Argh! Careful mods about shutting down threads based on hypotheticals

[H2O_Doc]

I applaud the no street racing discussions and closing of threads that discuss blatantly illegal activities, but I'd encourage the mods to be careful about overdoing it. An interesting technical thread was shutdown because it of a hypothetical situation where somebody said x would beat y in a race. Mind you, there was not expressed intent about engaging in said activity, it was solely a performance question.

I know that the primary intent is to avoid an environment where illegal street racing is openly discussed or publicly condoned. Again, I applaud this, but I hope we can avoid sloppiness in applying the rule. We don't want to be reactionary. Also, if we were to be consistent and apply the standard to illegal activity across the board, we'd have to shut down a lot more useful and interesting threads.

[Chuck33079]

This should go well.

Not that I don't agree to a certain extent, but I have a feeling this may not work out as planned.

[kenchan]

you mean that thread with that car with this and another car that has that and this doesn't?

very techinical indeed.

[H2O_Doc]

I should have addressed this in a different context; it wasn't about a single thread (n is > 1).

Also worth saying that I like the forum, I like the participants, and I appreciate the tough and largely thankless job the mods have. Mine is an obeservation and suggestion that can be contemplated or summarily dismissed. Just wanted to chime in.

[Chuck33079]

Originally Posted by H2O_Doc

I should have addressed this in a different context; it wasn't about a single thread (n is > 1).

Also worth saying that I like the forum, I like the participants, and I appreciate the tough and largely thankless job the mods have. Mine is an obeservation and suggestion that can be contemplated or summarily dismissed. Just wanted to chime in.

I get what you're saying. The problem isn't the mods. It's the users. We're all retarded. Give us a popsicle and we'll run with it. Even if the X vs Y thread doesn't start out as a racing thread, it'll end there. They're just cutting us off before we can get started.

[H2O_Doc]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I get what you're saying. The problem isn't the mods. It's the users. We're all retarded. Give us a popsicle and we'll run with it. Even if the X vs Y thread doesn't start out as a racing thread, it'll end there. They're just cutting us off before we can get started.

I think that is a reasonable response. Thanks for a thoughtful reply.

[4r3s]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

We're all retarded.

especially that Andrew guy ; )

[DEpointfive0]

I agree with Chuck as well.
And if member want to get really smart about it, just SAY its on a closed course, or something to that effect. I think the "rolling start at 40" part implies street racing (which it probably IS,) but just put "if we were on a closed track" or something to that effect.

And/or put something along the lines of "please don't post street racing stories, just hypothetical info will do fine, or info from track data"
Self moderate

[ElVee]

Of course, at some point someone will abuse the, "just a hypothetical..." defense and that idea will be gone.

[Vichtz]

I don't know what the deal is? Just don't talk about street racing. Ever. Why is that difficult?

[Mt Tam I am]

I never saw the thread(s) in question.

Hypotheticals must be allowed as part of the conversation here or anywhere.

Undoubtedly somebody will see the last answer and goes off with ex. "Last night the same thing happened to me where I smoked a .......... on the street." Then it all goes downhill and the thread closes.

I prefer the mods to scrub the thread if possible first, but I do not want their job. If someone thinks they can do a better job then step up to the plate and become a moderator. I never will, as I can not do a better job.

[Cmike2780]

There are thousands of places on the web to discuss illegal street racing without repercussions. Why not go there? Versus threads only lead to fighting and I don't think this is what the forum is about. When you start posting hypotheticals, they're just as bad as telling real stories. Why bother. There are thousands of other topics to talk about..... and legal venues and motorsports discussions are encouraged.

[H2O_Doc]

Originally Posted by ElVee

Of course, at some point someone will abuse the, "just a hypothetical..." defense and that idea will be gone.

I think that is actually manageable and both context and the "reasonable person" standard would make it not too difficult to call out. We can make adult decisions about when someone is hiding behind a cleaver lay crafted "hypothetical."

I think there is a difference between discussing illegal behavior as the primary theme of a thread, discussing technical matters or other issues that might be in the context of some questionable (or outright illegal) behavior, and discussing performance in an unfortunate context of illegal behavior. It also begs the question of where the limits are; e.g, my car shutters at 80 mph on the highway.

Having said this, I will again recognize the previous reasonable position that the mods made that they (through their ample experience) shut things down when they see the likely explicit discussion of illegal behavior coming even when it was only intimated in the actual thread. I haven't blogged in their shoes so to speak.

[damian_mb]

Streets closed pizza boy!


Someone will always bring up illegal activities, because kids are proud of it for some dumb reason. Even if the intent wasn't geared towards those activities, like chuck said, it's going to get there.

[H2O_Doc]

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

There are thousands of places on the web to discuss illegal street racing without repercussions. Why not go there? Versus threads only lead to fighting and I don't think this is what the forum is about. When you start posting hypotheticals, they're just as bad as telling real stories. Why bother. There are thousands of other topics to talk about..... and legal venues and motorsports discussions are encouraged.

This totally misses the point. I don't think illegal racing should be discussed here.