Censorship? - London Bridge Accident Thread

spen666
spen666 Posts: 17,709
edited August 2009 in Commuting chat
Why has this thread been apparently removed?

I can understand the locking of the thread given the way it was going, but why has the same been removed.

There were some good posts on there and the victim ( cyclist) had taken the time to post.

Why was thread removed?
Why was it done by stealth- ie no mention of it being removed?
Want to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com

Twittering @spen_666

Comments

  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    Aye, normally one would expect a moderator to post a warning to keep things civil if degenerating too far -- but there are, and have been, more heated threads on this forum which are allowed to exist.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    Could be legal reasons, if a case is being put together against anyone and there's a risk of prejudice from the thread then potentially Bikeradar might be held in contempt of court if one or more of the parties involved in the accident is talking about it.

    Ah, memories of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Perhaps it was because there was rife speculation about a recent potentially fatal accident, in an information vacuum, with little or no regard to the sensibilities of the people involved?
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    True enough, given the amount of blame being apportioned without any actual facts.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    Jamey wrote:
    Could be legal reasons, if a case is being put together against anyone and there's a risk of prejudice from the thread then potentially Bikeradar might be held in contempt of court if one or more of the parties involved in the accident is talking about it.

    Ah, memories of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists.

    Think its too early for contempt of court- no one has been charged with any offence yet.

    I am more interested in it being deleted in a stealthy manner. If it was thought it would be contempt of court issues ( not that I think there are) - then surely a sticky from the moderators saying it had been deleted for that reason would be preferable to just trying to erase history
    Want to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
    Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com

    Twittering @spen_666
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    Agreed, was just trying to think of a reason, that's all.

    Sounds like it was probably removed at someone's request to me... Probably someone involved or close to those that were.
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    Jamey wrote:
    Agreed, was just trying to think of a reason, that's all.

    Sounds like it was probably removed at someone's request to me... Probably someone involved or close to those that were.

    Come on moderators- give us a reason. A simple 1 liner would do
    Want to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
    Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com

    Twittering @spen_666
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,695
    A simple one liner you say?

    A man walks into a bar and says "Ouch".

    I was alerted to what was happening i the thread (finger pointing at the biker without hard evidence, insulting language etc, you know what was there. I made a decision to delete the thread, as a lock would still have left all of the content on the site forever, which wasn't a good way to leave it in my opinion.
  • My guess would be the threats of physical violence which were starting to be thrown around - that'll usually get mods a bit worried? Such threats might be a little unlikely to be carried out given a) probably just bluff and bluster and b) the internet is pretty anonymous. OTOH, there are enough threads about social activities so if the person making the threats really was a complete loon, they probably could track down a couple of forumers in the real world. Just look at some of the info turned up on weadmire in the RLJ thread.
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    whyamihere wrote:
    I made a decision to delete the thread, as a lock would still have left all of the content on the site forever, which wasn't a good way to leave it in my opinion.

    Here here!! Good move.
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • just a last update on the biker....

    He is now out of his coma, although the doctors arent sure if there will be any lasting affects, as at present he cannot move/feel anything below the waist. Also has 3 broken ribs and something else that i cant quite pronounce (sounded pelvisy). The doctors are hopeful though that he may recover. although at the moment he is still disorientated.

    so good news that he is concious again, here's hoping for a recovery!
  • MattFT
    MattFT Posts: 178
    timelimit wrote:
    just a last update on the biker....

    He is now out of his coma, although the doctors arent sure if there will be any lasting affects, as at present he cannot move/feel anything below the waist. Also has 3 broken ribs and something else that i cant quite pronounce (sounded pelvisy). The doctors are hopeful though that he may recover. although at the moment he is still disorientated.

    so good news that he is concious again, here's hoping for a recovery!

    Glad to hear he's on the mend!
    FCN: 4

    My Condor R.I.P.

    Enigma Echo - everything outside the city
    Genesis Day One Disc - commuter
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    Good news; hope he makes a full recovery. Fingers crossed.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • dilemna
    dilemna Posts: 2,187
    spen666 wrote:
    Jamey wrote:
    Could be legal reasons, if a case is being put together against anyone and there's a risk of prejudice from the thread then potentially Bikeradar might be held in contempt of court if one or more of the parties involved in the accident is talking about it.

    Ah, memories of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists.

    Think its too early for contempt of court- no one has been charged with any offence yet.

    I am more interested in it being deleted in a stealthy manner. If it was thought it would be contempt of court issues ( not that I think there are) - then surely a sticky from the moderators saying it had been deleted for that reason would be preferable to just trying to erase history

    +1. Just because people found views unpalatable that did not suit their own view this is not a reason for taking a post down. Perhaps the threats and general animosity were good reason from people who have little history of posting on here.

    However I did subsequently have concerns of the validity of those posting and any possible relationship or association to any party, the bus driver or particularly the injured motorcyclist, given that others claiming to be witnesses had posted their accounts of what they had seen. It is not difficult to forsee a situation where by this might hamper any investigation by the police if witnesses then came forward who had not witnessed the crash with differing versions to counter any charges actual or pending.

    I'm glad the cyclist was not seriously injured.
    Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
    Think how stupid the average person is.......
    half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    Dilemna and everyone:

    Future are not accountable to any of its posters for the material posted. They can remove material without warning at their discretion. There is no reason or justification for anyone on here to decry any moderation that goes on.
    Future may (but shall not be obliged to) delete, edit, lock, move or remove any Content without notice and for any reason and/or to record the IP address from which any Content is posted, uploaded and/or displayed without notice and for any reason, including, without limitation, Content which, in our sole discretion, violates these Terms or is or may be irrelevant, out of date, inappropriate or objectionable in any way whatsoever, or in respect of which Future receives any complaint (whether justified or not).
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,695
    I'm locking this now to stop the arguments resurfacing.
This discussion has been closed.