Only a matter of time...

[crfriend]

And so it came to pass, that after all these years, I've had a moderator "go rogue" and commit one of the more cowardly acts known to modern man -- the anonymous rewriting of history to "cancel" the opinion of another. The net effect of this act of cowardice was to essentially exert ownership of another human being whom he disagreed with. This will not do in a civilised society. The perpetrator knows who he is, and I'm not going to "name and shame", even though I have been counselled to do precisely that. He gets to live with it, and he also gets to know that he's now being watched rather closely, and some changes have already been made to the forum infrastructure to facilitate future actions (if any).

To be honest, I foresaw this eventuality a few years ago when society was already getting somewhat toxic in the country where I was born and grew up in (but which I do not regard as "mine" any longer), hence the title of the post -- "Only a matter of time". I'm just very saddened that it happened here. I expected better from this crowd. Free thinkers are not supposed to turn on one another.

The infrastructure changes were overdue anyway and will make my eventual successor's job a lot easier by getting rid of a lot of custom code that has to be changed every time there's a phpBB upgrade. I've held this position for over 20 years -- which may well be some sort of record on the Internet when it comes to "social media", I'm proud of what's happened on my watch, and grateful for the cast of characters involved, some living and some sadly gone. It's been a good run.

[kingfish]

It ain't over yet, brother!

[crfriend]

Yeah, and all the indications point to it getting a whole lot worse before (if) it gets better

[Mouse]

I don't understand what is going on. However I would like to take this moment to thank Carl for all the hard work keeping this forum going over these 20 years. I for one get a lot out of this space on the internet and would deeply miss it, if it disappeared.

Many, many thanks and Happy Christmas

[crfriend]

Many thanks, Mouse. The thoughts are greatly appreciated. We do our level best here to be informative, supportive, and understanding. Fortunately, these flare-ups are fairly rare here and usually blow over quickly.

I'm proud of my tenure here and whilst it's not likely some sort of absolute record it might be somewhere in a top-10 list. Most of all, I'm pleased that it makes others happy and that the overwhelming bulk of time is very polite and civil -- which is completely unlike the wilds outside.

May all the good things about the midwinter holiday be with you and yours. I find myself inexorably drawn to Greg Lake's wonderful I believe in Father Christmas this time of the year. Not only are it's sentiments appropriate, e.g. the immortal:

I wish you a hopeful Christmas //
I wish you a brave new year //
For anguish and pain and sadness //
Leave your heart and let your road be clear/

It doesn't get much better.

It was also the point at which Russia entered the Christmas of the West thanks to the musical quote from Sergei Prokofiev which was included. (In the same vein that the Russians entered the 4th of July with Arthur Fiedler playing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture in 1974 which has since become a tradition. I remember that concert.)

[Susie]

I'd like to echo the sentiments of Mouse, thank you Carl and all the mods, for all your hard work, and for making me feel so welcome.

[yardstick]

As Mouse & Susie have already said I'd like also to express my thanks to Carl for all his hard work. Like Mouse I have found this forum very helpful and wish i'd joined up as a member much sooner rather than being a casual observer for a few years first.
Thanks again.
Merry Christmas

[Barleymower]

I would like to add my thanks to Carl and the other Mods for looking after the forum and keeping it working smoothly. We are a small community and the Cafe provides a a place for the community to meet.

I am a little bemused as to why we are told about a problem that we can't know about.

[crfriend]

We are a small community and the Cafe provides a a place for the community to meet.

That's the focus -- and that's where the focus should be.

However,

I am a little bemused as to why we are told about a problem that we can't know about.

Part of being socially responsible is to call out when things are being done in the shadows that can damage the very fabric of society -- and what can be more damaging than attempting to alter history and then hide the evidence of the alteration. That's what the stink is about. We deserve and need is going on.

Dr. Goebbels remains (dead) right in his assertion about the "Big Lie" -- and we need to remind ourselves that a lot of very powerful people are now spouting that "Big Lie". Sometimes history is uncomfortable to people. That's OK. It's good, in fact. That makes society a better place in the long run when we recognise the Big Lie and learn from it.

To the notion of "meeting" in the context of small communities. I applaud -- heartily -- the success of the various "meetups". However, I am drawn to the more ethereal concept of "coming together", for that's what we attempt when communicating by any means other than face-to-face conversation. Fortunately we now have ways to do that which transcend physical space; we can now move ideas around the planet at the speed of light. Taking in mind that communications can "shrink the world" and cause folks to become closer (in the sense of awareness), how much of convulsion must've taken place on an autumn day in 1858 when the Old World was electrically connected to the "New World" and thought could now move at close to the speed of light instead of the plodding pace of a sailboat. The problem with technology is that it can be used by miscreants to hide their misdeeds. [0]

Finally, to our brave little community which survives much hostility over the course of any given day, I'll quote Greg Lake for a benediction I like so very, very much:

I wish you a hopeful Christmas //
I wish you a brave new year //
For anguish and pain and sadness //
Leave your heart and let your road be clear

Best wishes lads! Here's to better times for all!



[0] And who said that philosophy was dead? I'd say that it's never been more important than in dire times.

[Modoc]

It's often said that time heals all wounds. I once may have believed that, but as I grow older and have witnessed the lasting scars of so many "healings", I'm more given to believe that many wounds will never be healed, and that's too bad.
I have no clue what this is all about, but I do know that attempts to alter history have risen to an Orwellian level in some places, and that's sad.

[crfriend]

It's often said that time heals all wounds. I once may have believed that, but as I grow older and have witnessed the lasting scars of so many "healings", I'm more given to believe that many wounds will never be healed, and that's too bad.

I've heard that cliche, too, altogether too many times, and am drawn to its deviation, "Time wounds all heels." Physical wounds eventually heal, but what's left is frequently scarred and impaired in function. Psychological wounds are somewhat more pernicious -- and worse -- in that the scars are not necessarily directly visible, but the pain and impairment can still be profound. I know; I carry both types with me, on my body and in my mind and person.

I have no clue what this is all about, but I do know that attempts to alter history have risen to an Orwellian level in some places, and that's sad.

I find it astonishing how many folks have written precisely that thought, "I don't understand what this is about." Contemplate what it feels like to be a part of the history that somebody else just re-wrote. Then you'll begin to "get it" -- to be summarily erased because your opinion of an ongoing war clashed with corrupt, tyrannical, and incompetent "leaders" are handling things on the world stage now. How that that be restored? The answer is simply: "It should never have happened in the first place, and opinion -- even if "unpopular" (but polite) with some.

If you (as in "your self") disagree with something said or written, make a cogent argument why; if you're reacting with a knee-jerk on behalf of somebody else -- shame on you. Don't use raw power to erase somebody; you, yourself may someday be so erased. Then see how it feels.

[Modoc]

I find it astonishing how many folks have written precisely that thought, "I don't understand what this is about." Contemplate what it feels like to be a part of the history that somebody else just re-wrote. Then you'll begin to "get it"

As someone who wakes up daily to find out that the tyrannical and incompetent leadership that you refer to is on a relentless campaign to erase or rewrite the history of entire groups of people, of which I am a part, I think I "get" much more about it than you could imagine. I am not aware of all the goings on in Skirt Cafe, but I can say that I object entirely to the use of "power" to silence anyone.
My curiosity has been piqued by exactly what you are referring to on this website. I can live without the details; being left in the dark about some things is not an unusual occurrence for me, so the details are really no big deal, but suffice it to say that more than a couple of times, I have seen deference given to some members, be they regular or mods.
I want to add my appreciation for the work you and the crew do to carry on and further Skirt Cafe's vision.

[Uncle Al]

From "The Mole":

When I was asked to become a Moderator, I swore to uphold the “Rules” of Skirt Café.
I was asked because I supported the Kilt and its variations. This was to keep all views
open, to everyone. I’ve upheld my agreement by fully supporting the “Rules” and have
issued several warnings. Warning are something I don’t like to do. Several private
conversations were held, via PM’s and phone calls. I asked Carl what changed his outlook.
He said I did. I’m still not sure what the comment was that caused him to change his “opinion”.
Rule # 2 stands for everyone, member and moderator, equally.
The thread in question was reported by a member as going against Café’ rules, also via PM’s by
several members. I let the report stand to see if Carl would step in with a heavy foot. The report
was dismissed and he contributed to the melee, furthering its existence. His blatant abuse of Café
rules caused me to take heavy action. He stated his opinion.
Opinions are like noses, everyone has one.
The phrase “Rules for thee and not for me” comes to mind.
I could’ve locked the thread, stating Rule #2 but, instead, I took a stronger action.
Maybe I was wrong in that action but what’s done, is done.
Over the years, I’ve had to get a larger mop and bucket to help keep Skirt Café clean and tidy.
I don’t post very often. When I posted my support of certain political entities, I was told my
opinions were not welcome. I stopped those posts.
With the current U. S. administration, my life has become better. Being on a fixed income,
I’m now able to do some of the things I did 6-7 years ago. Being widowed, I don’t get out
much except for groceries and doctor’s appointments.
I still get to play the required music for my lodge meetings, twice a month.
This coming January, I’ll become a ¾ century person, and I’ve seen many, many changes in life.
Too much water under the bridge to change now.

If I get to continue as part of the Skirt Café Admin System, I’ll continue to uphold – to the best
of my ability – the Rules of Skirt Café.

Uncle Al
(Mop and Bucket brigade.)

[crfriend]

From "The Mole":

When I was asked to become a Moderator, I swore to uphold the “Rules” of Skirt Café.
I was asked because I supported the Kilt and its variations. This was to keep all views
open, to everyone. I’ve upheld my agreement by fully supporting the “Rules” and have
issued several warnings. Warning are something I don’t like to do. Several private
conversations were held, via PM’s and phone calls. I asked Carl what changed his outlook.
He said I did. I’m still not sure what the comment was that caused him to change his “opinion”.
Rule # 2 stands for everyone, member and moderator, equally.

It wasn't a comment, but rather an act committed silently in a back room under the cover of night that pushed all the wrong buttons.

Civilisations and communities evolve. Certainly Skirt Cafe has and it bends and strains under the ill winds of "politics" (mainly ham-fisted attempts at it). This means that "rules" are best created not from reinforced concrete, but better of something with a little bit of give to it. think we'd be well served to re-think the ossified nature of the rigid rules in these unprecedented times.

As far as moving on, the only thing I'm looking for is an admission. The facts are already obvious from the logs, the evidence is plain, and the damage done. The identity of the snowflake that tripped the whole fiasco is also known. Own up to the act and we can begin to move on and don't do it again in the same manner.

The thread in question was reported by a member as going against Café’ rules, also via PM’s by
several members. I let the report stand to see if Carl would step in with a heavy foot. The report
was dismissed and he contributed to the melee, furthering its existence. His blatant abuse of Café
rules caused me to take heavy action. He stated his opinion.

I saw the report and deliberately let it stand because it attacked me directly and I have a policy of not interfering in that. He's just as entitled to his opinion as I am to mine. Both are clearly unpopular, but it's usually better to be on the right side of history than the popular side of history.

I particularly enjoy this pithy quote from the fictional Doctor Who: "The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views...which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering." I have become one of those facts. I'm also sick of tyrants and tin-horns. [0]


[0] I've always wanted to do "Tyrants and Tin-horns" as a server-naming theme. Maybe if I live long enough I'll get a chance to.

[Mouse]

As far as moving on, the only thing I'm looking for is an admission. The facts are already obvious from the logs, the evidence is plain, and the damage done. The identity of the snowflake that tripped the whole fiasco is also known. Own up to the act and we can begin to move on and don't do it again in the same manner.

So I am not sure in these smoke and mirrors........

What I do know is that a number of posts have disappeared from my "Mouse at work and play..." thread where I was discussing with crfriend the relevance of blue and yellow Snow White colours in the outfits we had both worn. I posted a picture of these colours being used in London for other matters in a fun kind of way.

I am sorry if my post was too near the mark and apologies to all on the cafe. I will in future consider all blue and yellow to refer to Snow White's blue top and yellow skirt.

It would be nice if I had received a DM, requesting me to remove or edit the post. Even a DM informing me of the action would have been nice.

Anyway