Rather than ban Mahonri, or Curioguy, or Timmy, or eliminate the Back Room, lets ban political discussion here. Lots of members have posted views or opinions here over the last couple of years that I've found amusing, irritating, offensive or even down right stupid. On occasion, I've responded if I saw fit, but most of the time, if I see a pattern of posts that I don't appreciate, I simply stop reading ANYTHING by that poster. Do I think they should be banned? No. I was here and involved when the one and only GTA banning happened, and at the time, I felt it should have happened sooner. For whatever reason, my opinion was sought by the forum owners, a vote of confidence I appreciate to this day. But ALL the discussion was handled privately until the decision was made, and THEN it was announced along with the reasons why.
Something you all need to keep in mind. These forums are NOT venues for free speech, they are owned and financed by private parties. This gives those private parties the right to make up their own rules, rules you either agree to and follow, or you go elsewhere. But the reality is, the owners don't have to follow those rules, and can make them up as they go along. Gene and Bob have been incredibly good in this regard, and they've put together a forum that pretty much self regulates. Almost ANYTHING is allowed, as long as we all treat each other with respect. Try mentioning Bob on the Yellow Forum if you want an example of the other side of the coin. People don't get banned here, posts don't get deleted, even when they should be, maybe. I've watched the GTA grow, I was part of it practically from the beginning. But it's gotten awfully big awfully fast, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Someone said it already, there's a lot of whining, sniping, and griping going on, sometimes I have to double check the background color. I really hope this is a temporary thing, and that the GTA can go back to the spirit that it used to have. But I'm afraid it may be a size issue, and if the YF mold is the inevitable result of growth, then I grieve the GTA that used to be. And in the meantime, I just don't post as often as I used to, as there are fewer here that I consider friends that I enjoy talking to. Later.
Dave