adios- TDR didn't stick with what you know

[J&LRam]

I've been a member since '01 and have enjoyed the mag for its tech info till the last couple of years when you started pushing the anti gov thing and putting up with tech writers such as GR Whale. Issue #65 , and other issues ,and his anti gov/anti dems/anti ..... add your favorite whipping boy political rant. He and a couple of other of our tech contributers have no credibility in writing in the tech field anymore. Just more boring right wing anti gov rants. Thats not what I expected for my bucks.



As Bob Benze says in issue #62 page #110 "stick with what you know". Well you didn't. I'm fed up with reading anti gov rants as thats not what I joined TDR for. That krap is free on the net.



I was a school board member for eight years. One thing I fought the adminstration on was the smoke hole at the end of the hall. They did move it outside but it still sent the wrong message to kids about smoking. Finally a non smoking school adm came along and we got the smoke hole closed. We have the same smoke hole problem on the TDR website in the political forum. What a disgrace for a fine mag with all the anti's/racist remarks/etc and all the name calling which has spilled out in the other forums on TDR with their hate filled personel attacks/remarks. The political forum just encourages hate and those that represent hate/racist/anti gov/etc. Those types need to go to Iran/N. Korea as their anti US gov also. TDR should be above all that.



Those are the reason I'll not be renewing my subscription.



I'm a old guy and joined the GOP in the late '50s so don't think I'm just another liberal.

 

[LRutigliano]

Everybody has a choice and an opinion...



I LOVE the magazine and find it very interesting/entertaining and informative. I learn something new in every one and when I re-read an old issue, I re-learn something I forgot...



I think the political forums are very entertaining and give insight from all angles...

 

[AMink]

I've been a member since '01 and have enjoyed the mag for its tech info till the last couple of years when you started pushing the anti gov thing and putting up with tech writers such as GR Whale. Issue #65 , and other issues ,and his anti gov/anti dems/anti ..... add your favorite whipping boy political rant. He and a couple of other of our tech contributers have no credibility in writing in the tech field anymore. Just more boring right wing anti gov rants. Thats not what I expected for my bucks.



As Bob Benze says in issue #62 page #110 "stick with what you know". Well you didn't. I'm fed up with reading anti gov rants as thats not what I joined TDR for. That krap is free on the net.



I was a school board member for eight years. One thing I fought the adminstration on was the smoke hole at the end of the hall. They did move it outside but it still sent the wrong message to kids about smoking. Finally a non smoking school adm came along and we got the smoke hole closed. We have the same smoke hole problem on the TDR website in the political forum. What a disgrace for a fine mag with all the anti's/racist remarks/etc and all the name calling which has spilled out in the other forums on TDR with their hate filled personel attacks/remarks. The political forum just encourages hate and those that represent hate/racist/anti gov/etc. Those types need to go to Iran/N. Korea as their anti US gov also. TDR should be above all that.



Those are the reason I'll not be renewing my subscription.



I'm a old guy and joined the GOP in the late '50s so don't think I'm just another liberal.

I don't really follow the magazine that closely, so I'll not comment on that. However, the political forum is for members only. Outsiders aren't supposed to see it, therefore they won't see all the "hate". As for members, it is posted that things get dicey in the political forum and suggest not going there if you don't want to see some contentious dialogue. In other words, you don't have to go there.



I hate to see anyone leave because of the political forum. I've seen at least two other consistent posters leave and then come back because of the content of that forum. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[fest3er]

There are three things one should never discuss in polite company: religion, politics and sex. Mrs. Robin and many others would be aghast were we to discuss sex on this generally family-friendly site, and there doesn't seem to be much interest in religion other than the Dieselism and Cumminsism. So far so good for polite company. Alas, political opinions are like anuses and mouths: everyone has one. And some folks are more strident than others. The political forum is not for polite company. While it is mostly opinion, occasionally someone will post facts (some of which are pertinent to the topic) that disrupt the status quo.

There are as many people in there who are anti-government and pro-rule-of-law as there are those who are anti-rule-of-law and pro-government.

Perhaps the warning should be changed to, "Notice: all members must read this forum to keep themselves up-to-date with what's going on in US governance. " Guaranteed no one will ever enter the forum again.

 

[Hoefler]

That is why I block that forum on my searches! I visit daily to read all the new threads and posts. It does not come up for me to even chance looking at it. And that is the way I like!! I enjoy coming here every day, twice a day. There is an unmeasurable amount of good info to be found here!

 

[Adventure Bob]

Heres a little clue that works for TV, Radio and Print that contains material you don't like: You dont have to Look, Listen or read it! Last I knew you to make a conscious choice to see the material your complaining about. This is still America and you dont have to go into the political forum. Ignore it. Dont click it.

 

[HBarlow]

I and the TDR and 30,000+ members may struggle but we'll do our best to get along without you.

I'll continue holding my anti-government anti-current administration views and expressing them whenever and wherever I choose until my freedoms are taken away.

I have met and frequently read Greg Whale. I happen to like him and admire his views.

 

[telliott]

Yes as long as we have freedoms, i dont see the problem... just as you are free to look away and not read that stuff. If it bothers you, dont read it! No one is forcing you.

 

[TDRadmin]

Sticking With What We Know

J&L Ram, I am disappointed that you would leave the TDR membership because of a difference of opinion with one (or a couple) of writers. But I respect that is your decision to make. You are simply voting with your pocketbook, and I think that shows a lot of integrity on your part.



For the record, we have taken heat lately about keeping the magazine a bit too technical. We have actually been encouraged to try to bring more human commentary back to the magazine. But that is hard to do without creating controversy. If our comments lean just a bit too far to the left, we offend the extreme right. If our comments lean just a bit too far to the right, we offend the extreme left. And it seems the "extreme" (either left or right) is very vocal when we disagree with their position.



As you probably have figured out, we (the owners) are very conservative in our thinking, our politics, our taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions, etc. But as we age, we are learning to appreciate the value of being open-minded to others' views. We are learning that there are many different ways to address issues, not just ours. We are also learning that we can grow from simply considering various perspectives. And we can simply turn the page and not give our time or energy to a topic of no interest to us. That is what we would hope TDR members would do. Take the good and pass it on. Learn from others' insights. And move past any material that brings no value to you.



Unfortunately, it sounds like we have failed to provide a compelling enough reason to get you to invest $35 per year to remain a TDR member. I am very sorry we have failed to meet your expectations.



I am proud, however, to have so many other TDR members come to our defense. We truly do work hard to meet the needs of as many TDR members as possible. And when we fall short, we are disappointed with ourselves.



We sincerely wish you the best of luck J&L Ram. And if you find you miss us just a bit, please come on back. We'll keep the lights on for you.



Robin Patton

TDR Admin

 

[Rattler]

I have always thought it funny that everyone is for free speech when it agrees with thier own opinion. But, if someone does not agree with what is being said, then it is not okay. I have a teacher in college that follows this mind set. He did not like Bush, but how dare someone complain about obama. And one more thing, drop the D***m race card. We as Americans are no longer allowed to have an opinion without the race card being played. Sorry for the rant, but i feel better now. Randy:-laf

 

[GaryOwen]

Politics and alcohol. Two things that I have a hard time resisting, so I try to avoid both. Have blocked the politics forum here and don't keep alcohol at home. I occasionally partake of each, but have to cautiously limit myself. I totally understand your reasoning, but maybe blocking would help. Hope you will stay, because I am sure you have a lot of knowledge to share, but respect your decision.

 

[flyby night]

I think that our country is just at a point where everyone is fed up. I had never been interested in politics, up until a couple years ago. Now I try to stay informed, simply because I am truly fed up as with most others. As for Anti Government, there are things that they need to stay the heck out of! We are killing ourselves with some of the regulations. It is ridiculous that in order to meet the 2010/2011 diesel emission standards, that urine injection systems need to be installed. This is government regulation that is going to stifle the diesel engine market. This is why Caterpillar has gotten out of the on highway engines. It got to be so expensive for them it wasn't worth it. I wouldn't say it is time to be anti government. I would say it is time to be anti regulation. Time to band together to work and get things changed actually for the better. If they keep on the track they are on, TDR will be obsolete. The federal government simply does not like diesel engines. They would rather push hybrids on us. When small diesel cars in europe are killing the mileages of the hybrids. Jeep has 3 suv's in europe that are diesel and get mileage into the 60's. They won't release them here though due to the "emissions".

In California, I believe that they are or are trying to make it so that if the truckers want to haul something into California, there truck has to meet the current model year emissions. Before long, if they go unchallenged, they will try to force us all to bring our trucks to meet the current model year emissions, or send them out like the cash for clunkers cars. There is NO reason why the exhaust coming out of my diesel should have to be cleaner than the air that went into the engine.



I apologize for the rant, but I am truly fed up with some things right now.





Green is the new Communist RED

 

[Bob4x4]

Wow... ..... We have some very eloquent TDR members. I am happy to pay my $35 every year to be able to read and share ideas and of course opinions here. It always surprises me when someone comes on and talks of leaving over opinions

 

[bheiting]

I'm not going to stop subscribing to TDR because it's such a valuable resource. But I
agree, the political BS is really a distraction from what this site was intended to do.
With the economy being what it is, unemployment high, families without health
insurance, etc, frustrations are at an all time high. That being said, we don't need more
ignorance and hatred on here to make it worse. It would be nice if we could just
concentrate on the best engine made in the USA and leave it at that.

 

[Bob4x4]

Open minded people enjoy" distraction " as you call it. Very simple if you don't want to read or hear about what goes on skip that section.

 

[DValentine]

I like the technicality of the magazine. I think the forum provides the HUMAN side of this venture. I really like Kevin Cameron's writing. I agree that some of the egos have spilled over the fence of the political forum and runs into some of the other areas.

Sorry to see you go.

Dave

 

[GHarman]

Hey Bud! Nobodys perfect, not everybody is your friend, even when they drive the same kind of truck! Its just a fact of life. However, politics aside, there are some really good hearted folks that are members of TDR! TDR is a cross section of many different views and there WILL be clashes! You will find that everywhere, unless you stay home and throw a blanket over yer head! Dont leave just because there is a place to vent. If you dont want to vent or challenge someones point of view, dont go there. Its an easy choice. The technical information, help, encouragement and hopefully, reciprocation, is what I came here forOo. ! The rest is just a result of the Human condition. GregH

 

[Missouri Mule]

I was going to give a membership to one of my brothers for a gift because he loves discussing "politics" and he needs something to do to relieve stress.

 

[NevadaBackroader]

Dang, I thought Greg Whale's articles were a little too liberal. Maybe you are a little too used to the supression of free speech in our school system.

 

[Wiredawg]

I personally like the TDR and most of the forums. I don't always agree w/ folks on here as they don't always agree w/ me. I mostly like the technical forums, that was the initial reason for joining and the reason for staying. There are folks I've never met that I like a lot and a few I don't care for, but I respect them all. So is life.



As for the TDR, pls don't change anything... you offer something for allof us and it's well worth my $35/yr.



Take care and keep up the great work.



Ron