Madformac

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by madformac

I will read the boards from time to time, interestingly within hours of my final post my I.P Address was blocked from this site, I couldn't even read it until I changed my address. I would love to know how or why or who did it but it may remain a mystery to me (no pun intended).

Before I go back and reply to other posts, I wanted to quickly comment on the above.

I just double-checked, and the IP address you were using when you posted in the Stevie Forum was not blocked by any of us, nor has it ever been.
None of your IP strings have been.

Also, we have never blocked someone unless they had received a strike (which now comes with a minimum 48 hour "probation") or were banned or "under review" for banning.

I'm not sure exactly what happened to prevent you from viewing/posting here, but I can assure you that you were not blocked by Marty or any of the moderators.

[skcin]

Sorry to hear about your decision, Madormac, but I understand where you're coming from.

[madformac]

Originally Posted by chiliD

"fault"?!? I never considered the suggestion you come to this place a "fault" ...considering how you thrived here for all that time. I think you were (uh...what's with the past-tense, chili?)...ARE a major asset to the Ledges.

I know we'll keep in touch outside of here; but, just to let you know publicly from the standpoint of a fellow Ledgie, I hope that you will consider your departure more of an open-ended "leave of absence", than as a full on permanent departure.

And, ya know...there's always that "other board" where you started out, to go back to.

Hey Steve,

I hope you got my PM the other day.. Drop me an email anyway, I need some help on an unrelated matter...

My departure... Yes, not exactly Lindsey like in it's way but having said that....

The world was calling you away
And your leaving was just a way of staying with what you'd come to say
This pain was a poem slowly written
Torn from the book and cast into a corner of the attic where no one could look
This rage for all to see caught fire and burned all around me till there was nothing left to burn
Now I stand alone in these attic bones and reread that poem all yellowed with age
Tears heal such as healing is so I cast that page into the ashes
But there is no blame, only shades of regret
And those too will fade as the world calls me away

I should be back in about 10 years then......

[madformac]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Before I go back and reply to other posts, I wanted to quickly comment on the above.

I just double-checked, and the IP address you were using when you posted in the Stevie Forum was not blocked by any of us, nor has it ever been.
None of your IP strings have been.

Also, we have never blocked someone unless they had received a strike (which now comes with a minimum 48 hour "probation") or were banned or "under review" for banning.

I'm not sure exactly what happened to prevent you from viewing/posting here, but I can assure you that you were not blocked by Marty or any of the moderators.

Yeah I kinda figured it wasn't done by Marty, Lis or a Mod.. Thanks for clarifying it anyway..

[GateandGarden]

Thank you for taking to the time to type that post for us. I respect and understand your decision not to post any longer. From what you've said, it sounds like you've gotten a lot out of your experience from The Ledge and I'm really glad that it has been so positive in the past four years. I'm sorry that the current tone of the board has made you want to leave, but at the same time, I imagine many of us will be ready to move on eventually. And, of course, if you decide to come back at a later date, I'll be happy to see you.

[Johnny Stew]

In regards to multiple threads on the same topic... I have debated how to handle those, but I've never come to a satisfactory conclusion.
This is one of those areas in which Marty leaves it to the moderators' discretion.

I know on many other message boards I visit, any new thread posted that's related to the topic of a previous thread (no matter how old), is immediately deleted or locked.
The mods will post something in regards to, "we've already had a thread on this topic, please use the Search function before creating new topics in the future," and then close the thread.

To me, that just seems rather cold and unwelcoming, especially to new/newer posters who aren't completely familiarized with the boards just yet.

Yes, there were a LOT of Vegas threads, but some seemed to me that they needed to be separate... such as those discussing accomodations and Ledgie meetings.

So the question became: Where do we draw the line? What (if anything) should remain separate, and what should be locked.

Should ALL Vegas-related conversations (to continue using that as an example) be kept to one single thread, no matter what?

Maybe this should be something that the moderators come to an agreement on, so we can all handle this in a consistent way.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by madformac

Yeah I kinda figured it wasn't done by Marty, Lis or a Mod.. Thanks for clarifying it anyway..

Anytime.
I didn't want to leave you with the impression that someone here had blocked you.

[tuigirl]

Well Mac...you've proved me wrong by posting so much!
This thread has actually become extremely interesting and hopefully made a few people a little bit more aware of how easily things can affect others.
As for the "official straight guy" award..there can't be too many of you left here on the Ledge.!!!
I'm sure Gerald is more than capable of taking over the helm and looking after all the ladies....

See ya 'bout..

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by The Tower

The whole exchange was a big nothing. I don't understand how people can get so bent out of shape over little things- especially little things on an internet forum. So, they disagreed- big deal. Was it necessary to have the hissy fit and storm off?

I have no idea what everyone is talking about when they refer to the "tone" of the Ledge changing over the last few months. It's all seemed about the same to me.

I hate saying this, but I agree. Nothing has been different at all here lately except a bit more sadness for a few days when Stevies dad died.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by David

A ledgie should be able to express negativity about the topic of this forum, & should be able to say, "I can't stand the Las Vegas show," without being jumped on in personal ways by the other ledgies. But that's rarely the case. A negative opinion about the TOPIC is construed as either a character flaw or a transgression, & then attacked -- all of which bugs me.

Even now, in this very thread, people are complaining about the "negativity" & I don't know for sure what they're talking about: are they talking about personal attacks? or about negative opinions about the subject(s) of the board?

If saying something negative -- however harsh -- about Fleetwood Mac is considered a serious problem by the site owners or moderators, or by the poster community in general here, prohibit it. Just prohibit it now & be done with it. At least then participants know where they stand & what exactly they can say.

But all this reactive crap -- "Why are you so negative about Stevie/Mick/Lindsey/Bekka?" -- about some people's opinions is what incites fights & unhappiness & creates what I call a HUAC atmosphere.

You make excellent points, no doubt about it.

And I'd certainly hate for the atmosphere here to become such that folks are afraid of saying anything that could even remotely be considered a criticism towards the band.

However, I do think there are many times when a criticism is lobbed at the band, or certain members of the band, not as a means of self-expression, but as a way of jabbing other Ledgies. To simply incite them, or to passive-aggressively insult them and their intelligence.

I think the latter behaviour, the pattern of which becomes quite obvious in a rather short amount of time, has created higher levels of resentment here. Those higher levels of resentment then cause people to react quicker or more harshly than they probably normally would, and perception turns even the most innocuous comment into a personal afront.

But how do you moderate such behaviour? I can't even count how many times I've tried to politely caution people to take others' feelings into consideration before they post, on both sides of the arguments, only to find myself being lambasted for having the gall to call someone on their conduct.

It's difficult when you have no other choice but to rely on people... who should be plenty old enough to know better... to act maturely in their dealings with others.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I hate saying this, but I agree. Nothing has been different at all here lately except a bit more sadness for a few days when Stevies dad died.

I honestly don't see how you could say that. Some people have been outright hateful toward each other. Of course I don't want to start an argument about it because that would be painfully ironic, but things are definitely different. There is a lot more hostility, though I keep hoping it's going to go away and I'll wait and see.

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Sorry to see you go madformac......us Brits are in short supply on here!

Take care

Pip

[WelshWitchPMD]

I am sorry to see you go. I totally understand how you feel, however. Good luck and maybe we will see you around these parts again.

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I shouldn't have started what was a serious argument with you not too long ago in one of those Ledge forums in that moderator thread. It seems like too many of those types of quarrels are being played out in public and maybe we would all be more comfortable if they didn't. If those things were taken care of privately and we didn't all know the details, then, ignorance would be bliss?

You're right - there's no reason to subject everyone else to personal fueds. Some people (not saying you) however see airing it in public as one more weapon - they hope to publicly humiliate their "enemy."

[sodascouts]

Originally Posted by madformac

Whoooow... Where do I start?!?!?!

OK. I'll start at the top and go from there.

David. Thankyou for starting a thread in my honour.. I'm surprised anybody really noticed me missing actually.. But anyway, the reason I'm replying to this is out of courtesy and respect for some of the Ledgie "old school" if you will. I had planned to slip away quietly, a dawn departure if you like but alas, with David's thread I feel a need to speak up and clarify my leaving.

Thanks for offering an explanation. There are a lot of people quietly leaving for the same reason but they never say, and no one ever realizes why - especially a lot of veteran Ledgies.