Equipment/hardware Review Section

[CrazyAirborne]

I dont know if the British use the term "Equipment" but we could title it Hardware Reviews as well.

It would need its own section, so each piece reviewed could have its own post (so others could add their reviews)

But we could require a format like this:

Brand:
Make/Model:
Time Used:
Would You Recommend: Yes/No

Short Review:

I think this would bring more people into forums, because people are always googling reviews on products, and i think alot of people have good experience using products for long periods of time, and this could SAVE us seeing all the same threads asking peoples opinions on filters and heaters and everything else. It would mainly be for the actual hardware of the aquarium hobby, but we could allow reviews of fish foods too if we really wanted.

Id also be willing to moderate this as I have a few years of moderating and administering forums.

I dont know who to talk to about this directly, so this looked like a good place to post it.

Thanks

Steve

 

[Bignose]

CA,

This is an idea that had been kicked around for a while. The primary concern is the possible legal liability. http/www.techdirt.com/articles/20100510/1047319358.shtml is a possible precedent that we certainly do not want to even get within a sniff off.

And a major part of that is that we are completely a volunteer organization. We do not have the resources to deal with anything even resembling the above. So, at this time, we just aren't ready to take on the risk, however small it may be.

But, know that there are those of us who do agree, and that such a section would hold some good value. We just need to be sure that there is virtually no risk to it.

 

[minnnt]

How is this any different to the lfs review topic that was asked about?

Also it would only be one persons view of one piece of equipment. It could be faulty and by only having one it wouldn't be a fair test.

Just my 2p's worth.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

How is this any different to the lfs review topic that was asked about?

Also it would only be one persons view of one piece of equipment. It could be faulty and by only having one it wouldn't be a fair test.

Just my 2p's worth.

an example minnnt.

I have a Koralia 900 lets say, I see no one has written a review on it, so i start a new post, and write about it.
others then see my review, and reply to my post, agreeing, or disagreeing, and add to the post, with their opinion, and this is how good review sites are formed.

i would definitely want more than one person to add to each review.

but it doesnt matter, cuz its too risky i guess.

i find it interesting we cant speak our opinions about products we buy and use.

 

[blinky000]

Forgive me if there's already a section for it, but I thought it'd be nice to have a product review section so we can share out thoughts on different products etc. What do you think?

 

[KittyKat]

At least in UK, it is legal to write constructive reviews about anything, including LFS and products. What is not legal is writing something along the lines of "I think this is #105### because I don't like it". Without strict post-by-post moderation, this probably wouldn't work on this forum, having seen many comments of the type I mention. On the other hand, a lot of people are already writing reviews of products on here on an every day basis (which make the forum equally liable for them as with any organised product review section) and it would be possible to add a warning before someone replies to a post in a "review forum" which would shift the liability to the posted, something like "by clicking the "Post" button, you hereby agree that you are legally responsible for your comments and reviews".

Anyway, I think it has already been legally established that a bulletin board can not be sued for what individuals post.

Still, the law would not prevent anyone from attempting to bring libel charges.

 

[Bignose]

Anyway, I think it has already been legally established that a bulletin board can not be sued for what individuals post.

Still, the law would not prevent anyone from attempting to bring libel charges.

No, it hasn't. The link above shows that -- the case is still pending. Libel would actually be easier to overcome, because one just has to demonstrate reasonable probability that what was written was believed to be true by the author. But, until the law is made very clear such as precedent set by the case in the link above, this forum is going to be conservative. This is the stance taken by the forum owner at this time. As an aside, I can see the merits in most of the arguments made in this thread, but ultimately, it is not my forum and my assets to put at risk. It is William's and his stance has been made clear to us mods, and I am trying my best to make clear his stance to you guys. In short, he is choosing not to have a reviews forum at this time.

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Since it was the exact same topic, I merged blinky000's thread into this one, and removed the posts that directed that thread to this one. That's why there is a post in the middle of the thread asking for the same thing.

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i find it interesting we cant speak our opinions about products we buy and use.

You can. We just aren't going to let you post it here, because of the all too litigious nature of companies today, it would put the forum and its assets at risk. But that shouldn't stop you from starting your own blog and posting whatever you want and taking whatever risks you want.

 

[KittyKat]

Understandable about the forum owners, but as purely a point of interest…

No, it hasn't. The link above shows that -- the case is still pending. Libel would actually be easier to overcome, because one just has to demonstrate reasonable probability that what was written was believed to be true by the author. But, until the law is made very clear such as precedent set by the case in the link above, this forum is going to be conservative.

Actually, there is already a law in US which protects forum owners from being liable for what individuals say, see 47 U.S.C. § 230 (c)(1): http/www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/47/usc_sec_47_00000230----000-.html
"No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.", which is apparently interpreted as "A service (forum) provider is not liable for what a user says."

And in UK too Defamation Act 1996, chapter 31, 1. Responsibility for publication. (3)(c): http/www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/section/1
"A person shall not be considered the author, editor or publisher of a statement if he is only involved — in processing, making copies of, distributing or selling any electronic medium in or on which the statement is recorded, or in operating or providing any equipment, system or service by means of which the statement is retrieved, copied, distributed or made available in electronic form", which is interpreted as "If you provide an electronic service (forum), you are not responsible for the content"… unless every comment is moderated ("“editor” means a person having editorial or equivalent responsibility for the content of the statement or the decision to publish it").

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, the law does not prevent anyone from attempting to bring a case, regardless of whether they have anything to stand on or not.

Also link is actually not about a libellous review/comment about a company directly, it is apparently libellous comments which were directed at a company which did not exist at the time when the issue occurred, but was associated with someone who was also associated with the original company which was involved in the issue discussed. Still, it is likely that the forum will be found not guilty and the individual users will be guilty.

 

[Bignose]

There may be a law, but again I don't think that the precedent has been set, otherwise this would be an open and shut case. The fact that it hasn't been settled for quite some time tells me that while there may be a law on the books, it is unclear how it is applied. and then this is very true:

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, the law does not prevent anyone from attempting to bring a case, regardless of whether they have anything to stand on or not

between no precedent and laws that aren't really caught up with the digital age, and then juries that can and do most anything they want.