May I go out on a limb.

[kraken]

While PCMech is in my opinion the best technical forum on the web (my own personal opinion), I also consider what a forum is.

A forum is the expression of individual ideas to the collective.

There is only so long that one can talk on an individual subject.

I applaude PCMech for opening up new discussion areas.

However these areas appear to be strictly governed. Mayhaps they should be treated like cigarettes. A health (mental) warning should be applied to these sensitive forums. Take it or leave it attitudes should be forthwith in the minds of people going into these areas (maybe an age check?).

Recent episodes left me in a quandry as to whether to support me mates or individual rights of expression and distaste.

If the forum is unable to accept the individual thoughts, then the only response is to close all our minds to the limitations of the forum in it original state.

I understand the need to diffuse situations, but maybe it is needed that situations need to develop to get an understanding of the truth.

I will continue to support the admin in their decisions, however I will have my opinion noted in as calm and as ethically a manner as I can within the stated rules.

Somethings can be too close to the bone for comfort.

[SARGE]

Well written. You went out on a limb and no saws ruined the day.

[Gintaras]

Originally posted by kraken While PCMech is in my opinion the best technical forum on the web (my own personal opinion)

I have very same opinion and I'd like PC Mech would stay this way.

And all non-PC BS, I wish were here

[M. A. Dockter]

Gin hit the nail right on the head for me...I really don't have to say much else.

We strictly govern becuase we still belive in a basic thing: We have priests, old ladies, and kids and such reading these forums, and I care NOT to have them read through offencive things...maybe it's just because my morals are too high...maybe it's just because I'm from Wisconsin...I don't know...just the way I am.

[glc]

I couldn't agree more. This principle is what brought me to this board and is why I stick around. I can be as rude and crude as anyone, I have some pretty strong political and religious views, I think there are a lot of stupid people out there in the world, but I have better things to do with my time and knowledge than weed through a bunch of posts slamming people and trying to prove that the poster is a "cool dude" or whatever. If I want that junk, I'll go back to Usenet. I believe in free speech, but I believe more strongly in the principle of "do unto others......." - that's how I was raised.

I think some people seem to forget that this is a "moderated" forum!

[HAL9000]

Another in agreement here. It took me all of 2 minutes to realize this was the place to stay.

[audiyoda]

I look at it this way: This is a tech community. There are no indications otherwise. We talk about all things technical. Period. If the owners of this community (for you open-source people: someone's paying for the server and bandwidth) choose to allow us to discuss current and relavent hot topics of the day, great. If not, they have graciously provided forumclick.com.

Now if you'd all like to discuss current trends in streaming audio, mp3s, the DCMA, and other music related issues, stop on over at Live365. I'm a community host there -- but be forewarned: we don't allow off topic dicussions (except in the case of the events of 9.11.01).

-Craig

[glc]

Craig: As a host (moderator, admin, whatever) how do you handle discussions on 9.11.01 when they get out of hand? Just curious.

On another topic, are you still interested in that old external SCSI CD drive I have kicking around? If so, drop me a PM.

[WJWheels]

A discussion doesn't have to lead to a debate. If you have a different point to "discuss", then logically it should be in a new thread.

These sensitive subjects shouldn't be any different than someone looking for a fan for his P3 CPU. Suggesting he trash it and get AMD isn't an acceptable answer (well maybe to some it is) and therefore is not tolerated by the mods.

[glc]

Debates are fine - as long as we stay civil and don't get personal! That's the key here. Defining the line is very difficult and as it stands now, it's up to moderator discretion and interpretation within the rules. This will always aggravate someone but mods and admin have the final word as per the rules of the board. I see no need to write a book detailing every facet of what is acceptable and what is not, but when a mod shuts it off, please respect that and we will all get along fine.

[audiyoda]

Originally posted by glc Craig: As a host (moderator, admin, whatever) how do you handle discussions on 9.11.01 when they get out of hand? Just curious.

Our policy is to: 1) remove the offending post(s), 2) warn the offender(s) and 3) post a warning that it will not be tolerated again. So far, we've only had people discuss their feelings towards the events, not really anything else. Music types are kinda strange in that respect. Lots of thoughts, no confruntation.

We've had plenty of people get pissed for one reason or another and that's when I step in. We recently had to change our policies regarding bandwidth, amount of storage, streaming rates.....a ton of new changes that didn't go over well. I was quite busy for about two weeks. I think at last count, we had to remove 300+ broadcasters from our servers. That was of course a last resort, but some of them went to the extent of belittling Live365 right in their broadcast streams.

On another topic, are you still interested in that old external SCSI CD drive I have kicking around? If so, drop me a PM. [/B]

Damn...forgot about that thing. I originally planned on using it for my church's keyboard so I could access samples quicker. But we've since upped the sample RAM and the EPROM. So right now, I don't really have a use for it. But thanks for reminding me.

-Craig