I know of a few good people who have been recently banned from NAM and cant figure out why. i have heard guesses but havent got a real answer. I dont want to make the same mistakes, but am curious as to what sequence of events have resulted in these bans. Worst part is, is that the people who were banned cant read the PMs from NAM ( Mark ) to see why it happened. anyone want to help with some insight? I love NAM and have learned alot since joining, but i see alot of my friends and mentors disappearing, what gives?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?f=63&a=48

maybe that will shed some light on the bans.

 

If someone's been banned, I'm sure they know why. I doubt seriously that anyone here gets banned for a first offense with no warning from Mark and/or the other admins/mods.

 

"If someone's been banned, I'm sure they know why"

I got banned from the old Guitar dot com, but never knew why

 

The link is the 2nd post will answer all your questions.

 

i appreciate the grown-up responses. kinda sukz. a few people bashed from time to time but isnt that part of the whole experience? Without positives AND negatives on companies and products these forums would be useless other than a place to b.s.- I know some of these people have a questionable reputation but NAM will be a slightly smaller place without them.

 

The most basic component of freedom of expression is the right of freedom of speech. The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government.Shouldn't NAM hold itself to at least the standards of our government?

 

I'm pretty sure thats an oxymoron.

 

Amen Amen Amen!!!!

 

Freedom of speech also means you have the responsibility to use it in an appropriate manner. Since this is a site run by a moderation team, they are free to express their opinions on the tenor of discussions therein, thus the bans (who was banned, anyway?). Plus, if the govt. doesn't like what you have to say, they too find ways to shut you up.

This conversation was brought when Jan was banned (edit - BACK IN 2004 or 2005 - he's not banned now), and at that time the ban really irked me. It's in NAM's interest to keep running and to keep people coming to the site for information and a community feeling; if in the mods' opinion some members detract from that, then I suppose it's within their rights to take action.

It's sort of like I tell my students on our school newspaper (as sad yet true as this is): you have freedom of speech until the principal or board of ed. decides you don't. hmm.

mb

 

Jan's Banned ?!?!

 

NAM or any other message board has little if anything to do with free speech. The owner of this site can can do and dictate whatever they wish within the law, it is theirs after all.

If its their best interest to moderate, edit, ban then that is certainly their prerogative. They apperently feel some things were going in a direction that wasn't desirable.

 

Sorry I should have been more clear above - Jan was banned a long time ago and was allowed back as RMW.

Sorry if I caused you any extra PM's, Jan.

mb

 

Holy Mother of God.I did not know this either.This is a bad blow to the Mini community.

 

Dude you almost created a raging wildfire!

 

Jan is not banned.

I was referring to a few years ago when he was banned.

Better? Again, I apologize for my lack of details. I should have realized not everyone was around then.

mb

 

Been away for awhile. Anything else change over the last couple months?

 

Jan = El Diablito Rojo-N20Mini

 

Again let me say that i like NAM alot and i have met alot of great people here. that being said i understand about the moderators can do what ever they want to. Im not talking about free speach and all that jazz, this is not a philosophical discussion, Im stating that NAM is a money making organisation and people who cause disruptions are delt with. I still will frequent NAM because of the great people here but north american motoring takes a blow in my book as a place to get unbiast and real world opinions. Seems to me that if things are said that disrupt this organisations marketing of products and the moderators just ban someone then it really isnt a forum with ALL the information. anyone who remembers the m7 coilover debate knows what im talking about.
I understand and can appreciate the platform of NAM for vendors and potential customers and understand harassment and dont condone it in anyway, but what happens when the questioning of terrible products occurs? I know of a life threatening situation that just occured with someones product that cant be talked about out of fear of getting banned...
To sum up i like the people on NAM, but never forget that NAM is a "company" for lack of a better word and you have to really dig to get real info. I sense it wont be long before we cant say that uni-chip is junk just as an example.

If im way off base please feel free to correct me, NAM wouldn't exist without the people. remember that.

 

This thread is dealing with some of the same issues.

Mark

 

You're not off base at all - those are valid, well-put concerns. I do think, however, that there is a way to recommend or not recommend a product through the review feature so we can keep the information balanced and helpful, as you'd like it to be.

I would (possibly wrongfully) consider myself a neutral bystander in the vendor debates. I've chimed in at times, but there's a point where people's "pot stirring" just isn't helpful anymore. I hope, for NAM's sake, that this isn't a result of them wanting to push an agenda or to market certain products or vendors. If it is, then we'll all browse elsewhere, I suppose.

mb

 

People do realize this is the internet right?

 

Auh... this may not be the the case now that they operate and get paid vendors as a business?

 

point mbcoops

 

What of things i see and hear about a certain vendor here? how can he/she/they continue to market terrible products and lie about stats and import things and mark them up and slap their name on them and put out dangerous products? how can they still operate here without issue? wheres the legendary hammer?
ill stay very vague thanks.
Im not trying to "stir the pot" mark at all. i ( 3rd time )
love NAM, im just trying to figure out if i pay 50$ a month if i can say anything i want to? or is there consequences for vendors too? you know who im talking about im sure