Censorshiop

[jester]

Dear Jim.

Why do you now censor the boards? Why are Magrats posts removed while Firegirls irrelevant postings remain on the performers with kids thread?

I don't mind you removing Magrats posts, but be fair about it. Remove the other irrelevant posts too.

In fact how come you don't remove the crap that Peter posts while your at it?

I am accused of being a troll, but there are double standards here.

I've done some research and reviewing and if you look over the last 5 years, the nastiest and most unpleasant posts have two common denominators, and I'm not one of them.

Is this forum a clique?

Why do I have to tolerate aggressive and false accusations from Peter?

Why do I have to tolerate Martin and Firegirl diluting other peoples threads yet I am a troll when actually I take my bile into other threads?

All I'm saying is that if you start removing the odd post here and there you open a large can of worms. This site and forum is too big for that.

As far as I could tell there were legal reasons for your previous deletions. Did you really have to edit Magrat out? Yes she's a pain, but censorship is not an option.

[Jim]

I don't think deleting an irrelevant post is censorship. Disabling someone's ability to post would be censorship. Magrat still has the ability to post.

Magrat's posts were adding absolutely nothing to that thread.

Firegirl's post are not entirely on topic, but they lead to other threads of discussion that are on topic. By deleting them would make the rest of the thread read funny. As you'll notice, removing Magrat's posts did nothing to the flow of the thread.

I do not delete posts in Blah Blah Blah unless they are slanderous or threatening and I usually only do so after the "slandered" or "threatened" parties request it. After I delete such a comment, the commenter is notified and warned.

However, threads of discussion in all other forums (besides Blah Blah Blah) are held to a higher standard and I do my best to keep conversations on topic and generally "clean for company."

The Performers with Kids thread was started by Frisbee in the blah blah blah forum because he didn't know how it would turn out. Once people started posting, it turned into one of the more serious and poignant threads on the entire site.

I got tired of Magrat incessantly poking her head into the thread adding absolutely nothing but antagonism. I posted a message publicly asking Frisbee for permission to "clean up" the thread and move it out of Blah Blah Blah and into a more apropriate forum. He replied publicly that he would like me to do that, so I did.

End of story.

Jim

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Mmmmmm. Well, the deep sorrow here for me is, frankly, the loss of a decent laugh. When Cybele observed that someone was gumming up the works with irrelevant posturing, and Magat replied that it certainly couldn't be her, I posted.

"Well, if the shoe fits, stuff iit in your mouth."

(misspelling and all.)

When I read through these threads, I find that a line like that lends "green room" authenticity to the conversation, and, especially for people who've had to read the young thing's posts over the (feels like) several years she's been spewing forth, a measure of satisfaction.

I like where the thread went, yes, but
for every angel that gets its wings when a thread is cleaned up, somewhere, a toll booth collector turns up his nose at a plate of sushi, is what I'm trying to say.
I think.

[jester]

Hi Jim

Yes I understand. I wasn't being critical of you, I was asking genuinely.

Now I know Frisbee was involved in that decision it makes sense. Actually I like the thread a lot better now and I was enjoying it.

I just feel that the people on these boards are responsible for their own behaviour, however, I do think that to wander off a topic and get into a private conversation is rather rude.

So for me, Magrat & Taxis thing was no more irritating than Firegirls conversation.

Cybelle made a very good point.

Anyway, Keep up the good work. I did not intend to wind you up.

[Jim]

I really don't want to get into this on a beautiful, warm Sunday morning so I'm just going to share a couple thoughts and then go out and play with my dog.

I am the administrator of this site. It is a tough job to keep everyone happy. I get shit when I EDIT threads and I get just as much shit when I DON'T edit threads. I cannot win.

I have said this before and I'll say it again... I believe very strongly in freedom of speech and I have NEVER disabled anybody's ability to use or post on these forums. Yes, I have deleted certain comments... like less than 20 out of 25,963 as of this post. Less than 20! Those 20 or so comments were either slanderous, threatening or disruptive of intelligent conversation. They will not be missed. There is a difference between "speech" and "spew" and when it comes right down to it, I have to make a decision. Sorry if I have offended anybody. But if you sit back and look at the big picture, you'll understand why I do what I do.

I am not a dictator. I do not go around deleting stuff willy-nilly. And I never delete stuff without either: a.) consulting with the parties involved or b.) stopping and thinking about it for several minutes, or sometimes I even sleep on it and think about it the next day. I take a lot of things into consideration before deleting/editing something and I always err on the side of caution. And, of course, the bottom line is I always do what's best for the thread.

Karl:
Yes, your comment was funny, as was Cybele's. And both made me smile. But after removing the derailing comments, those jokes didn't make sense and looked mean. I didn't feel like they belonged in a thread that has turned out to be one of my favorite threads in the history of this site. And like I said below, I am more strict about staying "on topic" outside of Blah Blah Blah, which is where that thread is now. I did not delete your comments because I thought they were offensive. I removed them simply for the continuity of the thread.

Jester:
Yes, people should be responsible for their own behavior, but as you have seen, some people have no restraint and post for the sake of posting. I COULD just walk away from this site and let it devolve into anarchy, but then it would become useless. I moderate this site with an extremely light touch. I'm one of you. I like making snarky comments just as much as the next guy, but sometimes they just get out of hand and someone has to step in and say SHUT UP. I'm that someone. I don't like having to do it, but it needs to be done. Wouldn't you agree that the tone of conversation around here in the last two weeks has been really wonderful? People are talking about real stuff again and actually using the non-Blah forums.

I started this site with the vision that it would be a resource, not a playground. Yes, we're comedians and yes, we're used to being witty and un-moderated. That's why Blah Blah Blah was created. It's a place to let off steam and hang out as we would in a green room at a festival. But the rest of the site needs structure and maintenance or it will cease to be the resource that it has become.

Running these forums is like growing a tree... If you just let a tree grow untouched, certain branches will grow in the wrong direction or split off in a weird way and they will threaten the health of other branches or even the trunk of the tree. (Plus, it will be ugly to look at.) You need to step back to the other side of the yard and look at the whole tree and see where it's trying to grow. Then you go in and prune away the dead wood and crossed branches and remove any odd forks that are hindering other, healthy growth. Sure you may have to cut off a couple branches here and there, but you're left with a healthier, happier tree that will live much longer and grow much stronger than an un-pruned tree.

Seriously, go ask an arborist.

OK. My dog is tugging at my leg. Time to go outside and play.

Later, folks.

[gav]

for what it's worth

Hey Jim, as far as I'm concerned you are god on this site. You created, you can do what you like with it. If someone doesn't like your decision, well they can spend a lot of money and time making there own site right. This is in fact the least censored forum that I've been to. There's one I go to that's about foriegners living in Croatia, and they have an automatic censor script that even changes the word penis into thingy ! I tried to ask what was wrong with the word penis, but the admin. didn't even respond. I mean what the hell are you supposed to call it if you can't even call it penis !
Anyway, keep up the good work.
This site has kept me educated and entertained during otherwise boring interludes in my life.
Thanks

[firegirl]

MY TWO (*cough* moreliketwenty*) CENTS

for my own part: while i don't think my posts on that thread were completely on topic, i don't know that they could be read as hurtful to the tone of the thread. at least i hope not. for the record: i made TWO posts to STEVEN (not taxi) regarding an article i read in "SPECTACLE" which reviewed his performance in the latest pickle family circus production this past december in sf. i didn't know he'd been involved/in sf, had the opportunity to see the show & if i'd known he was in it i more than likely would have made more of an effort to go see it. but, as i was involved in another production at the time (with frisbee - who started the thread in the first place) & had a bunch of other things i was trying to balance at the time - i did not. i felt it was worth commenting on to steven - but, didn't feel it was worth creating a whole new thread. i am sorry if it was seen as "cluttering up" what is (and, i agree with jim here) a very poignent thread. that was not my intent. though tangential at best: it was all inter-related to the topic in my chain of thought.

and, my other comments on this thread have all been kid related, performance related or directed to frisbee - who, again - started the thread. and, as i was speaking to him regarding the production we both participated in & my amazement that he was able to balance all the responsibilities he had with his family... i don't think it was wrong to do so.

neither here nor there.

i really enjoy p.net. i have watched as jim has developed it over the past four years & think it's wonderful. i try to balance my being witty, snarky and playful in "blah, blah, blah" with other things which are more resourceful/useful to the forum. or, at least try to start topics about performing as much as i start topics which are just chatter.

i try to have a sense of humor about p.net & never take anything which is said here too personally. i write like an asshole sometimes and i am willing to take the lumps for what i say. i wish that others were able to do the same & didn't feel the need to start self serving threads, whine and finger point all the time.

"She said blahblahblah and didn't get yelled at! Why didn't she get yelled at?"

you know what my mom & dad used to say when one of my brothers or i would try that shit?

WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF.

i think we could all use a good dose of worrying about ourselves here.

anyhow. it's a beautiful day here in sf, too - it also happens to be one of my flat-mate's days of birth & she has requested that for her day of birth we take the dogs for a long romp out by the ocean... so, i'm off.

peace, love and fuzzy bunnies to everyone:
Kate

[Lynneski]

Hmmmm.... maybe I should get a dog ...

I don't think Jim should have to justify his decisions - his house, his rules - though I'm happy he's not arbitrary and spurious.

If you don't like it, you're free to tell your story walking.

Out, out damned Spot.

[jester]

I don't think Jim should have to justify himself, but I am very happy that he is willing to have this dialogue. I am grateful that he answers questions honestly and fairly.

I am very grateful to him for the existence of this site.