OT: Repeating Pattern of Bullying & Locked Threads

[zoocrewphoto]

Wow. I think the pile-on here is disgraceful. It's starting to look like bullying, and no dissent will be tolerated.

Are you kidding?

The OP started a thread, the absolute majority of people do not agree with the OP and are expressing their disagreement. Cripes, a lot of people aren't even necessarily posting about their disagreement with the OP. They're showing their support for Pugsy, who the OP took a shot at.

The disagreement is not being conveyed disrespectfully.

For you to suggest the responses are piling-on, disgraceful and bullying is disingenuous.

Bye.

Have a good day.

Unfortunately, some people think that disagreement means bullying. I wish everybody would stay nice in their comments, but I don't think it gets bad that often. I can't remember if Pugsy was added as a moderator because of alphabet boy or the spam attacks, but it was a good idea, and Pugsy would have been my first choice and probably many people's first choice. She has done a great job.

I remember when I first started going online (back when it was newsgroups, before Netscape). I was taught that you have to have a thick skin. I was also taught yo read posts for a bit before posting, figure out how things go first. I don't think that things are any worse than back then. But people seem to complain a lot more.

[zoocrewphoto]

First off, I'd like to make it clear that I am not making any attacks on our moderator, Pugsy, or how she does her job. She does "exactly what she's asked to do" and does it well, surprisingly at "no cost at all to the owner"! - - I would have thought that for all she does, she would at least be compensated. I think this explains why the ringleader/poster is allowed to get away with being rude to folks like Chalkie, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., prodigyplace or others...because he also "works for free". - - What is the owner of this site going to do, tell him to stop being disrespectful to "his guests" or he's "not going to allow him to contribute here for free anymore!?!?!" I don't think that will ever happen which is why this "pattern of locked threads" has been allowed to go on for many years; AND I ONLY KNOW THAT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MANY YEARS BY TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS HERE FOR MANY YEARS.

I have been here since 2012. Very few threads locked. And for a long time, we had no moderator at all. Just the owner, who doesn't read here daily, so you had to complain to them and hope to get a response. Has it even been a year with Pugsy as moderator? I really don't see this pattern you complain about.

[kteague]

I'm able to sit on work emails that I've written when I'm pissed off. Maybe the forum could add a "save as draft" feature for people like me.

There is a "Save As Draft" option when composing a post. Thanks for the reminder to consider using it! I've done a whole lot of erasing in the years I've been here, but there have been a handful of times a cooling off period might have left me feeling better about what I'd said or not said. As to locked threads, I've been here 13 years and can remember maybe 3 until recent months. KnightSleeper, I'm sorry you were misinformed. If someone told you there was a pattern of locked threads going on for five years, they gave you misinformation as to the timeline.

[Barbee]

First off, I'd like to make it clear that I am not making any attacks on our moderator, Pugsy, or how she does her job. She does "exactly what she's asked to do" and does it well, surprisingly at "no cost at all to the owner"! - - I would have thought that for all she does, she would at least be compensated. I think this explains why the ringleader/poster is allowed to get away with being rude to folks like Chalkie, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., prodigyplace or others...because he also "works for free". - - What is the owner of this site going to do, tell him to stop being disrespectful to "his guests" or he's "not going to allow him to contribute here for free anymore!?!?!" I don't think that will ever happen which is why this "pattern of locked threads" has been allowed to go on for many years; AND I ONLY KNOW THAT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MANY YEARS BY TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS HERE FOR MANY YEARS.

I have been here since 2012. Very few threads locked. And for a long time, we had no moderator at all. Just the owner, who doesn't read here daily, so you had to complain to them and hope to get a response. Has it even been a year with Pugsy as moderator? I really don't see this pattern you complain about.

I’ve been here about a year and a half. Pugsy was the moderator when I joined. And I was brand new when the spam attacks started. I don’t see a pattern of locked threads either.

And for the record, I am not “friends” or “in a clique” with anyone on this board. I bought a used machine off LSAT awhile back and we had to private message to make the transaction. Another member sent me a private message once to clarify something that was said on the board. And thats the extent of my interaction with members here. So, I think I could be considered unbiased in seeing the situation for what it is.

I simply do not agree with the OP. In fact, the last thread that was locked was due to the OP of this thread refusing to get back on topic after being asked by the moderator.

[katestyles]

I was going to post, but decided to stick to my better nature and seeing as I cannot say anything nice, I am not going to say anything

[Pugsy]

I was asked to be a moderator prior to the spam bot attacks by a few months. I don't remember the exact time frame.
I am an old woman and my memory is far from perfect as some people are so "kind" to point out.

FWIW, which I know isn't much in some people's eyes....a little digging has been done as best I could do within the time constraints of watching this forum and having a life outside the forum too...and what Chalkie went off on in his thread which seems to have started this last mess, was a threat to his life, was Chalkie misinterpreting what someone said in jest to someone else...a comment that wasn't even directed to Chalkie in the first place. A comment made months and months ago which upset him that has apparently festered for quite some time. I didn't, and still don't, interpret that comment and the few others that happened back then by others and not just by PR either...as any sort of personal attack on anyone's life. Simply a case of someone reading something into what was said that really wasn't intended as being that sort of comment. Happens all the time and I can't do anything about how someone interprets something. None of us does a very good job at mind reading and understanding what someone might really mean with their comments.
No threat was ever made...no matter how Chalkie wants to interpret it. Simply didn't happen...so all the subsequent discussion about why nothing was done about the alledged thread means absolutely nothing. There was nothing said that warranted any action in the first place. I know Chalkie doesn't feel that way and for that I am sorry but there was simply no threat to disembowel him ever made.
So there was nothing said for me to slap anyone's hands about.

Yes...PR speaks bluntly sometimes...but he's not the only one. Far from being the only one who swings a big 2 x 4 when they talk.
If everyone who spoke bluntly (or rudely in anyone's eyes) got their hands slapped every time they did it....all I would be doing is wearing out rulers slapping people's hands all day. I wouldn't have time to really help anyone. There are at least a dozen other long time forum members who talk the same way.....where do a draw the line???

The answer is I don't draw the line...Johnny does or has in the past by allowing people to speak bluntly.

This thread seems to be heading in the direction of "let's bash so and so" " because we don't like how they talk"....no longer a discussion about my inability to remember how many threads I actually have locked in the last few months.
It's leaning towards "personal attacks" now....and that's off topic and not allowed anyway. Get back on topic please and stop with the personal attack type of comments.

Johnny has made it pretty clear who he will allow to play in his sandbox....if you guys don't like who gets to play in his sandbox....go find another sandbox to play in. Quit your bitching...because it won't change anything and all it does is promote nasty discord and we all know what happens once that occurs.

You guys doing the bitching...are causing more discord and nastiness than any blunt 2 x 4 talk has ever caused.
But Johnny lets you play in his sandbox too...remember that fact. You are part of the problem...not part of the solution. I know you don't see it that way but that's the way it is. Your hands aren't mud free either.

[Morbius]

I'm more interested in hearing from people who are new members or older members who don't post very often.

If you think it's bad now you should have been around before Pug-z was made moderator. I would like to think that as one of my last contributions to the board that I helped to establish that (it was kind of in a roundabout way, but the end justifies the means).

Maybe there's still some room for improvement, but hey, rubber-glue works too.

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

/snip

I'm more interested in hearing from people who are new members or older members who don't post very often.

In that sentence above, I am the person you want to hear from. Relatively new, but older than some, and don't post often.

Here's my take on it: In my short 41 years on this planet, I have learned that there are people who cut against the grain. I have learned that there are people who cut against MY grain. I have learned that I will not always agree with every person on whichever topic is currently being discussed. I have learned that time is short, anger is long, and in the end, we meet our fate together. I have learned that those people have a reason to exist, just as you or I do, or the Stars in the night sky for that matter. I have learned that if I am in a place that is vexatious to my soul, I leave. I have learned that if I cannot leave, then it is not necessarily incumbent upon me to change that person or the circumstances surrounding them. I have learned that perhaps there is a reason for snarky attitudes that I may not understand or comprehend. I have learned that to attain the skill of ignoring the wisps of ignorance, pervasive that it may be sometimes, is very difficult, but absolutely attainable for those that want it.

I have learned that my opinion may not be the "correct" one, no matter how much I believe it to be so. I have learned that revenge is best served cold, but humility is best served hot. I have learned that when my ears burn and I flush rosy red, then I have probably done something to earn that, but I should also use that as a tool to further develop my learning ability. Above all, I have learned to be discerning in my Judgement, for I am not God, a God, or any semblance thereof, I am merely a mortal human man, and imperfect as I may be, I strive to attain noble goals and honorable demeanor. This, however, does not mean that it is my place to rule others under those same conditions, for that is not fair practice, as we are, one and all, different beings with diverging thoughts, believes, structural values and life lessons.

Edit: There is a time and place for righteous indignation at a perceived thing, but the internet is not that place. I understand that there are horrible people that sometimes pervade this digital playground, but it is one of the last bastions of freedom of thought and speech that we have left. If we were to police the internet beyond reasonable means of policing abject threats and actual crimes, then we silence a great many people. People are allowed to be who they are here, for better or for worse. Will some be "toxic"? Most assuredly. Does that mean that we should wrap their mouth in duct tape and banish them to the realm of the corner of the room? Absolutely not. Even the most acidic thoughts have their redeeming qualities. I for one am willing to put up with any measure of "bad behavior" if the information that I came here to receive is good information, because in the end, the opinions of any person on things other than actual sleep apnea treatment are not my concern.

I very deliberately have not a single soul on my Foe list, for the very reason that I WANT to be exposed to information that may take me out of my comfort zone. This is the way of internal learning. Hell, most of us really don't even know who we ourselves are intimately, let alone anyone else.

[Whale Road]

I'm more interested in hearing from people who are new members or older members who don't post very often.

My understanding is the forum is here to help CPAPers not to entertain the bored.

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

I'm more interested in hearing from people who are new members or older members who don't post very often.

My understanding is the forum is here to help CPAPers not to entertain the bored.

And where do you draw the distinction? Is that your choice or someone else's? If not, then who makes the choice on what is entertaining and what is not? Is it my understanding that if someone were here and commenting, and it wasn't pursuant to CPAP advice congruent to your belief, you would advocate them be handcuffed and lead from the premises under armed guard?

Two things can be true at once, and this forum does not exist in a vacuum.

[Whale Road]

you would advocate them be handcuffed and lead from the premises under armed guard?

Silly.

[ChicagoGranny]

The forum can be very entertaining at times. Personally, a little entertainment amid all the suffering is needed.

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

you would advocate them be handcuffed and lead from the premises under armed guard?

Silly.

Metaphor.

What's your answer?

[chunkyfrog]

Sometimes we have to laugh when we can do nothing else.
Laughter, like tears, cleanses the spirit.
Anger only produces more tension, more pain.
It is unproductive.

[Dog Slobber]

Wow. I think the pile-on here is disgraceful. It's starting to look like bullying, and no dissent will be tolerated.

Are you kidding?

The OP started a thread, the absolute majority of people do not agree with the OP and are expressing their disagreement. Cripes, a lot of people aren't even necessarily posting about their disagreement with the OP. They're showing their support for Pugsy, who the OP took a shot at.

The disagreement is not being conveyed disrespectfully.

For you to suggest the responses are piling-on, disgraceful and bullying is disingenuous.

Bye.

Have a good day.

Above is the post I made, unedited and in its entirety.

And I'd like to thank Steve of Cornubia who stated the obvious: "Wow. I think the pile-on here is disgraceful. It's starting to look like bullying, and no dissent will be tolerated. -Bye." - - - Of course then one "low-life-member" of the gang quickly tried to put Steve in his place for fostering such an idea!!!

Above is how KnightSleeper represented me and and the post I made.

I encourage everyone to judge for themselves the honesty and integrity of KnightSleeper.