Code of Conduct
This was in the comments thread of the SUV Throwdown post, but I think it deserves its own post.
Cookie the Dog's Owner: "Here, I want to talk about interesting wheels with a group of friends. I think that isn't too much to ask."
I couldn't agree more with that. I think we've enjoyed that for the most part, and any straying from that standard is a failure on my part. My apologies for not being around to set the tone last week.
I'm a seasoned Usenet warrior, and from that unmoderated perspective the SUV conversation was a pretty minor skirmish. But nowadays I tend to participate on blogs that have clear guidelines, and it's nice to have a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Perhaps it's time to explicitly lay out some comment guidelines that formalize what we already have--a fun place to hang out where mutual respect (for people, not cars) rules.
That's not just because it's what I want, and what the majority of the commenters here seem to want. There's a bigger picture here. This site is run by a major multi-national corporation, and my time is being donated by that same major multi-national corporation. If this site becomes something that said multi-national corporation no longer wants to be associated with, this site could be deemed as longer worth keeping around. I'm not saying it would--frankly, I've enjoyed stunningly complete editorial freedom here--but I don't want to tempt fate.
These are based loosely on the best comment guidelines I've seen. Any comments that don't conform, judged by my own highly subjective criteria, run the risk of being edited in this way:
COMMENT: "Cletus, you are a <don't insult other commenters>."
Comment Guidelines
1. It's okay to disagree.
GOOD: "John, you're totally wrong--Toyotas aren't boring cars. You've obviously never driven my Echo--it's pure excitement in automotive form."
2. It's not okay to insult other commenters or to make things personal. Treat others with respect.
BAD: "John, you're an idiot, and I hate you. You don't know the first thing about cars, you have bad breath, and you're a Communist."
3. It's okay to insult cars.
GOOD: "My God, that Echo is godawful."
4. It's okay to insult Chris, as long as it's at least somewhat witty and not profane.
GOOD: "Chris, your automotive tastes betray your 46 IQ."
5. Try to keep the language at or below the PG-13 level.
6. No politics or religion.
I've found politics and religion to be incredibly corrosive to respectful online conversation. There are plenty of places to talk about those subjects--places that would offer a far more enriching conversation on the topic. We're not trying to solve the world's problems here.
One exception--feel free to adopt Car Lust as your personal religion or preferred political system.
7. When in doubt, use common sense and the Golden Rule.
Would you feel comfortable with your mother, father, boss, child, or prospective significant other reading your comment? Are you comfortable that if you made this comment in person that you wouldn't be punched in the face? If not, you might want to take another look at it.
As I said in the comments thread of the other post, I realize I'm trying to nurture something a little out of the ordinary here--an Internet community based on mutual respect--and so those of us used to the more caustic communication used elsewhere may need to retune a little bit. It's inevitable we'll have a few bumps in the road, but we'll get through it.
Honestly, before the big SUV thread, I can think of only one or two comments in the history of this blog that would warrant any action on my part.
I've already been accused of being a Nazi once in the last few weeks, so ...
--Chris H.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on April 14, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I tried to comprehend what you wrote, but I am still mentally stunned by you using "Toyota Echo" and "pure excitement in automotive form" in a positively-co-related grammatical structure.
I think the only way I can not spontaneously combust is if I assume you were essaying irony.
Whew. Close one.
Mochi Mochi on April 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM
YES - If we can't keep it light, let's at least keep it respectful !!!! The web is full of flame throwing. It's ok to be opinionated. Not ok to be rude. Let's keep a little humor about these things.
Chris: "I realize I'm trying to nurture something a little out of the ordinary here--an Internet community based on mutual respect".
Bravo !! The CarLust has community has always been a credit to the best that the web can be, and that has been accomplished by being a respectful, thoughtful, good humored, and friendly community. Let's not let it devolve into a place where we need "report this as a violation" buttons.
I look forward to the thoughts, stories, and ideas that everyone involved brings to the table. Let's keep these great conversations happening. It is the positive dialog what we have that makes my day.
Rob the SVX guy on April 14, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Hate to disagree, but I won't respect anybody who threatens the lives of others for pure vanity. ie, I don't respect 95% of all SUV owners. I will try to keep it light and insult them with creative flair though!
Mochi Mochi on April 15, 2008 at 12:31 AM
I'm guessing that anyone with a license to drive and a cellphone has driven while talking on their squawk box - even with hands free this is a distraction from driving. Changing radio stations or taking a drink of coffee from a travel mug is a distraction and impairment of driving as well. There are a lot of people who drive too fast or drive too slowly. A sleep deprived driver (ie any grad student I know) is as bad as a drunk driver. All of these conditions threaten the lives of others. Yet they are common - daily and hourly events. If we look honestly at how we drive and what we do when driving, we are all guilty of errors. Everyone at some point is dangerous behind the wheel and usually not for particularly good reasons.
I'm personally a lot more afraid of drivers on cell phones than I am of an SUV. Any car is a dangerous weapon. No matter how small, it is a threat to the lives of others. Same as a gun. No one can tell me a .22 or .32 is any less dangerous or life threatening than a .44 or .357 magnum. The magnum may have more stopping power, but you get shot with a .22 and you can end up just as dead.
Driven responsibly and carefully an SUV is as safe as any other car. No car is inherently more dangerous than another until it is in accident conditions. And in those conditions ANY car can maim or kill. You want to protect the lives of other drivers? Get out of the car and walk - and you better obey all the laws governing pedestrians. Don't even ride a bike because you can cause an accident unless you are really careful. What? You say you have to drive a car to get to school or work cause it's too far to walk? Lazy !! Move !! you want to endanger lives because of some kind of small inconvenience, economic limitation, or laziness? How do you expect anyone to respect you while you are driving a car and endangering peoples lives? Rob - you are smart, you know where this line of reason gets you.
It is possible to drive an SUV, a Truck, a Big Rig, an EconoBox, Motorcycle, or Bicycle safely or unsafely. The real threat is not the vehicle (unless it is poorly maintained). The real threat is the driver. Male drivers under 21 are statistically the most dangerous drivers of all. Does that mean that we should not respect them? Someone who drives a car is inherently more dangerous than someone who walks. Does that mean that we can only respect unlicensed pedestrians over the age of 30?
The best way to effect positive change is through positive means and communication of well presented ideas. Creativity and intelligence count. So does civility and humor. You want to change people's minds? Be as creative, intelligent, and persuasive as you like. But I consider the people here on CarLust to be my friends and I don't want the positive intelligent atmosphere of CarLust to be corrupted or brought down through misplaced anger or insults. It would be especially disturbing after we spent several weeks sharing readers stories of their beloved cars. The last few weeks have been some of the best and most moving articles ever. Let's get back to good talk about odd cars. We all need to keep a sense of perspective and humor - and personally I need to smile, laugh, and take life a little less seriously... CarLust is part of my prescription for a happy life.
Rob the SVX guy on April 15, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Mochi Mochi: "Driven responsibly and carefully an SUV is as safe as any other car. "
BZZZT. Incorrect. I quit reading there, because you are just now making stuff up. They are not NEARLY as safe as other cars. If you read my paper you'd understand this. Here's another link:
http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs27/f/2008/101/1/d/SUV_Research_Paper_by_cash68.pdf
Try again, next time use reason and logic. Vehicles with incompatible bumpers, poor brakes, tall sidewalls, soft suspension with lots of travel, knobby tires which reduce friction with the road, solid frames that transmit energy to the occupants, high centers of gravity, weak roofs, and poor crumple zones are NOT as safe as most cars on the road. FAIL.
OldCarGuy on April 16, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Rob, I have read your paper three times now. It might convince someone who doesn't need a utility vehicle not to buy one. It won't convince me. You see, there are two parts to the equation, vehicle and driver. For a brief period I drove a tandem dump truck. I didn't drive it in the same way I drive my SUV, and I don't drive my SUV the same as I drive my wife's sport coupe. There is a school of thought that has come to the conclusion that driving a sports car poses the greatest overall risk of injury.
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19626356.000-sports-cars-more-dangerous-than-suvs.html
Their research indicates that the manner in which sports cars are driven leads to more accidents and that those accidents "enjoy" higher levels of kinetic energy. (Ouch! I'm probably more dangerous behind the wheel of my wife's coupe than I am at the helm of my big honking SUV!)
As long as I'm citing . . .
"Why Do You Hate The SUV?"
http://www.edmunds.com/news/column/carmudgeon/77149/article.html
He makes many good points, among them:
"As someone who finds plenty wrong with the current SUV situation, . . . you SUV haters can rest easy knowing I'm never going to defend any of the hypocrites who buy an SUV when they don't need one. What I am going to defend is every American's right to buy an SUV if he wants to, whether he needs it or not."