Conference vmszoo::rc

    	I agree it wasn't the type of exposure that we wish to see. I am
    writing a letter tonight to my AMA/District II representative asking
    him to present it to the AMA for action. Remember, power in numbers!!.
    
    Regards,
    Bob G.
    
    

       Although I usually watch Wonder Years, I missed it last night
    due to our monthly club meeting. I agree with Toms' outrage, but
    doubt much can be done to prevent such misrepresentations in the
    future. It seems that whenever rc flying is depicted as part of
    a story line/plot etc., the villian uses a model to deliver a 
    bomb, poison dart, poison gas etc. etc. or even in a benevolent
    use the plane invariably crashes (usually in a mini-napalm fireball)
    and the whole feeling left with the viewer is one of reckless
    endangerment if not total lunacy.
      Taking legal action against this sort of thing seems futile since
    there are no laws against it unless it involves child welfare or
    animal mistreatment. The suggestion to check the AMA status of the
    pilot may be worthwhile however.  

    I would suggest writing a letter to TV Guide. It is read by millions
    and would bring your message to the largest audience.
    
    It is funny how writers have to 'streech' to achieve something even
    if it, willingly or unwillingly, casts 'aspersions' (the legal term)
    upon someone or group.
    
    Steve

We got into this one some notes back, it sure is disgusting (I
mean the portrayal of RC on TV).  Aren't the guys who fly those
models for stunts well-known modelers (for instance I think Larry
Jolly does some of that work).

If someone does contact the AMA on this, it would be interesting
to mention that since this seems so destructive to the hobby's
image, why not get one of these fellows to tell us their feelings
on the matter?  Something a little deeper than the "well, you
gotta eat" response that is sure to come off their tongues.

It beats the heck outa me why this always seems such a consistent
theme.  The gun guys get balanced -- then again the
fundamentialist Christans take a veritable beating.

Speaking of TV, I've been seeing some hype for a serialized
version of one of Judy Krantz's novels.  Lots of pretty (model)
airplanes blowing up in mid-air, the clip of, I think, an SE-5 is
spectacular.  Too bad I have a policy of not watching that junk.  

I've not done this before, but here goes:

[FLAME ON!]
Come on, GROW UP! All this self-righteous indignation over a perceived insult
to our hobby in a television show really frosts me.
[FLAME OFF]

First somebody mentions libel: not hardly; libel or slander must be 
fundamentally untrue before its against the law, at least as I understand it.
Since there has been some bozo flying in my neighborhood lately the offending
scenario can certainly be verified as true.

Damaging to the image of our hobby: probably not. I would hazard a guess that
more people who saw it and really noticed it thought it looks like fun than
anything else. The majority probably didn't notice, and those few who did and
had a negative reaction have probably had to deal with a problem like my local
bozo trouble. Most people don't form strong opinions over scenes like this in
a sit-com.

Face it, we have chosen to take part in a high-tech hobby that fascinates the
majority of the public and makes for great story lines. I found the use of an
RC car in the "DEAD POOL" to be a really interesting concept and really enjoyed
the chase scene. I've also seen a movie lately where the good guys used an
RC chopper to corner the bad guys so I think both sides get equal time. 

Now I have a question. How many of you who are outraged have done anything
*POSITIVE* lately to promote the public image of RC?  I mean really positive 
and active, not passive. In my local club we have a very large program to bring
in kids, help them through the rather large cash outlay involved in getting
started, and turn them into good responsible flyers that will continue to
promote the hobby. In addition several of the flyers fly at the local 3 day
Hot Air Baloon Festival here. This always generates a lot of public interest and
reinforces the fact that we are safe, responsible people enjoying a fun hobby.
My goal is to be good enough to fly with them next year.

So I have a challenge for all of you who are angry. Rather than try and 'fix'
the media how about doing something active to turn any interest generated by
this and other events like it into positive energy for RC?

Randy

    
    re: .-1
    Well put Randy, and very similar to my opinion on this issue.
    I have already started answering your challenge by getting my
    son and his friend interested in the hobby, and I am planning to
    bring my wife's cub scout den flying in the spring.
    
    Bill

        You won't get any satisfaction by contacting the network. Last
        year we (model rocketry) had a similar problem with an episode of
        "thirtysomething" where a kid was severely injured by a model
        rocket that blew up so violently it rivaled the Challenger
        disaster. This just couldn't happen. The president of the NAR
        (equivalent to the AMA) wrote the show, and got back a lip service
        letter that didn't address the issue at all. Their point seemed to
        be that lack of adult supervision can cause a model rocket to
        excede critical mass, destroying half the planet.
        
        It might be more effective to contact the SPONSORS. That is where
        the real money is