rec.autos.simulators

I know, I know, "you don't HAVE to post there" or "if you don't like
the rules, leave" etc., but what USED to be a superior website for all
things Sim Racing, is now a website for supersized egos and
mega-powertrippers.

I got a warning for postig a link to a video of David
Coulthard doing a qualifying lap back in 2002. This video
was widely available back then, and I believe to be
public domain. One of the moderators gave me a warning
for posting a link to this video claiming he thought it
was copywrighted. I explained that it was widely available,
but his response is that the warning only lasted a week,
rather than try to defend his position. So it's "guilty"
until proven innocent.

I responded that labeling a person's posts with warning
avatars was similar to defamation of character. Then mbrio
jumped in on the thread and asked me to send a letter
stating I wouldn't sue then and agree to their terms.

Instead I told them I was leaving RSC, considered all of
my posts to be copywrighted and that they no longer had
permission to host them. So they ended up deleting
over 700 posts I had made over the years.

It would have been tested in court if they didn't remove them.
(Read on to see the basis for this).

Nothing in the rules at RSC or the agreement when you join gives them
permission to publicly attach warning avatars to every post you make.
In my experience these are handed out on a "assumed guilty until
proven innocent" basis, they aren't fair, and violate their own rule:

"4.1 - Any content that is false, abusive, defamatory, or harassing
is not permitted."

Every warning avatar attached by RSC is "content that is abusive and
harassing". In my case they were also "false and defamatory".

I consider the attachment of warning avatars to a person's posts to be
a violation of the agreement when I joined RSC. My posts at RSC were
a part of this agreement, and they had my implicit permission to
display my copyrighted posts, until they violated the agreement.

They gave me an ultimatim of either sending a letter agreeing to
be abused by their posting of warning avatars or be banned. I had
already responded that I considered the warning avatars to be
a defamation of character. Mbrio responded that they were afraid
of being sued by anyone that considered their behavior to be
defmation of character, and were going to ban me unless I agreed
in writing to accept their abuse and harassment. I responded that
I would refuse to agree to accept such behavior, and would seek legal
action regarding their behavior (defamation of character), and
copyright violations if they didn't remove all my posts.

Maybe I should start a class action lawsuit to get them to
stop this behavior ...

The one area they've become more restrictive of, is when a handful of
the same people repeatedly start threads that rehash things that have
previously resulted in 10 page flamefests.  In those cases, the people
involved have previously been told to knock it off, so it doesn't seem
like a big deal.

If I were given a warning for something I posted, rather than lashing
out at the moderators, I'd re-examine my own behavior and if I felt the
warning was unwarranted I would contact the moderators privately.  I'm
certain doing that would provide a positive result in all but the most
extreme cases.

   maybe you should grow up.  RSC provides a huge benefit to the COMMUNITY.
Your feelings got hurt.  Toooooo Bad.  RSC is owned and operated by
somebody who is not you or me.  They can do whatever the heck they want.
If I find something that is incorrect, I challenge it.  If I get warned,
then fine.  BFD.  I think I've had a warning on there for a year or more.
I don't even know what it is or what it's for.  Who cares?  
  If you can show ME that your lawsuit can benefit ME more than all the
info and dloads provided FREE by RSC then go ahead,  Start listing.
Until such time that YOU can show just what amazing things you can
contribute to the sim community, I'd strongly recomend you just shut up.

  I don't know what your beef with RSC is about, I don't care.  I find it
hugely amusing that you think you have rights on the internet.  They are
uploading kiddie ***,***films, terrorist communications, and on and on
and on.  And you feel you have a greivance worthy of a court's time?  Good
God man...did they post pictures of your mother and a goat?  

 I rarely get this crude but I do so for your benefit.  Hopefully it will
get through to you.  Come back when you have some hair down there.  We'll
wait the 5 or 6 years.

dave henrie

Read my post ...

I never stated that I might sue RSC for money or to shut them down.
I stated that I might sue to stop them from attaching warning avatars
on peoples posts. If they want to warn somebody, they should do it
privately. What harm could there possibly be in getting a cease
and desist order to stop them from attaching warning avatars to peoples
posts?

Apparently not, they claim that they were shut down in the past
because of a members post. Also, they can't violate laws,
and they should abide by their own rules.

Which is exactly what I did.

You cared enough to respond. It should be obviouse that
my beef is that that RSC attaches warning avatars to peoples posts,
and that quite often, the warnings are undeserved. In my
case, the RSC moderators first ignored, then over-reacted to my
private emails about receiving and public posting of warning.

Which is exactly what I did, I dealt with them peronally and went somewhere
else. I can also deal with them publicly if I choose to do so.

  No I don't care.  I can't imagine what could be so gosh darned important
that your self-worth is impugned.  

I DO know that I myself and hundreds if not thousands of others get immense
benefits from RSC.  So they can be as rude as they like.  I only know that
your actions, for whatever reason you feel compelled to undertake, can only
harm me.  I'm not defending RSC, I'm not intellectually curious enough to
even briefly examine the merits of either side.  

 For pity's sake...it's a freekin' Race Sim site.  It's not a publisher of
scientific thesi.

dave henrie