| Yeah, some threads have "disappeared" and for various reasons. About two? weeks ago while in a private chat, TM asked Thevor and I if we minded terribly if the "Comebacker" forum were moved into the "general" area. The reasoning was that there had not been a lot of recent activity and apparently multiple forums were eating up webspace. Being the reasonable guys we are, we agreed; after all, WE aren't paying for the webspace.
At the same time some other forums were relocated (Monette and others); this was done for similar reasons and that is all explained in general terms on the "front page".
When I got back from a 5 day ski vacation Thursday I was surprised to see that TM had taken "unofficial retirement". I knew that he(?) was upset with efforts to dig out his real identity but hadn't realized HOW upset he was. I saw the message posted by "administrator" in which this was also explained as well as the removal or relocation of TM's posts or threads. I believe this explains MOST of the other disappearances.
Of course, we are aware of the "spider" problem and elimination of that thread.
I can't disagree that there is a form of censorship; on the other hand the rules of society that we be civil, (except in the Cage...and even there we should be "treating others as we would be treated ourselves"), that we don't "go trolling" for flame wars, that we don't use multiple identities to "whipsaw" someone, etc. should be clearly understood by all. As Uncle Albert says, it is unlikely that there will ever be a "panel" in which either there aren't any "flame wars" OR where there isn't any type of censorship (I like to think of them as common sense rules for civilized behaviour). (Of course there "ain't nothin' as uncommon as common sense"!)
TM set up the website aiming for a higher quality of discussion about trumpet-related matters than what is commonly seen in other sites: so far his goals have been realized (waiting for Larry or Noel to come up with another of their gems!). It is unfortunate that at times it is necessary to "ban" someone, remove non-constructive posts, etc. However, the alternative seems to be the "Lord of the Flies" approach that we've seen elsewhere; and Heaven knows there are enough websites around with that kind of approach!
Now, with respect to any "dedicated" forums for manufacturers, I agree that there are some brands who may use "their" forum as "Madison Avenue Copy" outlets. Great...if you don't want to read it, don't go into those forums! If you do want to really discuss those horns and find that the moderator of that forum won't let you speak your mind without jumping on your case, bring it OUT of that forum into one where a non-representative is the moderator. Just keep it polite and all will be happy. Start getting "off topic" or flamebaiting and watch it get hustled into the Steel Cage. That's not censorship; that's simply making certain that the website remains a place where youth and those who have very high ideals of decency are still welcome without being made to feel uncomfortable or without diminishing a degree of respect for serious trumpet players. |