Jay, let me clarify, that thread was locked not because of the political debate contained within, nor because of my or any other person's left/right/neutral bent with regards to politics but rather because the comment
ha bicth ur whole flippin familiy and generation had cock in ther mouths u whore
was intended to revive a flame which was, let us say, not conquerclub's best moment.
I chose to leave that thread open rather than lock it because I believed it could die on its own, to let the community decide which direction it wanted to take - would the flames continue if "the alliance" was gone or would the community decide that it wanted to let sleeping dogs lay as it were. It was a key moment in deciding how strict a mod team would have to be in the future and I have to say, the speed with which the thread died, set the very hands off approach we have in stone. This community is run by the community, and that is how Lack, myself and I am sure most of the community would like to see it.
The thread was closed specifically and only because it was revived with the clear goal of stirring shit up, not because of any political views expressed there-in.
Now, as to the view that moderators and/or founders should be neutral, I, as a member of this community first and moderator second, have as much right as you to hold and express my views. As long, and only as long as, as those views stay completely separate from how the forum is moderated and my views do not impact the application of mod powers. Now, I admit, I did not clarify which comments in that post were with regards to my additions to the discussion and which were with regards to the closing of that thread, but I assure you, my/your political views had nothing to do with the thread's closing.
That being said, Jay, I would appreciate it in the future if you would not intentionally try to upset or provoke individuals based on
your political views - which you are, of course, entitled to have.
Thank you for your concern, I would be happy to continue this, and any other concerns people may have with the moderation style of this forum in private should you wish
Twill
<edit>
As to why I chose to lock, rather than delete, that thread has entirely to do with "making a stand".
If that thread is deleted, then it never happened. We learn nothing from it, we go nowhere with it, we are "doomed to repeat it".
That thread exists to show that we wont let abuse, trolling and down right messed up crap like that continue here.
Deletion is always biased, it always hides an opinion, it will always kill debate. freedom of speach, as has been questioned here, is about allowing people the right to know as much as it is the right to say. If we do not know what has come before us, we cannot comment on what is to come ahead of us. Locking and deleting are two completely different beasts - one shuts down speach, debate, thought and knowledge based very much on what the mod team decides is right wrong and immoral. Locking on the other hand, while potentially influenced by the very same bias as deleting, allows for debate to continue in other arenas and extend to other topics, very much as this thread has shown it can.
So, when given the choice between delting a thread and locking it, I will take locking ninety nine times out of ten, specifically because I do not have the right to drive the direction of thought or discussion here through making ideas I do not agree with simply dissapear.
Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:15 pm
)
). There must be many nationalities represented here on CC - and many different ethnic groups. I just find it sad that such threads like the one we are still talking about can be allowed to exists.