Why has Blatchat been shutdown?
Discussion
I can see it developing in this way.
At the time the "Members' Only" debate was in full flow, the main argument used by the "management" was that they considered restricted access to Blatchat was the best way to go In this way, they felt they woul;dn't need a team of moderators.
Now we have the liklehood of restricted access AND moderation.
At the time the "Members' Only" debate was in full flow, the main argument used by the "management" was that they considered restricted access to Blatchat was the best way to go In this way, they felt they woul;dn't need a team of moderators.
Now we have the liklehood of restricted access AND moderation.
Which kind of brings you back to jwyatt's comment...
The "members only" stance, when it came in, was done as the club committee believed it would prevent legal action etc. It was noted at the time that this was misguided...
Nor will moderation per se.
jwyatt's point was that if everyone who ran a forum was ultra concerned about the legal consequences of what people post, and ultra conservative and (frankly) short sighted in the measures they put in place to counter this, internet forums wouldn't exist. He has a point.
Still, not to worry. I keep in touch through other means with those I want to (sorry ruby [and the other guys] - not as often as I should!), and the PH Caterham community is healthy enough these days.
The "members only" stance, when it came in, was done as the club committee believed it would prevent legal action etc. It was noted at the time that this was misguided...
Nor will moderation per se.
jwyatt's point was that if everyone who ran a forum was ultra concerned about the legal consequences of what people post, and ultra conservative and (frankly) short sighted in the measures they put in place to counter this, internet forums wouldn't exist. He has a point.
Still, not to worry. I keep in touch through other means with those I want to (sorry ruby [and the other guys] - not as often as I should!), and the PH Caterham community is healthy enough these days.
I struggle with the membership thing. Like Blatchat, think the mag is a waste of space.
I do most of my trackdays independant of the club, although I did do the club's Le Sept trip a couple of years back.
So I really only pay membership for the Blatchat access, which is average now as well.
I do most of my trackdays independant of the club, although I did do the club's Le Sept trip a couple of years back.
So I really only pay membership for the Blatchat access, which is average now as well.
casbar said:
I struggle with the membership thing. Like Blatchat, think the mag is a waste of space.
I do most of my trackdays independant of the club, although I did do the club's Le Sept trip a couple of years back.
So I really only pay membership for the Blatchat access, which is average now as well.
I do most of my trackdays independant of the club, although I did do the club's Le Sept trip a couple of years back.
So I really only pay membership for the Blatchat access, which is average now as well.
You seem to be friends with some of the members too though...does this mean that you go to your local area meeting too?...that's another benefit of membership. Do you also take advantage of the discount offered to you on your insurance?...that's another benefit....
Less than 10% of the club's total membership makes use of Blatchat. As a vehicle for servicing the club, Blatchat doesn't actually do a good job, based on that fact. Low Flying is the primary method of communication to the club's members...
I joined the club in 1996. Blatchat wasn't a consideration at the time as it didn't exist.
Blatchat access is a nice bonus of being a member - but not the main reason for keeping it up.
I attend my local meets and have been involved in Club trackdays and Sprints - which are excellently run.
Blatchat access is a nice bonus of being a member - but not the main reason for keeping it up.
I attend my local meets and have been involved in Club trackdays and Sprints - which are excellently run.
murph7355 said:
jwyatt's point was that if everyone who ran a forum was ultra concerned about the legal consequences of what people post, and ultra conservative and (frankly) short sighted in the measures they put in place to counter this, internet forums wouldn't exist.
Glad someone got it... I think it's fair to say there was very overprotective moderation on Blatchat before it went members only. Any mention of Arrowstar - even factual or clear personal opinions - was utterly stamped out. Bearing in mind that individuals criticise companies, products, and other individuals all day long on thousands of forums the length and breadth of the land, banning any mention of a company that had done so many dubious things seemed bizarre.
I was upset it went members only. As an ex Caterham racer, I had a lot of technical, product, setup and race prep advice I was happy to pass onto people, and I liked to keep in touch with the scene. But since I don't currently own one of the cars I'm damned if I'm paying for membership - I pay for my AROC membership on the basis I get back more than the fee in insurance savings alone. And being able to view the forums but not post is very frustrating - a bit like filming porn, I'd imagine. No point if you can't get stuck in...
Edited by jwyatt on Tuesday 20th February 13:53
Rubystone, yep do have friends that are club members, but you can have friends without being a member of the L7 Club. Don't go to the area meets anymore, as I'm busy and most of the guys at our meets, don't go anywhere near a track 
Insurance, nope, don't use a company that offers discount for the club specifically, but do offer discounts for membership of any club, and as I belong to another car club as well, that's that one ticked off.
I've also been a member since around 1995, so seen a few changes.
Don't get a lot of value out of Low Flying, and yes I know I could be more proactive and submit stuff, but hey, I subscribe to Classic and Sportscar, but they don't ask me to contribute to articles.
Insurance, nope, don't use a company that offers discount for the club specifically, but do offer discounts for membership of any club, and as I belong to another car club as well, that's that one ticked off.
I've also been a member since around 1995, so seen a few changes.
Don't get a lot of value out of Low Flying, and yes I know I could be more proactive and submit stuff, but hey, I subscribe to Classic and Sportscar, but they don't ask me to contribute to articles.
As has been said before, numerous times on this topic, forums by their nature always have an element of 'unmoderateable' content which is likely to get posted. Why do the people that run blatchat have to take everything to the nth degree. Like many of the topics on there, things get down to the minutae very quickly, whilst so obviously missing the point in many cases. They are behaving like nervous schoolboys on this in my opinion. Is there not some form of disclaimer that can be electronically signed to make the content the SOLE responsibility of the person posting it? If you were to compare Blatchat with some of the almost blatantly libelous drivel on something like scoobynet for example, I think you would see that Blatchat and it's overly sensitive middle aged moderators have got their barroom lawyers' knickers in a twist.
Does that sum up the kind of people who own caterhams though? (The polishing side of the fence that is?)
I think that low flying tends to be centred around particular individuals to some degree, which can get a bit tiresome issue after issue. Also, insurance is often cheaper to obtain from companies who don't have any association with the club.
I have steered away from attending club events after seeing how the forum operates due to the immense clique which would appear to have been built up amongst a core who seem to consider themselves 'above' other people - god knows why.
Does that sum up the kind of people who own caterhams though? (The polishing side of the fence that is?)
I think that low flying tends to be centred around particular individuals to some degree, which can get a bit tiresome issue after issue. Also, insurance is often cheaper to obtain from companies who don't have any association with the club.
I have steered away from attending club events after seeing how the forum operates due to the immense clique which would appear to have been built up amongst a core who seem to consider themselves 'above' other people - god knows why.
Casbar, I'm not making any judgements on you, honest!...For me, BC is a good resource for anything - I've made money and saved money from using its services, made friends from it and gained a lot of useful advice. I've visited several area meetings - none of them is "cliquey" (but then I've not visited the one that the non fat guy used to run, which I was told was cliquey). My local meeting is most definitely not cliquey though and some of the members do track their cars. I've even been known to write articles for LF too and submit photos...
...Did I ever tell you just how much money I've made for NtL by the way?.....
...Did I ever tell you just how much money I've made for NtL by the way?.....
steady . That would come close to getting you suspended across the way Couple of bits of irony:
1) The club didn't want to know about Le Sept when it was resurrected, so Barbara sorted it out.
2) IIRC, the club weren't so closely involved in Blatchat either in the early days.
Like others, I've never yet received a decent quote (even after discount) from a club affiliated insurer (any marque). Insurers make their quotes up and any notion of getting a discount because you belong to a club is rubbish. You may as well tell them your knob's 10ft long and can have you a discount as a result.
As Blatchat constitutes such a low amount of the club's circulation, I'm surprised they ever became so involved. Personally I'd quite happily have donated a tenner to Barry's coffers had word gone out that its popularity was such that costs and time burden were becoming excessive.
As it is, the arguments that were given were garbage. Fustiness in the extreme and I couldn't be bothered with it. Which was a shame.
1) The club didn't want to know about Le Sept when it was resurrected, so Barbara sorted it out.
2) IIRC, the club weren't so closely involved in Blatchat either in the early days.
Like others, I've never yet received a decent quote (even after discount) from a club affiliated insurer (any marque). Insurers make their quotes up and any notion of getting a discount because you belong to a club is rubbish. You may as well tell them your knob's 10ft long and can have you a discount as a result.
As Blatchat constitutes such a low amount of the club's circulation, I'm surprised they ever became so involved. Personally I'd quite happily have donated a tenner to Barry's coffers had word gone out that its popularity was such that costs and time burden were becoming excessive.
As it is, the arguments that were given were garbage. Fustiness in the extreme and I couldn't be bothered with it. Which was a shame.
murph7355 said:
Like others, I've never yet received a decent quote (even after discount) from a club affiliated insurer (any marque). Insurers make their quotes up and any notion of getting a discount because you belong to a club is rubbish. You may as well tell them your knob's 10ft long and can have you a discount as a result.
Aren't you still insured with MSM? Dave gave me the 10% discount when I renewed the insurance on your car. Flux give me 10% on mine too for the R500. Aon were unbeatable on my 911s with PCGB discount too....and thru the FOC I got a blinding deal on the insurance for the 308 - OK so I may have suggested that I was an FOC member
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