Thanks all for the stimulating conversations over the past however many years. As you may have seen, the strangled flute conversation has been muzzled twice now, and I imagine permanently. I find the reasoning inadequate, but I’m not intending to fight it or hang about. If we can’t have open and useful debate, there’s no point in being here. You know where to find me if needed.
Terry
Well,I for one, will miss you Terry 
,you’re a good man …
Well, you know, Terry … Two of the three Chiffboard moderators are currently recovering from severe illnesses, something we have not publicized. So if we can’t jump fast enough when you cry “Jump!”, then I suppose we should apologize. Next time we’ll try not to be ill when you need instant satisfaction.
It’s sad to see this behavior from someone I admire. But really, best of luck to you.
You’re a good man, Terry. I like to think I’m a good man, too. At least I try to be. Every now and then, when something doesn’t go my way, however, I throw a strop. I sulk. I suppose that can happen with anyone. I hope it’s not the case here. And I hope you’re not doing something you’ll regret. (Or not doing it for long, anyway.)
I think the best outcome here would be for a bright new sunny day to dawn, heads to stop being tossed … and this thread to disappear.
Terry, by all means take a TEMPORARY hiatus, but then come back! No one will think worse of you for it.
I’ve certainly done an unannounced version of this often enough.
Rob
That’s unfortunate 
I can understand because, probably like you, I srongly oppose thread locking.
What’s the problem with people worrying about their flutes?
If Terry’s got a point, then they’re right to be concerned.
If a few of them contact makers, then the makers can deal with it surely?
I’m no expert on cork vs thread, but I could tell the discussion was even, with Terry backing up his POV sufficiently, and, others disagreeing, that concrened players could make up their own mind, rather than flying into any kind of panic.
That’s the sad thing about these decisions- by locking the thread and, in doing so, censering someone, the board loses a member who clearly still has a major contribution to make.
Sorry if that’s seen as critical, but it seems that ‘thread locking’ will inevitably continue until people start to stand up and try to explain just why they see it as wasteful and counter productive.
I agree with the last post.
It is a sad day in Chiff&Fippledom.
I wish all moderators speedy recovery from any illnesses,
good health and sound and fair judgement.
Heck, don’t really leave. I mean, come back as Mr. Pokey, or something.
That’s the sad thing about these decisions- by locking the thread and, in doing so, censering someone, the board loses a member who clearly still has a major contribution to make.
sad indeed, and don’t get me started on locked threads and consorship, I’m off to have my own grump…probably back before Terry 
Terry, I too hope you’ll reconsider. We need and value your input here. Also, I’m not aware of anywhere else on the net where this kind of discussion (I mean the useful parts of it, not the trolling and ad hominem aspects) is happening in so lively a fashion at present - Woodenflute is moribund, earlyflute less active than C&F…
To everyone else, maybe it isn’t my place to say this, and I haven’t gone to check the Board rules, but I seem to recall that public discussion of moderator decisions and policies is off-limits just as much as reviving previously locked threads (acknowledging my own contributory breach of that rule by participating in Terry’s strangulation #2). I think it would be foolish to act in ways that will get this thread locked too, though I concur with Ben that it would be preferable for it to vanish. The rules are published, most of us will have read them at some stage - we choose to participate here under them, or, like Terry, we leave. I don’t necessarily agree with all the policies or specific decisions, but on balance I’d rather be active here. Overall, I think our moderators exercise their role well and this board is a far pleasanter and more useful place than some other internet fora because of that.
Don’t leave Terry…
Terry, maybe you need just a short vacation to let the murky water settle a little bit.
You’ll be missed Terry and maybe eventually you will find your way back here when the dust has cleared…
There’s 2 types of forum- those frequented by text-speak teenies where flaming etc are inevitable, and, those where most of the members are mature and capable of communicating without insult.
This forum is clearly of the second kind, and I find it really sad when a thread which contains no flaming, but only well reasoned contributions, which have taken a considerable amount of time and effort by the posters, is locked.
As you point out, many forums do cover themselves by including in the board rules things about not questioning moderator actions, and, if my post above is judged to be of that kind, then obviously I am opening myself up to a disciplinary pm or a banning.
But, I’m just really tired of seeing perfectly OK threads like this one, being locked for bizarre reasons, and, like Terry, I think if it gets to the point where it’s basically arbitrary censorship, then you may as well speak up.
Because I suspect that the people who run the boards are unaware of the strengh of feeling on this issue and, if no-one speaks up, that will continue.
I must fully concur with the last post, for some time now I’ve noticed that threads are being locked for the most trivial, and, I believe, totally subjective reasons; it needs to borne in mind that a good contributor does not necessarily make a good moderator.
I find many problems with this post of yours, onewheeldave. Well, OK, 3:
I’ve spoken up, because I didn’t want to leave your assumptions unchallenged. But I resent being made to speak up about it, as this in itself perpetuates the meta-discussion that we are drifting into.
The sooner this thread is either locked, or disappears, the better, IMHO.
Terry,
I find the vast majority of your posts informative and helpful and I admire your passion for the music and instruments themselves. No need to leave a board which you clearly enjoy being a part of and which clearly enjoys having you be a part of it.
As the owner of the board, I think I need to point out that, as much as I regret Terry’s decision to depart, I’ve reviewed this situation and fully support the decision to lock & review these threads. There’s absolutely nothing arbitrary about it.
We’re not going to allow meta-discussions about board moderation. Send your comments to me via PM.
Dale
Some continued editorial comments here, with Dale’s permission, to address a few issues. And my apologies in advance for the length.
I always find the cultural dimension fascinating. Nearly all complaints of “censorship” that come our way tend to come exclusively from one particular national direction, and this thread is no exception. It’s just an observation, and not exclusive to this board. The same direction, incidentally, as the occasional threats for libel and slander to come our way. An interesting contradiction, IMO, and not one that will be resolved here. Cultural difference exist. In the end, the Chiffboard is an American-based board, and American standards and sensibilities will usually apply.
Like many, the Chiffboard is a moderated, private but open forum, not a res publica. By analogy, you can think of a hosted party, with the hosts paying for the party space and the delicious party snacks. Good conversation and good fun are more than welcome, for it’s the guests that make the party. But if the hosts are uncomfortable with any guest behavior, they may step in and intervene as their prerogative. If the guests are uncomfortable, they may leave. It’s really that simple. Censorship? Discretion, maybe. And freedom of choice.
A while ago, the moderators did an informal count of the number of thread locks and interventions on the board over a period of several years. And the result hovered around 1%. Which can reasonably be described as light moderation. And the tendency recently has been to less moderation, not more. If some people choose to focus on the 1% and ignore the other 99%, or simply see only what they want to see, there’s not much we can do.
For what it’s worth, the #1 complaint we receive from users is of insufficient moderation, not too much. And indeed, we are not fond of the vitriol and meanness that we have seen other unmoderated forums descend to. Moderation is a choice on our part that we think is responsible, at least in part, for the ongoing success and survival of this board as a useful and lively place for civil discourse for 10+ years, accommodating different instrument communities, different personalities, different nationalities and vastly different cultural expectations. We make no apologies for that. You can read the moderation policies of other online forums which are far more Draconian.
Throughout, Dale Wisely’s generosity, patience, good cheer, and support have been far and above the call of duty. Of course, for every brief “thank you” we receive for effort, time, and expense, we receive nine complaints about one thing or other. This is not “angling for compliments”, simply a fact, and par for the course.
As for thread locks, they may serve several purposes. The phpBB software provides them for reasons that are well-understood by the internet community of volunteers who choose to take on the thankless tasks of board moderation. But temporary locks in particular are intended as a way to pause a moving thread to allow us time to read, digest, and evaluate as our volunteer time permits, given the other responsibilities of life. Very often, the action is taken at the request of you, the Chiffboard users. Every effort is made to comment and re-open these threads as soon as possible, when appropriate. If you are an impatient sort, or feel somehow entitled to instant service from a free internet resource, there’s not much we can do about that, either.
In the case of the strangled flutes … We had one thread that ran for an extraordinary 22 pages (censorship, indeed) before being temporarily suspended for ad hominem attacks in violation of stated Chiffboard policy. Followed by a restart, also in violation of stated board policy. Both threads were dealt with in accordance with the policy, nothing more. No individual was singled out for special treatment.
We are also particularly sensitive to the issues surrounding the participation of individuals with commercial interests and motivations - makers and sellers. The policies on Commercial Posting cover the basics of outright promotion. But we also expect that these individuals voluntarily adapt their posting behavior to reflect their different status. This does happen for the most part, transparently, as a matter of courtesy and common sense. And their presence enhances the quality of experience and information exchanged on the board.
However, when in our judgment a commercial poster nears the line where competitors may be placed unfairly in a negative light, inadvertently or not, the moderators reserve the right to step in. And yes, this is always a judgment call and a balancing act. Often, no one is happy if things reach that point. So be it. Despite the occasional problem or restriction, the breadth and variety of commercial information that flows on the Chiffboard speaks for itself. And we’re delighted when all purveyors of the instruments we love and care about may benefit, with as even a hand as it is possible for us to provide.
In this case, we offered Terry praise for his effort, an explanation of our (and others’) reservations, an explanation of delays, and an explicit invitation to discuss ways for the conversation to continue and the temporary thread locks to be released. A very odd “censorship”. If he chooses instead to withdraw his participation in the Chiffboard, that is certainly his right. Or if he chooses to continue participation and dialogue with the well-intentioned keepers of this board, he is more than welcome to return.
Well, i would still like to say thank you anyway.
i love this board; it’s so much fun! thank you for all the work you do. i honestly can say that i might have given up trying to learn trad music if it wasn’t for this board. i travel almost constantly and don’t get to attend sessions much or go to workshops. i’ve got so many great pms from people here and read so many great posts; i can only imagine why you do it for free. i’ve often wondered, when i see MtGuru post something during the wee hours, how he has time to do this. i can’t imagine.
then i’d like to say i don’t like see threads locked; it seems like a shame to me. but what can you do? i agree with the post above, i prefer board type #2 to board type #1. if left to it’s own devices; without moderation, “step off you noob” because every other post and what’s the point? nobody benefits. (not to pick on Rob, he was already being picked on.)
i was amazed when i saw that Casey Burns and Terry McGee post to this board. wow! how amazing. i think it’s a shame that perhaps we chased him off by in-fighting.
i’ve noticed that when things get tense, some people on this board tend to start making jokes or silly posts–i think i can assume in order to ease the tension? but sometimes it seems that it just makes people more angry. i guess i would just ask that people who post silly posts, consider you might be making things worse. and people who get angrier at seeing silly posts–maybe try to understand that they are just trying to ease the tension? is that so bad?
anyway, i hope Mr. McGee will come back. and i appreciate his attempt to moderate the discussion as it was getting out of hand, and i hope that he will be able to share information with us and benefit from participation is this board.
cheers,
eric