RUK members quoted on Daily Mail Site

[ralphchadkirk]

Some members posting on the Horley Incident thread have been quoted on the Daily Mail site. Remember, it's not just people here ho see what you post and this should be a reminder to be careful.

Other people discussed what happened on a rail forum.
One user suggested an emergency handle might have been used to open the door which Alex fell through.

A second added: 'I would have thought that modern non-slam door stock should have meant this wasn't possible.'
A third said you could exit a moving train - but it would be 'unusual' and would require 'immense strength'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ger-falls-tracks-door-board-moving-train.html

 

[yorkie]

And not for the first time, there was 'An unusual 'signalling' problem' too.

 

[SS4]

Don't post anything you'd rather not say to your boss. There is also huge potential for being misquoted and coming across in a different light.

 

[Ascot]

That's brilliant, we could almost publish anything we like in the Daily Mail.

 

[Metrailway]

Also here: Fatality at Chalfont & Latimer - A warning

 

[Ferret]

That's brilliant, we could almost publish anything we like in the Daily Mail.

They already publish whatever they like!

 

[bronzeonion]

The comments quoted were sensible?

 

[starrymarkb]

So this place is getting a bit like PPRUNE?

 

[Harbon 1]

I wonder if they will come here first for any insight on rail related news?

 

[Pumbaa]

I would imagine we're now on the stock list for sourcing information on anything rail...

 

[LE Greys]

One would hope that any reputable journalist would at least try to disguise the fact that he or she was picking up information from an internet forum. If an undergraduate tried to pass off something like that as a reputable source, this would lose them marks. Certainly, some people here are professional railwaymen who know what they are talking about, but I am most definitely an amateur, although knowledgable, and I sometimes find it hard to define where the limits of my knowledge are and where they extend into speculation. Maybe I should put that in my signature.

 

[wintonian]

I would imagine we're now on the stock list for sourcing information on anything rail...

Before or after Wikipedia?

 

[maniacmartin]

They might as well have said, "Here's three random theories"

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does the most recent published version of the rules of this website contain any specific guidance to the forum membership with regard to the matter in question ?

 

[YorkshireBear]

The temptation to have fun with this is fantastic. Can we set up threads about trains running at 800mph on the underground within 5 years and see how far that travels?

In all seriousness it is quite poor journalism...

 

[Yew]

The temptation to have fun with this is fantastic. Can we set up threads about trains running at 800mph on the underground within 5 years and see how far that travels?

In all seriousness it is quite poor journalism...

Two weeks.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The temptation to have fun with this is fantastic. Can we set up threads about trains running at 800mph on the underground within 5 years and see how far that travels?

Even more dramatic would be the news that the methodology that has just been found that will enable ALL the Pacer fleet to continue in service until 2075..

Note the use of the phrase "WOULD BE" in the posting above, which clarifies the position that this is NOT a proposal under consideration

 

[yorkie]

Does the most recent published version of the rules of this website contain any specific guidance to the forum membership with regard to the matter in question ?

Yes, and I am sure you helped us with many of them as part of our rules consultation last year

The forum rules can be found here: Forum Rules.

These are particularly relevant:

• Please ensure your contributions are accurate to the best of your knowledge.

• If posting an article you should put the text in QUOTE tags, provide details of the source and make a relevant comment to promote discussion.

• If posting a personal suggestion for changes to rail provision, you should make this position clear in the thread title so readers are clear it is not based on the work or aspirations of any recognised body.

 

[table38]

I guess it's inevitable because this forum is indexed on google*. You don't have to subscribe to view the posts, so a journo just does some lazy research by looking on the internet, and starts quoting chunks off here out of context!

(This isn't a criticism of the forum being on google, after all, that's how I found out about it before I joined!)

Astoundingly, even Leveson quoted stuff from wikipedia of all places in his report which was incorrect.

* other search engines are available

 

[Nick W]

I don't understand the problem. The internet allows more of an open access to knowledge dispersal meaning that the press don't just have to rely on the doctored official press releases. Sure they could ask a member of rail staff on duty, but why bother if one will post on the forum.

 

[O L Leigh]

Can anyone else here the unmistakeable sound of a barrel being scraped...?

Given the extent to which I and my colleagues have to come on here and correct mistakes and misapprehensions about the railway and it's operation among the members, it frightens me that there are people out there who look to this forum as a source of authoritative comment with regard to the railways in general and certain incidents in particular. That it is the Daily Mail quoting from here is unsurprising given how they love to try and scare us all silly, but even so.

"Speaking about the proposed changes to neuro-surgical procedures, a man who once had a headache has given the following reaction."

Give me strength...!!

O L Leigh

 

[table38]

As someone suggested earlier, perhaps we really ought to create a spoof thread (like maybe a "Trainspotter Tax") and see how long it takes the Daily Mail to publish it as "fact"

Or how about something more plausible like "the train companies are thinking of charging extra for large suitcases and buggies".

Oh maybe not, we don't want to give the train companies any ideas

 

[starrymarkb]

Can anyone else here the unmistakeable sound of a barrel being scraped...?

Given the extent to which I and my colleagues have to come on here and correct mistakes and misapprehensions about the railway and it's operation among the members, it frightens me that there are people out there who look to this forum as a source of authoritative comment with regard to the railways in general and certain incidents in particular. That it is the Daily Mail quoting from here is unsurprising given how they love to try and scare us all silly, but even so.

"Speaking about the proposed changes to neuro-surgical procedures, a man who once had a headache has given the following reaction."

Give me strength...!!

O L Leigh

Just be glad it hasn't reached the levels of PPRUNE for media raids for speculation

 

[SS4]

As someone suggested earlier, perhaps we really ought to create a spoof thread (like maybe a "Trainspotter Tax") and see how long it takes the Daily Mail to publish it as "fact"

Or how about something more plausible like "the train companies are thinking of charging extra for large suitcases and buggies".

Oh maybe not, we don't want to give the train companies any ideas

How about free one-week travelcards for immigrants

 

[Nick W]

Given the extent to which I and my colleagues have to come on here and correct mistakes and misapprehensions about the railway and its operation among the members

Precisely! That's why the forum can be relied upon as a good source.

 

[43021HST]

The temptation to have fun with this is fantastic. Can we set up threads about trains running at 800mph on the underground within 5 years and see how far that travels?

In all seriousness it is quite poor journalism...

Now that's the sort of P*** taking you'd expect on WNXX.
Great Daily Mail actually reads the stuff on here!

I'm expecting there next headline to be: EXTREME LEFT WING TRAINSPOTTERS MOCK BRITAINS FINE MEDIA ESTABLISHMENT

 

[GB]

I don't understand the problem. The internet allows more of an open access to knowledge dispersal meaning that the press don't just have to rely on the doctored official press releases. Sure they could ask a member of rail staff on duty, but why bother if one will post on the forum.

Sorry but it is akin to a journalist eavesdropping on a group of random people on the street and posting their thoughts.

Its very lazy...particularly when they can't even bothered to take quotes correctly. The "immense strength" portion of one of the quotes referred to opening a 747 at altitude. Nothing to do with opening a train door at speed.

 

[43021HST]

Sorry but it is akin to a journalist eavesdropping on a group of random people on the street and posting their thoughts.

The thing is though, web forums are designed for people to eavesdrop, peoples conversations are a completely different matter.

 

[Starmill]

The temptation to have fun with this is fantastic. Can we set up threads about trains running at 800mph on the underground within 5 years and see how far that travels?

In all seriousness it is quite poor journalism...

I think we already knew that before they started quoting people from here!

 

[Bungle73]

The thing is though, web forums are designed for people to eavesdrop, peoples conversations are a completely different matter.

That's not the point being made though is it? It was that instead of consulting experts for an opinion the DM decided to insert some comments from a bunch of randoms on an internet forum into the article, even quoting one completely out of context. Shoddy journalism at it's finest I'm afraid to say. But what else can one expect from a rag such as the DM?