Originally Posted by Poboy
It's not an exception, it's an example. Companies do care about their image. That's why the disclaimer suggestion of yours wouldn't work. The site I mentioned chose to split the off-topic stuff onto a whole other site.
Sponsors aside, I don't see why it's a problem HAnet doesn't want to associate themselves with street racing. They also don't associate themselves with Ford products (which is why it's not called HAFnet) but nobody complains that they can't discuss Ford issues.
Ok I want to add my two cents worth in here. First off, the owners of the site make the decisions and if we come to their site then we have to use their terms, plain and simple. What they choose to endorse is their business.........maybe they don't discuss Ford issues or endorse Ford products, but I have not been banned for making statements about them.......there's a difference. People are being kept from discussing these "Street" issues. Not supporting and not allowing are 2 different things.
Secondly, I guess these websites and sponsers are like insurance companies, some will take bigger risks and have bigger gains. There is a site for Yellow Mustangs (Yellow Mustang Registry) which has a fourms section (mind you I there are way less posts there) but we have a kill section on that site..........AND the group has no problem with sponsorship. They realize that they make products for street cars that will be driven hard every once and a while on the street. Those companies want to be at the top of the list when we want to spend money so they are in our magazines and on our websites regardless of what the magazines print for articles (competitive articles) or what they have for site content (kill stories). So I think the whole sponser image thing is a crock............care to argue.............then tell me why the Yellow Mustang Registry.com is going to be pulling off a record setting meet of all one model of yellow car ever this spring, and why so many sponsors will be there and are advertising on the website? Sponsoring a website, doesn't necessiarliy mean sharing the opinions or values of the content. Just like sponsoring a magazine with an add doesn't mean the company shares the view of the opinions or content. Do you think FORD approves or endorses driving fast on the street? Maybe not, but they sponsor magazines that have articles about it, and about how to make street driven Ford products go very fast.
The last thing I will say about image is this: how do you think people view a site that promotes parts to make what were once supposed to be quiet cars loud? Or promotes parts to void warranties? Or promotes parts that either void insurance policies or cause high deductables if reported that they are installed? Those are some other image things to consider if you buy into that whole pure and good image issue.
The whole issue rests on the fact that the admin group doesn't want a kill stories or street racing section and they are within their right to do that. After all, it is their website. On the other side of the coin, the members shouldn't be expected to like it just because the decision was made either.