Ozrodders.com

Jon · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 20 Location: Colorado, USA

I just wanted to welcome everyone, and to provide a little more information on the people and organizations that helped make Ozrodders.com possible.

First of all, thanks go to Greg for leading HRI. And to Dave for expert handling of a difficult international-political-automotive-cyberlaw-predicament. Thanks also to klassik, who alerted us to the situation at HRI, and designed the new Ozrodders.com logo.

We're grateful to several organizations that assisted us as we dealt with this situation. The Electronic Frontier Foundation was especially helpful. Since 1990, the EFF has been the leading group responsible for defending free speech on the internet. We wouldn't be here without their support.

We'd also like to thank Marc Perkel of Computer Tyme for providing specialty free speech hosting services for Ozrodders.com, and for his assistance in preserving the entire database of Australian hotrodding knowledge.

A debt of gratitude is owed to the Rodding Roundtable for providing a temporary home for HRI refugees. And, I'd like to thank the members of Hotrodders.com for their patience while we diverted our resources to resolve this situation.

----

It's important to recognize that the takedown of the original HRI forum is a classic example of an attempt to stifle free speech online. When free speech is threatened, people often hesitate to voice their opinions, for fear of punishment. The wave of silence that results from this fear, also known as a "chilling effect", is something that we are here to prevent.

Also, while most American hotrodding sites prefer to filter out certain words that are perceived as offensive, I know that Australians have different customs. Just as on the original HRI forum, you'll find that there is no censorship here.

Of course, you are always personally responsible for your communication, both online and off. Nevertheless, Ozrodders.com is:

free of censorship
hosted on a specialty free speech web host
supported by American hotrodding and free speech organizations
hosted in one of the friendliest regions to free speech in the world

Congratulations, you're now one of the free-est forums on the internet. As long as you're honest and nonviolent, you can say whatever the fuck you want.

----

Ozrodders.com is administered and supported by Hotrodders.com in the USA.

This online community is designed for Australian hotrodders, and will be shaped by Australian hotrodding knowledge and culture. Please feel free to submit any suggestions to Ozrodders.com moderators, or contact me anytime at jon@ozrodders.com.

rx4ord · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:56 am Post subject:

Does this mean that my post 'Bugger it.I'll ask" can now get some answers and not just lookers?I think the fear factor is still running very high.Can we still be sued on this site?

Dave · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject:

Jon · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 20 Location: Colorado, USA

That's my read on it too. While it's not impossible to be sued, we've taken the forum from a very vulnerable legal position, to a very strong legal position. If you're honest and nonviolent, you're most likely going to be very safe. An Australian-American-international-anonymous-user-internet-lawsuit would be quite an undertaking, the first of its kind. Any potential legal action from Australian entities would have to include an uphill battle in an American jurisdiction that is heavily in favor of online free speech.

Like Dave said, the acceptable standard for board behavior will be established by the moderators. As in any online community, standard practices of respectful communication will apply. The advantage we have here is that the decision as to what can and can't be said will not be dictated by external political or legal pressure.

rx4ord · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject:

Sounds fair and equitable to me.Thanks Dave and Jon.Dave

Mike · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the explanation and thanks for the mountain of work you fellas musta put in to get this happening .. we the rank n file do appreciate your efforts.

What happened certainly changed Aussie Rodding forever, but we've managed to pull through in a typical Aussie way ... never let the bastards beat ya !!

A few more changes to the direction our NCC is heading and things will turn out ok ... we have a few issues being adressed, but time is needed to bring most to fruition.

HRI has banded a great bunch of long time , new , and very young Rodders together .. every single member here has been welcomed , not once have i seen a contributor condeming another for their choice of car ,be it a rice burner a VW or a 32 Vicky .. hell even a Rugby was accepted !!

We the members have a huge amount of input in the direction Aussie Rodding is heading because be assured we are monitored much more than you'd care to know .
_________________

Mike Claridge.

Member of the Year
2005 - 2006

ASRF Life Member.

VHRA Member.

I had a handle on life ....... but it broke !!

Brett.C · Old Hand Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 5080 Location: Sydney

Thankyou jon, dave, member #456 and everyone else involved in getting this site back up and running.
Can't wait to read the A$RF's mail out to all members stating the "facts" about what happened.
Somebody will have to post here, we need a good larf Laughing

Outback · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject:

thanks fella's,

It really is muchly appreciated, it's humbleing to know how much effort so many people put into this, just so a bunch of 'mostly' Aussies can hang crap on each other and talk about rods & kustoms to boot!

Cheers

Outback
_________________
Nothing is worth having, that isn't worth waiting for!

4 bangers 4 eva

Dave · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 11:11 pm Post subject:

Roddess1932 · Member Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 569 Location: Victoria

Pep · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 9:29 am Post subject:

Yeah..I echo the sentiments above by all.....well done and much appreciated.
_________________
See ya on the road or at a run somewhere!

Mr Cool · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:36 am Post subject:

Thanks to all who have put in a mountain of effort to get this forum back online.

I guess we can still hang it on people who put a suede purple poofy interior in their car though? But we cant mention any names, or we can still be sued. right?
_________________
Regards
Chris Stork.
Founding Member of Oz E Rodders Street Rod and Kustom Club.

Marriage, One mans insane desire to feed and clothe another mans daughter

Cool23 · Old Hand Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2956

I've just read the comments ( pages ) leading in from the old HRI page.
If you have not read them I suggest you do so. All very good comments and leads back to a topic I posted before the forum was shut down.

What is the future of the Forum ?

Thank you to all involved in Raising the forum back to where it can be used and of value to those that make use of.

choco · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:59 pm Post subject:

Cool23 · Old Hand Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2956