Why not say that anything with wheels or similar structures is off limits and be done with it?

Without regard to the 'right or wrong' of it, a clear, readily enforceable policy might read:

"Discussion of transportation facilities and accessories thereof prohibited" --- While this would include 'unpowered' machines such as sailplanes/gliders, autogyros, sailboats and even human powered bicycles -- it would exclude agricultural and construction equipment as well as (limited range) RC models --- One is tempted to simply apply the prohibition to 'intended operation in interstate or international commerce' - however that's another can of worms...

Best regards
HP

 

"Discussion of transportation facilities and accessories thereof prohibited"

So, train station lighting repair is off limits?

 

Go going by the snow blower engine paranoia how can we determine that any devices or circuits that require a 12 volt power supply are not really going to be used in a automobile and the OP is just misleading us as to their ultimate end use and applications?

Or for that matter what if any 5 volt powered devices or circuits are actually going to be powered by USB adapters in automobiles?

And since there are countless other types of 12 volt to any other voltage power converters that could power most anything from a 12 volt power source found in a automobile how can we determine that not every single thread here is not secretly going to be used in an automobile?

Seriously? How can we know? To be safe I thing that its justified that from now one all further threads relating to anything on this site be immediately locked under the no automotive modifications TOS rule.

Even this one being I may have typed it on my laptop from my automobile using a 12 volt to laptop power converter all while driving through a crowd of people at high speed.

 

Reminds me of a city north of Denver that, about 30, 40 years ago, were crafting an ordinance in response to complaints about people running chain saws and snow blowers late at night. During the discussion they brought up the complaints received every year about people mowing their lawns early in the morning. So some bright member of council found a wording that conveniently covered all of these, as well as anything similar that they might have missed. The city attorney and police chief bought of on it and council passed it into law. The ordinance stated (paraphrasing) that is shall be unlawful to operate an internal combustion engine between the hours of 10pm and 6am within city limits.

The police chief was the only one that even appeared embarrassed when it was pointed out within days that they had just made it illegal for automobiles, including emergency vehicles, to operate at night.

 

My favorite law of all - the law of unintended consequences. It's the only one you can count on ALWAYS applying.

 

So, train station lighting repair is off limits?

Your point is well taken -- How truly the devil's in the semantics...
Additionally there is the issue of ATVs and sleds -- 'round here, in addition to recreation, said conveyances are commonly used for general transportation...

Seriously? How can we know? To be safe I thing that its justified that from now one all further threads relating to anything on this site be immediately locked under the no automotive modifications TOS rule.

Indeed... Perhaps the best solution is to grant the Mods sufficient latitude to decide on a case-by-case basis... While I suspect the major objection to such a scheme would be liability to clams of 'discriminatory enforcement' such could be allayed via public disclosure of rationale in disputed cases --- Sadly there seems to be no 'perfect' solution...

Reminds me of a city north of Denver that, about 30, 40 years ago, were crafting an ordinance in response to complaints about people running chain saws and snow blowers late at night. During the discussion they brought up the complaints received every year about people mowing their lawns early in the morning. So some bright member of council found a wording that conveniently covered all of these, as well as anything similar that they might have missed. The city attorney and police chief bought of on it and council passed it into law. The ordinance stated (paraphrasing) that is shall be unlawful to operate an internal combustion engine between the hours of 10pm and 6am within city limits.

The police chief was the only one that even appeared embarrassed when it was pointed out within days that they had just made it illegal for automobiles, including emergency vehicles, to operate at night.

I recall 'tell' of a case in which a municipal authority prohibited unlicensed operation of "devices capable of emitting measurable electromagnetic radiation beyond one's own property line" -- Said ordnance being summarily rescinded when, in addition to its obvious intrusion upon federal jurisdiction, it was pointed out that such a restriction outlawed porch lights (in addition to most everything else)... I begin to think a competency requirement for entering politics is in order? As, for instance, the demonstrated ability to construct one's name from 'alphabet blocks'?

Best regards
HP

 

I recall 'tell' of a case in which a municipal authority prohibited unlicensed operation of "devices capable of emitting measurable electromagnetic radiation beyond one's own property line" -- Said ordnance being summarily rescinded when, in addition to its obvious intrusion upon federal jurisdiction, it was pointed out that such a restriction outlawed porch lights (in addition to most everything else)... I begin to think a competency requirement for entering politics is in order? As, for instance, the demonstrated ability to construct one's name from 'alphabet blocks'?

My guess is that such a requirement would cause a great many empty seats to come up for grabs in the next election.

I know for a fact that requiring that a senator know which is larger, 2/3 or 3/5, would have forced one of the long-term senators from my state out of office back in the 90's.

 

Shocking, but on the other hand not surprising. Maybe I learned of it here, but anyway I heard that a fast food chain - Hardee's I think - wanted to one-up the McDonalds Quarter Pounder, so they offered a 1/3rd pounder at a similar price. Despite the better value, it failed miserably because – after an extensive study to figure out what happened – most people figured 1/3 was less than 1/4.

 

As my wife pointed out one time,

"It's not the words I am saying that matter. It's what I am talking about that is the point."

Um okay but if you really want someone to have better understanding of what you are talking about using the correct words does help communications move along in the intended direction considerably!

 

"It's not the words I am saying that matter. It's what I am talking about that is the point."

Classic wife-speak, except for the admission that the two things might be different.

 

I think I may have quoted her wrong. It's so hard to tell with someone who speaks first and only thinks about what she says as a last resort.

It may have went more like,

'It's not what I am saying that matters. It's what I am talking about that is the point.'

Either way it basically made little sense regardless of how I tried to interpret it.

 

As my wife pointed out one time,

"It's not the words I am saying that matter. It's what I am talking about that is the point."

Um okay but if you really want someone to have better understanding of what you are talking about using the correct words does help communications move along in the intended direction considerably!

My wife has never said that (or anything similar), but in her case I have to take that viewpoint as a given since she is a non-native English speaker and I frequently have to divine what she meant to say which may well be at odds to what she actually said. If she's in a good mood (which is most of the time) I will sometimes play stupid (not too hard, really) and force her to fight for better word choice. She'll tolerate that pretty well even though I'm pretty sure she knows I'm doing it deliberately; she gets defensive pretty easily if it appears I am kidding her about her English and since I know she doesn't like it I don't do it because I know she doesn't like it -- and I think she knows that and appreciates it and that makes her more willing to tolerate my 'play stupid' tactic. Usually I'll just rephrase what she says according to what I think she is trying to say so that she can confirm it. Either way she learns a bit about better English expression. I think maybe twice she has said something like, "You know what I mean!" One time I truly did NOT and had to make that clear pretty quickly, at which point she calmed right down.

I really DID get lucky when I found this lady.

 

@tcmtech

Saint's preserve your domestic tranquility should your wife ever decide to have a 'gander' at these fora!

 

@tcmtech

Saint's preserve your domestic tranquility should your wife ever decide to have a 'gander' at these fora!

There are some things even the Saints are powerless to stop.

 

Maybe tis automotive thing is really about safety and liability after all. Say we discuss the mods on airbag systems, or braking systems, cruise control, etc. Someone actually goes and tries a posted mod idea in a real car, and ends up hurting/killing someone? I know it's far fetched maybe, but there is a correlation there. So, I can see this automotive ban thing to a degree. Please always remember, engineering must have absolute flexibility.

 

Maybe tis automotive thing is really about safety and liability after all. Say we discuss the mods on airbag systems, or braking systems, cruise control, etc. Someone actually goes and tries a posted mod idea in a real car, and ends up hurting/killing someone? I know it's far fetched maybe, but there is a correlation there. So, I can see this automotive ban thing to a degree. Please always remember, engineering must have absolute flexibility.

Have you read any of the complaints about automotive posts and liability excuses why we cannot (could not) post on this topic? Welcome to the party, everyone has already left and automotive posts are allowed again. And, welcome to the site. It will get better, you just happened to stumble upon one of the resident asses here.

 

Did any of you notice that discussion of automotive applications and similar are now allowed, but with the exclusion of patently dangerous and illegal projects?

Chill!

 

The onus is on the responders. If one doesn't like where the discussion is going, then don't respond. It's like that on every internet forum.

 

Have you read any of the complaints about automotive posts and liability

I did. But I didn't see any reason to consider those opinions especially exalted.

 

I did. But I didn't see any reason to consider those opinions especially exalted.

My comments (post #96) were for the poster immediately above my post (#95). In that post he explains his theory of why automotive posts are banned. I went on to tell him those theories were well articulated all over this site and he was a day late and a dollar short - especially considering that automotive is now allowed.