I HAVE RETURNED after a bit of an enforced furlough. the spousal unit offered me the choice of logging all the way out for 10 days or moving the computer to some other plug in some other domicile. I took the propper choice (no the snail mail address remains the same).

And I am back with an attitude.

Having spent the last ten or so days in the real world, and having seen the incredible disconect going on from an other vantage point, AND having had a chance to REALLY LOOK at the callendar, I have made some changes in my attitude.

1) DON'T WASTE MY TIME I AIN'T GOTS A LOT!! This goes for EVERYONE as we haven't got a lot of time and it seems to be running faster and faster.

2) CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION or get the F### OUT of the WAY!!! Name calling and other disruptive stuff WILL VANISH without a second thought. If you KNOW YOUR post didn't do any of that and in fact was in suport of the target and wonder why YOUR post went away TOO, it's because the OTHER post went away and parallelism needs to be kept (errr I use the term parallelism to mean thread integrity, so that the easily confused of us don't get moreso).

3) I AIN'T GONNA WASTE TIME and bandwith EXPLAININ' NUTTIN' out here on the forum. THAT detracts from the focus we ALL NEED TO HAVE.

4) THE TIME FOR DEBATE on WHETHER or NOT is PAST! I MAY be convinced otherwise but I am REAL tempted to remove this type of post. I am NOT a total brick head (just Italian-Dutch and a Taurus) so if you can convince me with a cogent argumment, I'll back off on this one. BUT it's got to be COGENT, and any reference to balance, access fairness etc will be rejected. TRY to give me a good reason to back off from this one, I would LOVE to but.... right now I don't see the percentage..

5) IF YOU WANT MY ATTENTION, it would be best to use my personal e-mail and NOT the general sysops address as I DO NOT HAVE TIME to check there often. MOST of you know what my address is but for those of you fortunate enough to have not crossed my path:

address is

rienzoo@en.com

YUP!! I have returned with an atitude.

Chuck

SYSOP # 3

I-AM-A-NUMBER

-- sysop#3 (I-AM-a-number@sysops.R.us), November 19, 1999

Answers

Whew!

Finally Chuck! I NEED a break! Begun leaning more heavily on the delete keys. Zero troll tolerance is KEWL by me!

TIME to focus posters!

;-D

Diane
Sysop #1

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Another Taurus, forget zero tolerance this will probably be sub zero tolerance.

I have been on the we have until December late before the herd stirs. There is a feeling starting on the back of my neck (haven't seen the movie yet just trailer) that the wind is picking up. DO NOT WASTE TIME WAITING TO PREPARE. Follow the always useful rule KISS Keep It Simple Sailor (or whatever).

-- squid (Itsdark@down.here), November 19, 1999.

[Don't even respond--just snip--Sysop]

-- EJ (123@4.com), November 19, 1999.

Chuck,

Hello! Thanks for the help with my thread - it really needed it.

Yeah!!! for serious debate...

-- Deb M. (vmclell@columbus.rr.com), November 19, 1999.

EJ,

If, by some merciful miracle Y2 turns out to be a BITR, I will go back to my normal life, doing large first aid coverages, playing race paramedic at Mid-Ohio Racecourse, and generally being my usual laid- back self.

If it isn't, hopefully I will position myself in a place to lead from the rear in the reconstruction.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), November 19, 1999.

Are you hypertensive?

-- Spidey (in@jam.huh?), November 19, 1999.

Glad your back Chuck. About the calendar, your suggestion made me look. Ouch, not much time left.

And thanks for the words of wisdom.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Chuck, I would respectfully request that you clean up the A&M thread.

[anger and rage so large I can't type]

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), November 19, 1999.

"There is no proof that Y2K is going to be any more than a BITR."

Does this mean there is proof that it will be a BITR....?

"...it's time you all crawled back under the FUD rocks that you crawled out from under.

This guy spends a lot of time getting really upset over other people's folly. Must not have much else to interest him.

Lots of people do things I think are foolish. Since I can't fix 'em, I leave 'em alone.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 19, 1999.

Lisa,

A & M thread cleaned up.

Posters, you may see some "gaps" in the conversations. Doing some global snipping of "known" trolls.

Leave... (Doomers@suck. big time!!) & Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com)... it's time.

Nuf' said.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Okay,

Y2K Pro... global snips for you.

Had it!

LEAVE... DeBunker... Go home!

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Sssiiiick 'em.

Better late than never.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 19, 1999.

It would be funny if it wasn't so sad: The fear-mongers are afraid.

Have we been hitting the latte too much this afternoon?

Patient Regards,
Andy Ray

-- Andy Ray (andyman633@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.

Three cheers for the mature decision of sending the kids off to their rooms where we cannot here them.

Hip-hip...............

-- db. (dciinc@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

HEAR them HEAR___

-- d (dciinc@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Diane -- "You Go Girl"

There is only so much tolerance and benevolence! SNIP AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- ** (karlacalif@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

You get 'em.

Make 'em work thrice as hard at their idiocy.

Gimme a spare key and I'll be thrilled to help out.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), November 19, 1999.

Awesome!! Trash the pollies!! I'm sick of 'em.

-- (brett@miklos.org), November 19, 1999.

It's soooo very amusing to see these trolls such as Pro, Suck, etc... attack Doomers, yet these three never use FACTS of their own, all they can do is call names and throw temper-tantrums. How very childish.

You know trolls, you COULD get your point across if you didn't attack people. You want newcomers to know the TRUTH, then please post it. No one in their right mind will take you seriously if all you do is spew hatred. You're shooting yourself in the foot with that tactic.

Come on now, sit down & let's have a brewski. Discuss this as ADULTS - I think you can do that, can't you?

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 19, 1999.

The "civil" BITR crowd is not at issue here. It's the nasty "doomer" flamers and assorted trolling trash that are going.

May take awahile.

*Sigh*

Patience Glasshoppa's.

Diane

(Looks like I'm gonna be filing a lot of ISP abuse compalints for 'em!)

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Trolls have been allowed to harm this forum, and I'm happy to see it stopped.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 19, 1999.

Thank you, THANK YOU. Glad you are back!

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Right with ya'all there Chuck and Diane.

Amen.

It IS time.

Serious focus is at hand.

And also to the other "preparing pessimists" on the board: DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, even if we get through the first weekend of January without too much aggrivation. Using Koskinen's own analogy of "preparing for a hurricane", every cyclone of such has an "eye", and those that have survived such an onslaught can tell you that the winds coming after the eye passes over are the fiercest in the storm.

This is nothing to say about losses of civil liberties that may come as a result of disruptions. I surmise that THAT is more probable than the power grid going down. Keep your eyes and ears open with a plan in place to enact, so that you and your families may remain safe.

The time for talk is over.

Time to act, time to finalize your preps.

-- INVAR (gundark@sw.net), November 19, 1999.

I'd like to take the time to introduce myself.

My identity isn't important, really. If you must, picture me as Zorro. I will defend the honor of this board and fight to keep trolls at bay. Where I strike I will leave a mark so the "who" behind the action is not left to ponder.

I will support the actions of the other Sysops and work to bring focus to this discussion.

Have a nice day : )

-- The Stealth Sysop (I'm @ right behind you .trolls), November 19, 1999.

Zorro: pure adulation and appreciation.

Tear it up.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), November 19, 1999.

Thanks Stealth Sysop.

;-D

Diane, relaxing... for the moment

See also...

GOOD ADVICE: Down to the wire - focus, focus Steve Davis [civicprep]

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001nwh

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Lisa, thanks! I'll do my best and try to use these new "keys" in a way that would help you and everyone else contribute and benefit from this board!

Diane, I will work for the good : ) Enjoy the Latte!!!

The Stealth Sysop

<

-- The Stealth Sysop (I'm right @ behind you .trolls), November 19, 1999.

Not a BRICKHEAD, Just Italian-Dutch Taurus...

just a Tulip eating MEATHEAD!!!

Let's get off the nationality stereos...

Diane could use the help...she has to get rebalanced after the negative Feng Shui storm that been the Troll attack on this Board...

-- Z (Z@Z.Z), November 19, 1999.

What is a troll.

-- Laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Hey, Chuck, I think you pissed somebody off...

(WB)

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 19, 1999.

Would you like him deep fried? Or Fricasseed? youknowwho, dude you are so dead...

Chuck: Bon Appetit!

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasan@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

Hey Chuck,

Did you cut off his IP?

I bet it wasn't very big anyway.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.

We're Not Worthy!!! We're Not Worthy!!! We're Not Worthy!!!

(It's been a long time coming...)

Don't back down.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), November 19, 1999.

YESSSS!!!! Time and past time. Thank ALL of the sysops from the bottom of my heart. If anybody has a way to get ahold of the poster known as LIBERTY, please let him/her know this new policy. S/he left a few weeks ago because of the trollish noise level.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), November 19, 1999.

A lot of people have left RUOK. Havn't had a *server busy* in a couple of weeks.

-- Carlos (riffraff1@cybertime.net), November 19, 1999.

Good. It is time.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), November 19, 1999.

Anybody wanna bet this forum wont be password-protected after January 1?

-- CD (not@here.com), November 19, 1999.

As the sysops know, I've been against censorship times past - but the integrity of the BB has been compromised with all the BS. Go, guys, go! (Just leave the FRL asylum for those immature of us to play in, right? ;-)

-- T the C (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.

It's about time that the SYSOPS declared "martial law" on these damn trolls!!!! Especially with what will probably be a huge surge of people coming here looking for Y2K help in the next few days and weeks. (Like, how about after that Y2K movie airs on Sunday evening.)

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 19, 1999.

I agree with RUOK... Liberty added much to the forum, been wondering where he was, (I think there was a bit too much testosterone to be female; could be wrong though).

Sysop...

.....Wish you were here two weeks ago.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), November 19, 1999.

I concur. This strikes me as a wise policy at this point. Thank you, Chuck.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), November 19, 1999.

I say "amen"

We need to know both sides of the issue, but we do not have to embrace both. Night is about to fall, time is short. Everyone has the right to an opinion, however, not every opinion is right.

The doomer/polly arguments (for the most part) are mutually exclusive IMO.

The 'dialectic', 'pushed' by the TPTB is evil! Lane Core hit it out of the park in his most recent article.

I have tried to warn y'all about the 'marshall law' build up. A lot of clues out there! I hope some have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Deo Vindice!,

BR

-- brother rat (rldabney@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

A BIG THANK YOU to the SYSOPS (ALL of y'all)!

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), November 19, 1999.

Sysops all--you did exhausting work today and there will be more to come. If it's any help, when I worked in a consumer affairs office we estimated one person in ten complained about something--and one person in a hundred (a thousand?) thanked us. I'd guess the ratios in this business are pretty close. That's a lot of thanks! Add mine to the long list.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 19, 1999.

Chuck (and Diane, and all other sysops) --

Thanks for the reminder that we all need to FOCUS!!

If the pollies have information, reasoned arguments, or other useful stuff to share, that is fine. But the number of 'Troll' posts has gotten to be a major distraction.

To all the 'Pollies': -- If there is disagreement as to the nature or potential extent of the problems then, by all means, post that, but do please try to back it up. Else you do a disservice to all those who come looking for information. (Try to emulate Flint or Malcolm Taylor).

-- just another (another@engineer.com), November 20, 1999.

Laura --

Didn't notice your question earlier. A 'troll' is someone who posts inane, inflammatory, or asinine statements in hopes of evoking a response. The tactic is intended to distract from the conversation or topics which are hot. Frequently gets *very* bad on the weekends.

The term 'troll' is the same as used in the 'Garfield' comic strip, as in 'Trolling for dogs.' There are any number of alternative explanations from the 'old days' on mainframes, back in the 60's and early 70's, when it was mainly system operators who had access to the 'internet', which was then 'Darpanet'. My personal favorite is that it derived from a game available (to ops only, you had to have a system console, although it has been popularized and cleaned up since), call 'Adventure'. Which had a character called the 'Troll'.

-- just another (another@engineer.com), November 20, 1999.

Ah the memories! I'd forgotton about "Adventure." Played it in the early '80's.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 20, 1999.

"All animals are created equal...but some animals are created more equal"

George Orwell - Animal Farm

-- b (b@b.b), November 20, 1999.

And so, finally, after a suitable pause for all those of limited memory-span to forget the last discussion on this theme, the spectre of biased censorship reappears. And this time it is official and out from under the hooded white sheet.

I've said my piece so many times in the past, I'm loathe to repeat it once again. Just an opinion this time, and a prediction. (Surely those two things are allowed, arent they ?)

The Opinion . . .

As ever, your credibility as censors will stand or fall on the straightforward acid-test of where and why you apply your power.

The Prediction . . or rather . .

A FIRST FOR TB2000 - 4 (count em . . four !!) PREDICTIONS GUARANTEED TO COME TRUE . .

1) "Troll/Polly" posts will be deleted for "profanity" and "ad-hom" in the same thread where equally profane and ad-hom postings by "doomers" will be 1) permitted to remain and 2) applauded.

2) "Troll/Polly" posts will appear simply questioning the fundamental underlying argument of a thread, and will be subsequently flamed by doomer attack dogs in a manner far worse than almost all troll posts which will be deleted by the sysops.

3) Your hypocrisy and double standards will be applauded by the fundamentalist FUD crew, while simultaneously, the moderates and lurkers leave in droves (as is occurring now), until you have your wish, and this forum becomes a back-slapping mutual appreciation society for anti-establishment extremists.

4) Your excuse for your behaviour will be hung on the lame argument that this forum is for like minded blah blah, from the "about" section, and will completely ignore the fact that anyone with a strong and sound argument can bear to have their statements examined and questioned publicly by those who disagree, without resorting to censorship.

And in closing . . .

One thing I'm sure of . . the usual suspects will now respond to this post, and not one of them will address a darn thing I just said. Still, as much as that may make you feel better about your totalitarian bias, I am comforted in the knowledge that whatever you do, you do it publicly, and the moderates, and the lurkers and the newbies will know you for what you are.

Chuck, you and I have corresponded privately, and I know you to be a reasonable man. You should think carefully . . VERY carefully, before participating in this activity.

The only requirement for evil to proceed is for good people to do nothing.

Time to decide what you're going to do . . (no use standing there staring at your shoes)

Kindest Regards

W

-- W0lv3r1n3 (w0lv3r1n3@yahoo.com), November 20, 1999.

If the pollys don't like it here, then they should leave and go back to debunkers. The same goes for GI's who can't handle the new policy. Nearly every post from the pollys is a ridiculous troll or some sort of stupid argument backed up by lies. We don't need this here, and I'm glad it's finally getting cleaned up. Keep it up!!!

-- (brett@miklos.org), November 20, 1999.

W0lv3r1n3,

Chuck and Diane so far have done a respectable job of keeping this forum usable. As it stands now, it's an unsable zoo! I've had my own responses embedded in threads deleted a couple of times in the past 18+ months, and it ruffled my feathers and I've complained. But right now things have gone out of hand, this forum isn't usable anymore, my blood pressure rises each time I log on. I trust Chuck and Diane to do the right thing again. If Chuck is uncomfortable with a subject matter that isn't related to Y2K, so be it, let him delete. But PlEASE CHUCK, DELETE THOSE TROLLS!!!

If you need help, I'll be glad to lend a hand.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), November 20, 1999.

NOT just another engineer, & Gene,

Thank you so very much. I appreciate your time and generosity. I've been worried sick thinking I'm a troll. I have an odd sense of humor I guess; I once posted that I have a Hummer (I don't, but my comment seemed funny to me) and I've posted that I carry a .357 (I do but, but I said it for effect and comic relief.) Are these kind of comments frowned upon? I realize there are people who take everything literally, even if it is off-handed humor.

I don't want to be booted off of here for playing around.

-- Laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), November 20, 1999.

Laura, you're well in bounds, from what I've seen. To check out more in bounds way out behaviour, go to recent answers page, find 'frl' and check us out. You'll be made welcome, I promise :-)

-- T the C (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), November 20, 1999.

Dear Tricia,

I'm new and stupid, where is the answer page? (I can't find it.)

-- Laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), November 20, 1999.

"Your excuse for your behaviour will be hung on the lame argument that this forum is for like minded blah blah, from the "about" section, and will completely ignore the fact that anyone with a strong and sound argument can bear to have their statements examined and questioned publicly by those who disagree, without resorting to censorship."

Tell you what Wolverine, you get the fun folks over there at DeBonkers to lend their board to civil and intelligent discourse from opposing "doomer" viewpoints, and then you can go ahead and lecture us to your little heart's content about "totalitarianism".

One more thing, there is no "censorship" here as you are framing the argument. We are merely asking that all those who post here abide by the rules set forth. If this were a public swimming pool, should we allow all the non-potty-trained kids and nudists disrupt the pool because they have a "right" to enjoy the pool? No, they have to abide by the rules established so that everyone can enjoy the pool safely. The same can be said here.

If you don't like our rules, go and find another pool that will allow you to piss in it.

Either that, or piss off.

Simple, no?

-- INVAR (gundark@sw.net), November 20, 1999.

Laura,

you've proven yourself worthy. Tricia is also worthy of you, in case you worried about that. Here's the link she was refering to.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), November 21, 1999.

I couldnt have asked for a better example . . .

INVAR wrote . .

Tell you what Wolverine, you get the fun folks over there at DeBonkers to lend their board to civil and intelligent discourse from opposing "doomer" viewpoints, and then you can go ahead and lecture us to your little heart's content about "totalitarianism".

I am not the owner, sysop, moderator or anything other than an occasional poster to that forum, and therefore, I find it inane and infantile that the foundation of your counterargument hinges on trying to "implicate" me by association. Its not as if I even "associate" there very much. 2 postings in the last 2 months that I can remember. Also, as far as I have seen there, "doomer viewpoints" where presented in a courteous and non-confrontational manner, tend to be answered rather well. Of course, anyone popping by to throw rocks tends to be dealt with rather harshly, but never (as far as I have seen) in a manner in contrary to the forum rules as advertised.

One more thing, there is no "censorship" here as you are framing the argument.

Yes there is. If you want to split hairs, threads have been deleted for the simple reason that they were posted many times. I have studied your forum rules, and can find no reference to the prohibition of multiple posts. If you want to simply use common sense you lose again, because the censorship policy here is one-sided, biased, and operated so as to discriminate towards people of one particular viewpoint. Heard of discrimination ? Look up the definition of censorship, and you'll find that "the limitation of the freedom of expression of a specific group, based on a particular belief or outlook" is a close apporoximation to the dictionary definition. Then go look up "discrimination".

We are merely asking that all those who post here abide by the rules set forth.

ALL ??? No, Im afraid you aren't. And thats where I stand up and object. You are asking for THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FORM PART OF A SELF-APPOINTED ELITE-CLIQUE OF LIKE MINDS to follow the rules. At the same time, those people WITHIN the clique can do what they want. But lets see what your analogy looke like, and I'll play with that . .

If this were a public swimming pool, should we allow all the non- potty-trained kids and nudists disrupt the pool because they have a "right" to enjoy the pool? No, they have to abide by the rules established so that everyone can enjoy the pool safely. The same can be said here.

Except in your pool INVAR, some people are prohibited from urinating and bathing naked, while others, (guess who), are allowed to do as much peeing and nude-bathing (and a whole lot more besides) as they want.

If you don't like our rules, go and find another pool that will allow you to piss in it.

Your rules are just fine, and I could live within them very happily, if you (by which I dont mean you personally as such, I mean the small group of extremists to which you belong, who have hijacked a public forum to the detriment of moderate posters and lurkers alike) could only be fair minded enough to apply them fairly. However, time and time again, it is proven that this will never be the case.

Either that, or piss off.

And, finishing with a flourish, INVAR proves the point by breaking one of the forum rules (which I haven't to date in this thread, nor anywhere else) by the unneccesary use of profanity. Will his post be deleted ? Will he be condemned for "pissing in the pool" (sic).

I suppose we shall just have to wait and see.

Simple, no?

Very.

-- W0lv3r1n3 (w0lv3r1n3@yahoo.com), November 21, 1999.

W0lv3r1n3,

You've addressed the hypocrisy a dozen times or more over these many months & still there is no rebuttal which addresses the topic.

I applaude you for trying to extract some honest answers. As I posted on another thread regarding Flint's similar quest, we'll probably never receive a simple, direct answer as to why the selective enforcement of the "laws of the land".

Alas, introspection isn't for everyone.

Best Wishes,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), November 21, 1999.

Whatever Woverine.

Your bitching is pointless.

The endless debate is pointless.

Fine. We're hypocritical, we have a double-standard as you perceive it....right? Fine then.

Go and play at Debunkies if you don't like the "Double-standard hypocrisy" here, or start your own forum with your own rules and regs, then perhaps you will find happiness.

You will not be missed by me.

But that's not the issue here is it? You wrote: "You are asking for THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FORM PART OF A SELF-APPOINTED ELITE-CLIQUE OF LIKE MINDS to follow the rules. At the same time, those people WITHIN the clique can do what they want." THAT'S your issue. You hate the majority ideology over here, and you DEMAND rights you don't have to force us to listen to disruptive trolls.

The issue you pollyanna's are screaming about is your DEMAND that we allow disrupters like Pro and youknowwho to continue attacking this forum at will. Your post wasn't deleted now was it? I don't recall any of Flint's or Hoffmeister's posts being deleted. So your argument about censorship is moot. I don't buy it, and most of the forum regulars here that have watched this place become beseiged with taunts and crap from Pro and Youknowwho at every turn, don't buy your argument either.

If you don't like the new rules set forth, then leave, scram, book, split, vamouse, wave bye bye and adios.

The only reason those of your ilk, who dislike the majority opinion of this board, want the free and unfettered ability to post whatever they want, is to disrupt and close this BB down.

Perhaps you should read what Andy Ray posted on Friday over at DeBonkers.

The SYOPS have every right to crack-down and demand criteria be met so that the rest of us can enjoy this forum. That includes deletions.

If these rules bother you so much...go elsewhere and bitch. Leave, scram, book, split, vamouse, wave bye bye and adios.

We're tired of your bitching. Deal with it or go.

Simple.

-- INVAR (gundark@sw.net), November 21, 1999.

INVAR

Thank you for admitting that you have no logical or justifiable excuse or explanation for the official position currently in place.

However, you then go on to talk as if you represent a majority of opinion.

Doesnt that strike you as a little arrogant ?

You ASSUME (without proof) that the extremist anti-establishment clique you speak for is in the MAJORITY.

You then extend this to claim rights for members of that assumed majority which you admit you would not be prepared to extend to non- members.

Perhaps you are mistaking volume for quantity. If not, then how are you establishing the numerical integrity of this claim ? Can you provide the figures for the number of people who use this forum and subscribe to your extremist point of view ? (and if so, how are you measuring this ?) Or do you base your assumption on the simple numerical superiority (regardless of relevance or topicality) of postings by those in your clique ? (AKA volume not quantity)

Either way, in my experience, cliques of extremists dont tend to be in the majority.

I would suggest to you that the majority of the users of this forum . .

1) Are generally moderate, albeit concerned.

2) Come here to try to make some kind of sense out of the Y2K issue.

3) Do not post, and therefore are impossible to count.

So, leaving the majority issue aside (bearing in mind how hard it is to prove), maybe you'd like to explain to however many of those silent people there are out there who fit my description above . . just exactly HOW your clique's persistent muddying of the water of what is already a complex subject (with your OT survivalist NWO, black helicopter, chemtrail, KKKlinton paranoia) is of any more help to them than my attempt to get you all to drag this forum back ON TOPIC and give them (or those who represent their more moderate views) a chance to get a word in. After all, that is the fundamental basis of your last post. That YOU represent the majority, and therefore have every right to protect them from ME.

In responding, (if you choose to) I would urge you not to be complacent. They read, and they understand.

The last time I exchanged views with your group on matters of fair play and the application of the rules, the "official" intransigence with which I was met almost caused me to give up the ghost. However, the number of private e-mails I received which began along the lines of "I read the forum every day, and though I'm shy of posting, I really hope you get somewhere with this, as I feel the forum is being taken over . . etc etc" would make your hair curl.

So unless you can prove you are in a majority (and I dont mean a majority made up of 5 flaming extremists multi-posting under different names, as I'm sure will appear sooner or later to support you in this thread), then your claim to be in one is just that . . a claim. And we can all make claims. Cant we ? Or is that next for the list of "Prohibited activities" ?

W

-- W0lv3r1n3 (w0lv3r1n3@yahoo.com), November 21, 1999.

Got here late and missed my chance before the attack started but regardless:

I am standing up & yelling Yay! Bless you Chuck, & go to it. I think I love you. Bless you Diane, and keep on keeping on. Bless you, Stealth - glad you're here. I'll support whatever you three do. Thank you.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), November 21, 1999.

Wolverine, I see so many jumping out of the wood work to agree with you, you just have to be right! NOT

-- Tricia the Cnaukc (tricia_canuck@htomail.com), November 21, 1999.

INVAR,

You are wasting your breath. "They" want you to argue with 'em.

On my part... just snipping and dusting... couple times a day.

;-D

40 Days.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 21, 1999.

Tricia makes a very valid point. The silence IS deafening. TB2000 mirrors our society - hypocrisy rules the day!

I continue to be puzzled by you Diane. Not regarding the deletions. I really don't care what you do with the adolescents who bombard the forum with garbage. And the horrendous personal attacks waged upon you are truly nightmarish.

I can't for the life of me fathom your tacit support of Lord INVAR & others of his bent. Is it blackmail? Pity? Why the blinders?

Surely you must cringe at the vile, hatred-laced creations of INVAR in particular. I know you, through your forum persona only, to be a sensitive, evolved human being. Your silence must come at a great price.

Best To All,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), November 21, 1999.

Keep snipping, Diane. The polly trolls have started some more disruptive posts.

-- (brett@miklos.org), November 22, 1999.

HAH HAH HAH. A truly worthless but entertaining bit of history, this thread!

GAWD but the doomers were funny!!!

-- I'm Still (laughing@my.@ss.off.over.how.wrong.the.doomer.idiots.were!!!), November 16, 2001.

kewl, we can still post???

-- whatever (what@e.ver), December 01, 2004.