Quote Originally Posted by Steve Ashton View Post
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.