Another Day, More Annoyance
Ah, what could be a better way to start off the holiday weekend than another email from someone outraged over the site(s):
I placed my information on your site concerning my Austin Healey # HBT7Lxxxxx and I was not able to edit the information I meant to say xxxxxx is my cars real number. Later I find out this information is put out all over the internet search sites, that is my personal business, you have violated my trust in your website. This information is meant only for those fellow Healey owners on this site only. If you can’t remove the information from these search engines I will have to take action and I will have to withdraw my information from your site. Believe me I will talk to each and every Healey owner, about your practices. I would give you a phone number, to reach me, but I am afraid it also would be plastered all over the internet like my Healey information was. Let know what you are going to do about this matter.
Sigh.
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Where in any of the information on these sites does it suggest that this is some sort of private owners-only club? The sites’ raison d‘être is exactly the opposite of that, and while I welcome owners I do not, nor do I want to, cater exclusively to them, as much as that pains a few of them.
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Folks must arrive at this site somehow (via a google search, perhaps?) and (I imagine) browse a bit before they enter their information, if they do. I thought it was apparent that nothing is hidden here; everyone can see everything. My hope is that the sites’ openness and non-exclusivity foster enthusiasm among those who aren’t owners–and encourage them to join us on our journey to bankruptcy and ruin, er, enjoying our cars!
Do I really need to let people know that search engines crawl these sites (just like the rest of the internet)? I go through reasonable pains here to allow people to be anonymous–owners as well–and to provide ways for people to get in touch without revealing any personal information. That said, if you decide to sign your name to a comment, it will be picked up eventually by google and others, I imagine.
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Would the outraged of the world please quit with the blowhard stuff? I tend to smile, not tremble.
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Has no one ever heard the adage about flies, honey, vinegar and all that? I normally try to work with people when they get their underwear in a bunch, but I’m far less inclined to when it’s Internet Tough Guy on the other line.
All that said, I removed this car from the Healey site. I used to fret about losing track of cars in this fashion, but at this point I could give a rat’s behind. Keeping track of a single car with an unpleasant owner just isn’t worth it. I’m posting this little missive so I can point future angry folks here without having to type it all up again. Shades of the (apocryphal?) bedbug letter!
I need a vacation! Anyone want to float me a trip to Goodwood?
My favorite was the guy who claimed a copyright on the VIN of his Jaguar.
Comment by chuck goolsbee — July 2, 2010 @ 11:58 pm
The issue is not catering to private owners it’s the release of information on all the major search engines, Type in your name and up pops the information you put on this site. I don’t feel that information should be place out there for in an attempt to get more people to click on your site. That is unscrupulous, misleading, and deceptive business practice to use information, provided as a service, to other Healey owners. I seems as if this information was used as an advertising scam to place the information on major search engines to get those looking for you to visit your site. I put Austin Healey 3000 on Bing and came up with my information given to this site in confidence! Imagine my reaction, please find another way to advertise or find the person that is responsible for sabotaging your website. I have a stolen 1956, XK 140 DHC out there somewhere and maybe it is on your website.
Thank you , Edwin Ponder
Comment by Edwin Ponder — July 3, 2010 @ 8:47 am
I also looked up where you claim to be doing business, Island Co., Washington , outside of Seattle. I appreciate your timely response and the fact that you extended me some courtesy. As I have said, I don’t mind my info. being on your site I have nothing to hide, it’s the search engine using my name and info. that pisses me off.
Comment by Edwin Ponder — July 3, 2010 @ 8:53 am
You absolutely have not a clue about how this website works, how the web works, or how search engines work. Jesus, this stuff just makes me tired.
Good day to you, enjoy your car.
Comment by Roger — July 3, 2010 @ 9:19 am
If you don’t want your name or information available to everyone on the internet, then you should not have typed your name or information into any form on any web site.
I see you signed a name here. I hope it is a fake name, because that name is now all over the internet forever. You typed this name yourself and thus gave all search engines everywhere the opportunity to share it with everyone else on the internet. That is how the internet works. Once it is out there, that’s it. There is no taking it back.
Roger can delete data only from the web sites under his control — he cannot delete it from any search engines or other sites which collect and store that data to share with others.
If you have a problem with the search engines, you should complain to the search engines themselves.
Comment by Allie — July 3, 2010 @ 9:47 am
I suspect that Mr Ponder , or whatever his name his, would have dispatched his messages in green ink if they had been manuscript !
Comment by christopher — July 25, 2010 @ 10:38 am
It is unbelievable that so many people still do not understand how the internet works.
PEOPLE: you are broadcasting to the whole universe for all time, with no take backs.
If you are not happy with that, sell your computer. NOW
Comment by Larry payeur — August 27, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
The arrogance , rudeness,and bluster of these dinosaurs is only matched by their ignorance. As I think has been stated . anything published on any web page is in the public domain. The owner of the website has no practical control over whether search engines pick information up and list it in their results. I suggest people who think otherwise engage the most expensive lawyers they can and sue hopefully bankrupting themselves when they inevitably lose. If you don’t like the internet , don’t use it , do these people really think that the entire web is going to change just because they go purple in the face? My sympathies to Roger
Comment by ben — September 15, 2010 @ 3:28 am
Keep it up!
Too bad there are so many people who just don’t get it. In comparison to other older, restricted, limited and exclusive databases let me assure you that I am not the only one who truly appreciates all your efforts regarding these sites. I hope I can help you in making them even greater!
Cheers!
Comment by Pekka T. — October 26, 2010 @ 4:03 am
WOW less coffee maybe. I just bought 1E33961. I found it on this site about a week later. Pulled off ebay I guess. I think this site is great. If ya dont want your stuff on the WWW dont put it out there, what a tool. Keep up the good work.
Comment by steve — January 7, 2011 @ 9:14 am