malibudon

Well, if you think that, then I expect he'll be banned before the next sunrise.

Well, now. We get to see how consistent Andy is about personal attacks, aren't we?

Can always count on the Ishmeister to tell it how it is! Exactly how is it?

If you're 15, do you think your parents would mind if I adopted you?

Wow! She's a beauty. That is totally cool. Thanks for putting in the effort to share your success!

Glad to see the Montesa franchise stay in the hands of a die-hard fan (not that there's anything wrong with RYP).

Hate to burst your bubble, but it doesn't even increase my blood pressure a single mark. I've been on the Internet since Mosaic days and on BBS before that. I've seen this sort of forum management countless times. Still, the issue of banning people due to unpopular opinions is one worthy of occasional discussion, especially for people new to the subject.

The guy who wrote the book on trials training and technique used to post on the TC forums. What happened to him? Did he get banned for expressing opinions?

Zippy, in America we very rarely have the sort of cases in the courts you're referencing. Libel and slander are extremely difficult to prove in the United States, and almost always involve knowingly and falsely accusing someone of an illegal act. As far as I know, Lane never accused anyone of breaking any laws. It's great that you believe people should have to back up what they say. Others do not agree...and that's part of our freedom. Lane has controversial opinions and isn't afraid to present them. That riles some people up.

One of the EFI's sensors has got to be bad. The EFI computer is being fed bad information, causing it to run rich.

Do I personally? Not that I've seen, but I'm usually out riding rather than hanging around public parks. However, I absolutely do want them out in the open where we can see them and know who they are. Would you prefer they meet and recruit in secret? As American Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said: "Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman."

The American Way is to let people have their say and let the court of public opinion sort it out, rather than forbid unpopular opinions. I like it that way and am quite proud of our system. It's my understanding that Australians have no right to freedom of expression under the Australian Constitution. If you're comfortable with that in Australia, then I suppose we're both in the right places.

That may be true in Canada (which definitely has limits on unpopular speech), but in the United States we have a Constitution that guarantees us the freedom to make personal attacks (though it does not supply us a forum, and posters have zero rights here or on any other privately owned forum). In fact, down here, we cherish that right and we put in right up front in our Bill of Rights.

This discussion isn't about children, as near as I can tell. We're all adults here, so how any statements relate to children seems to fall outside of the section boundaries. However, as you've brought it up, if I had a child, and he was reading this forum, I'd explain to him that everyone is entitled to express an opinion. He can back up his opinion with action, or not. His opinions can be based on fact or fancy. But, he will be judged by his opinions and how they're presented. I'd also point out to him that the owners of a forum can ban someone for the forum for a good reason, bad reason or no reason at all.

Steve, we simply have two viewpoints that can't be reconciled. I think opinions are great. I don't think you have to back them up. They can stand on their own...or not. I don't think opinions have to be popular. Many great ideas aren't popular when first brought up. I don't think you have to implement opinions given on a discussion board. You can try if you'd like. Or not. Someone else might pick up on them and do something. Or not. It doesn't really matter one way or the other. I think Lane's perspectives are valuable to the sport (sometimes I like them, other times not, many times I don't care one way or another). You may not like his perspective, but he's sharing it (or at least he was, until he was banned). There are plenty of NATC Champions who disappear and are never heard from again. When was the last time you heard something from Marland Whaley or Fred Crossett? Look, Lane did a great job of representing trials while he was a world class competitor. He was in lots of magazines. He wrote an important book on trials technique. That's not enough for you? Oh, well.

Biff, how it is you're President of something if you're not political? How can you have an organization of three or more people without politics being involved? That simply contradicts human nature.

Steve, I doubt that Lane is the loser. I'm sure he enjoyed participating, but has other things to occupy his time if he's no longer allowed to participate here. TC may thrive, but make no mistake...forum traffic on USA Trials without Lane is down--way down. And, as far as backing it up, I think Lane was only involved enough to offer an opinion. Opinions are great. They get people talking. They get people stimulated to get things done. Without opinions, everything stagnates--including the USA Trials forum.

That's often the case with people who have strong opinions and are willing to express them. TC clearly killed the goose that drove the majority of the traffic in the USA & Canada part of the forum. I guess it didn't poop gold eggs. Love Lane or hate him, he got people to participate in the forum. Every forum needs someone like him to stimulate discussion, and TC and its customers are the poorer for losing a resource such as Lane.

The pics I've seen of the GG indicate that. The 4 OHV configuration for four-strokes is great, if you need a high/quick revving engine. The questions is this: Do the advantages of a 4 OHV design outweigh (no pun intended) the disadvantages of the higher center of gravity and taller motor?

The new WR250X and WR250R from Yamaha with EFI run the same 4-valve motor. Personally, I'd like to see a sidevalve two-valve trials motor, as it would lower the center of gravity of the bike. We certainly don't need twin cams and four valves given the rev range of a trials bike.

This is 100% correct. The vast majority of observer errors are in the rider's favor. If the observers were perfect, we'd all have scores a lot higher!

I would say that an army's main function is to <i>deter</i> attack. If you have to defend yourself, then your deterrence was inadequate. Given that, sitting and waiting to be attacked seems like a foolish position. That is the lesson of 9/11/01, which Americans should have learned on 2/26/93. You can't be reactive in the modern world--you must be proactive. And, I appreciate your more thoughtful and complete explanation of your position. Your initial post certainly opining that the British Army should stay at home until directly attacked certainly smacks of isolationism, which is highly impractical in 2007.

AtomAnt's opinion is absurd in your eyes, but not in the eyes of many people. Debate and discuss but respect the right to an opinion, isn't that why Blair and Bush concocted the smoking gun lie in the first place, to give the people of Iraq an opinion, a right to choose their own futures. If it's not the reason then the war in Iraq was nothing more than State Sponsored Bullying. Unfortunately, I fear your attitude to Atom's valid opinion speaks volumes for global alliances today....... I see that you don't have respect for my right to an opinion about Mr. Ant's opinion. Volumes, indeed.

What century are you posting from? Malibu, it's called expressing an opinion whatever century or archaelogical period you are in. If you have an opinion express it properly, don't just throw in a caustic remark just because you disagree It's an absurd opinion, so I rightfully treated it as such. Does Mr. Ant truly believe that the only function of the British Army is to protect from an invasion? In 2007 or beyond? An invasion? Can he possibly be serious?

http://asvinventions.com/levers_order/Off_..._f3_Series.html