What Is The Point Of The Ban Threads?

[mitchard]

I know that other than notification, the only real purpose seems to be public humiliation of some sort. It seems that it turns into a semi-shit talking fest of "ehh I never liked that guy" from time to time, which is pretty petty. These people saying things that that definitely wouldn't have publicly done so prior to the ban, so its a little shady on their part.

Wouldn't a single thread where only mods/admins can post suffice? Provide the reason for the ban and leave it at that. A thread for every instance including lots of lulz and banhammer pics is silly.

[Chreees]

They're not for public humiliation; they're to remind other members that we do enforce the rules. I would say it helps keep the number of infractions down, because members see the thread and think, "Oh, they actually do enforce the rules around here." Fact is, most people don't read the rules when they sign up. But I bet they do when they see a ban thread. Or they just don't care and move on to the next thread. Whatever, it doesn't matter. But hopefully the former will happen and it will help a lot of members instead of them not reading the rules and getting a suspension.

I guess the Interwebz is serious bitness... These threads are meant to inform members of their banning and remind other members rules are enforced. Why some people (a very select few) take them so seriously, I do not know...

As for the whole one thread for "suspension notices" thing, that would be us copying another forum's way of doing things... I think the way we do it (and have always done it) works just fine.

[mushrat]

Eh, it's what we do. Other forums do it differently. I'm sorry Method doesn't like his here, he should have followed the rules. They are used for one thing essentially..well..3 things actually. One: to let the banned person know they are banned and sometime why since they can't access their accounts anymore. B: to warn others we are serious about bans and behavior here, they don't get a special place to play, they have to go elsewhere for that. III: it gives us a little fun, because, quite honestly, we don't CARE what the banned person thinks, they refused to follow our rules of conduct , in Method's case after multiple warnings, and now they don't get a say in what we do. Our rules are not difficult or unreasonable and if you can't follow them then you deserve a little razzing. in my humble opinion.

For people who don't like them it's real easy...don't read them.

[Dereksd]

im on the same page as mitch

it doesnt really show me that the staff here is serious as much as they are separate here and not really our peers but more so the cyberpolice. The threads arent really informative they are just " hey look what i can do" really. I dont remember this always being what happened when someone was banned when i first joined but i also dont come here often.

Honestly all the threads are is the mod who posted it getting his ego stroked by members for how funny the memes and silly phrases they use to ban the person are.

Trust me this isnt about method NO ONE LIKES METHOD. This is just pretty childish.

Oh yea and mush cool you get your rocks off with these threads and other places keep somethings hidden. Different strokes for different folks. You seem to be hung up on this for some reason lately.

[MichaelLCP]

What is so bad about them, I honestly don't understand. They got banned! If we want to make fun of them, even if it's not intended for that. Who cares!? Whatever they did, they deserved what was given to them, and If we want to talk about them, in any way we want, I don't see anything wrong with it.

[Dereksd]

did you not read what mitch and i said?

[MichaelLCP]

[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311878888' post='517501']
did you not read what mitch and i said?
[/quote]

Nope. I actually can't read.

[Venger]

Don't normally get into these pissing contests but I for one like the ban threads for two reasons. One i would like to know if I start not seeing someone around if they left on their own or not and two It reminds me to keep on my toes and not do something foolish without thinking about it. Its not hard to follow the rules they are pretty straight forward,However it is easy to forget some. So BAN ON boys. Keep up the good work.
Ray

[Chreees]

[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311876871' post='517497']
im on the same page as mitch

it doesnt really show me that the staff here is serious as much as they are separate here and not really our peers but more so the cyberpolice. The threads arent really informative they are just " hey look what i can do" really. I dont remember this always being what happened when someone was banned when i first joined but i also dont come here often.

Honestly all the threads are is the mod who posted it getting his ego stroked by members for how funny the memes and silly phrases they use to ban the person are.

Trust me this isnt about method NO ONE LIKES METHOD. This is just pretty childish.

Oh yea and mush cool you get your rocks off with these threads and other places keep somethings hidden. Different strokes for different folks. You seem to be hung up on this for some reason lately.
[/quote]

I'd like to think I'm a peer of the other members and not "separating myself." I'm sure many of the HF members, members who are regularly here and active, would agree with me. I place myself on the same level, but when it's time to work I have to put on the suit. I feel as though I act and post the same as before I was a mod. I don't feel like I have special powers over you nor anyone else, nor do I feel like the "cyberpolice."

I've been here since '09, a little after your join date, and I remember the ban threads from when I first came here. It's the way it's always been done. Don't like it? Don't read them, as Mush said. We feel it's a good system.

In my opinion, what's silly and childish is trying to change the way things are done on a forum you don't visit often. You said it yourself- "but i also don't come here often." When I don't like the way things are done on a forum, I don't post anymore. Simple as that. There's a reason multiple hookah forums exist...

[Dereksd]

well in the year and a half i was here before you i didnt see much of them and thats when i was most active so its not something thats been around forever.


i bring it up because as im typing this im here arent I? ive been a long time member my voice can be heard

[Cp44]

I bet a good percentage of people here and newbies who join do not read through each thread per section or look through pages and pages on a single topic. If you get what I'm saying. But I usually scroll down to the Recent Topics section here on the bottom right on the front page, its easier for me to see whats new instead of reading a subject that has 5+ pages of comments.

To me its entertaining to see the ban threads and if someone doesn't like seeing them then dont worry about it or just dont come to HF. Its easy as that. We do not own the site nor do we maintain it so live with it.

[MichaelLCP]

Well said Chris, well said.

[IainUM]

[quote name='MichaelLCP' timestamp='1311879106' post='517503']
[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311878888' post='517501']
did you not read what mitch and i said?
[/quote]

Nope. I actually can't read.
[/quote]

i lol'd




i told method i didn't like him and made it very obvious whenever we were in tc together....

[Coyote]

One day I'm going to get a banhammer...

[Chreees]

[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311880989' post='517512']
well in the year and a half i was here before you i didnt see much of them and thats when i was most active so its not something thats been around forever.


i bring it up because as im typing this im here arent I? ive been a long time member my voice can be heard
[/quote]

I went back in time a bit and found these. Maybe it will jog your memory.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/18942-seanij-takes-some-time/"]http://www.hookahfor...akes-some-time/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/18834-rob87-is-done/"]http://www.hookahfor...-rob87-is-done/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19145-spammer-taken-down/"]http://www.hookahfor...mer-taken-down/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19730-apparently-khalidnhamood-and-george-k-allis-think-we-are-idiots/"]http://www.hookahfor...-we-are-idiots/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19721-salvapatrucha25-is-just-plain-gone/"]http://www.hookahfor...ust-plain-gone/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19756-savior-takes-an-extended-posting-vacation/"]http://www.hookahfor...sting-vacation/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/19711-animal00043-takes-a-total-vacation/"]http://www.hookahfor...total-vacation/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/20415-khearts-takes-a-two-day-vacation/"]http://www.hookahfor...o-day-vacation/[/url]

Those ban threads were all shortly before your arrival. I actually found your intro thread while doing my research:

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/20559-new-member/"]http://www.hookahfor...559-new-member/[/url]

These few ban threads were made right after you came onto the forum. I found these three and got tired of digging, but I can guarantee there are much, much more.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/20625-jordanneff-takes-2-weeks-total-vacation/"]http://www.hookahfor...total-vacation/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/20633-lunah2hosehookah/"]http://www.hookahfor...nah2hosehookah/[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/21019-thrillskater131-is-gone/"]http://www.hookahfor...ter131-is-gone/[/url]

So as you can see, ban threads pretty much have been around forever. I didn't go back far enough to try and find when the ban threads started being made, but from my guess, it would be around 2006/2007, when the forum was really picking up in membership and needed more moderation.

I understand you're a long-time member and yes, you do have a right to have your voice heard. But my question is, what does it matter if you don't come around these parts anymore? Especially when it concerns something that has always been done before.

EDIT: Oh, and thanks Ray and Mike.

[MichaelLCP]

[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311876871' post='517497']
im on the same page as mitch

it doesnt really show me that the staff here is serious as much as they are separate here and [i][b][color="#FF0000"]not really our peers but more so the cyberpolice.[/color][/b][/i] The threads [b][i][color="#FF0000"]arent really informative[/color][/i][/b] they are just " hey look what i can do" really. I dont remember this always being what happened when someone was banned when i first joined but i also dont come here often.

Honestly all the threads are is the mod who posted it getting his ego stroked by members for how funny the memes and silly phrases they use to ban the person are.

Trust me this isnt about method NO ONE LIKES METHOD. This is just pretty childish.

[b][i][color="#FF0000"]Oh yea and mush cool you get your rocks off with these threads and other places keep somethings hidden. Different strokes for different folks. You seem to be hung up on this for some reason lately.[/color][/i][/b]
[/quote]

1. I don't even think you are active enough over here to make this judgement. Enough said.
2. The threads inform our new members on what not to do. It also lets them know that we enforce rules. Unlike other forums.
3. We don't give our rule breaking members a place to jerk off with each other. We ban them.

And about Mush. He runs the forums well. If you don't like it, you reserve the right to go ahead and leave. No one is forcing you to post here.

[mitchard]

So now its evolved into one forum bashing another? Bravo guys, bravo.

I understand the points made by Chris and Mush, and HF has ever right to be ran as the staff sees fit. But I still think the public stoning seems a bit childish. Maybe not the initial post (in which I do see value as a notification and reminder the the community), but the subsequent birds chirping in seems counterproductive.

[MichaelLCP]

I reserve this spot to post later. Dinner time.

[TheyCallMeDave]

We all know the saying, "opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and everyone thinks the others stinks." Well, I can say I have a pretty big asshole and plan to let ya'll smell it.

A few thoughts after reading all the posts...

1. I haven't been around as long as some of you, but I can say one thing for sure, it's pretty easy to see the personality of this forum. We joke, and have a good time. However, we also take our rules seriously. It's not like we run around giving people cavity searches, we just expect people to follow the important "and few of them, might I add" rules. Not only this, but unless a blatent disregard for the rules has been shown, we give a second chance nine times out of 10. I myself had been suspended due to NHT reference within my first month of joining. Mush emailed me very punctually, telling me it was obvious I hadn't read the rules (which I hadn't). There was a ban thread on me. It was funny. I learned a few things from that experience:

- Mods and Admins(Lol Admin) on this forum are understanding. Quick on the draw, definantly. Letting things slide? No. But they do understand.
- I was pleased to see people make fun f my suspention. Why might you ask? Because had it been serious, with a written repremand and everyone was hush hush about it, it would have scared me away.
- Seeing ban threads then showed me that it was a common occurance, and that I wasn't the first one to have this happen to. Anyone with a spine and sense of humor will shake it off, learn a lesson, laugh at themselves and move on.

2. The corrolation between bans and suspensions is very very clear. Suspensions are letting a member know that they fucked up, and are welcome back after an understanding of the rules. As for the bans, nearly every time someone is banned, they deserve it. It's not the breaking of the rules, it's the fact that they didn't care enough about the forum to follow the rules. There was no consideration for how the forum runs, and it's disrespectful for us t see someone blatently use or absue the forum, depending on the ban. I typically don't post on ban threads (however I do from time to time), but I can say confidently that anyone trying to defend the integrity of someone who obviously didn't give two shits about the forum needs to rethink their priorities here.

3. I'm going to touch on Method's case seeing as this seemed t be the root of the thread. Mods can edit this out, but I feel it's important to know why method isn't here. Hopefully this will shed some light on the situation. Method was a good guy. Yes, annoying. But a genuine kind of guy. However, I highly doubt he cared about the forum. Showing up on TC while under the influence of NHT and then bragging about it is no way to hold yourself here. Not only that, but when trold it was a bad idea, method told us that "It's fine, there aren't any mods around". That is the exact behaviour that will drive this forum into the ground, and it needs to be eliminated. Again, I have no sympathy for ban threads for people like method who make a clear mockery of the forum.

4. Piggybacking on method's case, I think we need to look at the bigger picture with "dissing" people in the ban threads. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would much rather have smeone tell me they don't like me, or at least make it known to me, directly or indirectly through somethign I could read myself. Derek, who has so valiently defended method's case, said himself he doesn't like method. Now are you telling me we can condemn the people who said it in a ban thread, but not in a thread he can't see? Again, protecting the integrity of people who don't belong here, instead of supporting your fellow devoted HF members seems a little off key with me. I'd be lying if I said method didn't deserve what he got. We gave him patience, and this is the product. So you tell me how delicate we are supposed to treat offenders around here, when that is a possible (and realistic, as we have seen) outcome. This leads me to my next point.

5. Anyone that isn't banned from not posting on the first day has seen a ban thread, unless they are blind. They know how it works, they've seen it in action. This is the kind of personality th forum has regarded termination of HF members. Anyone who sees this, realizes this is what we do, wether they like itor not, knows. If they don't like it, they can follow the rules or leave. That being said... Method (and MANY MANY MANY others like him) had seen threads like that, and on occasion joined in the fun. You can't expect to be the exception when your time comes, assuming you do smethign ban worthy. THEY KNOW! They know it's going to happen. So along with several other points, knowing that they don't care about the forum, it's members, OR what will happen when we DO ban them, why should we change thigns because of a few bleeding hearts?

6. I'm using Chris (INCUBUSRATM) As an example because he's a mod posting in here, and mods have been used as examples for the anti-ban thread argument. I genuinly like Chris. I think he's a true hookah lover, a smart and resonable guy, and overall a good friend (that's right, I called a mod a friend). I'd be lying if I said there weren't a few people on here who kiss ass to him and other mods to get on their good side, for various reasons. However, whe npeople post on the ban threads, we aren't petting their ego. We're congratulating a friend (That's right, I used the F word again) on a job well done, and not an easy job at that. I've talked with chris several times about visiting him in TN for a day of sessions. Now are you goign to tell me I'm going so far to pet his ego that I'm willing to drive across state to see him? Anyone knocking on the mods saying that the threads are for an ego boost clearly doesn't understand the sense of family threaded through this very forum (maybe if they were more active ins omething other than trades, they would understand that). Let me also add on a off topic note, that seniority does NOT equal imprtance. I'm not here to pick fights, but there are members who have been on since the beginning of the forum with only seven posts.

The bottom line is this: This forum makes it's agenda VERY clear. Clearer than any other forum I'm with. Unless you completely ignore the threads posted here, and don't pay any attention to the personalities or groove of the forum and it's members, you know this is how things work. Any acts such as methods, or 1 post vendors, or NHT smokers getting the wrong idea simply don't deserve to be here, and should realize the OBVIOUS consequences for their actions. Speaking as (what I consider myself to be) a well informed HF veteren, someone who has once felt the sting of a banhammer, and someone who until lnow didn't have a side in this, I can confidently leave on one quote:

"It's the way things are."


...And I like it this way....

[Dereksd]

[quote name='MichaelLCP' timestamp='1311905989' post='517547']
[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311876871' post='517497']
im on the same page as mitch

it doesnt really show me that the staff here is serious as much as they are separate here and [i][b][color="#FF0000"]not really our peers but more so the cyberpolice.[/color][/b][/i] The threads [b][i][color="#FF0000"]arent really informative[/color][/i][/b] they are just " hey look what i can do" really. I dont remember this always being what happened when someone was banned when i first joined but i also dont come here often.

Honestly all the threads are is the mod who posted it getting his ego stroked by members for how funny the memes and silly phrases they use to ban the person are.

Trust me this isnt about method NO ONE LIKES METHOD. This is just pretty childish.

[b][i][color="#FF0000"]Oh yea and mush cool you get your rocks off with these threads and other places keep somethings hidden. Different strokes for different folks. You seem to be hung up on this for some reason lately.[/color][/i][/b]
[/quote]

1. I don't even think you are active enough over here to make this judgement. Enough said.
2. The threads inform our new members on what not to do. It also lets them know that we enforce rules. Unlike other forums.
3. We don't give our rule breaking members a place to jerk off with each other. We ban them.

And about Mush. He runs the forums well. If you don't like it, you reserve the right to go ahead and leave. No one is forcing you to post here.
[/quote]


haha first off i dont care what my post count is ive been here years longer than you kid so dont get internet strong on me. Plus the thing about some other forum having a top secret area....man you guys seem to really have your panties in a twist over something that doesnt exist. This also coming from a new member to a certain other forum.

[Dereksd]

oh and im not defending method as i said fuck that guy hes an idiot

[MichaelLCP]

Wow I can't edit my previous post? Sorry for the double.

[font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2][quote name='mitchard' timestamp='1311906438' post='517549']
So now its evolved into one forum bashing another? Bravo guys, bravo.

I understand the points made by Chris and Mush, and HF has ever right to be ran as the staff sees fit. But I still think the public stoning seems a bit childish. Maybe not the initial post (in which I do see value as a notification and reminder the the community), but the subsequent birds chirping in seems counterproductive.
[/quote]

[/size][/font][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2]Well Mitch, I guess it has evolved into that. My posts have mostly been aimed at Derek... But either way they have been aimed at the other certain forum. But it takes 2 to tango, and I'll gladly be the second. You have the right to post whatever you want and show your opinion. Thats why this sub forum is a suggestion sub forum. What ticked me off is when Derek posted basically insulting our mods and taking a shot at mush. That, I take personally. If they weren't our peers over here, I wouldn't care if someone had said that about them, but obviously, I do care. [/size][/font][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2]@Derek: Feel free to share your opinion. That's what makes this forum! Our members! And their suggestions. But don't cross the line. [/size][/font][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2]
[/size][/font]

[MichaelLCP]

[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311908752' post='517555']
[quote name='MichaelLCP' timestamp='1311905989' post='517547']
[quote name='Dereksd' timestamp='1311876871' post='517497']
im on the same page as mitch

it doesnt really show me that the staff here is serious as much as they are separate here and [i][b][color="#FF0000"]not really our peers but more so the cyberpolice.[/color][/b][/i] The threads [b][i][color="#FF0000"]arent really informative[/color][/i][/b] they are just " hey look what i can do" really. I dont remember this always being what happened when someone was banned when i first joined but i also dont come here often.

Honestly all the threads are is the mod who posted it getting his ego stroked by members for how funny the memes and silly phrases they use to ban the person are.

Trust me this isnt about method NO ONE LIKES METHOD. This is just pretty childish.

[b][i][color="#FF0000"]Oh yea and mush cool you get your rocks off with these threads and other places keep somethings hidden. Different strokes for different folks. You seem to be hung up on this for some reason lately.[/color][/i][/b]
[/quote]

1. I don't even think you are active enough over here to make this judgement. Enough said.
2. The threads inform our new members on what not to do. It also lets them know that we enforce rules. Unlike other forums.
3. We don't give our rule breaking members a place to jerk off with each other. We ban them.

And about Mush. He runs the forums well. If you don't like it, you reserve the right to go ahead and leave. No one is forcing you to post here.
[/quote]


haha first off i dont care what my post count is ive been here years longer than you kid so dont get internet strong on me. Plus the thing about some other forum having a top secret area....man you guys seem to really have your panties in a twist over something that doesnt exist. This also coming from a new member to a certain other forum.
[/quote]

1. Don't call me a kid. I may be 18 but I sure as hell know how to conduct myself better than your immature self.
2. A place that doesn't exist? I personally saw the thread where John announced this "fap dungeon", so don't tell me it doesn't exist.

You know why people here don't post on your forum? Because we don't like it! We don't like the way it's ran. But we don't come on there like a bunch of immature children and rant about it. If you don't like our forum, don't post here. Is it too hard for you to comprehend that? Or are you just sticking around for the lulz?

[TheyCallMeDave]

It seems my post landed in the middle of the thread, and not as a new post... Lemme try again.

We all know the saying, "opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and everyone thinks the others stinks." Well, I can say I have a pretty big asshole and plan to let ya'll smell it.

A few thoughts after reading all the posts...

1. I haven't been around as long as some of you, but I can say one thing for sure, it's pretty easy to see the personality of this forum. We joke, and have a good time. However, we also take our rules seriously. It's not like we run around giving people cavity searches, we just expect people to follow the important "and few of them, might I add" rules. Not only this, but unless a blatent disregard for the rules has been shown, we give a second chance nine times out of 10. I myself had been suspended due to NHT reference within my first month of joining. Mush emailed me very punctually, telling me it was obvious I hadn't read the rules (which I hadn't). There was a ban thread on me. It was funny. I learned a few things from that experience:

- Mods and Admins(Lol Admin) on this forum are understanding. Quick on the draw, definantly. Letting things slide? No. But they do understand.
- I was pleased to see people make fun f my suspention. Why might you ask? Because had it been serious, with a written repremand and everyone was hush hush about it, it would have scared me away.
- Seeing ban threads then showed me that it was a common occurance, and that I wasn't the first one to have this happen to. Anyone with a spine and sense of humor will shake it off, learn a lesson, laugh at themselves and move on.

2. The corrolation between bans and suspensions is very very clear. Suspensions are letting a member know that they fucked up, and are welcome back after an understanding of the rules. As for the bans, nearly every time someone is banned, they deserve it. It's not the breaking of the rules, it's the fact that they didn't care enough about the forum to follow the rules. There was no consideration for how the forum runs, and it's disrespectful for us t see someone blatently use or absue the forum, depending on the ban. I typically don't post on ban threads (however I do from time to time), but I can say confidently that anyone trying to defend the integrity of someone who obviously didn't give two shits about the forum needs to rethink their priorities here.

3. I'm going to touch on Method's case seeing as this seemed t be the root of the thread. Mods can edit this out, but I feel it's important to know why method isn't here. Hopefully this will shed some light on the situation. Method was a good guy. Yes, annoying. But a genuine kind of guy. However, I highly doubt he cared about the forum. Showing up on TC while under the influence of NHT and then bragging about it is no way to hold yourself here. Not only that, but when trold it was a bad idea, method told us that "It's fine, there aren't any mods around". That is the exact behaviour that will drive this forum into the ground, and it needs to be eliminated. Again, I have no sympathy for ban threads for people like method who make a clear mockery of the forum.

4. Piggybacking on method's case, I think we need to look at the bigger picture with "dissing" people in the ban threads. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would much rather have smeone tell me they don't like me, or at least make it known to me, directly or indirectly through somethign I could read myself. Derek, who has so valiently defended method's case, said himself he doesn't like method. Now are you telling me we can condemn the people who said it in a ban thread, but not in a thread he can't see? Again, protecting the integrity of people who don't belong here, instead of supporting your fellow devoted HF members seems a little off key with me. I'd be lying if I said method didn't deserve what he got. We gave him patience, and this is the product. So you tell me how delicate we are supposed to treat offenders around here, when that is a possible (and realistic, as we have seen) outcome. This leads me to my next point.

5. Anyone that isn't banned from not posting on the first day has seen a ban thread, unless they are blind. They know how it works, they've seen it in action. This is the kind of personality th forum has regarded termination of HF members. Anyone who sees this, realizes this is what we do, wether they like itor not, knows. If they don't like it, they can follow the rules or leave. That being said... Method (and MANY MANY MANY others like him) had seen threads like that, and on occasion joined in the fun. You can't expect to be the exception when your time comes, assuming you do smethign ban worthy. THEY KNOW! They know it's going to happen. So along with several other points, knowing that they don't care about the forum, it's members, OR what will happen when we DO ban them, why should we change thigns because of a few bleeding hearts?

6. I'm using Chris (INCUBUSRATM) As an example because he's a mod posting in here, and mods have been used as examples for the anti-ban thread argument. I genuinly like Chris. I think he's a true hookah lover, a smart and resonable guy, and overall a good friend (that's right, I called a mod a friend). I'd be lying if I said there weren't a few people on here who kiss ass to him and other mods to get on their good side, for various reasons. However, whe npeople post on the ban threads, we aren't petting their ego. We're congratulating a friend (That's right, I used the F word again) on a job well done, and not an easy job at that. I've talked with chris several times about visiting him in TN for a day of sessions. Now are you goign to tell me I'm going so far to pet his ego that I'm willing to drive across state to see him? Anyone knocking on the mods saying that the threads are for an ego boost clearly doesn't understand the sense of family threaded through this very forum (maybe if they were more active ins omething other than trades, they would understand that). Let me also add on a off topic note, that seniority does NOT equal imprtance. I'm not here to pick fights, but there are members who have been on since the beginning of the forum with only seven posts.

The bottom line is this: This forum makes it's agenda VERY clear. Clearer than any other forum I'm with. Unless you completely ignore the threads posted here, and don't pay any attention to the personalities or groove of the forum and it's members, you know this is how things work. Any acts such as methods, or 1 post vendors, or NHT smokers getting the wrong idea simply don't deserve to be here, and should realize the OBVIOUS consequences for their actions. Speaking as (what I consider myself to be) a well informed HF veteren, someone who has once felt the sting of a banhammer, and someone who until lnow didn't have a side in this, I can confidently leave on one quote:

"It's the way things are."


...And I like it this way....

[Chreees]

[quote name='mitchard' timestamp='1311906438' post='517549']
So now its evolved into one forum bashing another? Bravo guys, bravo.

I understand the points made by Chris and Mush, and HF has ever right to be ran as the staff sees fit. But I still think the public stoning seems a bit childish. Maybe not the initial post (in which I do see value as a notification and reminder the the community), but the subsequent birds chirping in seems counterproductive.
[/quote]

Um, who is bashing other forums? From what I've seen so far, MOSTLY, it has been simple comparisons of how the forums are run differently. You kinda started it actually by suggesting we take on the way a certain forum does their ban announcements. I gotta admit, though, Derek's post was on the verge of forum bashing. Some might say it flat out was.

I really don't understand why this is being brought up now and what triggered it to be brought up. It's the way it's always been done. What has made it an issue all of a sudden?