Good form

**Freedomlover** · 11th October 05, 05:07 PM

To: the management,

I don't particularly mind having a thread shut off wherein another member and I were discussing the cultural application of common English words because I understand that the owners can do as they jolly well please. But I do consider it extremely low class to do it without even the common courtesy of mentioning your lack of semantic appreciation to either of us. (Notwithstanding insipid "keep it down boys" admonitions since there was nothing to keep down except perhaps the somewhat refined terms of our discussion.)

We were always on topic, but perhaps it required more than pedestrian perspicasity to follow us. Sorry about that.

And this post is not a complaint about the rules, it is an observation that there seem to be certain tenuous extensions of the actual published rules that are at the discretion of the moderators. We are not mindreaders.

But Apollo has spoken, hasn't he? Or perhaps more accurately, the limited minds of some have been catered to.

For a forum that claims to promote diversity the deletion of a 180 odd post thread that a lot of thought went into (at least from most) because at best a very few people could not follow the logic of it is shameful.

**Archangel** · 11th October 05, 08:12 PM

Some of the posters were pushing buttons and being insensitive. The thread was really an old issue oozing out of some place again. It was answered in the first few posts. I was surprised it lasted that long.
Your sarcasm probably didn't help your cause. You also have no right to appeal to diversity since you claimed it was a modern foible, you used better words.
So, a quaint Scottish expression: tough.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 12th October 05, 07:20 AM

Mods,

Out of curiousity, how many posts did that thread get to? I agree with Archangel that it had gone on too long. The only reason I continued to monitor it was because it seemed to be the longest thread that I could find and I wondered if it would break 200 posts. The number of views was also pretty large, over 3000 I believe.

I would like to have seen it kept around but closed for new posts as I think that there was a lot of good discussion that would be valuable to new people coming to the site.

**macwilkin** · 12th October 05, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by KiltedCodeWarrior

Mods,

Out of curiousity, how many posts did that thread get to? I agree with Archangel that it had gone on too long. The only reason I continued to monitor it was because it seemed to be the longest thread that I could find and I wondered if it would break 200 posts. The number of views was also pretty large, over 3000 I believe.

I would like to have seen it kept around but closed for new posts as I think that there was a lot of good discussion that would be valuable to new people coming to the site.

The thread is back in the General Kilt section, but in "lock down" mode.

Regards,

Todd

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 12th October 05, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

The thread is back in the General Kilt section, but in "lock down" mode.

Regards,

Todd

Todd, Thanks! And in reviewing the few posts I had not seen, I see my last post that attempted to add some humor and levity was taken as a serious post. Should have added a smiley :grin:

Although it did get them to agree to something!

Jkdesq and Freedomlover, there was no malice intended, sorry if it was taken that way.

RJI

**jjoseph** · 12th October 05, 10:10 AM

I do not know which thread is being referred to, but I have seen several posts over the last weeks re. threads which moderators had pulled/locked, etc. Maybe I'm missing the point, but isn't that what moderators do? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I figure while I'm on Xmarks, I'm someone's guest, not a paying member of a club or a voting member of a board. It's their house; if I'm not comfortable with the rules, shouldn't I go to the host rather than the other guests? Besides, isn't the idea to foster relationship and communication about kilts and kilt-wearing? If a thread, even a good and lively one in "off topic" is starting to either wreck relationships or be a distraction, isn't that just what moderators are for? to pull the thread and help us get back to the business of building up the list? Imperfections and all this is a really cool thing. Some folks are doing a lot of hard work to create and maintain it. Kudos to the guys who love discussion. Kudos to the ones who help us keep it good.

**Freedomlover** · 12th October 05, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by KiltedCodeWarrior

Jkdesq and Freedomlover, there was no malice intended, sorry if it was taken that way.
RJI

I never thought there was. In the year or so I have been around here I have found only one malicious person (who shall remain anonymous).

**jkdesq** · 12th October 05, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by jjoseph

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I figure while I'm on Xmarks, I'm someone's guest, not a paying member of a club or a voting member of a board. It's their house; if I'm not comfortable with the rules, shouldn't I go to the host rather than the other guests? Besides, isn't the idea to foster relationship and communication about kilts and kilt-wearing? If a thread, even a good and lively one in "off topic" is starting to either wreck relationships or be a distraction, isn't that just what moderators are for?

I guess I don't see it that way. If one invites people to one's house for a political decision, one should not be suprized when a political disagreement arises. Same if one invites people for a Bible study. Whether the dispute is over the rights of the proletariat, con or transubstantiation, If people are intended to discuss things, there is going to be disagreement. If a person inviting discussion is not anticipating disagreement, I would suggest that the person is not really seeking a full and frank exchange of ideas.

It surprized me that the entire thread was pulled without any word of why. As I couldn't check what I posted (as I had no access), I couldn't go back and make sure that I didn't say something offensive. It was open to speculate that someone had said something way beyond the pale that I had not seen. My suggestion is that if threads are going to be pulled or locked, the recent posters should be given some reason as to why. If their conduct is impugned, they should be told what they did wrong and what rule they broke.

If people don't know why these things happen, there will be a chill effect. People will be afraid to say anything controversial. Posts will become less interesting and forum members will loose interest. The page will loose momentum. My two cents.

**highlandtide** · 12th October 05, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by jkdesq

If people don't know why these things happen, there will be a chill effect. People will be afraid to say anything controversial. Posts will become less interesting and forum members will loose interest. The page will loose momentum. My two cents.

Maybe you should refer to the FAQ/Rules.

Also refer to this which I posted a while back, and a while back before that. Man I feel like I am on a loop with this one...

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...56&postcount=5