I had also weighed several options... Stop posting reviews, or stop posting at all and leave the board. But I came to the conclusion that if I did either, than the trolls have won. Their agenda was to harrass those that they were jealous and envious of and anyone else who defended the ones they attacked.
I've also exchanged emails with Michael, and I get the definite impression that this last little "war" pushed him to his limits, and I think things are going to be significantly different around here. Let's give him some support and encouragement to keep the vigil up for the long haul.
So I refuse to give the trolls the satisfaction of seeing me leave or alter my style. I hope we all will keep doing what we've been doing and also hold true to the boycott when one of the naysayers try to suck us into a flame war. If we do that, they'll be the ones to lose, and with nobody rising to their bait, they'll eventually find some other place to fish.
sometimes it's easier to do more harm than good, to do more wrong than right, because it's the EASIER thing to do ... just like it's easier to cut down the whole tree instead of pruning the bad branches (if that's too cryptic, substitute thread for "tree" and post for "branch") ... but then who said the Moderator's job was an easy one
you say you're NOT AsianFan's "cyber-buddy" and that your just cracking down when you perceive things to be getting out of hand. others say that you're actually a "nice guy" who doesn't wanna be any part of this. be that as it may, i put it to you that AsianFan (aka Holly Follower, etc) could not possibly have a BETTER friend on this board than you
it seems to have become a pattern of sorts that his muck-raking shit-starting threads seem to have a conveniently short life-span. in effect, he's allowed to launch baseless accusations (with the help of his stooges), besmirch senior hobbyists, crudely insult providers and before anyone has really had a chance to clear his/her/other's names, you step in and delete the entire thread (instead of just of the offending messages). i recall very precisely that the majority of the people in the previous thread(s) kept a civil tongue in accordance with your rules. they were just trying to defend themselves. but then those rules apparently changed
and speaking of those changes, for anyone who's thinking of complaining to Staff/GND about any of this, let me save you the trouble: don't even bother it won't do any good. Asian Fan was allowed to steal my handle, perpetrate identity theft, put words in my mouth (and a few other stunts i won't mention) and the most the powers that be could come up with in punitive measures was: "keep him under moderation" (which he was to begin with). so naturally now he's bolstered by the knowledge that he can get away with these stunts forever
if this is the status-quo we're stuck with, then i say these moderation guidelines (as currently exercised on this board) need to change and adapt
*
you have it in your power to delete this post and moderate me as well. i'm sure it's what Asian Fan would most like (whether what he wants and what you want are the same thing or not)
and less TER.
TER readers in general are quite smart. With regard to those who can't distinguish the contributors from the trolls, why bother explaining your viewpoints to them?
Happy hobbying.
-- Modified on 11/26/2003 10:31:08 AM
yes, more hobbying it shall be ... but no, a sizeable % of TER posters are in fact Stupid (with a kapitol S) and recent events have brought me to a poignant crossroad which i'm sure many a TER hobbyist before me has come across: whether to serve your fellow man or to say the hell with him, in fact screw him! ... well, i've decided i'd rather say screw him than suffer grief for thinking otherwise. that's why i will most likely NOT be posting any more reviews or helping people on the boards in any way (only in backchannel and then only to a select group)
the only reason i can now muster up for posting a review is to help a girl i like with her business (yes, call it shilling, from now on i shan't care). why should people who i don't care for (and those who contribute nothing to this community) benefit from my costly experiences in the hobby? just because they paid their $20/month membership??? i don't THINK so! let them shell out their own hard-earned $$$$$$$ and find out the hard way (god only knows, i will be LAUGHING when they post about how they got ripped off)
yes, singleton is turning a new leaf ... different from what you all know (others might say a bit closer to who the REAL me is)
-- Modified on 11/26/2003 4:21:00 PM
Singleton, although Michael sent me a very courteous PM when I complained about this same "person", I sympathize..and tend to agree...with your comments. I'll leave it to Michael to explain his position, but allow me to add one thing:
The DANGER in allowing Trolls to remain on the board is the harm they can do to people (both hobbyists and providers) who are not regular readers. Many people have just discovered TER (and the rest) and are totally unaware of the pattern of abuse that a Troll like Asian Fan/Holly Follower leaves. They read the Trolls posts and assume (since he/she/it is allowed to continue to post) that their slanders are credible. Do Trolls cause damage? Yes!
As noted, "Senior" hobbyists and well-spoken providers can defend themselves (though they really shouldn't need to in these regards). However it is the casual member who is often hurt. How? MISINFORMATION and downright LIES.
While some forum members refuse to post "Reviews" for various personal reasons, it is by the Reviews that Hobbyists keep themselves out of bad situations. People who post Reviews are credible. People who do not post reviews must Establish credibility to have value. That can be done by rational dialogue and honest questions. I realize that some may disagree with this statement, but when someone posts numerous critical and insulting comments on this forum...but cannot "document" a single "encounter" or otherwise share knowledge of the Hobby, everyone is hurt. The value of the forum, and ultimately of TER itself, is diminished.
Anyone can write something they later wish they hadn't. However, when an individual exhibits a pattern of abusive posts, they should be suspended from the forum until they can control themselves.
The reason many members use these forums is to Educate ourselves and protect ourselves from bad experiences. When Trolls are allowed to run wild, everyone suffers.
Enjoy the Holidays Everyone,
Humboldt
of more than 50K (including hotels and traveling expenses). Many of them are going to be the ladies' 1st or 2nd reviews.
Then again, even though I have done more than my fair shares of checking out new talents, I did benefit from other reviewers' sharing. I am just going to look up to the good and forget about the bad.
I do have to admit that from what I observed in recent months, more and more veteran reviewers are thinking your way 
-- Modified on 11/26/2003 3:30:52 PM
Sigleton,
I'm a bottom feeder in this hobby....always silently lurking, and I've enjoyed and benefitted from your wisdom on many occasions. I hate to lose that, but Ya gadda dooo whatcha gadda doo.
I had also weighed several options... Stop posting reviews, or stop posting at all and leave the board. But I came to the conclusion that if I did either, than the trolls have won. Their agenda was to harrass those that they were jealous and envious of and anyone else who defended the ones they attacked.
I've also exchanged emails with Michael, and I get the definite impression that this last little "war" pushed him to his limits, and I think things are going to be significantly different around here. Let's give him some support and encouragement to keep the vigil up for the long haul.
So I refuse to give the trolls the satisfaction of seeing me leave or alter my style. I hope we all will keep doing what we've been doing and also hold true to the boycott when one of the naysayers try to suck us into a flame war. If we do that, they'll be the ones to lose, and with nobody rising to their bait, they'll eventually find some other place to fish.
I know I'm not a credible source to any of your standards since I have never seen a provider. That's simply for one reason...I'm in college and I can't afford them. Plain and simple. Hopefully sooner than later I will. I think that just by posting messages about these so called "Trolls," whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. That in fact, you're giving them gratitude and satisfaction by just contributing part of the active board to them. Why don't you just ignore them? Like you're already mentioned. Why continue to post about about them?I like to read this board just to hear the news that's being posted. Not for its conflict. I can go many other places to find that.
On a different topic, did anyone see Julie Meadows when she was in NYC two weeks ago?
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading.
in what one tried to say. For those who constantly casted doubt about the good intentions of others and for those who couldn't distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, ultimately it is their loss.
We I think this board along with most of the others on TER have lost there integrity with too much moderation. Along with the ever changing rules of what can and cant be posted. I for along time have thought that these boards where to exchange information from all sides of the table. Now i think there more just to bullshit.
I find it annoying that the ladies are censored as to there posting amounts for certain topics such as appearences and where there at. Or that we are also censored. I personally dont think anything on here should be censored unless its personal info. Or its something that is a total flame.
I have posted stuff in the past that could of helped people and its never been posted. I also know some ladies that have dont the same thing.
So all in all i wish that the moderators would really take more of a back seat and let the grownups play. If its something thats of the personal nature or an out and out attack I can understand moderating it. But other wise where all grown ups and let us play.
Kinda like Ed does in the PSE group.
John