| Author | Message | ||
     Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
I’ve been pondering this for a while, and it’s time it was said. Once when I was editing an anthology – it may have been New Terrors – someone sent me a story that was technically proficient but thematically objectionable. I rejected it. This was not censorship. The author was free to place it elsewhere (though I haven’t seen it since). It was simply my editorial decision not to have material I deplored in a book that bore my name. I’m going to take the same view of this message board. The Internet is an enormous place, and opinions and attitudes that I feel have no place here can certainly be expressed elsewhere. If I find statements or behaviour on the board objectionable, the poster will be warned. If they persist in the behaviour, they’re unlikely to be welcome here. This will be exactly as arbitrary as I choose it to be. This is my web site, and no place for postings that I feel bring it into disrepute. Let me make clear that I’m not proposing this for discussion. It will happen. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
My thoughts: Albie and a few others on here (me, Zed, Tony, et al) go back to the board's inception, and despite our frequent disputes, we've all been a part of a successful online community. We've welcomed new members with gusto, and seen folk come and go. On the whole, notwithstanding the issues of chavs and Shaun Hutson, we've all managed to remain level-headed, entertained and mutually supportive, regardless of what anyone thinks about the ultimate worth of e-forums (I personally use them because I work, study and write at a computer all day and like a little distraction from that habitual solitude). Now, a few newcomers have joined and have been nothing other than unapologetically rude, such as a guy who made racist jokes about Welsh people. I warned him (not least because we have some valued Welsh members here); he didn't respond to this reply for decency. So I banned him. He's the only one. I'm reluctant to do that with Albie because apart from the sticky issues I mentioned above, I believe he's been a valued member of the group. I think Joel once said that one of his guilty pleasures was Albie's posts. When he's on song, he can take the top of your head off. But yes, he can also be a provocative swine. I guess we all can. But - and I mean this only constructively - Albie can be a bit of a provocative swine more often than is good for us all. All of which is why I'm trying to keep him here on pre-existing and rather undemanding terms: respect others, adhere to the protocol we've established, and all's cool. This isn't me being a big nanny; it's me trying to be inclusive. And if that's high-fallutin' talk for a message board with only 50 members, so be it. I like it here, and I'd rather not see it turned into a private club. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.254.171 |
So I wrote "Baby's in the Microwave, Somebody Grab A Plate" - why you always gotta hold that against me?!...  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Well said, Gary. But I totally understand yor stance on this Ramsey; what's said here reflects on you, because it's your gaff, guvnor. | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.21.22.227 |
I'm really rather curious about that story. And I suspect I'm not the only one. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
I think there's a time when we have to realise that no matter how correct we think our opinion to be, if it seems to be upsetting people how we put it accross we should be told about it, or warned, or whatever. To be honest I would rather edit threads and tick people off than kick them off the board, or perhaps even give them so long a period of suspension. I would hate to see Albie go; he's decent, and basically very sensitive indeed. Indeed that's his trigger, sadly. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 67.116.103.241 |
"To be honest I would rather... tick people off [and] kick them off the board, [and definitely] give them so long a period of suspension [they hurt]. I... hate... Albie... he's [in]decent, and basically very [in]sensitive.... Indeed... h[e']s trigger[-happy], sadly." -- Tony  | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.195.236.131 |
>>It was simply my editorial decision not to have material I deplored in a book that bore my name. It must be a struggle not to use the word "censor", Ningauble. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.195.236.131 |
Here's a good resource: http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/censor& | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.195.236.131 |
I abandoned my family and friends because they bored me. You think banning me will hurt me? I'll ban myself. Bye. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
Center Parks? | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
Does this mean Joel's coming back? | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
I never read the thread that caused this bother (I am trying to avoid discussions of chavs now - it will have been about them, won't it?) so won't be shocked that emotions have reached yet another crescendo, with folk failing to be calm and remembering one another's qualities, some more than others. It's very sad, but, you know, I'm not gonna worry any more. I have enough. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
>>>with folk failing to be calm and remembering one another's qualities We all have such moments, Tony. Only human. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Indeed. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
Yeah, and I'm guilty of it myself. Thing is, I used to often feel like i grated on joel and vice-versa, but came to realise that he is a rounded figure and one that can change his mind about things, and even say sorry. I actually learned a lot from him, I hope. Sometimes Albie seems to find this tough to do - something that it hurts me to say because he can be a great ally when he feels you might be feeling the underdog. | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 91.108.102.57 |
Did I miss something exciting??? I've been too busy building websites to call in for a while. I'll tell you what I did, perhaps that will help. I purposely verbally attacked somebody on this board once, to try and get thrown off because I didn't have the heart to leave. My husband had left, so I felt unable to remain a member. I bitterly regret that childish behaviour now, I let down everyone here, and paricularly mr Ramsey whose board it is. Worst of all I let myself down. I'm really happy to have been given another chance, and to be welcomed back, which just goes to show there's some very super folk here. The problem is, of course, that we're just human, and when the right buttons are pushed all thought of netiquette goes out of the window, as maybe speaking rationally would in a real life argument. Perhaps a members only thread simply for the purpose of working out these clashes would be good. That way we don't wash our dirty laundry in public, or shame anybody into going away. I don't think it's censorship to have a private area, many boards have them, for whatever purpose, because everyone has areas they'd rather not discuss with the rest of the world looking on. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.114.136 |
Coral - I've been deliberately horrible (or snappy) before in order to get kicked off. I think I am addicted to the net and want to be away from it, and can't bear to be, so lash out. It's subconscious, but I think it's what it is. I'm glad you've said this. even now i should be getting my kids out of bed and ready for school. What a sensible post. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
 | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 91.111.15.234 |
Wow, thanks Tony, I said something sensible? Well, there's a first time for everything, hee hee, but Zed appears to be rolling his eyes. No fair Gary, I'm trying. And don't say "yes,very" ;) |