Apr 10th, 2011
If you’re viewing this post on a mobile device you’re likely pretty happy. A few weeks ago the pinch and zoom functionality built into the iPhone (and other mobile devices) simply quit working on MF. Why? We’re still trying to sort that out. But due to the issue we felt it was the right time to roll-out the new mobile version of MotoringFile that we’d been working on for the past few months. It’s designed to be used as a standard mobile site or a web app. Why not spend our time building an iOS specific app? With the very fragmented Android growing alongside iOS we felt a web based app that took advantage general touch platforms was the best way to go at this time.
Of course there’s still work to do. For starters we’re still are working on fixing the root issue that led us to launch the mobile site sooner (specifically as it affects the iPad). However we’re ready for you to start using MotoringFile Mobile. As always let us know what you think via our the comments below.
Apr 10th, 2011
After seven plus years of essentially the same commenting system on MF, we’re completely starting over. Starting immediately we’re moving all new and existing comments to the Disqus commenting system. So what does this mean to you the reader of MotoringFile? Quite a bit really. Read on for the details.
continued →
Feb 9th, 2011
I’m not even sure what to say here, folks, to be honest with you. Last night Gabe and I pulled more than 25 comments from the MINI Super Bowl commercial post before just closing comments all together. I’ve seen some sniping and name calling on MotoringFile before (and been on the receiving end of it), but I’ve never seen anything quite like what I read through last night. So, I have a few things to say this morning.
First, an apology for not moderating that thread more closely. It got out of hand and Gabe and I didn’t have our eye on it until it got so bad that people were actually writing in on the Contact page. You would think that on a site full of MINI fans, we wouldn’t have to moderate every single comment moment by moment, but it looks like sometimes that’s the case. Either way, I pulled more nasty comments last night on this one post than the whole time I’ve been Editor here at MotoringFile and I really wish I would have gotten to them sooner.
Second, let’s clarify once and for all what is and isn’t acceptable in the comments.
We want to see more of this:
- Please have an opinion about MINI stuff
- Please disagree with me and Gabe
- Please disagree with each other
- Like things
- Dislike things
- Be passionate
- Be ornery
- Be skeptical
- Be enthusiastic enthusiasts
- Defend the automatic transmission
- Love your clutch
- Hate the very idea of the Countryman
- Passionately endorse your R56 Cooper
All of these things aren’t just acceptable, they’re encouraged. I didn’t delete any comments just because the commenter didn’t like the ad. Hell, I didn’t like it either.
However, we don’t want any of this:
- Trolling (leaving comments with the sole purpose of pushing people’s buttons)
- Thread hijacking (the R53 is great, but that has nothing to do with this post about the Countryman)
- Name calling
- Ad hominem — This is the big one. Disagree with ideas and even specific people all you like, but let’s stop attacking the author his or herself just because we disagree with them.
- Defamation — This includes race, orientation, geography, automatic transmission preferences, politics, pizza preferences, etc.
We’re all on the same team here, folks. We’re better than this. We’re MINI enthusiasts. This is not YouTube. This isn’t a free-for-all message board. This is MotoringFile. This site is one of the reasons I bought a MINI in the first place and I’m thrilled to be a part of it now in the Editor role. MF wouldn’t be what it is without our readers and yes, our commenters. What I read in the comments for that post is nothing new, but it certainly hit a new low. We’re better than this.
continued →
Jan 6th, 2011
Some folks have written in about where the Pandora post has gone. We were asking the same question. We’re working with our host to recover the post and the comments. Stay tuned.
Oct 20th, 2010
Some of you may have noticed a familiar name showing up a lot more often at the bottom of posts here on MotoringFile in the past few weeks. Part of our recent call for contributors was to find someone to coordinate posts and fellow contributors for the site. We’re pleased to announce that Nathaniel has volunteered to take on that role. He’ll be posting stories day-to-day and bringing his flavor of editorial opinion to MotoringFile on a more regular basis.
A MF commenter and contributor since 2005, Nathaniel became a MINI owner in 2006, snagging one of the last R53s to roll out of Oxford. Sixty thousand miles and five years later, his passion for MINI is stronger than ever. We’re excited to have him onboard.
You can connect with Nathaniel on his blog, at Project Streetliner and on Twitter. continued →
Oct 6th, 2010
MINI USA has invited us down to Austin Texas today and tomorrow to drive the entire 2011 MINI model range. We’ll be getting more seat-time in the Countryman as well as another look a the updated R55, R56 and R57 models. And there’s even a rumor that Countryman pricing will make an appearance at the event. You’ll see updates via our twitter account and photos at MotoringFile’s Flickr page
continued →
Apr 16th, 2010
A wrap-up is coming this week with results and tons of photos.
Things will be a little quiet this weekend at MF as myself and a few frequent contributors are heading to Michigan for this weekend’s 24 Hours of LeMons at the Gingerman road course.
This is our second race (see a recap of our first race last year) and I have to admit I’m feeling pretty confident a decent showing. Out of respect for the rules of LeMons (cars can’t cost more than $500 including upgrades) I can’t say what we’ve covertly upgraded or replaced, but lets just say we’ve made some changes (yes those rear wheels are OZ Ultraleggeras off of a MINI).
We also managed to talk BMW into giving us what could be the ultimate team support car, the new 550 GT (we would have loved a MINI Countryman but those are off-limits to the public until later this year).
If you are interested in getting regular updates, you can follow our progress on my personal Twitter feed: @Gabrielbridger
continued →
