A request for EVERYONES support

Bakeybadoo

blind-as-a-bat wrote: »

remind me i cant remember what you two said i was too busy trying to break you up:rolleyes: :rotfl:

When she was commenting on Alan's departure and how if he was that sensitive, perhaps this forum wasn't the best place for him to be right now.

I think it was harshly worded and wrongly placed in a thread started to bash Alan but I do think she had a point.

And I know I keep saying it BUT I've been on the receiving end of nastiness on a board I really enjoyed and by regulars who I considered to be friends but in the end I decided I wasn't giving in to them and I was going to stick around for those I liked and who liked me.

I think running away/giving up/walking away is sometimes just a bit OTT.

Now, I like Alan and since he was mentioned here, Mike, a lot. I have great respect for them both but I don't think upping sticks and leaving is achieiving anything - apart from the bullies thinking they 'won'. Far better to stay where you are wanted AND bug the !!!!!! out of those who dislike you.

Bakeybadoo

Richard_S wrote: »

The problem, and it's a huge bigger than anything else problem, is that you're going to frighten genuinely distraught people away from this forum in the name of "free speech".

I agree, I don't think free speech is an issue here and this board does have rules and people's posts are removed when they step too far. It's just often too little, too late.

I've really got to disagree Bakey; there's got to be more moderation.

I agree with MORE moderation, heck it's basically non-existent here and especially when it really matters but not to the extent that some are talking about.

rog2

I have to admit that this thread may be turning into a bit of a 'victory' for the very people we are trying to exclude.
We, myself included, do not appear to be in full agreement as to what we actually want to do, and the thread, if it continues as it is, risks causing just the kind of divisions that the seasoned trolls are trying to create.
I find myself agreeing with everyone who feels that this forum needs more guidance, yet also agreeing with those who feel that excessive moderation will suppress the right for everyone to voice their own opinion - even if it is not that of the majority.
I hasten to add that I do not condone any comments that are pre-designed to either be divisive, or to cause division, in what has, in such a short time, become a haven of both support and advice.
Equally, I feel that the loss of AlanD is a loss to the cohesion of this forum, and was, in my opinion, deliberately brought about by the acts and words of a few mindless individuals who see our situation as 'fair game' for a bit of 'bashing'.
I am, graciously, bowing out of the debate as I have to pack, ready for work in the morning.
I will be away (able to view, but unable to post) until Saturday.
I hope that we will have come to a general consensus as to how we should proceed, and I will go along with the wishes of the majority, without, I hope, upsetting any of our regular posters who may find themselves in the minority.

See you all at the weekend.

wherediditallgo

I've been reading proceedings on & off tonight, & have decided to accept Martin's decision until such time as I can no longer live with it. I will totally support his wish to leave things as they are, because of the impact on other parts of the site & other considerations such as the potential legal minefield. I also totally understand why he says this isn't meant to be a 'safe site', it's just that many of us would like it to be one or see it as that. I also accept that neither he nor the Board Guides can be held responsible for how someone reacts to a particular post, they can just do the best they can within the time they've got available. I also appreciate him saying that people will keep an eye on the board.

However, nothing changes the fact that (a) the thread at issue appeared & was there for several hours without anything being done, & (b) it's not the first (or even the second) time this has happened in the last few months, so I don't think the fact it was a Bank Holiday weekend had a lot if anything to do with it. Whether the solution is more Board Guides/mods or finding another way to provide better coverage for the board with the existing numbers including the abuse team, I don't know. All I know is that if I'd been pre-BR & had been the target for that thread, the effect on me could have been very different from what it was. So while I understand that individuals helping on a voluntary basis can't be directly blamed for what others post, I do hope that Martin & his team will look at this issue at another time & recognise that if you've got a board where someone reacts very badly to abuse that to them isn't getting dealt with because it's a weekend when it's been known for ages that weekends are when these things happen, that issue has to be addressed & that may (maybe even 'should') mean looking at current staffing, possible additional volunteers or whether the board should continue to exist in its current format/location. It's too late after the event to be saying "If only one of us had been around that weekend", even if you think you shouldn't be personally responsible.

My offer to help out with modding the site wasn't made to give me power over others, but with a view to helping where the help was judged to be needed. I think that was the same for Toto. As my offer isn't likely to be taken up now, I'm withdrawing it & I don't think I'll be making it again. From now on, I'm going to resolve to use the 'ignore' option as much as possible rather than respond to inflammatory posts - if that means someone goes without evident support on the board, I hope they understand that I'm supporting them in the best way I can. If/when things get too bad for me to stand, then I'll just leave. Night all.