ADULTS ONLY

[Tim_w]

I think you are quite deft with the can opener at times Richard . I think all that Geobra are trying to do is cover their backs, and to a certain extent enforce a code of conduct that most adult collectors will agree to adhere to. Unfortunately its a case of the minority giving us all a bad name again, but I think Geobra are wise enough to see we aren't all as bad. I was thinking along the lines of Sylvia after my first post and agree that there are certain macabre/sexually explicit elements to some custom's which cause problems and Geobra and the rest of us quite rightly want to distance ourselves from that. I don't see any issues with any of the content posted on Playmofriends or any other Playmo related forums. I thinks its the fetid pit that is ebay where most issues lie.
In the end I think it is up to us as a community to educate people in the correct way to customise klickies safely and correctly. Shutting children out of the customising forum isnt going to help, its just going to distance us from the very reason Playmobil exists in the first place. In the end children will be children and they will start taking things apart and trying to make their own using whatever means available. It is up to the parents to a certain extent to supervise this type of play, but if we are more child friendly or bare children in mind when we explain our techniques whats the harm ? As I said before its a child's toy first and foremost.

Tim 

[seawarrior]

I am against people under 18 rule, as most of you that know me guessed 

[seawarrior]

As an after thought, i have had many customs with glueing and cutting, and paints with chemicals in them, and i'm not dead yet,  so... thats my view 

[playmofire]

I think that all PF needs to do is to show it has taken reasonable steps to "protect" children against the dangers of some methods of customising and this can be achieved by one or both of two ways - a paragraph in the rules of the board (I can't remember, but I assume that would be members have to agree to accept these) and a warning sticky in the How To forum.  I wouldn't want to see membership limited to 18 and over.

I've edited the last sentence so it makes sense!

[Richard]

As an after thought, i have had many customs with glueing and cutting, and paints with chemicals in them, and i'm not dead yet,  so... thats my view 

And, we all want to be sure that you stay alive, Conor !!!

And, none of us would ever want you to be injured !!!

We would all be very upset, Conor, if any of us suggested something that you tried which resulted in your seriously hurting yourself. It's you and your sister that we want to protect !!!

So, don't tell us that you play with glue, chemicals and sharp objects to try to make us feel comfortable. When you're here at Playmofriends, most of us feel a bit responsible for your well being.

Neither Andi's recipe for restoring white Playmobil that had yellowed nor Bill's customizing techniques will be posted here for you and Aine to see. Why? Because we care about you both !!!

And, what does that mean? It means that the older Playmofriends will either email or send private messages to each other, as we currently have no place to post this kind of information. No place that makes us feel comfortable.

Conor, if you don't know now why we feel responsible for you and your sister, I can only repeat what you've probably already heard too many times, "Someday, this will all make sense to you." ...

All the best,
Richard

[Tim_w]

Neither Andi's recipe for restoring white Playmobil that had yellowed nor Bill's customizing techniques will be posted here for you and Aine to see. Why? Because we care about you both !!!

And, what does that mean? It means that the older Playmofriends will either email or send private messages to each other, as we currently have no place to post this kind of information. No place that makes us feel comfortable.

It would be very disappointing indeed if certain members carried out a boycot on the customising forum and in my opinion a major overreaction. I will not be party to an exclusive club who PM or email each other to privately to discuss techniques, its not what this is about. Infact I am quite saddened that it has got this far allready.

If you were trying to be patronising towards Connor then you did a fine job Richard, give yourself another pat on the back. I think most adult members have enough common sense to decide what would be safe for children and what's not. Richard you have clearly failed to read what I posted previously or you chose to ignore it again because it doesn't fit in with your views, so I will go over it again.
Most children's play and internet use should be supervised by adults anyway, especially children under 16. A lot of the children who come here have parents who are adult collectors themselves, so they know what content is being posted and what their children are viewing. They are also able to decide wether their child is capable of carrying out any techniques shown safely. In the end its up to us to make sure anything we post is suitably safe for children, that we clearly explain the techniques used and tools needed. I think this is all Geobra had in mind when they created their guidelines, which afterall are just guidelines. I am sure most children won't be able to get their hands on some of the materials and tools needed for customising anyway.
All in all I think Gordon has come up with the best suggestion yet. A little disclaimer in the terms and conditions which anyone who wants to join the forums has to agree to. Short of banning children or scrapping the how to sections all together this seems like the only sensible option.

On a final note Richard you appear to be very disillusioned with Playmobil and Geobra. I noticed this change in you when Hans Beck retired. I think you need to take a deep breath and step back, look at why your here and what you are writing. If have lost faith with Geobra and Playmobil as a brand then why are you here? Perhaps you just like to get your can opener out from time to time, stir the rest of us up by taking pot shots at the brand and company we still love?

Tim

[Richard]

If you were trying to be patronising towards Connor then you did a fine job Richard, give yourself another pat on the back.

Seawarrior spells his name with one "n" ... It's Conor.

[seawarrior]

Seawarrior spells his name with one "n" ... It's Conor.

thank you i was about to say that,

[Bill Blackhurst]

I may have been one of the offenders at the start of this topic in regards to supporting a restricted board for more advanced techniques of customization. I think I need to clarify why this topic has escalated into such divided sides. The idea I feel was a result of Playmobil's recent clarification on their European sites stating their stand on unsafe procedures involving figure modification, like heating the figures arms, & legs which they consider deformation, & even though not showing how these methods are accomplished, said they would continue to request anyone publically displaying these figures would be asked to voluntarily remove them to prevent children from trying to duplicate any dangerous methods, & possibly becoming injured during the procedure. It went on to speculate that they would demonstrate more aggressive means of action if the offending party would not heed their calmer recommendation. I think I understand the reason for Playmobil's announcement involving this grey area of customization being displayed on the internet, is due to legal conditions in their location that would hold them liable for any under aged children, becoming injured from such actions, but would be released from liability if evidence was submitted showing efforts to prevent nonrecommended customizing techniques. I think that covers the initial reason for Richards idea. It wasn't targeted to offend anyone due to age, but was thought up to protect Playmofriends from being reprimanded by Playmobil for discussing dangerous, or controversial customizing procedures on an open thread. I normally like to share developments with other members when I'm asked how I accomplished a radical new idea, or inquire how others have done something without fear of getting the forum in trouble! That is my explanation, as to why I supported this idea, even though it is not possible to become a reality due to technical issues. As Tim hinted to earlier, it's a shame that a child would be ignored or unsupervised to a degree of becoming injured trying to customize one of their toys, where are the parents? I say that if this happens, that the parents should be held accountable for negligence by Playmobil instead of vise versa!

Bill

[Tim_w]

Seawarrior spells his name with one "n" ... It's Conor.

I bow my head in shame Richard , is this the only constructive thing you have to add to the debate you started ? I take it you have nothing else usefull to say on the matter, so I would say this was case closed wouldn't you ? Until the next time you get your can opener out

Tim