Dear Friends;
Now that the Season of "Joy" has passed, I feel it necessary to respond to the discussion that my post has created. There have been several things going on here that need to be addressed. I will try and sort it all out.
First, my post was intended to do a few things. First, to express my frustration and disappointment at, what I believed to be, a misuse of our rules, and the poor judgements that were made in various aspects of the situation. Keeping in mind that our Forum is, like NEST, a private party and under no obligation to abide by any of the rules of the US government. To think that a person is exercising their rights of free speech in this Forum is absurd. There is no rights and there should be no rights. This is Jeff's House and he makes the rules. Period. You don't think it's fair? Hit the road. My beef was with the moderation. I felt that Andy's posts were benign in comparison with a member's signature bearing a skinhead with a swatstika. For the record, Krokus has never done anything against me and has always been very respectful in our online dealings. I was shocked when I saw what he posted. Whether it was symbolic or not of the character in the story, you gotta admit it was a ridiculous symbol to use. He has posted an apology and I am cool with that.
I am frustrated and cranky this time of year but I am also fearful of the way that TMF has become a microcosm of the ultra conservative thinking that has underminded my country's original constitutional ideals. To call a longstanding, highly respected member of our community (Daddy) a pedophile simply because his name is "Daddy" is like calling your own father a pedophile for the same reason. Maybe the accusors need to look at their own closets.
I never intended to leave the TK Community. I never stated that. I merely intended to leave the TMF because it was starting to get like all the other groups we had, ASFT, AMT and the others. The reason is simple. People on the internet are rarely held accountable for their actions and words. That guy who posted that absurd slam of me, after looking up a post I made about 5 years ago is a prime example. It's easy to hit and run on the net. The internet is a forum for cowards. One thing that guy did was remind me that I am not one to f*** with. Furthermore, you don't f*** with my friends either. That is why I ran to Andy's defense. This is real life, not hit and run internet fantasy. It's real feelings. I have them and I am hurt by things I read and pictures I see.
Now, I am seeing other friends of mine hurt by the ripple effect. They are saying "good-bye". Now, I am not hurt. I am not angry. I am motivated. I have not spent half of my life building this Community with a group of incredible people just to see it fall by the careless words and actions of a few. I urge you to reconsider just as I am.
I spoke at length with Jeff on the phone. He has done so much to make this Forum accessible to all of you, and he demands very little. The least all of you could do is exercise some restraint when it comes to comments, content, signatures, criticism. You DON'T have the rights you think you do. It's a private forum and subject to the rules laid down. Also, rules can change.
I am not proposing that the underage rules change. That was never my intention. I am not an advocate on underage posts or discussion. My original post was simply my outrage that a few very non-sexual posts were made and yanked, but a nazi was allowed to stay. To me it was hypocritical.
I do have a suggestion however. Webshots should be treated as private posts, the content and origins should be kept to ourselves for discussion and never leave this forum. If a member attempts to contact anyone from these photos, it should be grounds for an immediate banning and their names should be posted here because, in my opinion, this is a dangerous person. Because of their thoughtless actions, they open us up to our desolution and demise.
We have our own little Shangra-La here and some people get overzealous and think the rest of the world will fall in with their agenda. This is why some of you get called perverts. Leave the Vanilla world alone for chrissake and keep your fantasies to yourself or share them with us.
A female member of NEST once went to my Vanilla job and crossed the line by violating my privacy by bringing TK into the scene. She's history now. This is how it should be here. If mainstream stuff is brought in, let it stay here and don't attempt to contact the people who innocently posted them on their Vanilla sites. You will only make them think twice before post anything else like that again, thus screwing yourself as well as the TMF.
I sympathize with Myriads in the job he does. I could never do it. I would have thrown half of you out already. But I would not be babysitting you either. You wanna participate in an adult forum? Act like one!
I am going to stick around a while. But I think this Forum needs to grow up a little bit. Only you can make that happen. Mods: Do what you do but please use tact. Members: Think before you post. Remember your pix and words can hurt others.
Thanks for letting me talk. Happy New Year.
Max
Now that the Season of "Joy" has passed, I feel it necessary to respond to the discussion that my post has created. There have been several things going on here that need to be addressed. I will try and sort it all out.
First, my post was intended to do a few things. First, to express my frustration and disappointment at, what I believed to be, a misuse of our rules, and the poor judgements that were made in various aspects of the situation. Keeping in mind that our Forum is, like NEST, a private party and under no obligation to abide by any of the rules of the US government. To think that a person is exercising their rights of free speech in this Forum is absurd. There is no rights and there should be no rights. This is Jeff's House and he makes the rules. Period. You don't think it's fair? Hit the road. My beef was with the moderation. I felt that Andy's posts were benign in comparison with a member's signature bearing a skinhead with a swatstika. For the record, Krokus has never done anything against me and has always been very respectful in our online dealings. I was shocked when I saw what he posted. Whether it was symbolic or not of the character in the story, you gotta admit it was a ridiculous symbol to use. He has posted an apology and I am cool with that.
I am frustrated and cranky this time of year but I am also fearful of the way that TMF has become a microcosm of the ultra conservative thinking that has underminded my country's original constitutional ideals. To call a longstanding, highly respected member of our community (Daddy) a pedophile simply because his name is "Daddy" is like calling your own father a pedophile for the same reason. Maybe the accusors need to look at their own closets.
I never intended to leave the TK Community. I never stated that. I merely intended to leave the TMF because it was starting to get like all the other groups we had, ASFT, AMT and the others. The reason is simple. People on the internet are rarely held accountable for their actions and words. That guy who posted that absurd slam of me, after looking up a post I made about 5 years ago is a prime example. It's easy to hit and run on the net. The internet is a forum for cowards. One thing that guy did was remind me that I am not one to f*** with. Furthermore, you don't f*** with my friends either. That is why I ran to Andy's defense. This is real life, not hit and run internet fantasy. It's real feelings. I have them and I am hurt by things I read and pictures I see.
Now, I am seeing other friends of mine hurt by the ripple effect. They are saying "good-bye". Now, I am not hurt. I am not angry. I am motivated. I have not spent half of my life building this Community with a group of incredible people just to see it fall by the careless words and actions of a few. I urge you to reconsider just as I am.
I spoke at length with Jeff on the phone. He has done so much to make this Forum accessible to all of you, and he demands very little. The least all of you could do is exercise some restraint when it comes to comments, content, signatures, criticism. You DON'T have the rights you think you do. It's a private forum and subject to the rules laid down. Also, rules can change.
I am not proposing that the underage rules change. That was never my intention. I am not an advocate on underage posts or discussion. My original post was simply my outrage that a few very non-sexual posts were made and yanked, but a nazi was allowed to stay. To me it was hypocritical.
I do have a suggestion however. Webshots should be treated as private posts, the content and origins should be kept to ourselves for discussion and never leave this forum. If a member attempts to contact anyone from these photos, it should be grounds for an immediate banning and their names should be posted here because, in my opinion, this is a dangerous person. Because of their thoughtless actions, they open us up to our desolution and demise.
We have our own little Shangra-La here and some people get overzealous and think the rest of the world will fall in with their agenda. This is why some of you get called perverts. Leave the Vanilla world alone for chrissake and keep your fantasies to yourself or share them with us.
A female member of NEST once went to my Vanilla job and crossed the line by violating my privacy by bringing TK into the scene. She's history now. This is how it should be here. If mainstream stuff is brought in, let it stay here and don't attempt to contact the people who innocently posted them on their Vanilla sites. You will only make them think twice before post anything else like that again, thus screwing yourself as well as the TMF.
I sympathize with Myriads in the job he does. I could never do it. I would have thrown half of you out already. But I would not be babysitting you either. You wanna participate in an adult forum? Act like one!
I am going to stick around a while. But I think this Forum needs to grow up a little bit. Only you can make that happen. Mods: Do what you do but please use tact. Members: Think before you post. Remember your pix and words can hurt others.
Thanks for letting me talk. Happy New Year.
Max
