would have an objection to a forum for Premium Members to chat. It's like standing outside an airport lounge for frequent flyers and shouting that you object there being a lounge for them to use.
Ridiculous.
Anyway since I can't actually think of a reason myself why anyone would post in there, I've removed it for now.