It seems that several recent threads have disappeared. Specifically, I am thinking about the recent thread about a Patagonia R2 jacket. I was hoping to reread it and have found it missing. I would like someone to confirm that they deleted the entire thread and explain why it was done, or to point out where I, and others, can find the thread. I believe it was in this forum, which is why I am posting the request here.

I had a really difficult weekend and my mind is elsewhere, so I may get some of the details wrong, but a user went ballistic and posted a string of profanity throughout the forums, once as a new thread, then the user jumped into several others. One thread I remember was the Patagonia jacket. It was quite interesting, I will not rehash the details. The " clean unthreatening environment for all" was definitely impacted, so the webmasters must have cleaned up some.

Yes. I deleted that thread. Let me tell you what happened. A user that started that thread got upset because of how the thread had turned. They had every right too. The user asked a guestion and it got twisted out of shape. So that user went in and edited his message that started that thread to something that had nothing to do with the thread. Since it was the origanol message that started the thread then of course the rest that followed made no since because no-one knew what started the thread.

So I deleted the thread as so not to confuse people.

Yes. I deleted that thread. Let me tell you what happened. A user that started that thread got upset because of how the thread had turned. They had every right too. The user asked a guestion and it got twisted out of shape. So that user went in and edited his message that started that thread to something that had nothing to do with the thread. Since it was the origanol message that started the thread then of course the rest that followed made no since because no-one knew what started the thread.

So I deleted the thread as so not to confuse people.

Good job troll. Maybe we need a section for "people that don't play well with other people". :)

Youngblood

I see. When I last read the thread, it still made sense so they must have altered it only later. Too bad. I thought the initial question in response to the Gear Review was an important one and one which should be addressed somewhere.

Good job troll. Maybe we need a section for "people that don't play well with other people". :)

YES! Where do we send nominations???

:D

Yes. I deleted that thread. Let me tell you what happened. A user that started that thread got upset because of how the thread had turned. They had every right too. The user asked a guestion and it got twisted out of shape. So that user went in and edited his message that started that thread to something that had nothing to do with the thread. Since it was the origanol message that started the thread then of course the rest that followed made no since because no-one knew what started the thread.

So I deleted the thread as so not to confuse people.

ATTROLL:

Like Chris, I am also sorry that the thread could not have been saved. Now, apparently all of Alpine's threads and posts have been withdrawn and lost to us all which is a shame, not to mention our loss. He started some very interesting topics that we now no longer have access to and I am concerned.

Would you consider a little elaboration? Was this the result of a single responder slipping off the deep end and going beserk with attacking, profane posts against him or was it a just few responders making caustic, belittling comments that he perhaps should have just ignored, or both?

Who were the players in the above scenario? Are they still amongst us?

Inquiring minds want to know!

ATTROLL:

Like Chris, I am also sorry that the thread could not have been saved. Now, apparently all of Alpine's threads and posts have been withdrawn and lost to us all which is a shame, not to mention our loss. He started some very interesting topics that we now no longer have access to and I am concerned.

Would you consider a little elaboration? Was this the result of a single responder slipping off the deep end and going beserk with attacking, profane posts against him or was it a just few responders making caustic, belittling comments that he perhaps should have just ignored, or both?

Who were the players in the above scenario? Are they still amongst us?

Inquiring minds want to know!

It was really none of above, as troll said the original message got twisted, and starting going off topic and not everyone agreed with Alpine, so he decided not to participate here anymore and edited his posts like most do when they want to quit a forum. This isn't unique to this site either, Its just a standard practice some forum users use to erase their tracks when they decide not to participate in a forum anymore. So to sum it all up nothing really bad happened, he just wasn't happy here and moved on.

Also for AT Troll to post players in this scenario (which I had nothing to do with) would show poor taste as an adminstrator of this site. IMO Highway, questions like you asked above, would probably be better suited to e-mail or private messaging.

IMO Highway, questions like you asked above, would probably be better suited to e-mail or private messaging.

I really considered doing that at first but decided to ask it in public for one reason. If , for whatever reason, only one participant decides to wipe out his presence (and all the threads he/she initiated), only a little damage is done. But if many decide to do so, then the site suffers. All the countless hours of work which you have put into giving birth to this site as well as all those of Attroll & Sgt Rock in bringing it to the current level it it now enjoys, might put it into jeopardy. I don't want that and neither do most of the responders here. Therefore, to help eliminate it happening again, I still believe a public answer is appropriate

Yeah I understand your point Highway, your right. Sometimes forums get intense and users erase there posts when their adrenline is flowing and they don't want to participate anymore. I edited my posts way back this summer when I had the the same feeling and was pissed off at the attacking of others that was going on. This is just something forum adminstrators need to deal with. To turn of editing isn't an option because that would really upset users. I know I have to edit my posts and spelling about 3 times in the 5 minutes after I initailly post.

'Masked Rider (havn't used that name for you in a while :jump :

Some people are more sensitive than others and, although I don't know the particulars of what happened with Alpine, it's apparent that he felt victimized in some way by another or others. And, I don't think the belittling of some upon others should be looked upon lightly by the majority here, if that is what happened.

This is a fantastic site and even though you three are directly responsible for it's success, all of the many who participate here by the constructive sharing of their knowledge and experiences throughout the threads also contribute to it's success. When someone causes a thread to be withdrawn, we all lose. As well as for many others, this site has helped me in more ways than I can remember. But it is the destructive attacks which should be cautioned against. We can disagree with a poster but we should never be allowed to personally attack with impunity. Just my thoughts but i don,t think I'm alone in my opinion.

Now about the spelling thing you mentioned above. I have thought about suggesting for some time that a spell-checker be somehow affixed to the site for our use because spelling is atrosious here :bse

Highway

Former Easy is right in everything he said. I personally would like to turn off the editing for everyone. Then that way no-one could do what Alpine did or what Easy did earlier this year. (Sorry Easy just using you as a example). But just as Former Easy said that would upset a lot of users. Because like me also I find that after I have posted I find spelling mistakes and I like to go back in and fix them. If I took away editing privileges then users would not be able to do that.

I am open to suggestions.

Highway

I am open to suggestions.

I guess there is no easy answer other than we have to learn to police ourselves. And, I agree that you cannot eliminate the edit feature, either. Thankfully it is not much of a problem and is probably initiated by only a few, anyway. I guess we should just learn to ignore them when they occasionally rear their ugly heads. Hmmm, I was not aware that the Masked Rider also did the deed :bse :p

AT Troll - any way to turn off editing only for postings older than say a week?

Its not a great idea but it does help preserve threads.

The only downside I see is that one would have to stick on a new post to add to an older posting - for example indicating an object has been sold.

Now about the spelling thing you mentioned above. I have thought about suggesting for some time that a spell-checker be somehow affixed to the site for our use because spelling is atrosious here :bse


The only way that spell checking could be added to this Whiteblaze is if it was on its own dedicated server. If this site is ever moved to a dedicated server ASpell or PSpell could be installed on the server. It might be worth the chance to ask the hosting company of this site, to install ASpell on the server, but I wouldn't count on them doing it.

There is a soulution though for any user that uses IE (Internet Explorer) to have spelling checked in every text box they place it. I don't use this but you may want to check it out. http://www.iespell.com/

However any spell checking is good for only that and doesn't correct wording, puncuation and such. I sometimes write backwards in my wordings and need to go back and correct it.

As far as a policy for those that want to quit the forum, the best think would probably be to contact administration and they could change your member name to "Former Member" or something. This wouldn't change your posts, but they wouldn't be related to you. I don't want to get into a Internet Law (something I know a lot about) discussion here. But forum users do have certain rights should they ever request their material to be deleted. But like I said before the best think to do would be to contact ATTroll and discuss this in private, he is very acommodating, and will work something out with you. As far as anyone that is threatened or belittled, I don't blame them if they want their posts removed which was part of the case in my scenerio.