Elyse,
I hope you don't mind that I mentioned you had also had to listen a few times to the tape to see exactly what Mr. Levin said/meant. (See my post right above yours to Jim)
I've asked Jim to reconsider since it looked kind of like a so-called comedy of errors. Of course, I know Jim has more information behind the scenes than we do so if he decides not to reconsider I'll understand. It just looked like a big misunderstanding though and so I thought I'd go ahead and speak out. (Of course, now I'm shaking in my houseshoes but Jim's a fair guy so hopefully he won't get too mad at me!)
Sally,
I don't mind at all. I was composing a note to Jim in my mind and was shaking in my houseshoes wondering if I should send it. Thank you for saying exactly what I would have said.
B. Even if he does live in the UAE, who really cares? He wasn't even the most convincing, persuasive person-far from on it-on this subject, which is saying something if he actually does live and work in that country.
C. Whether or not he was rightfully banned-and this is an open and shut case, IMO-the idea that he made an immeasurable, irreplaceable contribution to this website is utterly absurd. There are people-some of whom are personal friends-who have been permanently expelled, suspended for an extended duration, or felt compelled to leave-for much lesser sins than him, each one at the very least ten times more worthy of consideration than this individual. Simply because his offenses weren't quite as egregious as those of some FR's most notorious users-and again, I still think they were pretty heinous-does not mean that he merits consideration. Even the people who agreed with him probably don't feel that his situation is comparable to that of other genuinely thoughtful users who were exiled from this website.