Taxi Driver Online

Seems whenever the arguments is lost, another bout of censorship ensues, the dictator feels the need to flex his "muscles" and reason, logic and fairness takes a back seat.

Quote<Jim Taylor has been tolerated on this forum for some time, but his posts, rather than adding to or starting sensible debate instead contribute nothing.

Increasingly his rash and often stupid claims have been proved wrong and frequently based on lies or twisted statistics. When questioned he answers nothing, but instead chooses to berate the person asking.

Others get exasperated with his arrogance and ignorance and reply in like terms to his frequent insults.

This situation can no longer continue, so, as of now, any post, considered to be of an insulting nature will be removed, as will any response to such posts. If the post should contain anything valid then only the insults will be removed. Should the erratic behaviour of the likes of Taylor continue, then ultimately he will be removed.

Any comment should be sent as a PM (private message) to me as this topic is locked and its contents are not up for debate.

Admin

Unquote>

My response through another post because of the petulant ban<
[quote author=Administrator link=topic=1354.msg15554#msg15554 date=1173966136]
Answers not insults are requested from Taylor.

What makes you "feel sure that the trade generally will also welcome these." (extra measures to supposedly increase quality standards)?
Why should taxi drivers require First Aid qualifications?
What experience does Mr Taylor have of the current Taxi Schools?
Is your opinion of current Topo training based on the fact that you consider your own training to have been inadequate?
Why do you now request more council interference in taxi matters?

Admin

Please explain how these quality controls can be bad for the trade? Why should it not want to increase quality standards. I have to say that it puzzles me that you questions raising standards in this way. Would you prefer to see standards lowered?

Why shouldn't passenegers have the reassurane that drivers can come to their assistance? Wouldn't this be a unique selling point, an advantage over the competition? If you get on a plane, and you need aid, wouldn't you expaect, as a passenger, for some aid to be available?

Are you seriously saying that, in your eminent opinion, that the current method of topo training is satisfactory? Peddling photo copies hardly reflects professional teaching. And pointing out areas on a map, which everyone can read for themself, hardly amounts to instruction. Perhaps the instructors have qualifications to show us on teaching methods, presentation skills, and instructional psychology? Good, let's see them.

Why, when you clearly believe that the council understands the market better than you, or me, or anyone involved in working within the trade, shouldn't the coucil take th elead in driving standards forward? Isn't this what they're actually charged by the Law so to do? Personally I welcome their direct intervention in these non-market specific areas. They would be showing the lead to LAs all over the land.

BTW I am somewhat perplexed at your warning. Two things occur.

How is it reasonable to blow your stack, react with a warning when no one knows what irked you. Perhaps if you told us all what specifically upset you, it could be reviewed and an apology issued if merited.

Second, how can this be seen as fair. Look over the site and see the many attacks I have been subjected to. Not once have you ever warned anyone about any attacks on me. Look at the post headings where myriad topics are directed in a derogatory way to me. Where have you reined this in? So, how is this fair.

Only today, in response to a perfectly legitimate post of a letter to Cllr Wigglesworth in an attempt to drive up driver standards, TBO referred to me as MENTAL. Do you accept this is OK? Do you think it's either fair or necessary? Do you think Bob Dewar's reference to Asperger's Syndrome, which would be denigrated by anyone unfortunate enought to suffer from the condition, is responsible posting? I would remind you that this was entirely unprovoked. He created the topic. He sought to demean me and those with the condition. When he already has disability in his own family?

Do you think this is fair. How is one expected to react in the face of such vitriolic attacks.

I respect your right to have those on the forum conduct themselves properly. But aren't you merely exercising a personal grudge by allowing attacks on me yet holding me to blame for those attacking me?

However, I would like to know what stung you into this curious, one sided action.



[/quote]>

Gladstone replies<I did not state my opinion on quality controls, I asked you why you thought the trade would welcome extending them. Your response appears to assume that they do without giving reasons for the assumption.

Taxi drivers come from a variety of backgrounds and have varying levels of ability in different fields. We drive taxis. Is it reasonable to add further skills requirements? I doubt first aid would be a selling point.

I did not state my opinion (eminent or otherwise) of corrent topo training. I asked you what experience you had of the current schools to make any judgement as to their adequacy or not. I also asked if you considered that your own training had been inadequate.

I am puzzled as to where you get the view that I believe that the council understands the market better than anyone involved in the trade. Should the council not be driving the trade forward in conjunction WITH the trade rather than fighting it all the time?

I removed the irrelevant part of your post prior to replying to it. I will be replying to those comments in a PM shortly.

Admin>

Seems whenever some difficulty accrues, Gladstone steams in to asert authority he doesn't possess. Perhaps this is precisely why the trade in Edinburgh is losing its vested interest over restriction.

Hardly an advert for free speech is it. Which is why I sign myself over there "Vote Labour, get fascism".

The one called 'flyinbuck' should be nominated for the most crass and pointless poster in the history of taxi forums.

Not much point in posting on there, but it's good for entertainment value

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Here's Gladstone's response through personal message.

Seems he wants to operate in secrecy, hence the reason for the confidentiality clause.

The post you referred to was removed (as was another which perhaps you didn't see) when I read it.

As regards this extract I deleted as irrelevant from your post:

“BTW I am somewhat perplexed at your warning. Two things occur.



How is it reasonable to blow your stack, react with a warning when no one knows what irked you. Perhaps if you told us all what specifically upset you, it could be reviewed and an apology issued if merited.



Second, how can this be seen as fair. Look over the site and see the many attacks I have been subjected to. Not once have you ever warned anyone about any attacks on me. Look at the post headings where myriad topics are directed in a derogatory way to me. Where have you reined this in? So, how is this fair.



Only today, in response to a perfectly legitimate post of a letter to Cllr Wigglesworth in an attempt to drive up driver standards, TBO referred to me as MENTAL. Do you accept this is OK? Do you think it's either fair or necessary? Do you think Bob Dewar's reference to Asperger's Syndrome, which would be denigrated by anyone unfortunate enough to suffer from the condition, is responsible posting? I would remind you that this was entirely unprovoked. He created the topic. He sought to demean me and those with the condition. When he already has disability in his own family?



Do you think this is fair. How is one expected to react in the face of such vitriolic attacks.



I respect your right to have those on the forum conduct themselves properly. But aren't you merely exercising a personal grudge by allowing attacks on me yet holding me to blame for those attacking me?



However, I would like to know what stung you into this curious, one sided action.”



I issued the warning after a lot of thought and discussion with others. In essence what irks me is your constant barrage of derogatory remarks aimed at anyone who dares to disagree with your views. This in turn invites replies which are equally derogatory and then the downward spiral continues. I do not exclude myself from this.



I have let this run in the hope that it would sort itself out with time, but it obviously will not.

As for fairness, I would say that we are all guilty of unfairness in what we post; intolerance rules.

Your “modernisation” vision of the trade is seen by many as its death. I lived through the last derestriction, as did many others, and saw what happened. You have been told this yet refuse to acknowledge it, claiming this time is different. You wonder that this raises temperatures?

Perhaps the post was aimed at you initially, but anyone offering insults will be censored. When I check the forum, I will simply remove or amend anything offensive. Those who continue will be removed; end of problem or end of forum? Time will tell.

I hold no personal grudge against you, or anyone for that matter, but I have seen what started out as a facility for drivers to discuss things in a friendly manner turn into a fiasco of intolerance and now intend to stop it descending any further.

Regards



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I wonder what Alan doesn't understand about that there is already no restriction of our trade. It's just that it is private hire, buses, taxibuses, rickshaws, scoots, tuk tuks and folks walking home rather than take a taxi.

Methinks Mr Gladstone is a fool to believe otherwise. This explains the drop in our market share which the Gladstones of this world would expect drivers to prop up. They pay more, while their market is taken from them, increasing the amount they pay even further.

Alan Gladstone is the classic computer GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out. Logic has deserted him.

His unnatural fears based on the last de-restriction will not hold back the modernisation of the trade according to the London Model. Silencing me will not change this one IOTA.

BTW More and more of the Old School in Edinburgh are already selling out. Their inability to compete, to provide the service level and availability of taxis the customer wants.

Seems that if they can't operate in a skewed market which gives them an advantage, they just don't want to know. Good riddance I say.

In any case the OFT report due this year into taxi regulation would likely have cleaned them out anyway.

It's time for dinosaurs like Gladstone to adapt or die.

Imagine just being handed a 50 grand plate by the council, then cashing it in and reapplying for the nominal fee of £875. Couldn't happen of course, because Gladstone tells us that plates are not transferring.

Mr Gladstone has told me his "reasons" for censoring posts.

No matter how much I engage reason and logic with him it seems he can't get past the view that I am wholly responsible for all the puerile ramblings from posters on this site.

However, while I can't tell you here what Mr Gladstone said to me, because he will merely censor it, I have posted his message on TDO under "Fasties feels the pressure".

Of course, sufficiently imbued by free speech - NOT!!!! - he may well just delete this post, but it will remain on TDO anyway.

The only problem with the previous de-restriction was that the council put the cap back on. If they hadn't we wouldn't have to be going through this exercise again, and private hire wouldn't have been able to expand to meet the demand that we refused to meet ourselves.

As for the pain felt last time? I don't care. That was then, this is now. And, if there is a period of adjustment, I am prepared to make it. With my own vehicle too, I am more than ready to do so.

The customers, and drivers, will be the ones who benefit. If you can't see that, then you surely are in the wrong job.

I suspect the debate will continue over on TDO. It would appear that Gladstone has distance Fasties from it. Although the entertaining ramblings from his pals should still make interesting viewing, even if only to confirm the determination to bring about the London Model.

Nice knowing you!!!!

I suppose when the likes of Mr Fastie can't come up with a coherant argument for keeping quotas, then their only avenue is censorship.

They quite simply 'don't like it up em'.

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IDFIMH

And you do?

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Former taxi driver

From time to time.

_________________
IDFIMH