I am fed up and I am going.

jkwest · Post by **jkwest** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:02 am

Global warming and deep freezing....

who can you believe if not Mother Nature...?

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:08 am

jsluder wrote:
anniemcu wrote:Yes, what is it about the last month or so that has dropped the floor out from under folks? I've noticed it, not just here, but in general. Despair? Fear? Change of laundry detergent?
Winter.

I suppose... it certainly reminds one to purchase a full spectrum light bulb or two, dunnit?

Azalin · Post by **Azalin** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:09 am

I understand why Steve is upset. I agree that the way some threads have been locked and deleted seems to me a lack of respect for some users. I started a thread in the political forum and a day or two later it completely disappeared. No word from any moderator, nothing. At least, it would be nice to have a message about stuff like this. But these things became more and more frequent and we are really left to wonder why the moderators are allowed to moderate in such ways.

So even though, yes, there was no political forum before, and we could live without one, you guys have been acting in such ways that's hard to swallow, and I understand why Steve would be upset like he is now.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:22 am

jsluder wrote:
anniemcu wrote:Yes, what is it about the last month or so that has dropped the floor out from under folks? I've noticed it, not just here, but in general. Despair? Fear? Change of laundry detergent?
Winter.

D'uh!

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:42 am

Azalin wrote:....I started a thread in the political forum and a day or two later it completely disappeared. No word from any moderator, nothing. At least, it would be nice to have a message about stuff like this. But these things became more and more frequent and we are really left to wonder why the moderators are allowed to moderate in such ways....

It was explained already. Does it need to be repeated?

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=38810

fiddleronvermouth · Post by **fiddleronvermouth** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:52 am

Joseph E. Smith wrote:
Dale wrote: I share the concern that if we don't have the Poli board, we'll have to deal with stuff differently in the pub.

Anyway, I remain open to folks' feedback and ideas.

Dale
Is there anyway we could arrange a "Town Meeting" on this matter to solicit ideas on how, if the forum is reinstated, what needs to be done to retain the outlet of political discussion but sans the ad hominem and other ugliness?

I attempted to initiate an honest discussion like that on another thread and it was promptly locked.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:17 pm

Tony wrote:
Azalin wrote:....I started a thread in the political forum and a day or two later it completely disappeared. No word from any moderator, nothing. At least, it would be nice to have a message about stuff like this. But these things became more and more frequent and we are really left to wonder why the moderators are allowed to moderate in such ways....

It was explained already. Does it need to be repeated?

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=38810

I think a lot of the problem people have is that they (or we, I guess) expect things to be run like a democracy, but it doesn't have to be that way. The way the board is run is actually a non-democratically elected oligarchy that's in control. That's hard for a lot of the people here to get used to, I think.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:29 pm

benevolent dictatorship?

C age ing · Post by **C age ing** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:29 pm

dwinterfield wrote:I'm perfectly comfortable with the moderators functioning as benign despots. Ain't no rights here folks. This is private property. The owner makes the rules. Lots of things work that way. This shouldn't be any exception.

I'll miss Steve, even though I have disagreed with his views occasionally but the although the board is Dale's, and thank you for the board Dale, the above reasoning could be used to reinstate slavery.

rh · Post by rh » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:31 pm

Denny wrote:benevolent dictatorship?

Junta

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:41 pm

Azalin wrote:But these things became more and more frequent and we are really left to wonder why the moderators are allowed to moderate in such ways.

You're joking, right? What would one do to stop it? Stage a
bloody coup at C&F headquarters? If you want a democratic board,
setup a board like slashdot or kuro5hin.org on which every user can
be a moderator. This board was started as an oligarchy and will
continue as such as long as the mods decide to keep it that way...
You consent to it as long as you are a posting member. Steve has
excercised his right to vote by leaving, which is really the only
freedom guaranteed when you joined.

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:42 pm

fearfaoin wrote:...This is a musical forum, built so that
people with a common interest in playing music can talk about
bloody playing music. After the Bifurcation, I thought it was great
that people could talk freely without letting political, geographical,
racial, or sexual bias get in the way (mostly). I think that if you find
yourself posting in the off-topic sections more than the on-topic
sections, you should ask yourself why you're really here. If this has
become a social forum for you, I guess that's fine, as long as you go
out once in a while. But if you come here for your daily dose of
Republican/Democrat/American/Martian bashing, then something
might well be amiss.

Very well put. Not sure why people come to a board focused on one thing and cry when they want it changed to suit their own agendas or "needs" and they are met with resistance. In the case of C&F, I've found the 'fun' factor of posting to be greatly diluted over the years with the extra additions of the OT forums and increase in related posts. It's not hard to find a forum to discuss just about any topic of interest to anyone online, but it doesn't seem that every site for every single topic must be expanded to include every other topic just to pelase a few.

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:53 pm

Many of us have managed to exist on the Forum for years without feeling persecuted, singled out and otherwise oppressed, even though some of us have opinions very different from the Forum owner and moderators. Accepting the occassional rebuke, lockdown or personal note of warning can be done without having to leave. Several of the foundation posters here have publicly left then returned, and nobody held it against them.

I say take a leave and find a place where you can argue politics all you want.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:02 pm

Denny wrote:benevolent dictatorship?

Yeah, it feels benevolent to us. But apparently to others it doesn't feel benevolent at all (I don't think people would leave benevolent dictators). That's where the trouble lies, and short of telling people to "get over it" I can't think of a real solution, I'm afraid.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:06 pm

fearfaoin wrote:If you want a democratic board,
setup a board like slashdot or kuro5hin.org on which every user can
be a moderator.

Have you read the user commentary on slashdot or kuro5hin lately?