[First_Salute]

First, an observation:

"Do keep it clean - A bruise or two between Freepers is tolerable, but refrain from abusive attacks, engaging in senseless flame wars, and using profane language. Considering the range of topics we discuss, it's hard to be a family site, but that's what we aim for when at all possible."

That is a guideline of this forum; but it was, and still is, the least enforced; something that the Admin Moderators ought to be enforcing before much of their questionable, or "contentious," censorship.

Once upon a time, the admonition was NO abusive attacks; and, that "warning label" was liberally placed around this place --- it no longer is, I'm sorry to see.

Some abusive attacks were easy to spot, the sentences included multiple uses of the word, "you," and were liberally sprinkled with adjectives, odorous. Other abusive attacks have been directed with a [near-]complete lack of taste.

In both instances, such has been the fodder with which "the left" has informed the public eye as to the purposes here, neanderthal revisited.

On the other hand, I have always described the forum as a wild west saloon where one-liners are shot as fast as the Colt 45 hammers can be fanned. (Be advised, if you are uncomfortable around gun slingers, don't take steps toward them.)

Having said all that, I have a suggestion:

Until January 1, 2004, the moderators shall only have power to act upon the abuse guideline and are otherwise banned from taking any action. The forum should be allowed to run free for a while, with the exception of the abusive attacks.

Check your guns at the door. Otherwise, you can say what you please.

Another Freeper had it right, when he/she said that varied opinion is needed here, to help people hone their skills.

There are many here who are good with the sword, yet they must well-regulate that, and instead, to win in the public eye, this forum does need to be somewhat of an academy that helps writers and speakers to go forth and conquer with the pen.

The Shrew has it right.

[ladyinred]

Good post. In fact, very good post.
I am going to run away from here now. :-)

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[arjay]

I still want the moderators to pull posts due to foul langauge. I often send articles to friends and I sometimes have to refrain from sending one because some Freeper has used extremely inappropriate language.

I believe that good use of the language is much more powerful than resorting the crutch of profanity.

[snopercod]

I second the motion with stricter enforcement of the abuse rules and less political correctness. As a long-time Compuserve subscriber, on-line etiquette was strictly enforced over there. About the worst thing you were permitted to say about anyone was that their arguement was "intellectually dishonest" - not them, only their arguement.

But the moderators here are unpaid, so maybe getting good help for that price is becoming difficult?

A perfect example of what is becoming routine here on FR these days is three posts down for the one I am replying to.

Luis Gonzalez has been making personal attacks on Sir Gawain all throughout this thread, for no reason that I can see by following the chain of posts. That type of thing doesn't add anything to the thread, and just lessens people's respect for the posters.

OTOH, my life would not have been as full had I not fallen on the floor laughing one night after reading Deb call A+Bert a "urine soaked booze hound". (...or was it a booze soaked urine hound?)