New forum software

I'm just completely floored by this, even more so than by the notion that someone would buy a well-established message board he knows nothing about and start imposing all kinds of rules and changes. Someone shared a PM you sent them so you banned them? What kind of arbitrary BS is that? You send someone a PM, it's theirs to do with it what they want.

 

I am not sure of the poster, but if it is who I think he is, I thought he asked for his account to be deleted, even before the software change. When that was refused, his behavior might have been akin to "suicide by cop" or, in this case, arguing with the new sheriff in town before we'd really gotten to know him.

Agreed, the banned poster is a loss for the site. Always liked his posts. But I think he's been posting far less for a long time, and I don't think this can be all pinned on the new sheriff. There was no talking the poster off the ledge in this case, from what I think I saw.

 

Yeah, I wasn't sure if he was serious about deleting his account for not being able to edit posts, but he didn't seem to have any desire to stick around anyway. But I think the explanations have been a little unsettling about people being suspended/banned. I disagree with copperpot on the issue of sending others those PMs. Seems uncool to me, but it's a little harsh to ban someone for it, whether he was planning to stay or not.

 

I used the term that seems to be at the heart of this because it was funny, and was punished. That poster and I scrapped often but we tolerated each other and even though I think his opinions on rap stink, he brings plenty to the table. I'm one of many who has a tendency to cut deep with the pen-knife but as I told Jeff in the PM explaining myself and why I disagreed with the ban, this is who we are sometimes, we play hard. We also talk in private and look out for each other. I feel bad if my using the phrase caused another ban. I guess it's true that hard blue font doesn't always translate well here. Sure, he is arrogant. So am I. So are many posters with whom I love to engage and communicate here. I apologized to Jeff, and I hope the poster we're talking about accepts my apology for taking something he shared in private and using it in a post. Come back, Vers.

 

Agree with all the others.
He's been one of our best posters for years.

 

I always read his posts in the voice of Jackie Chiles.

 

Guys, guys ... it's just a message board.

 

Jeff, this message board used to be filled with great writers, national writers and other great posters, but they were all driven off by a group of posters, less than 10 I would say, just turning this site into their own personal place on the internet to throw shit, harass people, out people and make vague threats to out people. Ironically, some of them had never been paid a cent to have a written word of theirs published.

If this place can be returned to where it once was, I think you are going in the right direction. You might not get it right every time when it comes to discipline, but just because you might have missed once, it does not mean that you should stop.

If you have the posting history from the old site, use it as a reference.

Best of luck.

 

They left of their own volition. It'd be cool if they returned but 2015 will arrive 15 hours or so -- can we put that "2 OR 3 KNUCKLEHEADS DROVE THEM AWAY!!11!! meme to bed?

 

I took the train from Trenton to D.C. to watch Randy Johnson go for 300 at Nats Park. Sonner showed up and one of the other mods, can't remember.

Just my luck: it poured all bloody afternoon into evening. They rescheduled for the next day but I had a paper to put out -- but 4 of us scarfed nachos in one of the Nats eateries before parting ways. Cool experience considering. And if memory serves correct, I spent the next 8 hours with Mikey, walking the streets of D.C. and partaking in activities such as sprinting across the interstate at midnight.

I'll be in D.C. in a few weeks for a few nights. I hear that John Wall can play the basketball. Maybe heyabbott will buy me a ticket. Can't be more than 8 or 10 bucks, right?