Locking threads.....
I appreciate the support from many of you in email, and also here in posts.
It's true that I put a lot of time and thought into posts and read everything that people write- and if I can help, I do... and if I can share, I do that too... I add what I can- even if its only a story, photo, or word of caution based on my own experience. I'm not negative, nor do I use bad language (in posts), or even argue other's "opinions": everyone should have one. It's HOW you express it that has to be watched for.
BUT- respect is also required on the parts of readers towards others, moderators, even myself, who may have something to say, and who watch over the herd. If you don't trust us and our judgement- in this case MY judegment- then there's little use for me here and I should take my bow and leave. And if thats the general wish, that I simply ignore posts and keep quiet, I will do so now.
To the others here who dispute my moves: not to sound stuck up because that's not the intent, but I don't feel I should have to argue my points and explain why I lock or delete a thread at this stage of my involvement over decades in this scene- it isn't out of spite, control lust, or some power trip because I don't like doing it and have better things to do. It's cause I like to avoid negativity because it goes NO where.
Respect is respect- I respect all of you or I wouldn't spend any time here trying to help- but if I or anyone is going to be slammed in some way I might as well not moderate here at all and stick in the Newsgroups (which before I do that, Ticklegal and I will leave the community all together)
It's the part of a moderator to watch over the TMF and do so. To lend his or her knowledge, intent, guidence, and best call. I've been doing it a long time now. I did it with that thread. I locked that thread because it was going downhill- negative narrow attitudes can be kept in the normal newsgroups... now I'm not talking about basic opinions- but when others start to attack me or others in general, or get nasty to some extent (and in this case I had to delete several threads you didn't see) and then tell me (in their INexperience)that I "don't know what I'm talking about", or that I "don't take the time to read the posts"... essentially telling me to shut the hell up... they're out of line- PERIOD.
I put a lot of thought into what I say, and have many years to back me up. No- that doesn't make me right or a genious- but in some cases it does give me an edge, and at least should garnish some trust and respect. In all fairness to ME now- I shouldn't have to earn the same ground over and over and over and over and over just because new people arrive. That's like saying Gearge Washington has to climb out of the grave evefy four years and keep running for President just to be respected and remembered.
Not to be trite, but if everyone who posts badly merely has to cry boo-hoo in order to get their thread back up- the whole point is lost. I don't believe that was the general purpose of the TMF- not from what I was told long ago- but if I'm wrong, and the rules have changed somewhere... if I'm doing a dis-service to the TMF somehow... please correct me, and I'll get out of the way completely because I only want for the best interest of all.