Mark, Do you see something we don't

[jussi]

Another vote to respectfully lock the thread.

[Alex Franke]

So... How about them Mets?

(Maybe we should all just stop replying and then they won't have to lock it. )

[Black wallnut]

So... How about them Mets?

(Maybe we should all just stop replying and then they won't have to lock it. )

When do they play against those Yankee's?

[TB Roye]

What is the NFL starting aready?

Tom

[Kavoom]

Mets? Yankees? Now the thread is really gone too far, I mean that is beyond the pale. Lock it down now...

[TB Roye]

I think it is some kind of New York thing. Like NY, NY

Tom

[jussi]

Forget all that. You do remember the Lakers are the Champs right. I don't care where Lebron goes next year, he's still not getting a ring


Purple and Gold baby!!!!!!

[TB Roye]

Yep the lakers are chumps, must be a Southern California thing. My spell check broke so all I can spell is chumps. Whats a lebron?

Tom

[jussi]

Yep the lakers are chumps, must be a Southern California thing. My spell check broke so all I can spell is chumps. Whats a lebron?

Tom

What's that? All I heard was sour grapes from a Kings fan

[TB Roye]

Kobe, Shaq and 3 refs cost us the championship. I lived in LA during the early 60's and had to lives through the Celtics beating the Lakers every year. Enjoy your championships.

Tom

[Black wallnut]

My longer winded explaination

Folks I am first and foremost a member of this forum and an imperfect one at that. When Sam asked me to become the admin I was honored to say yes. Up until that time there had been very few trolls and the forum was for the most part self policing in that many of us would give gentle reminders to folks that were straying away from the rules. So what exactly has changed you might ask?

Our forum became bombarded with spammer and and even worse type of scum porn spammers. All the time picking up new members. We came to a point where new member required moderation prior to you all seeing their posts. All of this created lots of extra work for Lee, Davy, Hank, and myself. Sam and Adele have not been very active of late for a variety of reasons. I think it is fair to say that all of us enjoy whacking spam posts and most of the membership are never even aware of these since we moved to required moderation. We still had the other issues of members who for whatever reason simply did not get along. It was these types of issues that we discussed over and over the best course of action. We have tried to be fair, each of you may have your own opinion on if we have succeeded in that. Often we would watch threads without taking any action unless someone reported a post or otherwise complained. Often we would ignore calls to close a thread.

That brings us to today and last week. It has mostly been my habit that with discussions that border on the rules as far as politics or religion that once a post or two are deleted that the thread is closed. Neither I nor the other Mods have the time to endlessly watch threads that go off track. The closed thread was one of these. It was a good thread well within the rules. However a member, and a long standing one at that turned the discussion to the political side of the issue. Another member also a long standing one quoted the politics and made an effort to steer it back onto course. As I have done in the past I deleted the one and then the other (quoted) as it would be totally out of place without the sorce post. I do this for two reasons, firsrt to keep the forum non political and to not single out the member who posted an out of bounds post. I see no need to publically chide someone for making a small slip. The majority of the forum membership likely does not see when this happens. All you see is that the thread is locked. Sure I could have left it open but I am sure based on experience that someone else would have open the politics again.

Am I accountable? Well I'd have to say that yes I am. Hence leaving this thread open and not taking any moderation action because of it. Am I perfect? I'll be the first to say no I'm simply human and just as full of faults as the next guy. Am I on a power trip? Nope, I do not think so although you may not agree. I am also a member of several other forums and like many of you have noticed how some are more moderated than BT3Central is. I do know what it is like to have my posts edited and deleted. I have also seen where whole threads simply disappear. All of these moderation actions were annoying at best when I've seen them occur. I've also been annoyed when I see what I think to be heavy-handed-moderation applied to other forum members. I try not to act in such ways. Seldom is it that I delete a post or lock a thread. More seldom is it that I edit a post. Even more seldom is it that I make a whole thread disappear, in fact I can not remember one. Folks this forum has a rather small membership 7385 at today's count when compared to many other forums. We also have pretty small traffic when also compared to others. My day job gives me much more responsibility than Admining this forum as does the other things I do in my free time. The few times I take admin or moderation action it is in an effort to keep peace and order. The very few times I've taken Admin action directed at an individual member it has been due to forum rules or member complaints. I would prefer if we all simply got along. I would also prefer if when folks have questions about moderation action that they be addressed off line. I do not believe anyone can make the claim that I am not responsive to PMs. You may not like the answer you get but I do and will answer them.

Please keep in mind that all of us on the staff are here first as simple members and woodworkers of modest skill, well speaking for myself anyway. We are guests of Sam's. We are here because we like the atmosphere and enjoy the exchange of ideas. We know that the membership is the driving force behind the forum and it would not exist with out you all. We value the membership. Thanks for keeping this the friendliest forum that I know of!

[lrogers]

Good Explanation Mark. Personally, I think you and others are doing a fine job.

[TB Roye]

Once in an attempt to be funny, I crossed the line. i receive a PM from Mark explaining the reason for his action in deleting the thread. Once I though about it I agreed with his thinking and became a little more careful with my responses or threads I start. The Mods do a great job keeping this site alive and I thank them all for their work.

Tom

[crybdr]

Mark, many sincere thanks for your efforts to keep this community focused on our hobby. Volunteers deserve the utmost respect.

You are doing a great job here. Thanks!