Practical Bigotry

[SteveW77]

I always thought that the point of this forum was to provide useful information and practical tips about caravaning.

After reading some of the latest postings, it would appear to be a place to air vitriolic attacks on various section of the community ( 4x4 drivers, Disco drivers in particular )to the extent that a moderator has to step in. Why do the purveyors of these distorted views think that I or any other rational member of society have the least interest in their views.

Steve W

 

[sparkes]

Steve

The forum is completly managed by volunteers and not the mag. I have just come across that thread and agree with your comments. I will keep an eye on it and speak to the other MODs if any more attacks occur

Steve

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all,

I am sorry that some thinks this forum is only about caravans and all the nice things that can be said about them, and how wonderfull range rover discoverys are at every thing including there use as tow cars. and how boring would that be.

BUT it's not??? this forum for me is about people, ordinary people, you and me joe bloggs down the street lutz in germany and bruce in aus it's for anyone who wants to join and contribute.

and being ordinary people we all bring baggage with us, political, enviromental, likes and dislikes,lifestyles, and age,

yes it's a wonderful meeting point for discussion and advice where the new to caravanning can come and seek advice from the experienced and we can all benefit from the technical expertise of the people who contribute.

but unfortunatly this comes at a price, as personel preferences will eventually creep in to the disscussions and at times can get a bit personal that what the moderators are for.

wether anyone takes offence at certain comments made by others is also down to personel predudice

in the time I have been posting on this forum I have been called a troll (both kinds) an idiot. mentally deranged.a caveman. wrong. missinformed and a daily mail reader. (ouch) yet I have never been offended retaliated or asked the mods to step in.

however others do over some point they dont like but of course thats up to them.

a couple of observations I have made on this forum though its funny how certain subjects touch a raw nerve or two in some people and immediatly bring up the hackels and the 4x4s area one of them.

 

[MikeP]

This could become a "touching a raw nerve" thread. Others that I have noticed are:

1. People who tow at 99.8% strongly arguing how safe their outfit is and how the 85% figure is only a guide.

2. Criticizing children's behaviour and - by extension - their parents.

3. Criticizing dogs' behaviour and - by extension - their owners.

4. And the whole mop thing - that was unbelievable.

 

[Viking1]

One thing that get me is When all the fred is taken a way as it seem that the person who started the fred is be punished for some think that they did not start.

Mark

 

[BrianStAlbans]

That can be a problem Mark but if you look a lot of these threads are started by someone who then does not post again making me think that they are deliberately posted as a vehicle for others , or more correctly, their other identities to post their anti "whatever" dross.

Time for another clear out Mods.

Brian

 

[RiaandJames_374303418]

Questioning.

Yesterday I did a days supply teaching at a school where the Head spent most of the morning sorting out a problem from two weeks ago. Bullying that is rife within the school and behaviour that involves what can only be described as poor parenting outside the school. A local estate near our home has also had community resource money ploughed in to it to try and stop problems with children left to "run amok" and has parents that threaten and abuse anyone that challenges theirs or their children's behaviour.

Caravanning is a people / family activity and surely behaviour that is questioned every day in other parts of our society will also at times be seen on caravan sites.

Our choice is 4 x 4 SUV ownership and we have owned two Disco's and James uses them at work and has done so on and off for over twenty years.

Practical Caravan is a Haymarket Group publication as is What Car that has threads that spell out some of the horror stories Disco and some other car owners experience through poor quality and unreliability and poor dealer actions.

If negative comments can be posted on the web site of a magazine of the same ownership as this site, why is it such an issue here?

Our experience of certain cars we have owned or used has not been horrific like some peoples but we now avoid them as our experiences were to costly on our time and on the pocket and we would advise others to buy with caution, on this Forum it seems that we would face the wrath of others and the Mod's where as it quite acceptable on a sister publications web site.

Ria

 

[emmerson2]

SteveW, I have always regarded the forum as the virtual bar in my virtual local. Like any bar, it can get a bit hairy at times, but that is the nature of the people using it. In a bar, if you don't agree with someone else's viewpoint, you either leave, or ignore them and talk to someone else. The same applies here. Yes we do sometimes get people in here who come in just to cause trouble, but the Mods generally sort them out fairly quickly. For the rest of us, it's down to free speech. (witin reason) Take the "overweight caravanners" thread in "General". That has gone off on a totally diferent, and some might say, silly tangent, but I personally, am enjoying it. Isn't that what the forum is for?

 

[SteveW77]

If people expressed views like this in my local, they wouldn't be in the bar long enough to get p****d thats for sure. I do not object to people airing their views on any subject they choose, but why does it have to be done in such a nasty manner. If all these people have to worry about is other peoples choice of transport or anything else for that matter, then they must have an easy life. I am usually embroiled in my own problems to worry about anyone else.

Steve W

 

[mcghee]

If people expressed views like this in my local, they wouldn't be in the bar long enough to get p****d thats for sure. I do not object to people airing their views on any subject they choose, but why does it have to be done in such a nasty manner. If all these people have to worry about is other peoples choice of transport or anything else for that matter, then they must have an easy life. I am usually embroiled in my own problems to worry about anyone else.

Steve W

And yet you've got time to get on your soapbox about this

 

[sparkes]

Ria

the only posts that got removed where posted by a troll who registered many accounts and decided to use inappropriate words in their post.

If, as you indicate, I removed anti discovery posts then I suggest you re read the thread. Your posts are still there which proved you are incorrect.

Now, the rules of the forum are clear. The thread was closed and any further posts requested to be posted to towcars. We are within our right to pull the whole thread.

This is getting tiresome having to respond to users because they disagree with a troll account being removed. If you have a complaint, take it to MOD1. But, I am tired enough of this type of "I am right and the troll should have been left because I agree with them" attitude that I will leave them and allow the forum to return to the "good old days"

I hope you enjoy what will become of this forum once the mods get fed up of the complaints!

 

[SteveW77]

mcghee

5 Jun 2007 07:48 PM And yet you've got time to get on your soapbox about this

If asking for normal everyday common courtesy is being on a "Soapbox" then I plead guilty as charged.

Steve W

 

[mcghee]

You are right Steve, there is no need for nastiness on this forum. And there is no excuse for personal attacks or derogatory statements.

All I'm saying is if you don't have the time to woory about the people responsible for these contributions why bring it up?

Do what I do.

When you see a thread heading for the gutter take a step back and let the members who feel their ego needs a boost get on with it.

Chin up man

 

[colin-yorkshire]

steve W

what part of the disscussion about discos do you object to and what was done in a nasty manner I have read all the contributions made to the debate before it was closed from both sides as it were and could see any nasty remarkes made by either side.

its is obvious from the readings that the disco has a problem I cannot see as pointing this out as nasty.

I must also add that I did not see a contribution from your good self on the subject but you still made a complaint just the same.

also to steve the mod.

what is it about 4x4s that makes owners close ranks and go all hot under the collar as soon as negative point about them is raised?? yet the tow car section is full of contributions recomemding them or singing there praises.

if 4x4s are going to be a taboo subject on this forum. because it causes any fricton and hostility then all mention of 4x4s should be banned both positive and negative and then no one will have any cause to complain.

 

[sparkes]

4x4 discussions are not banned. But a rule of the forum states that if they are not in towcars then they will be deleted.

It is as simple as that.

 

[RiaandJames_374303418]

I'm very very sorry Steve, but I made no mention of removed posts and I was not making comment on your action.

My post was just by way of caravanning being a family activity and issues of general UK family life being brought up on the forum.

ie - Children and Dogs.

Both James and I have been left bemused by posts that vanished before we signed up to the site and since.

James has a subsciption to What Car and Practical Caravan and where as What Car's web site holds some very right strong negative veiws and accepts negative comment on productss and services we can not understand why it is frowned upon here and why some people seem to take acception to differing opinions.

Our questioning was in no way aimed at the moderators but at double standards when the two sites are owned by the same management.

Ria and James

 

[colin-yorkshire]

I see so you can sing there praises in tow car section but if theres a problem with one it cannot be mentioned in the towing driving and safty section is this right??/

 

[colin-yorkshire]

ps just looked in the forum rules I can't see that one in there

 

[sparkes]

colin

its a history thing. many 4x4 threads got out of control and it ended in many members complaining that all forums contained the same argument.

To control this we just stated that if you want the debate then its in the towcar forum. that way the debate can continue and the other members can be free of it invading every forum.

I think I did put a not on the thread saying to take further comments to the towcars forum. If its pro 4x4 or anti 4x4 then its OK. but personal attacks like the ones I removed will still be deleted.

So, as long as its in towcars and no personal attacks then debate your heart out.

 

[Lol1]

It is an old rule Colin, and a good one. As Steve says, the 4x4 argument was raised across the forum and it got very difficult to control.

To answer your other question, "What is it about 4x4s that makes owners close ranks". Can you name me any other part of the tow car world that gets such a negative press? So is it any wonder that 4x4 owners (those that actually know the cars involved) get defensive?

I'm sure if we all picked on BMW or for example, Volvo drivers, they would get pretty defensive too.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

mondeos are crap I know ive got one

 

[RobRoy]

Mondeos are great. I've got one.

Rob S.

 

[LizCornwall]

I Have one to. Liz

 

[LizCornwall]

I Have one to. Liz

But I would rather have a ????

 

[ThePlotter]

I am on my 6th Mondeo great cars.