Posted by
SolitaireKing
One simple question - How does "Add Friend" help me grow my forum and the information qualitatively and quantitatively? Please convince me.
And as far as I know with my association with CarWale, its a technical forum to discuss technical things. It has no where, absolutely no where any kind of topic or discussion which says or projects an image of "Social Networking" site thing. "Add Friend" option looks more apt to Social Networking sites because there you want to grow your network and then you are interested in any kind of information. Here, its opposite, you come to the forum looking for information and then get into a network of CarWale Family which is open to all.
And when I say CarWale Family, mind it, I would not allow anyone to create differences in my family by giving such options. You agree or not but it does create differences. So this option is mostly ruled out straight forward for reasons explained above.
.....
Have I met centaur till date? Do I know how sanshiranand looks like? But still they are my fellow mods and friends. If anything personal I need to talk I use PM. Thats enough. Isnt it? With only these options my purpose of being in CarWale is served - To learn about Cars and and share what I know about Cars. And I just dont feel that we need "Add Friend" option for that. Period.
I think this reply sums it up. IMO, any new member that joins here will be considered as a friend itself. It is just that the friendliness increases once people are regular, and once people start helping each other in various queries. Even if an 'Add friend' option would be there, tell me how many people will accept your request without knowing you? Speaking on the lines of facebook etc, I do not accept unknown requests. Same way, its better you introduce yourself in the open forum, get along in the discussion, gain/share knowledge and build up a rapport with members.
Dear Nithrath, I think CW already has a passionate environment for discussions. Moderating is limited to the extent of maintaining quality of discussions and we do not prevent new members from posting, or otherwise. Please do stay back with us, and you shall surely build up friendships as time passes by. It is not as simple as adding a friend 
There are members here who contribute regularly, and virtually we are all friends. Instead of creating sub-circles within this community by maintaining a selected list of friends, its better we all be as one huge community.
Every time we think of enjoying smooth, silent and killer petrol engines, they call a rise in petrol prices!