What is allowed on Tamiyaclub. Are we the club for you?

[netsmithUK]

Hi

A few of you might already have read 'feedback' left by a subscriber regarding being moderated in the showroom, of course its just another case of someone posting something which was both not RC related and against our rules in their showroom and us enforcing the rules and them feeling that we are control freaks restricting his civil liberties. It raised a few issues I thought was worth spelling out here. I also thought it would be useful to make a post rather than trying to explain this to people via email everytime - just to show I am not saying anything to them I am not saying to the whole of the club.

The club is never going to be all things to all people. The club provides the services as defined in the terms and conditions that everyone agrees to when signing up.Your £15.00 a year changes nothing with regards to the rules and you.

If you are looking for a service which will allow you to post anything you like in your showroom then Tamiyaclub is not for you.

If you are looking for a place where you can swear and have flame wars with other users then Tamiyaclub is not the place.

If you are looking for a place which lets you trade or request anything you like, rather than just RC related stuff then this club is not for you.

If you are looking for somewhere you can just ignore any rule you like then tamiyaclub is not for you.

Even if you break the rules with the intention of making a 'joke' its no excuse and will be treated the same way as someone who breaks the rules intentially. This is not because "we do not have a sense of humour" it is because every thing we let stand sets a precident. ie the next thing that gets posts which pushes the envelope of the rules a little further then refers back to it and says 'he did it - why can't I? Everytime we make any exception for and indivdual item, it returns to haunt us - I'm still in the final throws of sorting out the last one I made years ago. A good example of this is virtually everyone I've moderated the first thing they do is trawl back through the showrooms to find someone they feel has done the same thing (This proves my point about precident on its own) They may well find items too, but this is no reason to do the same, all this means is they've found an item we've missed. It happens, we miss stuff, the only wat we could not miss items is to make everyone go into a holding area where we 'clear' them before they go live - which just slows every ones new items down and treats everyone like kids even though the majority have no problem using the site within its rules.

As well as running a risk of breaking rules, 'jokes' also have the biggest potential for offending others, so I'd advise people to think about it before posting. That said if we see something we think crosses the line again we'll remove it. Its not personal its no big deal to us, we'd ask you to treat it the same way. Just put the moderation down to us having different views and move on.

We are Tamiyaclub, as  site thats all about RC and modelling related stuff and as far as the showroom and traderooms go thats the main thing our users look for when viewing the site. 95% of our members understand this and use us for what we are and even working within our rules those members, have had fun, made good trades and made good friends. None of our rules are there to prevent any of this.

We are on the brink of launching a whole bunch of new features, one of which is going to make it even easier for subscribers to highlight other users they think don't fully grasp the rules. People that use it are not 'cowards' they are doing the right thing, them trying to argue with the poster themselves is likely to go nowhere so reporting things to the moderators will get things sorted. 9 out of 10 times we send a friendly email and people move on.

There are lots of other sites you can use for a more liberal approach as to what is acceptable and what is not. There are other trading sites where you can buy and sell anything.

Lets keep tamiyaclub about rc models []  Its not rocket science.

No doubt this thread will drag on a bit driven by a few members, but as I said above percentage wise we are doing just fine, I guess these threads are really useful at trying to get the final 5% to understand where we are coming from. At the moment they seem to think that spending time on trivial stuff like this is something we do for kicks or powertrips, when really its just a chore that prevents us doing the fun stuff we'd rather be doing such as creating new features for the club.

I accept some people don't like the way we do things for whatever reason. I've tried to be frank and clear in this post stating how and why we do things. I'm hiding nothing, this is the way we run things. Everyone can then take a view as to wether this makes us the club for them or not.

Cheers

Chris

[Bigwheels_inc]

Does this mean you will get rid of all those photo's of real 1:1 cars people have reasontly been posting ?

sure hope so

Pete

[netsmithUK]

When the new system is released 1:1 will be allowed and have their own category, which will not show anywhere on the site unless people select to see them.

The reason for this is that we will have a new tab appearing by each model, 'Reference' probably, which will allow people to post real pictures of the real cars that inspired the models, for paint jobs, custom parts inspiration. The thought is then if you allow these real cars then why not let people post pictures of thier own real cars - again with all the bodies about it might be interesting to some people.

The key point is though, that these 1:1 cars (And all those added before now) will not show anywhere on the site, which as I said before is RC related after all, UNLESS visitors choose to search for them.

This should then actually add a valuable reference service to the site for those that want it and clear away all those 1:1 cars for those people that don't want to see it.

Chris

[rajicon]

I agree.

The rules are very clear. There will always be places to make

loopholes. But why waste the time of the moderators and everyone else

who enjoy Tamiyaclub for the excellent service it provides. And lets

face it, it is a valuable service to us all. We all know the rules. And

using commonsense and consideration to others we can easily figure out

what is acceptable on this site. This is a family site for people who have an interest of RC and Tamiya.

There are certain things that dont interest me. They fit within the

guidelines and deserve there place here for others who are interested.

Personally there is very little that offends me, but I understand that

they have the potential to offend others.

If a car in the showroom pushes your knees into your throat, you dont

buy it then complain to the manufacturer that its too small and for

them to rectify it. That car is not for you. Then why is there

anything  different to Tamiyaclub and the subscription. Everybody

knows the rules.

[netsmithUK]

I'm not saying anyone deliberately goes out of their way to break the rules or find loopholes, we are all human and no-one reads T&C which is fair enough. All I'm asking is when you have been moderated, don't take it personal or make it into something big thing, which its not.

The thing which really saps the strength is when you moderate someone, send them an email point out the rules and then rather than just saying "fair enough, I won't do it again" they instead bend over backwards trying to make it into some sort of moral crusade against "The Establishment" in order to justify thier actions.

Just take the moderation and move on.

Chris

[richytanimal]

I'd just like to say that I am very happy with the way TC is run and the way the forums etc are moderated. There is no other place around with anywhere near the amount of information and peoples knowledge that I have seen. Plus all the people I have traded with / spoken to / met for real[:$] have been great.

I think the rules are very clear but if you are not sure about what is or isn't allowed, you only have to ask.

Rich.

 

[ChrisB]

To my mind TC has always been pretty clear about what its about and whats acceptable and whats not, and if you are not sure then the mods will put you right, usually pretty reasonably in my experience - no hard feelings etc.

If its not for you though then fair enough, you can't please all of the people all of the time. I am pretty sure if people are not happy Chris has refunded subs and people can go on their way and hopefully find somewhere thats suits their needs better.

The recent Kidd meet just reminded me what a great club TC is - friendly people with an interest in RC's who like a bit of laugh, a chat and a beer or two. Maybe thats the difficulty if you can't make it to some of the meets - you don't get to put names to the faces and so everything revolves around the online side of things..... its so easy for misunderstandings to happen when you only intract with folks online.

I hope the parties involved decide to stay on as members - I think its always a shame to lose people from the club who have taken the time to participate and offer help to others.

Cheers,

Chris

[WILD WILLY]

Well put chris i have bent the rules once to which you sent me a email and i put it right i did'nt find your email out of order at all just a friendly don't do that again , people should'nt read too much into things !

[jozza]

I think that the rules are fine, and if you break them inadvertantly you will be moderated and that gives you the chance to sort out the misdemeanour. If you have a posting moderated then just accept it, make the changes and move on.

 

There does tend to be a degree of "vigilante moderation" which goes on, which I find annoying. If there's a rule-breaker, the Mods are constantly looking at the site and will sort it, or if you see something which you feel contravenes the rules, a private message to one of the site moderators will ensure it's attended to.

 

I think that the reaction to the moderation which I think has prompted this post might have been a bit disproportianate too; the pic in question was very nice, but this is a family site so therefore I understand why it needed to be taken off. Had it have been my posting I would have simply said "okay", removed the offending pic and carried on. But if people feel that they can't live with the rules then pulling out of the club is the only option.

 

It's a difficult job to make the rules which can keep the club content within the boundaries of taste and relevance, and I think that it has just about the right balance as it is. There have been sites that I've belonged to which have been very strict with moderation rules, to the extent where you worry about everything you say just in case it breaks a rule, but I think that Tamiyaclub has managed to keep the balance really well.

[WILD WILLY]

I also think that there should be some sort of rule for films as just at this moment in time there is a film of 1;1 cars on as much as its a ok film and it does all be it very thinly have ties to rc cars i dont think it should be up there , as like myself people have gone out taken film footage and edited it and put it on just to be pushed down the line by a put file video

I would just like to say i am not having a go at the person who has posted the film just pointing it out !

[richytanimal]

I agree with Wild Willy, please could the 1:1 cars video link be removed and put somewhere more appropriate such as in the Anything not rc related forum. People spend a lot of time and effort making their rc videos and although I do appreciate this particular video, it's just that it's not rc so belongs somewhere else.

Cheers.

Rich.

[Matt2000]

i agree. a link could have easily been posted on the forum in the 'other topics' section. i enjoyed the video, but i would enjoy a tamiya more. i just think that if i was ever moderated 'not yet', then it's only because the thing i posted should never have been there in the first place.

[Matt2000]

whoops clicked post twice

[TWINSET]

It does seem a lot of people are out to test the limits - all the petty uploads 'because he did it so I can' are really starting to get to me - I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but there seems to be a helluva lot of backbiting and sniping going on just lately.

 

If I got upset every time I got moderated, I'd own a chainsaw by now.

The guys moderating aren't out to annoy people, just keep TC 'as advertised' - a friendly place for nerds to talk about toy cars - NO WIMMIN (unless they got cars)

 

 

[petercabrio]

a moderated forum and website is the only way to go with this type of interest which is aimed (by the manufacturers ) at kids!!! we are all kids to some degree, but i would not have anu problem letting my child view any pages on the site

i have stepped over the lines a few times - by mistake and had a friendly email from the moderators advising me that the item in my traderoom is not RC and should be removed, NO PROBLEM thats what fleabay is for

enjoy the site, open a tin of paint, get out a manual and screwdriver and relax

 

ps - chris for some reason i get redirected to disney site when i try to get into TC since about last wednesday

[netsmithUK]

There are rules about movies the same as everything else - the item in question has now been removed as other movies featuring 1:1 cars in the past have been removed.

Like I said we don't montior every entry 24hrs a day, so sometimes things can stand for a few hours - the fact the appear and stay for a while doesn't mean they are ok or everyone should do the same etc. A friendly email to a mod will get it sorted the next time one is passing as happened in this case.

Cheers

Chris

 

[jozza]

If I got upset every time I got moderated, I'd own a chainsaw by now.

I've got a chainsaw I don't use - tell you what, I'll put it in my TC Traderoom for you mate []

[bangstick]

I was lucky enough to see the picture in question before it got removed. I personally thought it was no more riske than what you might see on any beach, much less in fact. Topless sunbathing is common if its warm enough. Thats the 'Its a family site' thing covered. I do agree it was'nt rc related but i bet a penny to a pinch of poo the people complaining were mainly jealous. I like to post things that are funny and perhaps push the boundries of whether they are rc related or not but i still think TC is the place for me despite getting my wrists slapped and even so i am told black marks against my name. Hope this doesn't gain me another one as i am just airing my opinion, after all opinions are like a**holes everyone has one and they usually stink lol ;-)

[netsmithUK]

Theres not problem having differences of opinions here - thats not really what this thread is about. Obviously everyone sees things differently and I've got no problem with that as long as it is within the rules.

You are right the image wasn't the worst in the world, you can see worse on TV, in magazines or even on the streets, no debate there. I'm not saying I personally didn't like it. Some members will think its great, some would prefer it with even less clothes. But the bottom line is its not allowed here so it shouldn't be posted.

As with lots of things you have to draw the line some where and many things can become the thin end of the wedge. If we let this one go, what about the next one that pushes it a bit further? We then get into detail trying to define just exactly is ok and what is not, maybe the width of g-string, maybe the exact degree of how far around the model is allowed to turn, etc etc - these are all things we don't want to waste our time debating on and all too grey, so we don't allow that type of image full stop. There are lots of other sites it would be fine on.

Its just like news papers, you have The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian etc and you have The Sun, The Star, The Sport etc. I'm not saying anyone should like any of them and not others, but what I am saying is people buy the one the like based on the content they expect to find. We are just the same - we have a standard we want to keep, people agree to that when joining and all we ask is they are true to their word. The image posted was not inkeeping with the site, it wasn't what people coming to this RC site would expect to see.

Cheers

Chris

[RETRO R/C]

You are right - I would much rather see scantily clad 3 speeds and naked scorchers!!

Thats why I come here! [A]

On the serious side though - we really do have to start pulling more

menmbers in to line. It is nothing personal at all - we want to keep

this the friendly place it has always been.

Cheers

Darryn

[bangstick]

Ok Chris point taken, but if anyone wants to discuss the finer points of G-strings PM me im all ears []

[BiggusDitchus]

Must admit im getting tired of some petty individuals, some showroom entries lately are ridiculous. If people dont like the rules then tough, either get used to em or go... if you get pulled up by police for doing 40 in a 30 limit do you start a discussion about whether the 30 should be a 30 limit etc,  I think the rules on here are pretty straightforward and fair and we have nothing to complain about.

With regards to the showroom entry that seems to have been mentioned here I wouldnt have been offended by the picture either, nothing more than you would see in a tabloid paper but the comments left were a bit much for a public/family site. 

[backtomyroots]

BiggusDitchus, you'd be surprised what excuses & debates I hear writing a ticket.  And yes, a lady did say to me the other day, and I quote "With all respect I think the limit should be 80 km/hr here" it was a 60 zone [].   Unfortunately no one takes responsibility for their own actions these days [].

[MikeT]

Backtomyroots, 80KMH Is 50MPH Right, LOL!

I agree with BiggusDitchus' Post, the rules are made by Chris and people should respect them. Because, in the end, it IS Chris' Site

 

Mike

[Toykid]

Thanks Chris, you have my support and great appreciation for providing such an excellent site all these years.

Lets keep it clean and within the lines people.

James.