I see it’s all kicked off on Facebook again

[mk1coopers]

Some cars popped up in a post on Facebook, allegedly, they are dark green and light blue, some people made comments, some included pictures of a white car, the posts and PM’s turned nasty, allegedly, as they have before, on other platforms, allegedly.

I didn’t go to Beaulieu today, this is fact, choosing my nephew’s birthday party instead, despite the fact it would have been nice to catch up with various friend in person, instead I went to a small local breakfast club, not in a Mini. this sort of thing, and what has happened with other cars that, allegedly, have disputable histories is, for me, one of the main factors I don’t really go to one make shows, or belong to one make clubs anymore, it seems that sometimes, even cold hard facts, backed up with evidence, isn’t enough for people to accept they may, allegedly, be wrong.

[Pandora]

I allegedly saw that. Not sure why people bother.

Still, Mr Zuckerberg's problem is not Mr Forster's, so please, let's pray it stays that way when chickens allegedly return to from whence they flew, at the time they begin to allegedly feel a bit sleepy.

Or so others say.

Al

[floormanager]

what's gone on? It's a car show, how can that be contentious?

[mk1]

Any discussions of the cars & people alluded to here will be deleted. Please feel free to say what you want on FB, but I'm not prepared to take the shit that discussion of these cars involves.

Like Mark above, I am sick of this type of issue & that's why I rarely if ever attend single make shows.

Mark F

[Peter Laidler]

I'va always been wary of ANY social media......, or as I read it, ANTI-social media. Not for me I'm pleased to say!

[Pete]

All very cryptic this thread!

Let’s just put this in a nutshell. The VERY small number of baddies trying to bully the good guys into submission and trying to silence them has been going on since forever in the ‘Mini scene’. Closing down conversation literally destroyed the MCR forum which was once a mine of great info, hence why the late Graham Robinson started his own . Wherever there’s money to be made and egos to be massaged and innocent people to rip off by lying and cheating there’s always gonna be a tiny minority of baddies trying to ruin it for everybody else, It’s how you deal with them that really counts. If everyone stopped dealing with scumbags, pacifying them and turning a blind eye to crooked activities (some even join in!) just because ‘they build a nice car’ or have shelves full of rare parts they’d evaporate tomorrow. Simple.

[Pete]

I'va always been wary of ANY social media......, or as I read it, ANTI-social media. Not for me I'm pleased to say!

Easy to make sweeping generalisations I suppose, and yes there’s so much rubbish out there as there is in any conversation in any pub and I totally respect why anybody doesn’t do ‘social media’ but to balance that argument a little I’ve had lots of great stuff pop up on my page and some great people, fantastic stories , photos and comments over the years, many of which seem to turn up regularly in certain magazines you will no doubt read so like anything in life it’s a case of light and shade. But yes it really needs policing properly!

[Richspec]

Yes Pete, but the SM page is a rose among thorns!

Nothing wrong with social media, ie the Facebook pages that interest you, you've just got to be selective and keep away from Twitter (X!) and other annoying crap.

I too saw the post in question and thought, here we go...

[mk1]

Right, To put this one to bed once & for all.

Last year I suffered a period of sustained threats, both physical & verbal, which were followed some weeks later by the threat of legal action. This was all to do with posts made about a number of cars "restored" by someone who had featured on these pages many times over the years. I reported the threats to the old bill, who weren't over interested in getting involved. I also took legal advice on what was & was not defendable if push came to shove.

After a good amount of time & a fair amount (we are talking over a grand) of money spent, the conclusion was that although much of what had been said was probably "fair comment" there were some posts made both by myself & other members here that would be problematical. As owner & moderator of the forum I would be legally liable for any comments made here, not just by me, but by anyone.

In view of this (very expensive legal advice) I reluctantly made the decision to delete all references to this gentleman & the cars he is known for, from the forum. The only alternative was to embark on a legal battle that I could not be 100% sure of wining, and even if I did the costs could be absolutely astronomical. Whilst I have always been happy to subsidise the MK1 forum & provide it as a free service to fellow enthusiasts, I am not prepared to put my pension at risk defending an open-ended legal case, with no guarantee of success, that has absolutely no bearing on my life whatsoever.

I have subsequently taken something of a back seat in the running of the forum & indeed Mini related activity in general. As this has blown up yet again, I don't imagine my attitude will change greatly in the future.

If you are buying something. Buy the object, not the cock & bull story that goes with it!

As far as I am concerned. This is the end of this particular matter.

Mark F