I post to and read a lot of message boards. I can tell you that several message boards I have accessed in the past, were ruined by people posting on them who had no civility, no common sense, or no ability to use restraint. If asked to decide between censorship and .license, I choose censorship

Thank you all,

I am doing my zen moves and have reached again that eunuch calm.

I now understand P's remarks that I laugh at so often about banning you and your whole f en country.

The good people that run this site have been doing so for years with little thanks or understanding as to what it takes to keep it going. Thank god I am no longer in the day to day as burnout is real. I have even taken a long vacation from the site altogether, it is a delicate balance that takes place here and needs to be enjoyed and appreciated.

River the calm.

Think before you speak.. Oh, I have been guilty many a time of speaking first and thinking later, realizing suddenly that I hurt someone's feeling..Moi, Blaise and others are all good people. They all needed to learn the same lessons that have been hard for me to learn too. I have had to say I am sorry to Paolo and Kristoff before. Oh, it is not easy. But they are two decent guys, always willing to forgive. Geez, Louise, Ain't that why we have erasers on pencils, Hey we all make mistakes. But it takes a real man to admit you made a mistake and try to do better.

I believe I still have the "One Free Rant" card I was given when I took over. So, I'm gonna use it.

Yes, there is free speech. Yes, you may feel that you have the right to say whatever you want, wherever you want. You are wrong. Period.

While the Internet as a whole is free and democratic, all the sites on it are dictatorships. Those who run the site get the final say in what happens on that site. If the head of the site sets a rule that all members must provide photos of themselves in pink tutus, thats their decision. Similar things happen when you invite people into your home. Just as nobody forces you to go to their house, nobody forces you to go to a site which has objectionable policies. You don't want to wear the tutu, don't go to the site. Arguing that the 'tutu rule' is wrong, you shouldn't be subject to it, it's unfair, it's prejudicial, anything like that is just whining bullshit. If you make such an argument to that site's administrator, he (or she) has every right to laugh at your ass, then ban you. Further arguing that the ban was wrong, or rather that the administrator's chosen rules are wrong, is asking to be laughed at more, and suggests not only should you start wearing a helmet, but be kept away from sharp objects for your own safety. If you invited someone into your home, and found them trying to set the couch on fire, would you discuss their right to do so in a free and democratic society as a means of self-expression, or would you simply toss their ass out the door and forbid them to ever again set foot in your house?

You want to change how a site is run? Change it from within. Volunteer to help. Give some of your time to helping run and maintain things behind the scenes. Until you're willing to put your time and money where your mouth is, why should those who are bearing the load listen?

As I said to start with, these are my personal opinions. This is the guideline I've followed, as a user, in every site I've ever been a part of in all the time I've been on the net. In the end, the administrators are the ones volunteering their time and energy to keep the site going. It's their call. If I don't like the way they do things, the net is a big place, and there are other sites of which I can be a part.

After that, I'd like to point out that I am not in charge of the message board. Ok? That job is more than adequately handled by others. This is just my personal opinion, not how I run this site. I have done my damnedest to run this site as I feel Bboy would have wanted it run, regardless of my personal opinions on the matter. Anyone who thinks they can do better, send me your real name, home address, and a written note (notarized is preferable, for legal reasons) that you are willing to put your ass on the line, and risk legal consequences for running a site that a prosecutor would likely describe as "sick, twisted, and filled with descriptions of child abuse and pedophilia advocacy."

One last thing. I will abuse my position on the board one last time. This thread is not to be locked. You got something to say about what I've said here? Act like you've still got a pair and say it. I, the real me in the real world, not the nickname I use here, am the focal point for the legal threats, including those from foreign governments. How many of you would do the same?

Well stated, I could not agree more.

And yes, letters from foreign governments one of which we are dealing with right now.

River

As head of the chat room I run into some of the same problems as does the message board. People wanting to talk about subjects that are out of the scope of the site or illegal. Personal attacks are not tolerated. I as well censor people. In chat room it is a ban. The Message boards have moderators and I have a great staff of Operators to help staff the chat room. We have a set of rule's to be in the chat room. If you do not like them, you are free to leave. You break them, we will set you free.

As Chat room manager I think I have the power to give you another One Free Rant .

IEunuch I give you back another.

I used to wish everyone a happy birthday. I put a lot of effort in to adding the appropriate emote-icons and what not. I wish I still had time to do that for everyone but I don't and since I don't want to come off like I am playing favorites I just stopped doing it altogether. So for everyone planning on having a birthday at some point in the future... Happy Birthday!

I used to post quite a bit about my gender issues. I think I covered it fairly well. What else is there to add? This is who I am and I will let you know if are any major developments.

I think I still have some things to say about having sovereignty over my own body but I am not sure what section I should post. It's Political, gender, health, etc. etc. etc.

I don't post all that much in the Political section any more. I have stated my position on most of the things that matter to me. Anyone who wants to know where I stand on marriage can go back and look at my previous post on the subject. I will still post about the bigoted hypocrites who get themselves elected by pretending to be pillars of the community and then getting caught with their pants down.

Yoli here,

Now I understand why I could not reply to the most recent of Moi's PMs, which were pretty much a daily occurrence, though always welcome.

He had alluded to some disputes he was having with another member (also banned, I gather,) but I was never privy to any such.

I respect the authority and the underappreciated efforts of the mods here and I can only hope that I can soon resume my "friendship" with a decent man who has always been kind and respectful to me...even if we are poles apart politically.

Please, no PMs of explanation or elaboration re Moi's ouster. I accept things as they are. OK? Nor am I seeking a replacement pen pal. I'll just sit around waiting for Uncle MacWolfie to ask for my hand in marriage.

Yoli

The Sarah Palin Of The Southwest...Yeeeeehaaaaaa!

Mac, did you see that?

Move fast before Yoli changes her mind.

River

Act NOW, Uncle Macccccie...