Scale Auto Forums...we insult everyone!

[Zoom Zoom]

I (finally?) got ticked off at Scale Auto's forums and won't be posting there anymore.

Last year they instigated a rather silly "three pictures per post" rule. I followed those rules, but honestly bending over backwards to satisfy Luddites on dialup is a rather stupid endeavor, especially on a site that automatically reduces picture size down to speed up loading, and allowing the full resolution when you click on the image. I'm sorry, I don't give a rat's ass how long it takes for their pictures to load. They obviously visit other sites, but I guess Scale Auto thinks they're the only site the un-broadbanded/non-DSL'd will ever visit. It's about as stupid as the Hobby Heaven rule about never posting a link that can take someone to a competitor. As if people won't find them otherwise.

They're now going back to older threads and editing them, and when they do this they add a little slap at the bottom to remind all of us stupid children to never post more than three pictures per post. They did that to a thread of mine from Nov. 2003, even though the new rule took effect in Aug. of '04. So yes, not only are they not allowing more than three pictures per post, they feel compelled to go back beyond that and remind people that they did something wrong. I'm sorry, but that's just plain insulting.

I emailed the moderator, and got a blah blah blah kind of reply that they also put on my thread. Totally missing the point as to why it's insulting when they do their job the way they're doing it. Had this brain surgeon simply edited the thread without the standard "warning" to never post more than three pictures, it would have been fine. But putting that warning on a 2 year old post is just plain insulting :mad:

The only thing I did wrong was post anything there, IMHO. Lesson learned. I'll leave the content of what's posted to all those fine 3-picture Luddite noobs. I'll do them one better. I'll post 0 pictures. Cyberspace was never so streamlined ;) :D

[Dino Scuderia]

That is pretty ridiculous.

[ClayK]

He got me too, Bob. My truck thread had got dug up and he went through all eight pages to edit every post I had. I looked at his edit and like yours my thread was started 10 days before the rules were even posted. I think the new guy is either really bored, or is letting his new authority go to his head.

ClayK

[Zoom Zoom]

He got me too, Bob. My truck thread had got dug up and he went through all eight pages to edit every post I had. I looked at his edit and like yours my thread was started 10 days before the rules were even posted. I think the new guy is either really bored, or is letting his new authority go to his head.

ClayK

Nice way to make you feel welcome there, isn't it? The site is bad enough for being hard to navigate and having to scroll through tons of worthless crap (sometimes the laughable "advice" given to people by some of the "experts" there was unbelievable), but w/their newfound authoritative attitude and treating people the way they do, they're managing to make it a "must not bother" vs. a "must visit" site. They try to be all PC and not offend anyone, but the new moderator is offending the very people that they need to be begging to stay. He is clueless as to why it's insulting, and doesn't seem the least bit worried over how his job is affecting others. Oh well, life goes on :)

[Dino Scuderia]

When you think about it...Scale Auto has almost been a cure for modeling for years.

[Zoom Zoom]

When you think about it...Scale Auto has almost been a cure for modeling for years.

Perhaps, but video games are a bigger cure :rolleyes: ;)

[Dino Scuderia]

Perhaps, but video games are a bigger cure :rolleyes: ;)

The biggest of all!:p

[The Prez]

Well, I guess someone has reached their "PETER"principal.
That is they have advanced to the point of incompetence.Besides
we have one of the best model forums right here.:D :D :D
The Prez

[Zoom Zoom]

We do have a good forum here, but seems hardly anyone is building/showing anything much as of late, including me. Finding anything on any board lately that's inspiring is pretty rare. A drought of inspiration has hit. Not helped by spring weather that demands one get outside and away from the bench.

Think I'll go build a General Lee and a Miller Buick to celebrate my exit from that forum :D

[Ferrarifreak]

I too have been made to feel like a moron and fool by their nonsense. I posted a general constructive opinion through their feedback link and in return was informed that in so many words this is the way it's gonna be and " The Larger number of readers" wanted it this way and this was the way it was gonna be. Really left me feeling like a nobody who didn't matter. Guess that's why I no longer subscribe and am buying more MC mags now. I think their power has gone to their heads!!!!

[GTmike400]

Hazelton has really taking his newly awarded moderator power to the extreme. Thats ridiculous. I swear, if he edits my thread, I am out of there. It wont make any sense in the first several posts since its step by step instruction. If Jim read through it and didnt have a problem, then Hazelton shouldnt either.

I'll leave the forum not out of spite, but out of "non user friendly" consideration.

As far as builds go, Im building, I'll post some updates for y'all to nibble on in a few.

[GTmike400]

Bob, I just read your posts on SA. I agree with your 100%, and I love your signature there. As a contributing writer for SA they should give you a little flex, and at the least leave your old pictures alone. Thats a complete slap in the face. I'd be curious to see what Jim has to say about it since you seem to be well aquainted with him.

[Zoom Zoom]

My exit is both out of spite and the fact that the site itself is very user-unfriendly. It took Hazelton's heavy hand to make me wake up and smell the zip kicker. The quality of my life won't suffer one bit from a lack of Scale Auto's forum.

[Scott]

I've got to tell you I've never been to that forum that I can recall, but my user name was registered, so i guess I did. I read the posts you guys are talking about and I don't think I'll be going back.

Bob, I know about the ranking system, but I find it ironic that you are an "Average Member" I would think they could come up with something more original.

[Zoom Zoom]

I too have been made to feel like a moron and fool by their nonsense. I posted a general constructive opinion through their feedback link and in return was informed that in so many words this is the way it's gonna be and " The Larger number of readers" wanted it this way and this was the way it was gonna be. Really left me feeling like a nobody who didn't matter. Guess that's why I no longer subscribe and am buying more MC mags now. I think their power has gone to their heads!!!!

That's SOP at Scale Auto. In the entire time of their forum, they have done nothing suggested by the readership that made any sense. They've done precious little to the forum at all, it's as if they're too lazy to bother to streamline it to avoid confusion. They dropped the "off-topic" area because it caused problems, and they limited the number of pictures one could post because of people on dialup. In other words, they have no intention of making the site easier to navigate, and no intention of gearing it towards anything but the lowest common denominator. The arrogant manner in which they do their work tells the biggest story. There are better forums out there, and I'm down to this one, Automotive Forums, and the MCM board which is still in its infancy. Far easier to navigate and w/o the BS of SA's board, and only two dead-simple rules to abide by. With Gregg finally getting better he's able to put more energy into making MCM a better magazine. It had stagnated severely, it looks like it's getting much better.

[Matt Wadlinger]

So does this mean MCM has the exclusive on photographing the IROC display. :)

[Zoom Zoom]

So does this mean MCM has the exclusive on photographing the IROC display. :)

We shall see :)

[GTmike400]

Our buddy Tonio removed all of his posts. Go into the tuner section and its a page of "Removed".

[Zoom Zoom]

Our buddy Tonio removed all of his posts. Go into the tuner section and its a page of "Removed".

HAHAHA! I hope like hell he responds to the thread where everyone is confused. The SA dialup users can now rejoice, the pages load at amazing speed when they're unencumbered with photos. That's one problem w/the site fixed! :D

[Zoom Zoom]

I just received a VERY sincere and apologetic email from the moderator at Scale Auto. I believe from what he said that he may very well have had his ass handed to him on a silver platter by Jim Haught. Anyway, he said the right things this time. Anyway, I felt you all should know that there was a complete change in attitude from the moderator in question.

Bob

[ClayK]

That's good to see that they admitted they handled it all wrong. This was exactly what Jim didn't want to have happen by getting someone from outside of SA to help moderate. Just amazing the amount of damage that guy did in such a short amount of time just so he could play God. I hope he had fun while it lasted.

[Zoom Zoom]

What I don't understand is why it happened in the first place. I can't believe they didn't have any sort of plan for housecleaning of the older posts that were brought back to the top with a reply until after the firestorm :rolleyes: That would have been one of the first items of business that I would have given the new moderator instructions...leave the old posts/isues alone, only deal with the new ones. While I'm satisfied w/the apology and I've removed my sarcastic signature, I'm not going to post there anymore because there are other issues with their forum that I continue to find bothersome enough to avoid.

[Dino Scuderia]

Oh, the drama....

[GTmike400]

Brian...you're posting again, did your video game steering wheel break?

[Zoom Zoom]

Brian...you're posting again, did your video game steering wheel break?

Now THAT would be pure drama :eek: :D

[Dino Scuderia]

Brian...you're posting again, did your video game steering wheel break?

I'm posting again? OMG, I didn't realize it.:eek:

[crispy]

I rarely visit that site much as it was. I wondered why I had noticed posts being removed by the authors and otherwise.
I haven't been modeling much myself, but the way that SAF's are set-up, I find it boring.
It's a shame they would do that. At any rate, people with that kind of power trip usually get their's. Sooner than later I hope.

Chris

[Zoom Zoom]

I rarely visit that site much as it was. I wondered why I had noticed posts being removed by the authors and otherwise.
I haven't been modeling much myself, but the way that SAF's are set-up, I find it boring.
It's a shame they would do that. At any rate, people with that kind of power trip usually get their's. Sooner than later I hope.

Chris

He seems to have gotten the message quite clearly and seems humbled by it.

Haven't seen you on the boards lately, seems to be a lull in modeling activity this time of the year w/spring in full bloom. I'm in limbo right now w/nothing very far along except new sets of custom-designed decals I just made that are waiting for two bodies to get painted, and seemingly little time to devote towards modeling. I burn myself out frequently as I did 1-2 months ago cranking out the Scaglietti, Brat, and 914 all in short order.

[crispy]

Yeah, it has been a modeling slump for me.
Here I thought you were a model building machine!
I've a few projects on the bench, but just need to get going on them. Hoping that I can just pull a model out of the box and not worry so much about the details and get over the hump.
You are right about spring and the need for going outdoors. Of course, Buying an R/C truck doesn't help matters.....
Glad to hear the new mod got his.
Chris

[GTmike400]

I've been busy huddled down in my little shop building away. Pics to come.

[Zoom Zoom]

I've been busy huddled down in my little shop building away. Pics to come.

Your poor GT3 was sitting unloved in Wayne's dehydrator (along w/his IROC car) the other day when I was painting some metal candle holders for Jeanne and they wouldn't dry...

The GT3 looks quite good, just needs a fast wetsand/respray/clear and it'll be a stunner.

I'll get some in-progress shots tonight of my current projects; IROC pace car, M Coupe and 924 Martini edition.

[BRE350Z]

It truly is a shame that we (automotive builders) do not have a high quality comprehensive publication which brings together the detail provided by Motor Racing Replica News, the advertising clout of SAE, and the broad spectrum of items covered by Model cars and the now defunct Scale Models Internationa (sic).:mad:

Either we are too small of a segment for people to cater to:eek: or we are not vocal enough to the people that matter:confused: or we do not vote well enough with our money:rolleyes:

Wayne

[Ferrarifreak]

Yeah Brian and Mike are on a pit stop sorta!!!!! Interesting though I overheard some language from Brian I'd never heard of before during a practice session!!!!!!! hahaha As far as the SAE forum, you'd think they would observe the conversations and learn what the modelers are into. Their wants and suggestions. Hasn't been that way in the past.

[slammd454SS]

yeah i can agree with that myself.