Madeleine McCann Page 7

Dear All

I'm planning on making this my last post on the Forum. Please indulge me by letting me explain why.

In recent weeks there have been an increasing number of postings that I have personally found offensive, and many of these have been the direct responsibility of one person. The letters AA spring to mind. And then R-O-N. Yes, it's Aaron. Apart from the hideous post in this thread (on which I think Alan Alexander, Jude and others have already posted views that match mine), he is, as far as I know, the only forum member to use the word "Nigger" (at least twice) in a totally casual manner and not in the context of an attempted edgy sketch (like Walker's) without being banned.

Over the months I have tried to contribute my opinions. Other members might disagree with the things I say and I might disagree with them. That's fair enough and makes for healthy debate. But always I have tried to state opinions, and nothing more. For me, matters came to a bit of a head last night when Aaron closed down a thread with a message that basically said he was right, everyone else was wrong and that's the end of the matter. And now, the jokey Madeleine McCann rotting in the garden smiley.

As Aaron is also the administrator, I think it's a bit easier for me to walk away than to get him to abide by forum rules of decency. So, it's been fun for the most part, but now Badge is leaving the building. Good luck to all you writers out there, and I hope the deserving ones are successful.

And finally, to Aaron. You and Mark have created a great website about a great subject. I hope the British Comedy Guide is even better. But it's time for me to totally garble Groucho Marx: being a member of this club is something I no longer want even if you'll still have me.

Noooooooooo! Stay.

Badge, I'm sorry to see you're leaving. Just one thing to point out though - I haven't closed any threads. In fact, I opened a number of closed ones. Another moderator (I shan't say who) thought that I had accidentally opened it, and closed it. I'm all for free speech.

It was me, so please blame me for closing that one. I was unsure as to whether the heat had eased off that debate, so saw that it was reopened and then closed it. Apologies.

Ah Badge, sorry to see you leave. It's a shame you feel the need to go, I think BSG is going through a transition at the moment as it becomes more popular and although I don't agree with Aaron's use of the N word, I feel it's a price you have to pay, if you want a place to speak freely.

I think I have to agree with Badge.

The last time I logged on here, the conversation was completely about comedy, from Steptoe to the I/T. Crowd.... Coming back today, all I see is "big and clever" comments about totally unrelated topics to comedy.

I'm not going to stick up for Aaron at all on this. He tends to speak his mind, but does not go about in the most careful of ways. I think that sometimes he doesn't realise how harsh he actually sounds.

The reason I came back to the board last night was because I was lonely and I wanted to talk about something nice, but all I have seen is one topic about actual comedy. The rest was just mindlessly stupid.

I think the board should be wiped clean completely. All of these stupid topics and petty fights and get back to the basics.

I'm going to go now. Even ban me if you wish, but maybe next time I'll stop by they'll be a chat about comedy and laughter.

I've just come into this and scanned most of the comments without reading some of them too thouroughly so please excuse me if I haven't got all the points.

However I have enjoyed it here and have made and am making some good writing relationships.

There have though been a few thoughless comments thrown in. Maybe we should steer clear of any news items of this kind. I'm sure the parents blame themselves and there's not a lot they can do now except wait. Even if they're meant in a lighthearted way words on a page/screen have a great potential for misunderstanding.

Let's close this one now eh?

She's probably right. But hopefully things will be calming down a lot now, particularly after a certain member was banned earlier on tonight.

This week has shown that the friendly, largely hands-off approach to moderating hasn't worked, and so we're going to be doing exactly what Mark and I never wanted to do; introducing strict rules. Don't worry, we're not going all Nazi on your asses, but we're going to have be as clear as possible as to the conduct expected of the members (and yes that includes ourselves), and create some boundaries.

Pity it's come to this really. If anyone can think of an alternative, then please do PM me with your suggestions.

Now, I shall behave. Pwomise.

To some extent some of the moderators haven't been exactly helpful have they?

I agree, that's why I've asked to be demoted!

Quote: David Chapman @ June 22, 2007, 10:27 PM

To some extent some of the moderators haven't been exactly helpful have they?

View original

Exactly.

Could always vote in a Moderator eh! How about Mr Chapman himself Or Badge to force him too stay.

But that would imply that this is a democracy!

EDIT