PSA from Road and Track: Don't be That Guy

[ScoobsMcGee]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...net-car-forum/

Okay, so maybe it dissolves into a plug for PCOTY, but still very true.

Originally Posted by R&T Article

That Forum Guy, on the other hand.... That Forum Guy has never driven any of the cars we drive and review here at R&T. More often than not, he's never even seen the cars in the metal. But he has a favorite car. He's read every article on that car. He's carefully chosen his favorite quarter-mile time and his favorite skidpad rating and his favorite laptime, usually from three different sources. If our real-world testing doesn't meet or beat those times, it's because we're idiots or we're deliberately sabotaging his favorite car. Obviously any negative comments about "his" car will enrage him, but even comments that aren't sufficiently positive are enough to arouse his ire.

[Tcoat]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Anybody that has ever read my many rants on the subject will understand that I would get along well with the author of that article!!!!!

"That Forum Guy, on the other hand.... That Forum Guy has never driven any of the cars we drive and review here at R&T. More often than not, he's never even seen the cars in the metal. But he has a favorite car. He's read every article on that car. He's carefully chosen his favorite quarter-mile time and his favorite skidpad rating and his favorite laptime, usually from three different sources. If our real-world testing doesn't meet or beat those times, it's because we're idiots or we're deliberately sabotaging his favorite car. Obviously any negative comments about "his" car will enrage him, but even comments that aren't sufficiently positive are enough to arouse his ire."

[daiheadjai]

I am still kinda surprised that Baruth ranked the FRS behind the Genesis Coupe and the Miata (back in the "The Truth About Cars" days). Felt like they were doing it to be different from the rest of the internet at the time.

Damn. Forum Guy confirmed.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by daiheadjai

I am still kinda surprised that Baruth ranked the FRS behind the Genesis Coupe and the Miata (back in the "The Truth About Cars" days). Felt like they were doing it to be different from the rest of the internet at the time.

Damn. Forum Guy confirmed.

Nah, TTAC always struck me as click-baity, more in line with Jalopnik than R&T, actually more click-baity than Jalopnik who were generally more kind to everything and TTAC was more inflammatory, like wannabe Jeremy Clarksons with less charm and more self righteous bite.

Baruth's writing style is much less aggressive on R&T, I don't expect him to repeat something like this again:

“This car,” Derek Kreindler told me as we grabbed third gear down Toronto Motorsports Park’s front straight, “is like a GT-R for a guy who lives in his mother’s basement.” He had a point.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ce-scion-fr-s/

He's also got a nod to the internet forum goer in his concluding paragraphs here too.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

like wannabe Jeremy Clarksons with less charm and more self righteous bite.

More self-righteous than Clarkson?! Didn't think that was possible.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

More self-righteous than Clarkson?! Didn't think that was possible.

I'll admit it impressed me, that's why I read so much of them when I was researching this car.

With respect to their criticisms in the article I linked, it was a big positive, the 86 is the middle child, and despite their assertions that Mazda could do it better, they haven't and I'm a happy owner.



Some samples from a quick google search, conveniently they put their inflammatory statements right on top.

A few years ago, I wrote an opinion piece about Porsche vandal tuner RWB and the ethical aspects of damaging historically valuable air-cooled 911s.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...song-sixpence/

The only reason this sort of thing isn’t happening more often is simple: Ninety-five percent of the time the Beings of Light who purchase Teslas are far too enlightened and post-modern to become involved with anything as disgusting and messy and hick-ish as the actual conception and parenting of children.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201.../#more-1215601


Don't get me wrong, I find a lot of his stuff funny, I'm not a totally humorless bastard, but damn does he come gallavanting in on a high horse.

[Captain Snooze]

Notice this is about "that guy" and not "this guy" so I'm safe.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Nah, TTAC always struck me as click-baity, more in line with Jalopnik than R&T, actually more click-baity than Jalopnik who were generally more kind to everything and TTAC was more inflammatory, like wannabe Jeremy Clarksons with less charm and more self righteous bite.

Baruth's writing style is much less aggressive on R&T, I don't expect him to repeat something like this again:



http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ce-scion-fr-s/

He's also got a nod to the internet forum goer in his concluding paragraphs here too.

It's funny, having met Baruth and Jevins in person, that article doesn't really bother me. Both are solid guys. I've chatted with Jevins about car setup (former chief instructor at Trackdaze - he knows his stuff) and also rode shotgun with Baruth a few laps when he was reviewing a C7 Vette. I get the sense that article was more click-bait than anything. Baruth is also a fan of big HP cars like the Vette and Viper, so that could be part of it too.

[daiheadjai]

He loved his Town Car too. He's an entertaining writer for sure though.

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[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I'll admit it impressed me, that's why I read so much of them when I was researching this car.

With respect to their criticisms in the article I linked, it was a big positive, the 86 is the middle child, and despite their assertions that Mazda could do it better, they haven't and I'm a happy owner.



Some samples from a quick google search, conveniently they put their inflammatory statements right on top.





http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...song-sixpence/



http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201.../#more-1215601


Don't get me wrong, I find a lot of his stuff funny, I'm not a totally humorless bastard, but damn does he come gallavanting in on a high horse.

Yeah he strikes me as a bit stuck up, with some hipster attitude tossed in there.


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[SVTSHC]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Nah, TTAC always struck me as click-baity, more in line with Jalopnik than R&T, actually more click-baity than Jalopnik who were generally more kind to everything and TTAC was more inflammatory, like wannabe Jeremy Clarksons with less charm and more self righteous bite.

Baruth's writing style is much less aggressive on R&T, I don't expect him to repeat something like this again:



http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...ce-scion-fr-s/

He's also got a nod to the internet forum goer in his concluding paragraphs here too.

Definitely click baity. This confirmed that I'm definitely "The Forum Guy".... on the inside at least.

[MokSpeed]

Originally Posted by ScoobsMcGee

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...net-car-forum/

Okay, so maybe it dissolves into a plug for PCOTY, but still very true.

Sadly the irony in this is that 90% of "car journalists" ARE The Forum Guy. Much like movie critics, I don't read their garbage and try to experience something first hand before having an opinion on the matter.

[Dave-ROR]

You want an internet battle of them forum guys?

Go to any turbo car forum (or hell this one) and say: I just removed the BOV/BPV off my <blah> (MR2 in my case) and the drivability is much better with less loss of boost on shifts.

Then wait for the argument on whether or not you are blowing up your car with compressor surge.

[daiheadjai]

Internet and civility: Never the twain shall meet.