A thread I contributed to earlier (on gay marriage) has gone - with no reason given. With respect, I don't think it's fair to members who have contributed to a discussion in good faith to remove that discussion without leaving some kind of explanation as to why for those not logged in at the time it was removed. Such action makes me question whether it's worth the bother posting.
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Indeed; may I say the same. I do hope and presume that a mistake of some temporary technical kind has occurred, and that the loss will not be irretrievable. -
My assumption was that if anyone had been following the thread, they wouldn't need to ask. And since this is probably the fourth thread on gay marriage ending in the same predictable way, anyone expecing the topic to be revisited in the near future will be disappointed. Some of the comments posted were, in my view, disgraceful and reflected extremely badly on the forum. Leaving a link and explanation would have been an irresistible temptation, no doubt with yet another discussion on why people weren't allowed to bludgeon each other to the death.Originally posted by pilamenon View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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And all against the background of the House Rule by which we all 'play' here: Threads may be closed or posts removed at the discretion of the moderator and without notice."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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I've looked at the end of the thread and can quite see why FF has done what she has; I hope that none of my contributions to it caused any offence, however much disagreement they might have generated.Comment
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I was following the thread and- as far as I can recall- found most of the posts to be forthright but not insulting or offensive, with the exception of the last one I saw before the thread disappeared, which was both, without doubt.
However I think the individual post should have been removed and the poster given a warning, rather than take down the entire thread. It is a subject that people feel strongly about on both sides and therefore discussion is bound to reflect that.Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain.Comment
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It's up to FF, of course, but I do to some extent agree with your first paragraph, most especially about the final gratuitous, unnecessary and unenlightening post that had nothing to do with the topic. Clearly, another major problem towards the end of the thread was the revelation of fundamental disagreement over what is or should be regarded as immutable (and thus unalterable by new laws) and what can be seen of necessaity as being more definitionally fluid - and I'm uninclined to assume that such rigid stance taking would easily be amenable to intelligent discussion, let alone the occasional trading of insults of which the last that you mention was the worts but not the only example.Originally posted by Mr Pee View PostComment
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It's been deleted; french frank runs this message board at no benefit to herself & no obvious benefit to FOR3. It must cost her hours of work, irritation at times, trouble, disruption. Perhaps it would be an idea to accept her decision & leave the matter alone? As a courtesy to french frank.
People are quick to complain. Not so quick to thank her.Comment
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I think FF 's point that this is the fourth thread on the same subject that has degenerated reflects the fact that it is a subject where views are generally polarised and not open to persuasion . The subject has been done to death on here . Enough already.Comment
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Of course that's FF's point - but if someone afterwards writes 'It's up to FF, of course, but...' there's a lack of appreciation, it seems to me.
When I saw you were coming up as a Guest, AP, I thought you'd left! How does that work - does everyone start out a s a Guest as well as ending up as one?Comment
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To be clear, all I was asking for is the courtesy of an announcement explaining why the thread was closed for posters, like myself, who dip in occasionally to catch up with the debate. That would be the end of it. I'm not questioning the decision to close it.
On a more general note, I do think certain posters have a tendency to over-personalise their comments, and I wonder if temporary suspensions might not prove an effective deterrent?Comment
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I think you've hit the nail on the head. Some people seem more interested in attacking the person, rather than dealing with the argument. There's also something in the idea that some people seem to view these discussions as a battle to be one or lost.Originally posted by pilamenon View PostComment
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All references to certain posters or some people (unspecified) should be off limits when a thread can no longer be read - or even when it's still there.Originally posted by pilamenon View PostComment
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I've said this before but I find the moderation on this messageboard sometimes seriously heavy-handed, as if it's only acceptable to post on subjects one doesn't feel too strongly about and so is able to stay within the realms of polite ("English") conversational propriety. I guess that's the kind of forum most people here (including the forum owner) want to have, is that right?Comment
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It certainly ought to be possible to debate ideas, however strongly you feel about something, without insulting people or making ad hominem comments about them. Most people manage it on this forum pretty well. Some don't. I think the moderation is tolerant, not heavy-handed at all, and I think ff is to be congratulated on doing a very difficult job very well. It's far easier to criticise from a position where you have no responsibility for the content of forum posts.Originally posted by Richard Barrett View PostComment
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