I want your shade-tree disaster stories

[kb58]

Want to be famous and have your story read by millions? Here's your chance! I'm starting a new book project which is titled, Shade-tree Mechanic Disasters.
I am collecting shade-tree mechanic disaster stories. Nothing morbid, no losing limbs, but simply stories that, in hindsight make us laugh at ourselves. I'll collect these for a fun car-guy coffee-table book. What I need is a description of what happened and your name. The fact that you send it to me constitutes permission to publish the story. All I ask is that the stories be true, in good taste, and preferably be about yourself, though harmless tales about your buddy also work. I'm pretty sure each of us has a couple good stories to share... I know I do, and yes, my stories will be in there, too. If you don't want your name attached to the story, no problem leaving it out.

[kb58]

Here's one that happened to an ex-coworker.

He'd borrowed a motorhome from a buddy for the weekend. Returning it on Sunday, he wanted to dump the holding tank (full of crap, literally). So he manuevers the RV into place, with the outlet directly over the drain. Knowing this could be kinda discusting, he puts on overalls, the one-piece type with the zipper up the front (wondering where this is going?)

So he opens the hatch to the drain valve, looking around to figure what to turn. He sees a valve that looks like the right one, one that he has to reach in to get to. Unfortunately he hadn't quite zipped up the overalls all the way. It all came together in a slow-motion train wreck. He, on his knees leaning in to open the valve, his overalls slightly open, and the drain pointing, yes, directly into his open overalls.

He opens the valve and <whoosh> the stuff starts shooting out of the drain - directly into his overalls. He completely goes nuts and tries to back away and/or stand up, but his overalls catch on the outlet flange. So there he was, filling up like a balloon. By the time he stands up, his pantlegs are puffed way out (because he sensibly had tucked his pantlegs into his boots - just in case. It was quite the sight.

[freakray]

What kind of compensation are you offering for the stories?

You can't honestly expect people to give you their stories so that you can publish them and make money?

[kb58]

Originally Posted by freakray

You can't honestly expect people to give you their stories so that you can publish them and make money?

I do, and they do.

I'm visiting many car forums, posting a call-for-stories, collecting them, editing the terrible grammar, picking the best, formating them into book form, publishing them, and making some money off it. While they aren't my stories, to think that it's easy or "free" to collect them into a book isn't true. To answer your question, I've already picked out over 50 good stories from many submissions - people are happy to contribute.

If it makes you feel better to buy a book of car book that doesn't contain your story, that's fine, don't contribute. If you feel this is inappropriate, feel free to delete this thread. However, since it's entertaining and encourages people to post, isn't that the whole point of forums?

[freakray]

Actually, posting threads without admin permission in order to make financial gain is against our forum guidelines.

So, where does this fall, fellow AF members?

[whttrshpunk]

I'm not typically in the habit of doing a person's job for them and getting nothing in return. Go go capitalism

I do however, fully support an all-expenses-paid vacation for the OP.

[blazee]

I see no purpose for or anyway that this thread benefits this site or it's members.

BTW, according to the Terms of Use that you agreed to when you signed up, upon submitting the above (motorhome) story, you agreed to relinquish ownership to AutomotiveForums.com. If you publish "our" story in your book we'll sue you.

[ec437]

Originally Posted by blazee

I see no purpose for or anyway that this thread benefits this site or it's members.

BTW, according to the Terms of Use that you agreed to when you signed up, upon submitting the above (motorhome) story, you agreed to relinquish ownership to AutomotiveForums.com. If you publish "our" story in your book we'll sue you.

Ha.



That said, I don't really mind the thread. The guy seems polite enough.

[blindside.AMG]

Originally Posted by blazee

BTW, according to the Terms of Use that you agreed to when you signed up, upon submitting the above (motorhome) story, you agreed to relinquish ownership to AutomotiveForums.com. If you publish "our" story in your book we'll sue you.

Hm, I wasn't aware of that. Guess I'm gonna have to stop posting insider technical stuff about the SLR and Mercedes in general. Thanks for the heads up.

[ec437]

Originally Posted by blindside.AMG

Hm, I wasn't aware of that. Guess I'm gonna have to stop posting insider technical stuff about the SLR and Mercedes in general. Thanks for the heads up.

Unfortunate.

[taranaki]

Originally Posted by kb58

I want your shade-tree disaster stories

I want to be molested by a dozen hot Japanese teens in schoolgirl outfits, what's your point?

[kb58]

No problem, there's 100s of other sites more willing to share. No reason to put up with the nonsense here.

[drunken monkey]

the questionable legality over the ownership of material published here aside, are people really going to buy a book full of, at best, 20 line anecdotes? Sounds more like a monthyly magazine feature than an outright collected book.

[freakray]

Originally Posted by kb58

No problem, there's 100s of other sites more willing to share. No reason to put up with the nonsense here.

Nonsense?

What's next, one of there:

Really, you have no understanding of transfer or ownership or anything else, or maybe you do and you're taking advantage of other people's lack of knowledge thereof?

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by kb58

No problem, there's 100s of other sites more willing to share. No reason to put up with the nonsense here.

so go to one of those sites. quit whining.