Re: Notice regarding moderation

[Joseph_E_Smith]

@peeplj

Freedom of speech really doesn’t apply here. Since Dale owns the board, it’s the equivalent of private property.

The board is owned by a fella in Canada name Rich.

[Dale]

@perrins57

I appreciate what you guys are saying; it’s just that I wonder

1. Why people get so wound up and
2. Why this needs moderating?
   Firstly as this forum is not face-to-face but simply written discussion why are people so threatened - its not like a fight is going to break out and people or possessions get damaged. If a couple of people exchange a few hot words, so what? Big deal!
   Secondly why do these threads need to be locked? I’ve seen a few threads descend into pointless argument and then I stop reading them - thats how I self moderate. If two or more want to argue why not let them and the rest of us just move away? Nobody is being forced to watch the fight are they?
   I suppose it’s the old free speech argument again. As an idea it’s a backbone of American culture (probably less of a hallowed right here in the UK) but in practice it doesn’t always turn out so great.
   Also this forum is not quite Dale’s house - that’s making it sound a bit more personal than it probably is. It’s a service he kindly makes available to the wider whistling community. If he doesn’t like what that throws up at times that’s no surprise, but I would be less willingly to moderate content, unless I was receiving many complaints by offended users about a particular thread. Even then, I think people take the discussions on this forum way, WAY too seriously. Its not like we are the United Nations, just a bunch of people who play whistle. I would prefer a style of moderation that requested individuals who just insult people or write obscenities to tone it down or be ejected (three strikes and out). Not that I think Dale is particularly heavy handed, but I’m not sure that his threat to lock or delete more threads is the way to go. Obviously, I’m aware that as he set this forum up, it’s Dale’s decision, but I’m entitled (I think? - I’ll soon find out) to my two pennies worth.

Thanks for a kind and well-reasoned post. Seriously.

[Dale]

@Joseph E. Smith

@peeplj

Freedom of speech really doesn’t apply here. Since Dale owns the board, it’s the equivalent of private property.

The board is owned by a fella in Canada name Rich.

This is true. My claim to ownership is exaggerated.

[Joseph_E_Smith]

@DaleWisely

@Joseph E. Smith

@peeplj

Freedom of speech really doesn’t apply here. Since Dale owns the board, it’s the equivalent of private property.

The board is owned by a fella in Canada name Rich.

This is true. My claim to ownership is exaggerated.

Considering that you pretty much do most of the moderating, and most (if not all) of the administrative thingy stuff… I wouldn’t say it’s much of an exaggeration at all.

[perrins57]

@DaleWisely

Thanks for a kind and well-reasoned post. Seriously.

Thanks Dale, I dont expect you to do everything my way, but its always nice to have ones viewpoint considered. (I’m also being serious, which is rare).

[Roger_O_Keeffe]

I think that the perceived increase in moderator intervention is due to a perceptible increase in the level of hostility manifested of late.

Maybe it’s just a cyclical thing, but when I joined C&F one of its attractions was the remarkable degree of civility and helpfulness about the place.

You’ll get the same amount of helpfulness on Mudcat as well, but also a much higher volume of bickering, which makes it less attractive than this once green and pleasant vale.

[Dale]

@Roger O'Keeffe

I think that the perceived increase in moderator intervention is due to a perceptible increase in the level of hostility manifested of late.

Maybe it’s just a cyclical thing, but when I joined C&F one of its attractions was the remarkable degree of civility and helpfulness about the place.

You’ll get the same amount of helpfulness on Mudcat as well, but also a much higher volume of bickering, which makes it less attractive than this once green and pleasant vale.

This is true. I guess growth makes this inevitable. But, I confess to being a bit nostalgic myself.

[Cynth]

Uh, do we really want to start with the “old timer” stuff?

[The_Weekenders]

Maybe yes, some of us do!

[Cynth]

I suddenly freaked thinking maybe my remark was misunderstood. It was not against “old timers” at all. It was just a reference, an unfortunate one probably, to a recent discussion. I am not against anybody. Oh dear.

[Walden]

@Cynth

I suddenly freaked thinking maybe my remark was misunderstood. It was not against “old timers” at all. It was just a reference, an unfortunate one probably, to a recent discussion. I am not against anybody. Oh dear.

The Old Lights vs. the New Lights?

Do we have to choose sides?

[Jerry_Freeman]

@Walden

@Cynth

I suddenly freaked thinking maybe my remark was misunderstood. It was not against “old timers” at all. It was just a reference, an unfortunate one probably, to a recent discussion. I am not against anybody. Oh dear.

The Old Lights vs. the New Lights?

Do we have to choose sides?

OK, look.

You’ve got the people who want to choose sides and the people who don’t want to choose sides. It’s pretty clear which side you’re on, Walden.

Best wishes,
Jerry

[jsluder]

@Walden

@Cynth

I suddenly freaked thinking maybe my remark was misunderstood. It was not against “old timers” at all. It was just a reference, an unfortunate one probably, to a recent discussion. I am not against anybody. Oh dear.

The Old Lights vs. the New Lights?

Do we have to choose sides?

If the Old and New Lights are anything like the Bud and Miller Lights, I’d want a third option…

[FJohnSharp]

Here’s what happens. I don’t read most of the stuff in the Pub. So when Dales makes a post like that, I find myself scouring the boards to see what started it. Then I see that I’ve wasted an hour and I regret it.

I’m not falling for it this time.

“I ain’t fallin’ for no banana in my tailpipe.” Eddie Murphy as Axel Whatshisname in that Beverly Hill Cop movie thingy.

[Dale]

@Jerry Freeman

@Walden

@Cynth

I suddenly freaked thinking maybe my remark was misunderstood. It was not against “old timers” at all. It was just a reference, an unfortunate one probably, to a recent discussion. I am not against anybody. Oh dear.

The Old Lights vs. the New Lights?

Do we have to choose sides?

OK, look.

You’ve got the people who want to choose sides and the people who don’t want to choose sides. It’s pretty clear which side you’re on, Walden.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Well, my experience is that you have people, like Jerry, who will say that there are the people who want to choose sides and the people who don’t, and then you have the people who will deny that there are people who want to choose sides and people who don’t. I myself refuse to take a position.

[Dale]

@FJohnSharp

I’m not falling for it this time.

Rats. That was the whole point.

[jsluder]

@DaleWisely

I myself refuse to take a position.

That’s why your baseball career didn’t pan out, eh?

[Cynth]

I go with that and can we move on? How bout them Tigers?

[perrins57]

@jsluder

@DaleWisely

I myself refuse to take a position.

That’s why your baseball career didn’t pan out, eh?

Not to mention a promising future as a prima ballerina!

[fearfaoin]

I hate to say this, because I was a big proponent of the Great Bifurcation, but I wonder if the creation of the Pub has resulted in an increase in non-whistle/flute/pipes/ITM-interested membership? Perhaps people stumble upon this place, see some “interesting” discussions that would have been OffTopic earlier, and join the board just to refute the latest political ramblings? Oh, dear.