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Post by Big Lin on Dec 21, 2010 12:07:38 GMT
Does this forum HAVE a future? I'm not sure.
I'm absolutely furious right now that I've lost two good members including one of my most trusted and valued members of staff.
I used to love this board and when I set it up it was specifically so that it would be different from the nasty, abusive and bigoted forums I'd seen elsewhere.
Now I dread coming to it and it's been targetted by racists, religious bigots and now homophobes.
I'm sick to death of it and I'd love to close it down or at least turn it over to someone else.
No one seems to take the slightest notice of anything I say if I tell them they're out of order.
I'm just so angry right now I'm tempted to just let the whole thing sail off into cyberspace.
If I'd been a dictator instead of running things with a loose rein I probably wouldn't have had this problem.
Because I've always bent over backwards to try and be fair to all my members it's meant that things have got out of hand.
Well, maybe I am a weak, stupid person who's incapable of running a message board.
Maybe it would be for the best if I just handed it over to someone else or even if I closed the whole thing down.
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♫anna♫
Global Moderator
Aug 18 2017 - Always In Our Hearts
The Federal Reserve Act is the Betrayal of the American Revolution!
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karma:
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Dec 21, 2010 13:53:28 GMT
Dearest Lin! Of course everyone here regrets the loss of 2 members. Many of us feel this board should be a place to discuss and debate controversial issues, among other things. One of the posters, who left posted on another board something to the effect that on that other board only utter nonsense ( quote: "we do nothing on here but talk rubbish" ) is discussed, which this poster seemed to view favorably. I see no problem with having a few entertaining nonsensical threads here. BUT do we really wish to entirely avoid or censure debates and controversies?
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Post by Big Lin on Dec 21, 2010 14:00:02 GMT
When have I ever said I don't want controversy or dispute?
There's not much point in a message board where everyone thinks the same (I've belonged to a couple and have long since stopped posting on them.)
On the other hand, I will NOT tolerate personal abuse, racism, religious bigotry or prejudice against people because of their gender or sexual orientation.
I'm going to try and behave like a dictator in the short term.
If that doesn't work don't be surprised if I just walk away from a lost cause.
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Post by fretslider on Dec 21, 2010 14:00:35 GMT
"BUT do we really wish to entirely avoid or censure debates and controversies?"
In the past the answer has always been yes.
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♫anna♫
Global Moderator
Aug 18 2017 - Always In Our Hearts
The Federal Reserve Act is the Betrayal of the American Revolution!
e x a l t | s m i t e
karma:
Posts: 11,769
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Dec 21, 2010 14:19:31 GMT
"BUT do we really wish to entirely avoid or censure debates and controversies?" In the past the answer has always been yes. Hi Fret! We certainly want to keep personal attacks off this forum. If a church declines to accept an atheist minister or the boy scouts decline to accept a homosexual scoutmaster or whatever..... We should be able to discuss these matters in a civil manner and agree to disagree without vitriol or resentment..
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Post by june on Dec 21, 2010 14:21:36 GMT
Considering Anna that you post the majority of the inflammatory threads here, Its not surprising it's all you want. (although slagging off riotgrrl is a bit rich!)
Posting controversial points of view is fine, but you have to defend them, not stick your fingers in your ears and shout 'la la la'. sadly, apart from judicious use of cut and paste a few here seem capable of much else.
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Post by Big Lin on Dec 21, 2010 14:30:22 GMT
Fret, not for the first time you just WON'T accept the rules of this forum.
God knows I'm anything but a dictator but I've said repeatedly that I will NOT tolerate racist, religious bigoted or personally abusive posts.
I know that you regard my refusal to allow you to post religious bigoted messages as being an example of censorship.
Well, it isn't.
From now on I'm going to be monitoring posts very carefully. I've been far too soft on some of the board bullies and from now on I'm NOT going to tolerate any more nonsense.
I expect my staff to follow my example and to edit any offensive posts.
I also expect my members to at least TRY and follow the very lax rules of this board.
Thank you
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♫anna♫
Global Moderator
Aug 18 2017 - Always In Our Hearts
The Federal Reserve Act is the Betrayal of the American Revolution!
e x a l t | s m i t e
karma:
Posts: 11,769
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Dec 21, 2010 14:37:24 GMT
Dearest June, Nowhere did i personally attack Riotgrrl! Go back and read my posts and give me what you feel is an example of a personal insult towards her! I couldn't believe her "surveys" that heterosexual men are mostly responsible for pedophile attacks on boys. That's not an attack or insult!
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Post by jean on Dec 21, 2010 14:38:59 GMT
If a church declines to accept an atheist minister... I missed that! Where is it?
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Post by Synonym on Dec 21, 2010 14:44:39 GMT
I don't mind people being allowed controversial opinions (eg homosexuality is a deviancy etc) as I believe in free speech; though the fact is that not everyone is tolerant of the extremer end of it, and will leave due to it, makes one think of 'the greater good for the greater many'.
How about a rule which says something like 'if you make an offensive generalisation about a group of people, then you have to support it somehow'. And by supporting it I don't mean dogmatic statements such as 'it is an irrefutable FACT that what I have just said is the truth and only PC LUNATICS would deny it'.
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Post by sadie1263 on Dec 21, 2010 14:47:56 GMT
Let's not rehash the arguments or point fingers. I don't believe that is the intention of this thread.
What are the parameters of a board? What is good debate? I know there are lines that I will not cross. But I don't mind getting mad and being really passionate about my feelings on a subject. But if I feel that way.....it is only fair that a person on the other side be allowed to feel that way also. It shouldn't be a personal attack on me that they feel that way. Isn't this about exchanging ideas with people you don't normally meet in every day life? Getting differences of opinion? It doesn't mean you have to agree with them....or follow their advice or their ideas. You can think they are crazy, or idiots, or mean, brilliant, or whatever. Maybe you make a friend, maybe you don't. Maybe you change someone's mind or heart.....maybe you don't.
I know that I have met people on boards that have become dear friends and important people in my life. If I had to wade thru a bunch of idiots to find them......I don't mind that price.
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♫anna♫
Global Moderator
Aug 18 2017 - Always In Our Hearts
The Federal Reserve Act is the Betrayal of the American Revolution!
e x a l t | s m i t e
karma:
Posts: 11,769
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Dec 21, 2010 14:48:24 GMT
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Post by june on Dec 21, 2010 15:35:21 GMT
Dearest June, Nowhere did i personally attack Riotgrrl! Go back and read my posts and give me what you feel is an example of a personal insult towards her! I couldn't believe her "surveys" that heterosexual men are mostly responsible for pedophile attacks on boys. That's not an attack or insult! On this thread you made a sneering remark about the board stub crouch, what the content of the board is and that riotgrrl liked that style of place. It was cheap and pathetic to get so superior over a message board and the post says a lot!
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Post by fretslider on Dec 21, 2010 15:50:28 GMT
Lin, not for the first time you point your finger in the wrong direction.
I own a board I know how it (should) work.
I don't let my board get into a state like this. Maybe you should think on that.
As for bigoted messages.... you do a pretty good one yourself.
My pleasure, Lin.
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Post by Wonder Woman on Dec 21, 2010 16:25:10 GMT
I'm not sure I should even comment here as I'm fairly new to this board comparatively. So, take my input as you will. Lin, perhaps the way to prevent 'debate' from flowing out of control is to ask members to back up any posts that may seem (be) bigotted or racist. If the participant just wants to throw out their nasty views, without supporting them with 'FACTS' then the post should just be removed in its entirety. I'm not for altering posts, as then they no longer reflect the real views of the poster. As for 'personal attacks', I'm never quite clear on that myself. Since posts are a reflection of a poster, if the comments are bigotted (or racist) IMV, calling that poster racist (or bigotted) is a fair assessment. I may be wrong. Anyway, Lin, I'm sorry you've lost good members. Much to Pumpkin's disappointment (that's a joke, dear) I'll stay. I never could resist a good fight, particularly against willful ignorance and blind hatred.
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Post by Wonder Woman on Dec 21, 2010 16:35:35 GMT
"BUT do we really wish to entirely avoid or censure debates and controversies?" In the past the answer has always been yes. Hi Fret! We certainly want to keep personal attacks off this forum. If a church declines to accept an atheist minister or the boy scouts decline to accept a homosexual scoutmaster or whatever..... We should be able to discuss these matters in a civil manner and agree to disagree without vitriol or resentment..For myself, I will NEVER agree to disagree with posters whose only contribution is unsupported, ignorant blanket statements offered up as fact to slander an entire group of people. So, you (anyone) can expect a fight whenever I see it.
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Post by jean on Dec 21, 2010 16:47:41 GMT
I don't let my board get into a state like this. Maybe you should think on that. Maybe you should explain how you do it?
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♫anna♫
Global Moderator
Aug 18 2017 - Always In Our Hearts
The Federal Reserve Act is the Betrayal of the American Revolution!
e x a l t | s m i t e
karma:
Posts: 11,769
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Post by ♫anna♫ on Dec 21, 2010 17:02:29 GMT
Dearest June, Nowhere did i personally attack Riotgrrl! Go back and read my posts and give me what you feel is an example of a personal insult towards her! I couldn't believe her "surveys" that heterosexual men are mostly responsible for pedophile attacks on boys. That's not an attack or insult! On this thread you made a sneering remark about the board stub crouch, what the content of the board is and that riotgrrl liked that style of place. It was cheap and pathetic to get so superior over a message board and the post says a lot! Dearest June! You simply interpreted my remark as sneering and negative! I certainly respect and understand that some people prefer to visit forums that avoid controversial issues and opinions. I don't claim to know what someone feels in his/her heart when he/she says "we only talk about rubbish here". I like to talk about trivial or silly stuff myself at times.
I feel that some of Riotgrrl's accusations and judgments of other posters here were inappropriate. I agree too that some of the posts made about her were inappropriate as well. I would certainly gladly welcome her and o back, if they reconsider their choice to leave!
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Post by june on Dec 21, 2010 17:05:46 GMT
Oh and whilst we are setting boundaries, if anyone is directing a post to me, using my screen name will be adequate. No need for the faux cutesy pie suffix. Thanks.
I'm my partner's dearest and that does for me ;D
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Post by june on Dec 21, 2010 17:09:57 GMT
You are talking toot and attempting to rewrite history, don't insult me please as I saw what went on and in the end locked the thread you started, poured petrol on and enjoyed the flames of. Playing the ickle girly doesn't wash with me. On this thread you made a sneering remark about the board stub crouch, what the content of the board is and that riotgrrl liked that style of place. It was cheap and pathetic to get so superior over a message board and the post says a lot! Dearest June! You simply interpreted my remark as sneering and negative! I certainly respect and understand that some people prefer to visit forums that avoid controversial issues and opinions. I don't claim to know what someone feels in his/her heart when he/she says "we only talk about rubbish here". I like to talk about trivial or silly stuff myself at times.
I feel that some of Riotgrrl's accusations and judgments of other posters here were inappropriate. I agree too that some of the posts made about her were inappropriate as well. I would certainly gladly welcome her and o back, if they reconsider their choice to leave!
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