Thinking of Leaving

[mookien]

Nick the DSM: Excellent point!

[Jock Scot]

As the risk of being more than a little irreverent and realizing that all attempts at humor may be in bad taste: How long before somebody make THAT complaint about this thread.

Ok, OK, OKAY!

How about, "....no one is holding a sgian to your throat"?

[Burly Brute]

I will admit that I haven't been as active here for the same reason. I think I know the threads you're talking about. No one was arguing, no one was espousing one particular religious belief or political system over another, nor comparing one belief or system to another. The threads were closed because there was the hint of the potential that it could happen. Ultimately, we don't own the forum (even though we make it happen and it wouldn't exist without us...) so we have no say in how the rules are enforced. But it does seem to me that if we're holding a civil and polite discussion, with no hints of degenerating into a slam fest (like the threads I'm thinking of that got closed down... just because...) then why not allow them? We're not children. Biblemonkey, I'm glad you started this thread, because I was thinkin' it. If you do decide to leave this forum, you still have my email address. Cheers, brother. (And I would like to point out here that I am a pagan minister. I just referred Biblemonkey as "brother." If a Bible monkey and a pagan minister can be friends, then that has got to say something positive about the maturity and tolerance of the people on this board!)

This is one reason I enjoy coming on here so much. It may come as no surprise to many of you that I am Biblical Studies student at a pretty conservative university (since I talk about it oft, and I freakin use Scripture in some of my threads! [is freakin' PC?]) However, as of yet this has not interfered with any of my relationships on here with fellow scotsmen/kilt wearers. Can we not find unity regardless of our divisions? I would be a poor testimony of Christ if I didn't love all creation, and I would assume Nighthawk has the same sentiment, only to that which he holds sacred.

It's definitely a touchy subject, mostly because we make it that way. And although this is a kilt forum, religion/politics is going to come up because as humans we are drawn to that which is beyond us and our understanding and we have our ideals that we hold dear.

I already posted something in consideration to Biblemonkey's plight, but I had to commend Nighthawk for stepping out and pointing to some relevant truth. That we can be united regardless of our differences. And from personal experience on here, I think intent goes a long way. There is a difference in something said being offensive, and the person who said it trying to be offensive.

My apologies for the long rant, but this forum is what gets me through my days at the office so I need you guys to get it together!!!!!

-Zach

[artificer]

I admit to posting here less often than I used to.

I don't blame the moderators, they're doing what they are supposed to, which is responding to complaints. I DO find it a bit disheartening that there are apparently SO MANY complaints, and in a good many cases, about what seem incredibly minor things.

I wonder if the mod team could keep (internally) some sort of list of who is making complaints, and if it seems to be the same few people time and again, issue THEM a warning to either be less sensitive or to just not visit the particular thread.

I do like the general atmosphere of congeniality that is X-Marks, but lately it seems more like the school room than it does the club.

We're all big lads here, the occasional ding to our "sensibilities" shouldn't send us running off to complain. Either ignore the thread, or give your two cents about WHY you disagree.

ith:

[Nighthawk]

Be glad that mods are actually active in this forum. Other forums I'm a part of aren't so lucky and flame wars are started just about everyday.

It's two extremes. Extremes don't work, and that, I think, is the point of this thread. That's why I brought up the Iron Maiden forum. Over-moderating ruins conversations just as quickly as under-moderating.

This is one reason I enjoy coming on here so much. It may come as no surprise to many of you that I am Biblical Studies student at a pretty conservative university (since I talk about it oft, and I freakin use Scripture in some of my threads! [is freakin' PC?]) However, as of yet this has not interfered with any of my relationships on here with fellow scotsmen/kilt wearers. Can we not find unity regardless of our divisions? I would be a poor testimony of Christ if I didn't love all creation, and I would assume Nighthawk has the same sentiment, only to that which he holds sacred.

It's definitely a touchy subject, mostly because we make it that way. And although this is a kilt forum, religion/politics is going to come up because as humans we are drawn to that which is beyond us and our understanding and we have our ideals that we hold dear.

I already posted something in consideration to Biblemonkey's plight, but I had to commend Nighthawk for stepping out and pointing to some relevant truth. That we can be united regardless of our differences. And from personal experience on here, I think intent goes a long way. There is a difference in something said being offensive, and the person who said it trying to be offensive.

My apologies for the long rant, but this forum is what gets me through my days at the office so I need you guys to get it together!!!!!

-Zach

To put the same point another way, it's our differences that should unite us. Is that an oxymoron...? And yes, Zach, you are very correct- I would be a poor example indeed of the love of the Gods if I were to use my own beliefs as a point of division or superiority. And as I don't want to further be in violation of Rule 5, I'll stop with that!

[Burly Brute]

To put the same point another way, it's our differences that should unite us. Is that an oxymoron...? And yes, Zach, you are very correct- I would be a poor example indeed of the love of the Gods if I were to use my own beliefs as a point of division or superiority. And as I don't want to further be in violation of Rule 5, I'll stop with that!

See, we just proved it could be done!

Sometimes ya just gotta toot your own horn, as well as others.

[Chas]

Just when was this XMarks Golden Age?

When I joined, the Moderators moderated. They didn't ask permission, they just did it. Threads were closed or removed. Posts were removed and if you quoted that post, your post was removed as well. Members were banned. One day they were here and the next day they were gone.

Today, the Moderators wait for the membership to report something before acting. If the membership don't complain, they don't act. Who is it down to? Not the Mods. Today, they are no longer pro-active; they are re-active.

Compared to what it was like, this is a free and easy, free-for-all.

You want to go back to the Golden Age?

No thank you.

Regards

Chas

[Alan H]

Jock Scot is a cool dude.

That's what I have to say in this thread.

[Burly Brute]

Jock Scot is a cool dude.

That's what I have to say in this thread.

***

[biblemonkey]

Biblemonkey,

I would like to make sure that you understand something. If you wish to leave the forum that is your choice. We all need to take a break once in a while.

If you want to leave because you don't like something, then speaking up is the right thing to do. You say that threads have been closed because someone reported it to the Moderators. Well, that is what the Report a Post System is all about.

The Forum Moderators do not act as morality cops. They respond only to reports of posts submitted by members. If a post is moved to the cooling off corner then one of your peers, another member, has reported it as a possible rule violation.

The system this forum runs under is that you, the members, will set the tone, the mood of the forum. If you find something wrong, offensive, or in violation of the rules it is up to you to report it.
This is how the staff know what the membership want as limits.

The same applies to something you see which you don't agree with. Report it.

Have you opened a line of communication with the staff? Have you voiced your concerns and attempted to make the forum better?
Remember the old saying, "If your not part of the solution, your part of the problem."?

If more members would talk to the staff the forum would get better. We need the balance of both sides of an issue talking to us. Only then can the Moderators be "Moderate".

We need everyone's input, your suggestions, your complaints. There are ways for every member to speak up. We post the staff roster and we have the Personal Message system. If you don't talk to us, if you remain silent, those who do speak will be the only ones heard.


If you simply want to take a break from the forum I can assure you that when you're ready to come back, and again be an active participant, the forum will still be here.

If however, you don't like how the forum is run, but have not tried your best to make it better, and in disgust post a parting shot of dissatisfaction on the open forum, well, that is what is called a "Farewell Message".


Sir,
This is one of those times when the choice, really and truly, is in your hands.

This was not meant to be a bashing of the mods or the forum but rather a venting of my dissapointment over how certain individuals within our community turn some people's opinions into a personal war. I will not mention specifics here as I do not wish to reopen the thin skinned scars such information may bring. And actually this IS my attempt at making things better, in a way. To open an honest dialougue and give people the opportunity to see what I'm getting at may make folks think twice before being "insulted for the sake of being insulted" as I put it and getting a thread closed. It is folks like that that are making me want to leave, at least for a time. The warmth and appreciation of some here is very encouraging but if I open a thread and am afraid of posting because I see a particular name on there then it's like being at a party with someone you know is going to get drunk and treat you like crap. You get to the point where you ask if they are going to be there and if they are then you just don't go. I would rather talk it out with those folks, and that is one thing this thread was meant to open up. Dialougue.