Re: Recently Locked Post
Very well expressed LexxLurker!
Just getting back to theFrey’s question (excuse the length):
I wanted to make some points before he was banned, but after he was banned there seemed little point as he wasn’t around to discuss them, or defend himself. However, since there’s a new thread on this I will make some points (such issues have always interested my feeble brain, and I apologise to FG or any others who may feel offended for any negative comments, I am trying to be constructive, but.. Did I mention my feeble brain?).
The board rule is “be excellent to eachother.” It was partially because Maurice was condescending and negative that he was banned. There was, of course, also the issue of blatant self-promotion, self-aggrandisement, and attention seeking — I know that many people tried their darnedest to ignore him, but that was difficult).
While he is an ex-sadgeezer who was not always most excellent, I still think as upstanding Sadgeezers that the spirit of “being excellent” should apply to him. So I think Headge made the right decision to lock the thread as it’s not altogether excellent to criticise [i]behind people’s backs[/i] so to speak (especially when they aren’t afforded the opportunity to respond at the venue).
Of course he’s had plenty of opportunity to make his case in the past; again and again and again (was always pushing his “issues”). Unfortunately, his position was intractable, so argument was fruitless/pointless, and sadgeezer membership complaints were unheeded by him — in fact he reveled in them. I often tried to seriously debate him, and most politely, but he refused to be reasoned with… I often felt he wasn’t even willing to consider other opinions, let alone respect differences. How much of it was an act, I don’t know.
Unlike most others I have mostly enjoyed his presence, and have very rarely been offended by him… The most I’ve done is roll my eyes, many times the argumnent he’s generated has made me smile. I rarely took him seriously.
I miss him for when he was thoughtful and interesting… When the Prisoner forum started he offered his support since we’re old “virtual” friends, and came up with some great discussion. He helped liven up the place. Unfortunately, I wasn’t always pleased with his contribution (could be downright disharmonious and he made my job difficult making it as happy a place for all as possible).
Also, a bit of controversy is good for a site and for the old noggin’, but when it’s just repetitive, well it gets boring. That’s Spam. And when it’s dismissive of others/condescending it’s worse
I understand the decision to ban him. It’s matter of being excellent to the sadgeezer community (the greater good and all that). I think the sadgeezer community were admirably tolerant/restrained up to this point considering what has been going on, but I will say that it was Fatguy’s posting here that spurred me on to join the board (and I seem to remember that he asked me to join here in a PM at lexx.com), so you can also blame him for that. Now with that info you can start getting really angry.
I’ll miss him here, but I can always visit his site (I am a member there though not much of a contributor)… I am sorry to see it came down to this, but in the long run I think it was unavoidable. Anyway, I don’t think Fatguy is sad about it, he considers being banned some sort of admirable achievement or something. Also, he has a mighty big soap-box at fortressoffreedom.com.
I wish him well, and will keep in touch with him.
Sexecutioner: I’m not totally opposed to censorship. There are many cases where it’s justified (and many where it’s not). You should find [url=http://www.sadgeezer.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3932&start=0&sid=9c68816f76a1d246337e82d079080b93&POSTNUKESID=b887c1ae44bc5edf8eb47d015ddb47ff]THIS Thread[/url] enlightening. You will see that we don’t ignore these issues.
We are pretty much free to discuss anything as long as it’s in the right place, i.e not irrelevant to the topic or spammy, or abusive. Generally, you can say pretty much anything, what’s more important is how you say it…
Oh, and I censor myself all the time, it’s part of moderating yourself (and as a moderator I feel I must be extra careful with what I say — don’t want to come across as officious or obnoxious –unfortunately I can’t seem to avoid the obnoxious part 🙁 ).
Anyway, there are many places on the web to go, so one can say pretty much whatever one wants… One should feel free to make use of those venues… Good to choose suitable venues. I won’t discuss Little House on the Prairie here… much! And I won’t incessantly discuss LEXX at the Blossom fan site — wouldn’t be respectful.