No place for flames here

[bermuda]

Unfortunately, one of the members decided it was more fun to attack me and make some outrageous and inappropriate remarks, than to have any meaningful interaction with the other members about Al. I had started to reply to her last lengthy post, only to read at the very end that she was going back to the Usenet newsgroup. Assuming she wouldn't see my replies anyway, I yanked the two inlfammatory, disruptive, and obviously trolling threads.



Let's get back to talking about Al, and I will do my best to answer every question. BUT, I still don't know what Al or the guys think about most things, so please don't even ask!



Bermuda

[minnick27]

I want to thank you Bermuda for continuing to keep the Ask Bermuda forum open. To tell you the truth I was kinda worried that you would just forget about it because of one person, but I see I was wrong. And thank God for that. Thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions as best you can.





Mike

[bermuda]

Thanks for understanding, and it's my goal to stay here and continue the interaction.



Twineball was welcome to ask what's up, but the posts became inappropriate and disruptive not only to the issue at hand, but the forum in general. It wasn't about Al, and not even about me anymore, just about how many accusations and extreme and irrelevant rhetoric could be tossed around. After I read Twine's 2nd lengthy post of blatant trolling, I didn't think it warranted any more of my time, and this forum is not the place for it anyway.



Bermuda

[Loony Lynn]

Been doing some forum surffing. Been every place in here I can go. Been camping out here alot lately. Who had the original forum idea? Was it you or AL?

[bermuda]

Neither of us came up with this, it was Whizzi, from The Netherlands! He though a moderated Ask Bermuda was a good idea, and he invited me to moderate as well.



Except for a few outbursts, everything's been pretty civilized & on topic and I try to address the questions & comments as quickly as possible, to keep things fresh and current.



Bermuda

[Loony Lynn]

I'm glad that you did. This is the first forum I've been to on the net. I think it's really well done. Your welcome.

[bermuda]

You'll find in most forums that people will test the waters, or just start posting wild stuff, seemingly without fear of reprisal. In fact, in many newsgroups and forums, there is little discipline or moderation, and the problems increase, almost always resulting in a hostile environment.



I don't blame the posters as much as the people who run the forum, who are hesitant to exercise any control until things are seriously out of hand. My feeling is, establish some guidelines and enforce them consistently and right from the start, so there is no question about the climate of the forum, and where "the line" is drawn. I'm actually very liberal, but language that is disruptive or deliberately inflammatory doesn't constitute a genuine contribution to the forum, and exceeds the concept of free speech that so many trolls like to hide behind.



I also don't mind personal criticism, but the posts had gone beyond anything constructive, and it was obvious that they weren't designed to elicit answers, but were intended to get me into an argument. Unfortunately, the poster wasn't equipped to handle my responses, so they left. They probably thought they had "the last word", but all of their rage and outrage was deleted, and the real winners are all the other members of the forum.



Whizzi and I will do our best to keep the board, and particularly Ask Bermuda, a fun and informative place!



Bermuda

[minnick27]

bermuda, you rock!





Mike

[Diva]

Sounds good by me. I'll say again [as I did in response to that whatever-it-was who wrote the uncalled-for stuff, but since the thread's gone I'll have to repeat it briefly] that your patience is admirable and that I appreciate your considerable efforts here.



[I was going to put a joke here about all our burning questions like 'what's on the next album for the third track' 'what toothpaste does Steve use', 'what was Jim thinking at 10:25 PDT today' but so many people on line have been crabby lately that I'll hold off, knowing that at least a few savvy souls would have gotten the joke anyway.]



Cheers, Diva

[insert witty parenthetical comment here]



PS: we have even worse trolls than you-know-who #1 and #2 on misc.writing.screenplays, but so far alt.pets.rabbits seems to have been spared

[catanddogdoctor]

Glad to see the storm has blown over. It was starting to look like Thanksgiving dinner with a dysfunctional family.



Maria