********************edit*************

I don't need you to copy anything...it was a ridiculous question.

Oh, I see your edit about staying until you finished helping a few others.

and Orchid..who is "us?"

as I noted here, just a few posts back, I think others should respond how they feel is best...I will do the same.

So, what makes you ask if I would like anyone (us) to copy my response to trolls?

Ridiculous question but still a question..... is that really how you want to be remembered as your posting style? If it was a post made in haste or out of some emotional burst of ....whatever and NOT your standard posting style, it would be helpful to know. Especially for those of us trying to learn how to post 'correctly' on MB.

I certainly don't want to 'assume' to identify your posting style as you did to me. So you have the opportunity to clarify your posting style so there is no misunderstanding.

You have made it your point to tell me what I posted and how I posted was wrong. Now can you please show us what you consider the correct way of posting?

L.

read my posts Orchid. That will show you the correct posting style for me.

Frankly Orchid, I think you are being less than genuine. Other posters here...BK, Marsh and others that don't yet want to join the fray have commented on your new posting manner.

I am very comfortable with what I have posted...no misunderstandings at all. I say what I mean and mean what I say.

so Orchid...do you want to be remembered as a troll defender?

Do you want to be known as someone that had her "hubby" come here and run his mouth and then show back up and pretend that her "style" hadn't changed?

Wait, don't answer...I will just use your posts to answer those questions...they speak louder than anything else...as do mine.

ridiculous questions all around huh?

Ozdreamer,

In all fairness....Mel hasn't posted around here since around the 15th. Still the issues have continued so Mel herself is not the factor that keeps this 'war of words' alive.

As for my leaving.... you know that's my choice. I respect your POV. MB existed before I came and will continue to do so after. No worries. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am sure the Harleys will not allow MB t/b one sided on this board. MB has thrived on allowing enough leeway on varying POVs to help us learn and grow. When the board gets locked down to a single POV or leave..... it will no longer be useful.

I don't expect people to agree with me 100% of the time. I don't agree with others 100% of the time, still I learn to take the good and discard the bad. That's my style. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Each one of us will have to be strong enough to learn how to handle situations when others try to impose their opinions upon others. It happens in many aspects of our lives and if we really look at it, we do know how to handle it in most cases. Sometimes when it gets into an area that is close to home or the heart, it hurts more. That in itself can cloud our judgment. If we each implement the same skills we learn from MB we will be able to handle these types of situations without damaging our spirit.

For example, because I have posted to you, 'some' may assume I am in cahoots or on your side.... in reality, I am just responding to your post. You made a statement I choose to respond to, simple as that. Still this response may be twisted in some minds and their conclusions will be beyond my imagination. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In reality, that's not an insult to you or I. You posted and I responded. MB allows that.

How others choose to understand this post is their issue. If it raises questions that I am able to address, I will. If it creates stupid assumptions, I will decide whether to address them or not. Again.... we all have choices.

JMHO,
L.

MEDC,

You believe what you want..... it isn't reality but you hang onto your assumptions.

I have given you my responses (edit by Orchid) and you did post that you say what you mean and mean what you say. Telling people to stick their heads in the toilet, accusing me of supporting trolls and your other stupid accusations is not encouraging to read. Since that is the case, posting to you serves no further purpose.

MEDC, there is no real reason for us to continue this discussion and waste MB time on this trivial interaction.

This will be my last post to you.

Good bye.
L.

Hasta la vista.

Oz:

Ok, you convinced me to speak up. You are absolutely right. I've thought this before, and tried to speak up occasionally in the past. Usually to get flamed. But like they say, all it takes for evil to triumph...


I agree with everything you say. I even thought about a survey earlier today, so it's funny that you mention it. But this place is not a democracy, we are here as guests of the Harleys, which brings me to my next point:

I think things have gotten a lot better since the seasoned vets showed up... in fact, I wonder how much of a coincidence it is... maybe your last statement is not the complete truth...

I hear people saying "You can't tell me or my friends how to post!" and then turning around and saying "Don't post on my thread!" and "Go away troll unless you answer my questions!"

I hear people saying "If you don't like my style of posting, just put me on ignore." But then they complain about someone else's style... and make very cutting remarks, using sarcasm, name-calling, etc... twisting words and quoting out of context... and saying "don't post on my thread!" when they could just ignore.

They say "But I can't just ignore, I must defend the newbie victims from the posters I don't like!"

And then accuse others of playing moderator.

I feel like I'm watching little kids saying "Well they started it!"

You think BA really is getting banned? So... if a person disappears a few days, that means they were banned? How does BA keep coming back then? Didn't Justuss come on and explicitly tell us to assume they aren't a troll until proven otherwise? (or was that someone else they were speaking of?) So, are we following the lead of the mods, or not?

I'm sad that maggie felt she should leave. My OPINION is that she got "caught up in the wrong crowd" and the group-think, and was just following examples of that group's acceptable behavior: The way to fit in was to attack certain posters. It's a shame.

People keep telling a few very vocal posters that their methods are not those of the Harleys. Those vocal posters seem to think each person saying that is the only person thinking that. Group-think has them convinced they have cornered the market on interpreting and applying MB principles.

I want to be counted with those disagreeing with the mob mentality.

*putting my asbestos suit on now*

jayne241 wrote:


I am not allowed to say stuff like that because of the "mob," but I would like to emphasize and repeat what you wrote.


Thank you for speaking up. It's not always easy to stand for something that's right but unpopular.

BA

Orchid wrote:


I really hope you will change your mind. Either that or change your statement from "those I started helping" to "those who need my help." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

BA

Thank You Jayne
I hope this thread does not get locked, for awhile at least, it's important that people speak and be heard. When threads get quickly locked, the frustration just goes to another thread and another thread and so it goes/grows.

Orchid ..
Mel has left for now, I don't think it will be long till she returns. My point though is that this has gone on so long and people are so fed up that the aftermath will linger a long time. The stone in the pond theory! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I think Mel does so much good here, I also think her style has changed vastly since she got in pockets with others that seem to enjoy egging each other on and it has become MB sport! Doing good is great but at what cost when damage is done in other areas?

I'm no expert, I am just stating what I observe to be the problems.

I won't be commenting again. Maybe next year, I will return and post my story but as the board is now, I doubt it.

Merry Christmas

I love dogs. I adore dogs. H is a cat-person and accuses me of being a dog-person, but fortunately I'm bi. Otherwise we might have a War of the Roses.

Dogs are great. But have you ever seen what a pack of dogs, egging each other on, can do to a poor billy-goat? I've known two people to lose goats to packs of dogs.

Mob mentality, group-think, very very dangerous.

I can't pass up the observation that trolls eat billy-goats too. No intrinsic meaning, just interesting.

Dynamic IP addresses. Multiple computers. Multiple email addresses.

But, of necessity, multiple usernames, 2.

-ol' 2long

Thanks... Merry Christmas everyone.

Orchid... *nudge* You know I want you to stay. But if you must leave, if you are willing to help out before you go, are you still wiling to comment on that other thread...?

Orchid, you will never be remembered as a troll defender. You are one of the most balanced and fair people on this forum. You respect people, you have compassion for them and you post in a way that shows that respect and compassion.

This forum has changed in the past two years and i can't say it's for the best. More time is spent arguing between each other than spent helping those that need help.

Personally, I agree that ignoring trolls (those that are proven to be trolls) go away if they are ignored. Or at least they will stop posting to you. This forum has dealt with trolls before. SNL, Quipper and others.

If the focus is kept on the newbie needing help; the newbie will soon figure it out who they can trust. If they commit themselves to learning the MB principles they will know who is giving the best advice.

**********edit****** Longhorn described a good way to handle a difference of opinion with veteran poster like her.

Orchid, you are a valuable asset to MB, *********edit*****
Keep up the good work.

S&C

Except that the people who moderate this forum have specifically said otherwise.

Justuss wrote on 12/08/2007:

If you have concerns about any member being a "troll" on our forums, please email me. Tell me who, give me some links if you can, and I'll check it out.

If your concerns are valid, I'll either email that member or automatically ban them, if needed.

But in the meanwhile, please, either ignore those posts or give them the benefit of the doubt.