Censorship

[alan refail]

Since having a thread I started ("Compost kilometres") removed last Friday, and receiving a "board warning" (reasons unspecified other than " numerous complaints about the bickering that is going on between certain members of the forum") from KGAdmin, I have not posted anything on the forum.
Now another thread is summarily locked with the comment: "There have been rather too many "interesting discussions" on the forum lately, so lets stick to gardening for a while please." May I quote the subtitle from General Chatter? It reads: "A place to chat about anything you like, including non-gardening related subjects. Just keep it clean, please!"
That contradicts Peter's suggestion locking the thread referred to above:
"There have been rather too many "interesting discussions" on the forum lately, so lets stick to gardening for a while please."
viewtopic.php?p=86294#p86294

If you want to ban me from the forum for posting this, then so be it. The forum surely has room for the serious as well as the light-hearted. If the forum loses Johnboy, who has, like me, not posted anything since warnings went out, it will have said goodbye to a fount of gardening wisdom stretching back over more than sixty years. What a pity that would be.

Alan

[peter]

There are two sides to every discussion, a lot of users have stayed away because of, or complained about the amount of heavyweight semi-political threads recently and some of these threads have become rather heated in their language.
No one has been banned, as for censorship please remember this forum is moderated, which means sometimes trying to steer it a bit, so please note my previous comments careful use of words.

[Parsons Jack]

Hi Alan,

It would indeed be a shame if Johnboy and yourself stopped posting on the forum. You both have a lifetime of knowledge to impart.
The problem with these other discussions ( as I see it from a personal point of view ), is that there are a few people each with their own heavy weight ideas on GM, Organics, Climate Change etc, and none of these people will ever accept the others view. Anybody can link to all sorts of what they consider proof, only for somebody else to link to all sorts of proof of the opposite. It then goes round and around in circles with the same few members getting hot under the collar and nobody gets anywhere.

Personally, I find it gets a bit tedious and takes away some of the enjoyment of the forum.

[Nature's Babe]

I agree with PJ, the thread that was locked was started by me I had posted it hoping to get some ideas from others how to adapt planting to changing climate and the thread turned into something else, I diidn't react and tried to return the thread to the subject of plants but then Peter shut down the thread which I guess we should respect as he is moderator. I feel key to getting along is tolerance of one anothers different ideas and not getting personal or too vociferous. and respecting the mods view of what's occurring.

[glallotments]

I must admit to being one put off by the heavyweight discussions and how some innocent threads can become rather wordy and preachy.
However some people like a good 'argument' so maybe another section for serious discussion could be created so that those who want to get into such types of levels of discussion can.

[Nature's Babe]

A good suggestion Gallotments, actually it struck me yesterday that there is no specific place here for members suggestions, or have I missed it?

[Shallot Man]

Can I concur with Parsons Jack.

[oldherbaceous]

I think most people know my thoughts on this matter, from my couple of postings the other week.

But the last thing that i would want, and i'm sure i can speeak for all of the other members is, to lose ANY members from the forum especially the long standing ones, over this matter.

Although something had to be done with the way the forum was moving, now it has, nothing would please me more than to move forward and start afresh.

I'm hoping this will be a little like when things got heated on some of the big building sites, a few fists were thrown, then we all went down the pub for a pint as if nothing had happened, i quite miss those days.

[KGAdmin]

If a few other people like the idea of a "political/heated topic" type area then say so here and we'll consider it.

Please do bear in mind Moderation is a tough job - we are trying to keep the forum fun and informative - and Peter is trying to do just that, under my request.

I would love to jump in about climate too discussion too - I do find it amazing people still insist any warming effect is natural, and 6 billion people and millions of tons of CO'2 per week being pumped into the atmosphere isn't having any effect at all.....

So there is room for these discussions, it might just be we need to put them into a separate area (With big warning signs on !)

KGAdmin

[Parsons Jack]

I think most people know my thoughts on this matter, from my couple of postings the other week.

But the last thing that i would want, and i'm sure i can speeak for all of the other members is, to lose ANY members from the forum especially the long standing ones, over this matter.

Although something had to be done with the way the forum was moving, now it has, nothing would please me more than to move forward and start afresh.

I'm hoping this will be a little like when things got heated on some of the big building sites, a few fists were thrown, then we all went down the pub for a pint as if nothing had happened, i quite miss those days.

Very well said OH

Out of interest, were you known as Old Pugnacious on the building site forum

[Primrose]

Maybe we need a separate section called "The Boxing Ring" ( ) where those people who want to engage in heavyweight or contentious issues can post in there and everybody understands that things may get a little overheated at times.

Moderators of forums do sometimes have a difficult job keeping an equilibrum when people disagree or have violent opposing views so perhaps if a thread starts getting a little contentious, the Moderator could just step in and say "This subject has now been transferred to The Boxing Ring" . Those who want to can continue battling it out there (in a respectful manner hopefully) and those who don't want to get involved can continue unhindered.

I agree that it would be a huge shame if some members of this forum who have a great amount of knowledge and experience and have been helpful to the rest of us on many occasions should feel that this is no longer a place where they want to come.

[peter]

Ok I'm fine with something like the Monty Python sketch "Is this the right room for an argument?

But let's agree the rules first.

Rule 1.
No rude words or phrases.
There are civil and neutral ways to say "you're a nutter and I don't agree with you".

[Parsons Jack]

Ok I'm fine with something like the Monty Python sketch "Is this the right room for an argument?

But let's agree the rules first.

Rule 1.
No rude words or phrases.
There are civil and neutral ways to say "you're a nutter and I don't agree with you".

Would it be a good idea for it to be "Members Only"

[glallotments]

Isn't the whole forum members only?

[Parsons Jack]

Isn't the whole forum members only?

There are usually guests viewing it as well GL.