I’m relatively new to the CR-V forum but, in the short time I have been here, I think I’ve noticed a bit of a decline in the quality of conversations. As a long-standing Honda owner, I’m genuinely surprised by that, because in all my other dealings with Honda owners I’ve generally found them to be an enthusiastic, intelligent, thoughtful, mild-mannered and sometimes very knowledgeable bunch.
This CR-V forum seems to be dominated by north Americans (it’s an important market for Honda) and, rather too often, the tone seems to be angry, aggressive or just ill-informed and ignorant. Examples include:
- People who can't achieve 25mpg in a CR-V hybrid (the model that I happen to have) and immediately blame everything apart from the fact that they live up a mountain at minus 20degC and are evidently disinterested in learning how their car works or how to drive efficiently.
- Long, opinionated and ill-informed “technical” monologues, incorrectly explaining how the Continuously Variable Transmission works on a CR-V hybrid (the Hybrid does not have a CVT), or how use its “paddle shifters” (the hybrid doesn’t have those either).
- New owners who bought their car having done little research, and who have seemingly come to the forum solely to demolish every feature of their CR-V, as a way of justifying their mistake and preserving their own self-belief. If you really don’t like CR-Vs, then I’m not sure that screeching angrily at other owners is going to help!
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In contrast, other forums that I’m on (classic Alfa Romeo, Honda CR-Z, Honda Insight) are notable for their much more empathetic and respectful tone, and for having a higher proportion of contributors with a real depth of knowledge and expertise that they offer freely and generously - presumably out of a selfless desire to assist others.
At best, a car forum is a place for like-minded people to chat, enthuse, learn, laugh, and to help each other where we can. On a good day, the CR-V forum undoubtedly achieves that - but maybe too often it seems to struggle.
So it’s down to each of us to play our part, to improve the tone and quality of our discussions, and to help ensure the forum feels like a good place to be.
Of course, you are most welcome to disagree with me. All I ask is that you try to do so respectfully, thoughtfully, intelligently – and preferably without screeching and ranting!