From a moderators point of view:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with folks disageeing...if we all thought the same way in this world there would never be any progress made to make it a better world for all. Nothing wrong with venting here as long as your venting stays within the published rules of the site for discussion boards.
We moderators agreed when we took this responsibility to enforce the published rules as written. I will be the first to admit I have deleted many threads and posts that I totally agreed with and felt the same way about....deleting posts and threads have nothing to do with how I or any of the other moderators feel about the subject at hand...it has to do with that set of rules that are established for the site.
Because of my background (military) and such, I am basically a black and white type of person...I tend to see things as either one way or the other...ie...either the post conforms with the rules or it doesn't. I understand how one can loose their temper once in a while and cut loose....never do that myself....LOL. But, just as in real life, doing so in the cyber world has its repercussions and when you do it here the repercussion is having your post deleted. Repeated offenses will result in temporary banning or permanent banning...this is a judgement call by moderators and the owner of the site.
I can honestly say that the only folks I have banned (and I have banned more folks than any other moderator or the owner)...were banned because they continuously slammed other members, slammed moderators or continuously put up posts with profanity or such not suitable for younger folks to read.
Here are some of the things I know for a fact that we moderators have experienced from deleting posts or banning someone:
1. Threats via email or phone to us and or families.
2. Individual campaigns to try to ruin my business and/or cost another moderator his job.
3. Personal slams via email about our wives, families etc....also some of this on the boards here a few times.
4. Destruction of moderators personal property.
5. Internet stalking.
Not going to go into details...but put yourself in our places and I think you can see why we moderators may sometimes not have a lot of patience for folks that do not obey the rules.
I have no doubt in my mind that most of the folks that come here and participate are great folks...have met and made friends with a number of them. But like anything else in life, there is always that low percentage of folks that live to take advantage of the situation or others. This is why we have to have rules and laws in our society..to keep order among the low percentage whose actions have the greatest impact on the well being of the majority.
Off my soapbox now..gotta go to work in the real world. You guys have a good time here....keep it clean and we can all enjoy life a little more.
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