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Post by Big Lin on Aug 16, 2011 19:47:42 GMT
This is an annoucement that if anyone wishes to post on the topics of holocaust denial/revisionism from now on they can only do so on the Vendetta section of the board.
Vendetta is password protected so please PM me or one of my staff for the password.
I don't like moving stuff there but at least it keeps it off the open board.
On a personal note, I'm about the least authoritarian board owner I know but I have my limits and I think they've been reached lately.
Any post on these topics MUST be posted in Vendetta from now on.
Any violation of this rule will lead to our disciplinary procedure (which is a lot more liberal than any other board I know but still) kicking in.
Please follow my instructions.
Thank you.
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Post by Synonym on Aug 16, 2011 21:53:34 GMT
Do you mind me asking why is that?
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Post by Big Lin on Aug 16, 2011 22:30:08 GMT
Synonym, we've had a discussion about the various threads on this subject in the staff room.
In the first place, I and other staff members felt they were disrupting the main board unnecessarily.
Secondly, some members (including me - speaking as a gypsy who had family members die in Auschwitz) found it distasteful and disrespectful.
We were also worried about Proboards considering the whole subject to be dangerous and I'm not going to run the risk of having my forum deleted in spite of the fact I've bent over backwards not to lock or delete the threads.
At the end of the day I'm the most democratic board owner I know but sometimes I put my foot down and this is one of those times.
If you want to carry on the discussion please do so in Vendetta.
I'll PM you the password if you want it.
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Post by jean on Aug 17, 2011 11:27:38 GMT
You and I have had this discussion before I know, Synonym. I think Lin is quite right to fear the disruption of her board by particular topics coming to dominate it.
And I think you shouldn't underestimate the self-censorship which comes into play - and which, of course, usually isn't made explicit - when posters simply go away and stop posting because that sort of imbalance has occured.
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Post by Synonym on Aug 17, 2011 12:34:59 GMT
I wasn't aware of any particular imbalance. I have noted maybe two such topics but I may have missed others.
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Post by Big Lin on Aug 17, 2011 21:54:50 GMT
Like I say, I'm the LEAST authoritarian board owner I know.
In spite of the fact that the topic offends me personally, I let it go.
It's now IMO (and I've had a discussion on the matter in the staff room and though there wasn't a unanimous decision I feel that my decision is in line with the feelings of the majority of my staff reached the point where it's in the best interests of the forum to move those topics to Vendetta.
I trust my staff and value their help very much.
I also trust my members,
On other boards I've learned to do what Jean calls "self-censorship" and NOT post on certain topics.
I don't like self-censorship and I dislike censoring my members' posts even more.
Please remember - any member can post in Vendetta.
It just means that it won't get on to the main board, that's all.
To me that's a fair and reasonable compromise.
I'm sorry if not everyone's unhappy but who can ever make everyone happy?
I've been an ordinary member on over 100 boards, a staff member on 10 and a board owner on five.
Believe me, even being a staff member is less of a pain in the neck than being a board owner.
I honestly try to bend over backwards to be fair to everyone.
If you don't like my decision I'm sorry but it is my decision in the final analysis.
Sorry.
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