This has been on my heart today:
I have the highest admiration for Kevin, the moderators, Brian, and everyone who contributes in any way to keeping PipesMagazine.com a viable online source for all things pipe-related. It cannot be an easy job to maintain a commercial site whose foundation is a community of diverse individuals. (And I would argue that that's exactly the case here: without the community, there would be no advertisers or content; without the advertisers and content, the value to the community would be significantly lessened.)
Why mention this? I just noticed that a thread I contributed to this morning no longer exists. Not "closed"; gone. And then I got several personal messages from folks here who said they've noticed a recent, disconcerting shift in the administration's approach to managing the Forum.
I'm not second-guessing the behind-the-scenes forum-management decisions. I was president of an international organization that had to take drastic steps to keep our online forums as free as possible from personal attacks, heated arguments, and general negativity. It was painful for members to visit our site -- and equally painful to fix. But the result was an online community that was much more beneficial for all of our members.
So I can't imagine the work and discussions that occasionally need to happen among this site's administrators. I'm sure it isn't easy to send out reprimands or remove threads that may include some good points along with the objectionable material. But I don't think I'm speaking only for myself when I say that many people here are not just "forum participants" or fellow pipe smokers: They are real friends. And that can make these kinds of administrative steps seem harsh. It's easy to take them personally. And, based on some of the messages I've received, I think some here are feeling that, perhaps, the commercial concerns may be trumping the community that we've been allowed to develop here. It seems to me that both need to be respected and well-maintained if this site is to continue to flourish.
It is a tough balancing act. And I don't think I have any more of a point than that.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob
I have the highest admiration for Kevin, the moderators, Brian, and everyone who contributes in any way to keeping PipesMagazine.com a viable online source for all things pipe-related. It cannot be an easy job to maintain a commercial site whose foundation is a community of diverse individuals. (And I would argue that that's exactly the case here: without the community, there would be no advertisers or content; without the advertisers and content, the value to the community would be significantly lessened.)
Why mention this? I just noticed that a thread I contributed to this morning no longer exists. Not "closed"; gone. And then I got several personal messages from folks here who said they've noticed a recent, disconcerting shift in the administration's approach to managing the Forum.
I'm not second-guessing the behind-the-scenes forum-management decisions. I was president of an international organization that had to take drastic steps to keep our online forums as free as possible from personal attacks, heated arguments, and general negativity. It was painful for members to visit our site -- and equally painful to fix. But the result was an online community that was much more beneficial for all of our members.
So I can't imagine the work and discussions that occasionally need to happen among this site's administrators. I'm sure it isn't easy to send out reprimands or remove threads that may include some good points along with the objectionable material. But I don't think I'm speaking only for myself when I say that many people here are not just "forum participants" or fellow pipe smokers: They are real friends. And that can make these kinds of administrative steps seem harsh. It's easy to take them personally. And, based on some of the messages I've received, I think some here are feeling that, perhaps, the commercial concerns may be trumping the community that we've been allowed to develop here. It seems to me that both need to be respected and well-maintained if this site is to continue to flourish.
It is a tough balancing act. And I don't think I have any more of a point than that.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob