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Same thing again 8 pages of the same 10 or 12 users saying the same old crap and pounding down on one user.

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Not everyone who voted has an agenda.  At the very least, I voted we should do something and I have no agenda.

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Quoting IronWaffle:

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Not everyone who voted has an agenda.  At the very least, I voted we should do something and I have no agenda.

Most of us have an agenda.  It's just not dirty and underhanded like some think.  For myself, I just want to see the fighting stop, old member returns, new people not chased off, etc.  That's my agenda.

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10 pages should be more than enough evidence that nothing will change and Invelos is simply waiting for this thing to eventually die down to a low rumble, as has been done for the last 10 years.

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Quoting Prof. Kingsfield:

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Quoting DoubleDownAgain:

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You say that you have my reviewed my posts and it appears that you still think they contain 'Personal Attacks', but then you go on to describe them as 'Respectful'?  I'll agree to the latter, I've tried to discuss what you posted, not you directly because like you said I don't know you.  I think you are reading into what I have posted a bit too much.  I've been a member for a long time but never posted until recently, but I've been lurking for years.  So while my posts may be new to you, I've seen yours for quite awhile.

I don't know that I would necessarily call them attacks, Double. But for someone like yourself and with out trying to insult, I think they are at the very least confrontational, paticularly since you have very limtted information upon which to make any kind of jdgement, let alon one that will anywhere near valid.

I don't think they're attacks either, Skip, and I do think that DoubleDownAgain has been sincere and as objective as a person can be in his comments.  That's not to say that his comments are perfect, but I do believe they are open, well-intended and minimally judgmental (on all sides).

As to his status as a poster and having limited information upon which to make judgments, I think that's debatable.  Like him, I've lurked on these boards for ages.  I made a small handful of contributions back in the InterVocative days (remember when only two contributors were listed and when crew meant Director?).  I remember your then-name "skipnet50" (if I remember right) on tons of contributions.  Accurately or otherwise, I have long seen you as one of the people that has helped make some aspects of this program much more sophisticated.  That's valuable, and to one degree or another I am therefore indebted to you and would not apologize to anyone for that. 

Regarding our own interactions, you responded briefly to one post I made a few days ago.  A couple years back I had a simple question and you were very helpful and PM'd me a response.  Since PMs cycle out, of course, I can't look it up to give a specific.  I appreciated the help and I thanked you in kind.

I'd say I check the "today's activity" in the forums compulsively several times a day (Note to Ken:  that's how badly I want the iPhone app).  I see all manner of behavior.  There are folks on here whose tones I don't approve of -- some of them are those who you perhaps correctly say are "against you" and some are "for you" and, truthfully, some ARE you.  Since I'm on the sidelines, though, I feel like I'm watching a bit through a telescope.  I don't memorize avatars, I don't memorize nicks/handles/whatever.  I've sometimes found myself wildly disagreeing with a statement and then wondering if this person is one I often disagree with.  In the real world I'm pretty worn out from judgmentalism -- my own and others'.

Such is such.

I've been troubled for the last few days, though, as all this bubbles over.  As I see it, I come from a similar place as DoubleDownAgain -- I've been around, but not in the fray.  It's' a personal choice, but I prefer it that way.  That said, I'm not in the dark.  I'm a fully functioning adult with pretty strong perception.  In the real world I'm generally seen as middle-of-the-road and open-minded.  Maybe those people are kidding themselves -- that's for me and my shrink to work out.  (Insert some sort of smiley there). 

Why does any of this matter here? 

Well, I want to make a comment on this matter.  I'm not in any camp, I have limited stake.  At the same time, I don't want to be misunderstood:  my motive is simply because this is on my mind.  A sharp response from you (or anyone here) will likely not get much response from me because, well... to quote a favorite Dylan tune:  "I hurt easy, I just don't show it / you could hurt someone and not even know it."

Skip, some of the people on here really aren't on any sides.  I'm not the only one.  Some of us -- maybe many -- are such habitual lurkers that we don't even know there are others around.  I don't know.  What I do know (or believe,  I suppose) is that some of the criticism that seems pointed at you is pointed at a number of posters.  Yes, you are a focal point, but perhaps because you respond vocally and a touch reflexively.  Sometimes your words -- whether you are right or wrong -- are abraisive.  You may not mean to be hurtful or condescending, but what you imply and what others infer are two separate things.  They are just as right in their minds as you are in yours.  When they sense they are being devalued, of course they may respond with hostility.  It's kind of how we're wired. 


There are some inconsistencies on all sides of this issue right now.  And while it seems this is about you, it isn't strictly, though through your unyielding tone it is becoming more and more about you on the surface.  I'm a big fan of words.  My only degrees are in the use and appreciation of them.  THe word "moderator" has been thrown around a lot.  Looking at the word it's hard not for me to focus on other variants of said word:  "moderate" and "moderation".  We often say "everything in moderation."  It's so much about neutrality or at least striving towards neutrality.  Lord knows objectivity is a goal, not a state of mind.  Forget for a moment about double standards -- whichever way they may or may not be directed.  Isn't the point of having a moderator very much to help remind people to be mindful of their tone?  I for one like the idea.  I don't like the idea that because I only have forty-some posts despite my decade using the program (or app, as the kids say these days) I may be devalued.  I'm saddened that some other people who I genuinely believe mean well are now appearing because we want to avoid putting more water under the bridge.

To segue out of here before I change my mind and not post this, let me rely on another quote from that same song:  "Lot of water under the bridge, lot of other stuff too. / Don't get up gentlemen, I'm only passing through".

Sorry this went on so long and if I mis-spoke.  I'm resisting the compulsion to edit.  Man, I love to edit.