Modern Vespa

Friends,

Modern Vespa has become what I can only think of as a runaway success, with almost 1400 users (at this moment) in under a year of operation. Thank you all for your continued contribution -- it was the the glaring need for a community that got me to launch this site, and what you all have created is exactly the kind of community that I was looking for. It is an honor and a privilege to be among you.

I want to take this moment to remind you all, especially the newer users, of the Modern Vespa posting guidelines. It's been at the top of the page all along, but I realize that most of us skip past the stickied posts and go straight to the new stuff. Understandable, but the posting guidelines (and the tone set by the early members of this forum) have become the true spirit by which we run this forum.

Please -- everyone -- take a moment to read these guidelines, which I have pasted below for your convenience. The moderators and I have been seeing a rise in the kind of behavior we work extremely hard to keep out of this forum. We ask for all of your help and cooperation in making sure that Modern Vespa remains a friendly, helpful environment.

Your humble servant,
Jess

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Posting Guidelines
Please read these guidelines before posting. Modern Vespa is a moderated forum, and we will remove anything that strays from these rules.

General Behavior
Be civil to one another. Treat everyone with respect. Stick to the one thing everyone here will want to talk about -- scooters. Keep it friendly and remember that not everyone shares your particular viewpoint, nor should anyone be ridiculed for not believing exactly as you do. Modern Vespa is a friendly community full of enthusiasts, not a place to bicker or grind your axe.

New Users
You are welcome here. Register an account, and introduce yourself if you'd like us to say hello. Lurking is okay too, but the forum will be easier to use if you register. Try to do a search (link at the top of every page) before asking a general question -- chances are, the question has been asked and answered several times already. If you can't find an answer via search, though, don't sweat it -- ask and we'll try to point you in the right direction.

Old Users
Please have patience with new users with regard to searching the forum before posting -- people new to the subject (any subject) often don't know the correct terminology and can become easily overwhelmed by too many search results returned for generic terms. Impatience with new users honestly does a disservice to everyone. We can become a better community and a better forum by welcoming new users instead of getting mad at them on their first post. If you can help a new user, please do so. If you know a past topic that would help them and don't mind pointing it out, please do so. Otherwise, just move on -- don't take it upon yourself to be the Search Cop.

Racist / Hate Speech
Racist or hate speech is strictly prohibited. Any posts in violation will be immediately and summarily removed and the poster will be immediately banned from the forum.

Political / Religious Topics
Posts of a political or religious nature are strictly prohibited, as they have nothing to do with scootering and tend to turn into flame wars. Nobody is ever persuaded to change sides in a political or religious discussion. Any posts in violation will be immediately and summarily removed and the poster will be warned against further infractions. Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum at my sole discretion.

Examples of an unacceptable political or religious post would be one including advocacy of a particular party, candidate, viewpoint, or religion, or any controversial topic related to politics or religion.

Personal Attacks
Personal attacks, even minor ones, are strictly prohibited. Any posts in violation will be immediately and summarily removed and the poster will be warned against further infractions. Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum at my sole discretion.

Argument vs. Debate
We welcome debate at Modern Vespa. We even welcome spirited debate. We do not tolerate outright arguing, especially when it crosses the line into personal attacks. Your words carry weight in this forum -- choose them wisely. If the moderators or I believe a post crosses the line, we'll remove it and ask the offending party to refrain from being argumentative. Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum at my sole discretion.

Pornography
Posts containing outright pornography are strictly prohibited. The moderators and I will have the sole and final decision on what constitutes pornography. Any posts in violation will be immediately and summarily removed and the poster will be warned against further infractions. Repeat offenders will be banned from the forum at my sole discretion.

Simple nudity probably does not constitute pornography, but context is everything. The moderators and I will have the sole and final decision as to what crosses the line. See next guideline for further clarification.

Off Color Posts
Off color humor, links, or pictures must be clearly marked both Off Color and, if applicable, NSFW (Not Safe For Work) in the main topic subject. Off-color posts should be kept to a minimum so as not to distract from the real purpose of Modern Vespa. The moderators and myself will have the sole and final decision as to what constitutes too many posts of this nature, or what crosses the line from simply off-color to offensive.

Most of all, have fun!
Scootering is supposed to be enjoyable -- that's why we're here. If you're not having fun, send me a private message and tell me what's on your mind. I'll do what I can.

This reaffirms my reasons I come back here so often.
This community remains intact due to these important guidlines. I totally agree with everything this forum adheres to. Thanks to all the moderators for there efforts. DR

Thanks Jess. I admit I was one of the newbies who didn't read the guidelines, didn't introduce myself & was totally clueless about searching for topics. I was gently pointed in the right direction. I have now seen the error of my ways & have really enjoyed spending hours reading through all the old posts. I've learned a tremendous amount of both useful & amusing info about everyone.
Thanks once again, everyone, for the great community.

I'll forgive you of all of these things if you will, in turn, gently point some newbie in the right direction someday, as someone did for you.

Hi Jess, well put and the reason this is such a great forum. I've really enjoyed comming to this forum and getting to know those regularly here.
Just wish I could find time to finish my Vespa restore so I could be riding like the rest of you.
Keep up the good work.
Wayne

You tricked me with a new post into reading the guidlines! jk I already read them, even though I haven't introduced myself. I have been a member of several forums and have learned that some moderators like for noobs to intro themselves while others get tired of a new thread being posted every time someone signs up. This is a unique forum because of the range of Vespa's from 50cc to 250cc. There is a bit of friendly sibling rivalry that I am having a lot of fun with, especially since I ride the red-headed step child 50cc.

The community standards and tone are why I come here rather than the "other" bb.

Thanks everyone,

Len

I found this forum from the "other" one, and have since forgotten that other one.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm feeling just aweful right now. Has anyone else noticed that we've finally driven Jess over the edge? His avatar is now in a straight jacket! Have we been that bad? I absolutely love coming to this forum every day, have learned all I know about Vespas here, and am confident that if I ever have a problem or need support of any kind, I can find it here. I love you guys!

Monica

Jess has worn that very straight jacket before, Kermit. It's becoming.

We are fortunate, in that we have such outstanding membership. That's why we flourish.

It's actually a moderator uprising. We're gonne dethrone Jess and take over

Jess has a point. Up 'till now this forum has been very good at maintaining a friendly atmosphere. With the growing number of members it's not as easy to keep an eye on everything. We don't want to act as a police force, so it's up to everyone who posts to keep it civil.

Thanks for the reminder Jess. I am glad to have this forum of great people to come to. I have noticed some of what you are refering to, and would like to thank everone for the cival tone that I enjoy.

This is far and above my favorite place to be on the internet, Beale.

I agree Jess and that is why I frequent this page daily and post relevant info when I can. I let myself slip the other day. It won't happen again. I apologize to all. I love this place and I don't want to see it get torn down like so many other forums.

best to all,
jason

I have to visit this post Hourly (don't tell my boss) if I didn't there is just too much new stuff that the misses would not be happy. caught between a rock and a hard place.

Jess, Thanks for giving us a playground to waste our valuable time in Quality site and members here at MV.

John

Jess,

I've driven motorcycles in my past; never driven scooters. After acquiring an interest recently, I began searching the internet for a site like Modern Vespa to learn what others know and to share what I know. This forum has been a delight, has been very helpful and has been a wonderful support group into a new interest. Thank YOU and thanks to all those who contribute to this site. Modern Vespa is an irreplaceable resource for those new and experienced alike to scootering!

John

Thanks Jess for picking up the nails n rocks for where we play and a big shout out to all our Moderators!!!!

this forum is great, and I can't even remember of any other scooter forums i used to be on

scott

After owning a vespa for 4 years its great to find a place on this here interweb full of decent and helpful people to share our wonderful interest with.
LONG MAY MV LIVE!!!

Nice vibes on this site. Lets keep it like that.
A soft answer turns away wrath.
RESPECT as Ella sang.
Cheers to all the righteous Dudes and Duddess's here
Old Mod

Jess,

Thanks for all your hard work! You have done a great job.

I too am thankfull for the tone on this site. I have been on other non Vespa forums and have finally given up the good resource the site used to be because it became unsafe and toxic to post. There is simply something about a Vespa that is whimsical and fun and this site reflects that. Thanks to all who watch over it. Oh yeah, nice trick to get me to read the guidlines

I'm on a few scooter forums: Yahoo POC, Yahoo Stella, Yahoo Kymcotech, Vespa Club of Cleveland, scooterbbs, Rovers-USA and now Modern Vespa. The enthusiasm of this bunch is tremendous. Only Rovers-USA rivals it in that regard. Wish I'd have found out about it sooner! Keep it up!

Is it possible to have a sticky "Introduction" slot under the General Forum, or even its own area? Or is it already there and I missed it?

New users are always welcome to start a new thread introducing themselves here in General Discussion.