I am one of the people (maybe the only?) that was concerned about posts of kill vids. but it wasn't for many of the reasons that have come up. Sorry I'm late raising my hand here. I haven't been hiding. I've been working and getting ready for a track event in two weeks so my board watching is down to 2 times a day.
Anyway, I wrote a brilliant post and then in equally brilliant fashion did an ALT4 to close an IM window and closed the browser DOH! so here I am again.
Geesh. Let me try to remember what I said. I prefaced all of these with 'in my opinion' as to not tick anyone off too badly. This is my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.... so:
1. Not viewing videos on the board doesn't remove the liability issues. If it were 'objectionable' material that would work. I do support this argument for movies and tv shows for example.
2. The Club isn't being wimpy or controlled by pansies because of the no kill or street racing posts/video policy. If they were wimps they would allow anyone to post anything - even if it threatened the ability of the club to operate - which this does. Since the litigation risk is real the club is doing what it has to (not the easy thing as witnessed by this thread) - just the opposite of being whimpy.
3. The 'powers that be' are tasked with many responsibilities and acheiving all of them simultaneously is impossible. One goal is to insure everyone enjoys the club as much as possible (which includes use of the board). Another goal is protecting the club against risks (like lawsuits). Sometimes they run head on into one another (no pun intended) and a policy has to be made. They chose (and I think chose wisely) to not allow such posts so the club and/or it's sponsors and/or some of it's members don't get sued - or at least minimize the liklihood.
4. The other consideration is that posting of racing videos encourages others to post a more exciting video. This naturally requires that the video be filmed which ultimately means people are looking for opportunities to street race so they can post the video. A lawyer would declare that this per se means that the club supports street racing. lawyers. Now before you yell at your computer screen I realize that's over simplified, but the end result is more illegal activity (I didn't make the laws - even the good ones).
I think we all like the competition (I know I do - especially when the Viper wins) but there is a time and place for it and each of our State Governments has determined public streets aren't the place. The club has to operate within the reality of the laws and risk factors that exist - whether we agree with, like, or condone those laws and risk factors doesn't really matter.
Fortunately, if you want to make the extra effort you 'take it to the track' and go at it a lot longer (better competition) in a safer environment. If you haven't you should because most of the people I race with don't even consider a go on the street anymore. It just can't come close to road course events.
A lot of people seem upset about the policy. I hate that a policy has to exist at all as responsible adults should be able to regulate themselves. In my HUMBLE opinion the policy serves to minimize the risk of the club or board or both being shut down.
I know I would be IRATE to surf to
www.viperclub.org to read a new splash page that read:
DUE TO A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY THE FAMILY OF JOE SMITH, FATHER OF BILLY SMITH WHO WAS TRAGICALLY RUN OVER BY A VIPER WHILE STREET RACING, THE VCA HAS COMPLIED WITH A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER AS IT RELATES TO THE PROMOTION OF STREET RACING AND PERMANTLY SHUT DOWN THE MESSAGE BOARD.
Now that would blow.
I think it's a reletively small price to pay, albeit having to pay a price at all for the litigation 'risk' is maddening.
