I hate to see anyone go but especially James. It always seems we run into eachother on many threads....which to me signifies a pretty common interest in alot of things.
I too took quite some time off. Was getting burned out talking about the same tractor stuff everyday, and going to the "new posts" and not really seeing anything that sparked my interest. Just came back a few months ago so I am not really up to speed on current TBN events, and moderation, and what drove James to hang up his hat. But even then, I rarely venture outside tech forums or things associated with rural living and farming. Those types of discussions are simply not why I am here.
I will say that I agree that an explanation should be given for closing/locking threads, and deleting posts/threads. Often times people say and or do things many times without repercussion....then one day the axe drops and they are left wondering why. Even publicly declaring the offense committed so others learn what is allowed and what isnt.
For starters, alot of us joined many many moons ago. And whether we read the rules or just scrolled past them....who knows. But ask me to cite the rules I may or may not have read over a decade ago....
Then go and update/change the rules. Even if you post a notification....unless it is getting alot of comments and traffic....it quickly falls off of the "new posts" page which is the only page I view.
And lets face it, the rules are not black and white. And anyone that says they are is Naive. Examples:
1.
Insulting members is not allowed. This is a judgment call it seems based on the severity of the insult. Sometimes I see certain things deleted and think dang, a moderator must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Other times I see things remain that leave me dumfounded.
2.
Arguing with other members, heated and unreasonable debate, "beating a dead horse" without any sign of rational thought process. Again, judgment call. I have been in several "debates" that were technical in nature. Sometimes I have seen posts removed, sometimes not. But by very definition....."unreasonable debate" is an opinion in the eye of the beholder. And beating a dead horse.....would pallets in the field or a rounded drain plug qualify as a dead horse?
3.
Profanity. I am not a fan of the rule. I type how I talk. And I am an adult, not a kindergartener. Sure....I am not for droping F-bombs left and right....but just what constitutes profanity? Or concealing it? There is profanity in this VERY thread as I just read through it. I often see @ and $$ used together. (and have done so myself). Is there a list of explicitly prohibited words? Or a list of acceptable ones? Or as the rules state...."excessive" profanity is prohibited. So how exactly does THIS cite define "excessive"......
4.
Religious topics. The simple word GOD can be defined as religious. As is prayer. How many times do we see people offer "prayers" for someone that is injured, ill, in an accident, etc?
5.
Political topics....almost everything can be construed as political. I get it.....you dont want a free for all like I have seen here in the past before TNT. But simply discussing gas prices, or a proposed pipeline that might hit close to home for someone, or even discussing taxes related to small business or farming, or local building codes, ROW's, etc. All "can" be political.
Quite simply the rules are NOT black and white. And people interpret them differently. And deleting posts, handing out bans and suspensions without further clarification, and doing so in an inconsistent manner is the rub from what I gather. If you interpret the rules as black and white....SEVERAL have been violated in this very thread. More transparency and more communication when infractions occur would certainly be welcomed in my book.
