> >No, it's NOT a moot point. I could have just started doing it without
> >a warning. Afterall, the rules page states the following:
> >"The following rule set is a living thing, and can change from day to
> >day. It is up to you to stay informed, so before each race, I suggest
> >that you preview the following to make sure something hasn't been
> >added, changed, or deleted."
> But by whom will it be changed? Just you John? And the underlying
> concern here is that you can do it because 'you can'. There may be 19
> others saying 'We don't want or need a rule like that!', but there is a
> sense at the moment that their say counts for nothing.
Well, in this instance, everyone is complaining about the extreme
number of cautions. The cautions we are experiencing are caused by
lack of practice, over-aggressive driving, and just plain stupid shit
being done at other racers' expense.
A number of people want cautions turned off. A few think we should
stop racing back to the caution. A few think we shouldn't allow
passing before the backstretch. A couple want single-file restarts.
First, I think that as low as the realism aspect alreay is in the
sim, I don't feel that adding artificial racing rules is the answer,
is desrieable. Second, changing the way we race is only going to mask
the root cause of the problem instead of fixing it. Only practice,
and driving smart are going to fix the problem.
Our rules are almost identical to last season, and they've been the
same all season so far as far as racing is concerned.
My personal opinion is that people are pissed off for a couple of
reasons:
1) They mistakenly think that the *proposed* rules from a few weeks
ago have become the league rules. This is simply not true, since
clicking the RULES link on the web page leads to the same rules we
were using before proposed rules were even brought up.
2) They assume that the rules will be so strictly enforced that there
will be no room for interpretation by anyone. Again, this is simply
not true, and it is wholly unfair to make that assumption.
3) They assume that the rules will actually inhibit racing. Again,
this is simply not true, and it's an unfair assumption to make since
we haven't even raced under the new penalty system.
4) They assume I'm not listending to their comments or considering
them in the decision making process. This particular group of people
are simply pissed off at me for other un-related reasons. If they
would open their eyes, they'd realize that I'm suggesting a number of
different things, changing my mind, pruning and combining to make a
better set of rules that promote cleaner driving. Instead, they've
got it in their minds that nothing I come up with will be good
enough. To that rather vocal, and rather small minority that won't
just shut-the-***-up and try the new ideas out, I say***off. I
recognize that some ideas just won't work, and I've demonstrated my
ability to adapt and re-assess my position, while this group won't
give the current process a snowball's chance in hell chance of
succeeding.
People who are willing to work patiently to find the one true path
with me are encouraged to keep making suggestions. People that are
just pissed off at me and are taking it out on everyone else by
trying to stir up some anarchy and insist that everyone take sides
are going to be ignored. If they play nice, I'll play nice.
You gotta ask yourself - if they hate everything as much as they
indicate, why are they still racing in the league? Why don't they
find another league to run in that has a rule set that is more
philosophically aligned with their own ideals?
And if you think the noise-level is high now, just wait until I do my
first race analysis.
So, to answer your original question, it's changed by me as the
league evolves (to use your own term). Right now, our racing has all
the focus and organization of a department store running a sale on
ladies hats. That's gonna change, like right now.
