Fetal's Suspension

[Ptichka]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Even though I think Paula definitely had a right to suspend Fetal, I think the board will lose a lot without him... or her... heck, let's just say "it". I certainly hope that it comes back after the month, may be in a slightly subdued form... though I doubt.

 

[alison88]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

I'll know I'll miss Fetal very much, and this board will lack a special voice. One of the best.
I have very inflamatory things to say to the posters who are gleeful right now, but I'm trying to be calm.

Fetal, do come back!

Alison.

 

[eltamina]

Ladskater please don't even think about leaving

I usually skip over 90% of Fetal's posts, so I don't have much to say here.

LADSKATER, please don't even think about leaving. We need music lovers here.

 

[JOHIO2]

Re: Ladskater please don't even think about leaving

Hi Lad and Grgranny and mathman and Daniel (and bitty kitty), etc., etc.

We GS posters need each other. There are so many different points of view and I really want to hear from all of you in the future as I find many points I hadn't considered in so many threads.

OK, Fetal, ya gotta admit that you did more than a little flirting with "Strident" and "Obnoxious"so a time out is probably deserved. Like rgirl and others, I haven't been unduly offended (although I think you truly tried at times), but I agree that toning it down a bit would make more people comfortable. Bobby Burns "giftie" might show you how others see you. Please come back - just tone it down a bit.

I hope there is room for all here.....

 

[WindSpirit5]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Oscar Wilde and James Joyce? You're being enormously generous, Rgirl. I don't know why you said anything about being an artist, I don't know Fetal beside what he writes here, and for that I wouldn't compare him even to Henry Miller. Eminem - maybe. But AFAIK Eminem <em>can</em> quit the act.

I'm yet to be wooed by Fetal's alleged charm and intelligence, as for now I think he wins most of his arguments by being pushy, persistent and downright rude. He certainly can dish it out, but he can't take it; as judging from his -- far from brilliant -- responses when someone dares to criticize his behavior.

Every board has rules, even The Uncensored one. Try breaking them and you're out. You go to a board, read the rules and the posts and decide whether you like it or not. If you stay with the attitude: "I wonder what happens if I do <em>this</em>... and <em>this</em>... and <em>that</em>", I say you're fair game.

I'm all for a good, intelligent debate and different opinions, including the controversial ones (I seem to have quite of those myself). This is one of the reasons I read those boards. But bullying people and throwing insults at them is hardly what one would call a discussion, let alone an intelligent one. Also I'd appreciate it if people didn't try to shove their beliefs down my throat with a religious fervor (including pro- AND anti-religion ones).

As for being offended, if the books Teleny (lol, Wilde made me think of it; he's one of the supposed authors) and Kosinski's The Painted Bird (well, that one disgusted me) didn't manage to offend me, I don't think any Fetal could. But IMO that frat boy routine of his got old really soon.

Anyway, if Fetal decides that being more considerate of other people's feelings is too much to ask, and he can only have his way then he can always start his own board. What happens next is entirely up to him.

 

[Grgranny]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

No one has answered my question. Do you really believe I have flaunted my religious belief? I didn't think so but if I have would you please let me know.

 

[SteveKmetko374]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

If someone really hates Fetal's posts, can't they click on something that would enable them to ignore all of his posts? so that none of his posts would show up at all on their computer? It kind of reminds me of the people who hate Howard Stern but insist on listening to his show every day. If they don't like him, why do they listen? if you don't like Fetal, why not just skip over his posts or hit the ignore key?

 

[Show 42]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Absolutely not, GrGranny.........you and Lad just keep on posting here at Golden Skate...okay? 42

 

[mike79]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

GrGranny

Sorry if I offended you. I wasn't talking about you at all. I was referring to someone else who I haven't seen post in awhile. I don't think that you flaunt your religious beliefs.

You should stay here. You've been with this board since about.com and your posts are always fun to read.

 

[Grgranny]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

I've never tried to omit things in particular, or people in particular. I would think that it would be kind of lop sided. You might as well not even go to Golden Skate. I just don't see how it would work. If you only read one half of a conversation, what's the point?

 

[HamiltonBrowningFan]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Generally, I've been fine with Fetal's posts, but must admit that he can go too far for some people. If anything lately, he seems to have been deliberately yanking on some peoples' chains. I have a suspicion that he may have driven some people off.
[/quote]

I've become a lurker as of late due to some of the comments made on the board by the poster in question.

and I didn't find any of what was said on Kurt's thread OR the one on Scott's thread(s) funny. It's rude. pure and simple.

(and not I'm not just saying that because they're two of my favorite skaters... there have been things off the board as well that I haven't liked that Fetal was apart of and I just don't feel welcome when that's constantly on my mind... I think Paula totally did the right thing.)

 

[dlksk8fan]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

GrGranny and Lad-
Don't skate away from the board, we need mature participates here; and I like you guys (ladies).

 

[mathman444]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

HamiltonBrowningFan -- That's a super picture of Elena and Anton! Very expressive. Please keep posting, especially in the cafe.

LAD -- I got your PM and I will respond by email. I want to think some more about this.

GrGranny -- No, you are not flaunting your religion, you are living it.

Adherents of proselytizing religions such as Christianity are enjoined to "go forth unto all the world and preach the Gospel to every nation." But to me, the best preaching is not verbal hectoring, it is the way you live your life. If people look at you and see a certain dignity and inner peace, then they say, that person has something that I want. In your case, the way you face the burdens of life with fortitude, with hope, and with a cheerful spirit that puts the needs of others ahead of your own -- well, if that's flauting something, flaunt away!

Mathman

 

[rgirl181]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

GrGranny,
No, you've never flaunted your religious views or tried to force them on people AT ALL! In fact I rarely see you refer to them on the board. You know you're one of my favorite posters, so please don't even consider leaving!

Windspirit,
While I can see why you got the idea that I was comparing Fetal to Oscar Wilde and James Joyce (my lousy writing ), I was rather trying to make the point that if one is writing or living one's life as an artist, then one does have to say, "This is what I must do to express myself, the rest of civilisation be damned!" My point was that this is a social situation, not art, and thus we all have to adjust ourselves to the rules. I use much saltier language in real life, but I know I can't use it on GS and don't.

In General,
I have a suggestion: On a couple of other boards I've seen folders such as "Romper Room" and others where anything goes. Other boards have rooms where you can enter by special membership only. I wonder if Paula would consider something like that? Maybe call it the "Knee Whack Room"--in honor of Tonya/Nancy --and make it very clear that the rules are that there are no rules, or almost no rules. If there is an issue with minors accessing the folder, make it so that it can only be entered if you have a special code and in order to get that code you must provide proof that you are over 18. With such a folder on GS, those who are offended by Fetal's kind of humor can just not go there. It would sort of be like an "after hours" club or an R-rated folder. Perhaps something like this would allow those posters who like to let loose in a more liberal way to do so without offending those who don't like that kind of thing. Any thoughts? Suggestions?
Rgirl

 

[mathman444]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

I think it would be better to leave the romper room to other boards. There are plenty of places to go to use salty language and speculate about skaters sex lives. I don't think that Golden Skate needs to do that.

I know. I'm such a prude.

BTW, I am running for GS moderator on the following platform:

1. Brian Boitano is not gay.

2. Michelle Kwan does not have a sex life.

Mathman

 

[Grgranny]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

You have my vote, Mathman. As a matter of fact, maybe I will try and vote for you, if I can make up other addresses and names, several times.

 

[mmandel]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Well...I'm fairly new to this forum and joined in 12/02. I was excited to join this forum because it was a general forum, where you can talk about everything, and not skater specific.

At first I felt welcomed, gradually I felt uncomfortable with the content of some threads over the last < 2 months, and finally became reluctant to post. I shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable, just by the thought of being bashed if I were to post here. A good number of threads turned into arguments, bashing, humiliation, and finally threats. I don't mined a good debeat, as long as people have respect for one another. And lately, this is not the case. Since I'm fairly new to this forum, I'm sure my voice will fall on deaf ears. BUT, I did feel compelled to make voice known.

 

[Grgranny]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Hey, you're not alone. I would have posted a lot more, except for one person that bashes me every time IT has a chance.

 

[yelyoh]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

I think the suspension was appropriate. I think Fetal did go out of his way to offend individuals and to be provocative just for the sake of doing so. He was sometimes condescending and just plain nasty. His threads and comments making fun of people's religions, physical appearance (even though in the abstract), nationality, etc. did not add anything to the discourse regarding figure skating.

I really liked him when he first made his appearance on the board. I thought that he had a good mind and a terrific sense of humor. His post competition comments have been insightful. More recently I have had the impression that he was often writing without any particular motivation other than to just be annoying.

GrGranny in my year and a quarter on this board I have read only one comment from you regarding your religion. Hardly excessive. I hope everyone sticks around and I hope Fetal comes back wiser and better.

 

[WindSpirit5]

Re: Fetal's Suspension

Rgirl, I think I understood your post, it was me who didn't express myself clearly. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=""> I'm sorry for the confusion.

As for the special room, I don't really care. That'd still be giving people a choice to avoid that, so I'm OK with that. What I'm not OK with is when people try to excercise their "freedom of speech" (which they use just an excuse for throwing insults at others and shoving their beliefs down your throat) everywhere they go. Like you said, in social situations there're rules we have to follow. I could understand a toddler being unable to grasp that concept, but we're not toddlers. When I see how some people expect the whole world to change in order to accomodate <em>them</em>, I'm just in awe.

Anyway, just my opinion. It's Paula's board, she makes the rules. If one day she changes them to some I don't like I'll just go someplace else. I don't see a problem. There're enough boards around for anyone to find something for themselves (without making board's owners to change their rules to our liking). If someone wants a total control - go and start your own board. Simple.