Date sent: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 18:34:52 -0800
ROJ:
You give no weight to the fact that I am never the INSTIGATOR of these
exchanges.
Whether you're ever an INSTIGATOR is debateable, and
irrelevant. Negative personal comments, regardless of who
started them, will no longer be tolerated on vpFREE.
You also give no consideration to the fact that my replies, including
the last one, to BM's provocative and insulting posts have been calm
and measured. I have refrained from making the kinds of personal
characterizations that so liberally litter his posts. The only thing I
said in my last post that could possibly be construed as a personal
remark was my statement that Bruno seems to have a particular urge to
respond to and "refute" MY posts. This is obvious and undeniable, and
to simply point that out doesn't seem to me to be the kind of personal
attack you are trying to squelch.
ANY negative personal comments (as perceived by me)
violate vpFREE's new posting guidelines policy, which you
were well aware of, and which I will even handedly enforce.
I also strongly protest your policy of allowing the original insulting
posts to remain on the board, while immediately censoring my REPLIES.
If I see a post linger on the board, I am forced to draw the
conclusion that YOU think it's acceptable, and then I feel compelled
to defend myself.
Protest all you like and draw whatever conclusions you will.
But, as I've told you before, I only delete posts if I'm moving
them to FREEvpFREE or if they are way out of line. I don't
have a problem deciding if a post violates NPC, but I don't
care to play Solomon on whether or not a post should be deleted.
IMO, the NPC policy works to your advantage, and in this
instance your post was the last one before sanctions.
I feel I have a right to respond to criticism (especially since
the personal attack posts often raise some valid issues along with the
flaming). I have noticed a double standard in this regard; I am not
allowed to respond in kind, or even SOMEWHAT in kind. If someone
throws a punch at me, it's generally accepted that I can throw a punch
in return. But not on this board: I apparently can only rub my chin,
say, "Please, may I have another?", and wait for the headmaster (you)
to POSSIBLY admonish my attacker.
You can always respond to criticism impersonally and objectively.
Address the message and don't mention the messenger ... try it
sometime and you might like it, and your group approval rating
would certainly rise.
I would ask you, for the sake of simply decency and fairness, to post
this message on the board and let the consensus of VPFree members
decide whether my reply to Bruno warranted "suspension".
I would bet a lot of money that the consensus would overwhelmingly
support my actions in enforcing the vpFREE posting guidelines, but I
don't have any desire to put it to a test.
OTOH, you're welcome to question any vpFREE policy or my actions
(also, I'm fair game for NPC) when/if you are posting again.
If you are unwilling to do so, then please remove me from the VPFree
list, effective immediately. I do not tolerate being treated unfairly,
and perhaps if I did, my life would be easier. C'est la vie.
You can remove yourself, if you like, although I hope you don't act in
haste and will reconsider. I enjoy your vpFREE participation and hope
you can find your way clear to observe the posting guidelines and
continue as a member.
Best wishes,
Tom Sims
vpFREE Administrator
ยทยทยท
From: vpFREE <vpFREE@Cox.net>
To: Joe Shlabotnik <rockofjello333@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: VPFree censorship/suspension