Symbology thread is MIA

[Mike1]

A few days back, a forum member posted a cartoon with objectionable content and the thread that contained the cartoon was removed from the forum. Today, that same member referenced the deleted thread in another post. That action was confusing to those that had not read the previously deleted thread, first of all. Second, it was causing certain groups, organizations and individuals to be identified in subsequent replies.

One of the reasons this forum is this busy is that Highlandtide has busted his chops to optimize this site with the various search engines. He has been successful, as this site is being crawled on a regular basis, to collect keywords for search engine results.

We have some very specific rules and guidelines about topics that are not going to be welcome on this forum. One of the reasons these topics are forbidden is that we do not want these negative keywords to be available to the search engine spiders.

I know there are times when people cannot understand why a post or thread has been removed, but if everyone will try to imagine that the forum staff just might have very good reason for our actions, we'll eliminate some of the hard feelings.

If a thread is removed or locked, it is not going to bring favor to anyone that tries to obliquely re-visit or reference the issue at a later date.

We've had this situation crop up on two different occasions, in the last 24 hours and we don't want further instances.

I think we would all do well to take a few moments and glance through 'The Rules, just to re-familiarize ourselves with the yeas and nays. I'm aware that people often chafe when presented with a list of rules, but this forum community did not grow to this point by ignoring the rules.

[pbpersson]

I know there are times when people cannot understand why a post or thread has been removed, but if everyone will try to imagine that the forum staff just might have very good reason for our actions, we'll eliminate some of the hard feelings.
.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the other forum admins for your efforts at keeping this a family friendly place.

In my case I'm a single guy but here at work it's nice to know I can have this forum on my monitor and feel that someone walking by will not see something they find objectionable.

THANK YOU!


Phil in Phoenix

[O'Neille]

Thank you for all of your hard work in keeping this a friendly and non-confrontational place. There are other sites for those wishing to push their views. O'Neille

[cavscout]

You make it sound so dirty Mike.

This board can be so much more value to men who wear kilts than just talking about "underwear or regimental", "matching leather or non-matching". It can actually address the real issues that are in front of those men who choose to wear the kilt as a contemporary practical garment.

I posted a link to an editorial cartoon on CNN.com and made it clear that the topic was the image of a WWII Axis Power Supporter with a KILT on. Quite obviously the discussion was about the kilt and an unexpected affiliation with such a group. David, curteously, deleted it pending review. I did not see the justification for that but I appreciate his curtousy.

SO, since it can't be spoken about on this forum, I spoke about it with my wife and received some very intersting thoughts that I expected the members here to be intersted in. After all, if there is a chance that society considers something about you to be a indicator of something negative you might want to know about it wouldn't you?

I made a fairly strong effort to open the discussion without compromising the "rules" and without alluding to any censorship by the moderators. As of the last time I looked most if not all the respondents were behaving and contributing some informative feedback. That sounds like a good discussion.

I still think the topic is a good one and an appropriate one. Yes it needs to be discussed with some self-disipline and the members are doing that. If someone strays, delete that post, not the entire thread. By killing the thread you loose a lot of good thoughts along with the bath water.

This board is like a self chlorinating pool where those who promote divisive behavior are quickly run off by the members not the moderators.

[Colin]

I posted a link to an editorial cartoon on CNN.com and made it clear that the topic was the image of a WWII Axis Power Supporter with a KILT on.

As Todd pointed out, it was not An Axis Power Supporter with a kilt on, it was supposed to be Mel Gibson. It was a slam at his drunk driving arrest and subsequent comments. Notice Flyod Landis beside him talking about testosterone levels

David, curteously, deleted it pending review. I did not see the justification for that but I appreciate his curtousy.

So let me ask than, as someone that asked the membership if kilts are seen as affiliated with certain politics and issues, how do you think it appears to have a cartoon with a picture of a guy in a kilt and a swastika armband on, in a kilt forum? Could this not attract those people to this forum? or even suggest that it is part of this forum? This is what Mike is getting at, and I for one support that decision.

[cavscout]

As Todd pointed out, it was not An Axis Power Supporter with a kilt on, it was supposed to be Mel Gibson. It was a slam at his drunk driving arrest and subsequent comments. Notice Flyod Landis beside him talking about testosterone levels

Ooooooh!. I never saw Todds comment and didn't realise it was Mel

That makes a bit more sense about the kilt.

[jfellrath]

Knowing how search engines work and agreeing with the need to keep racist talk off this forum, I fully understand removing that thread. It's a shame that our mods have to remove what was an interesting discussion but given the nature of the technology that drives people to our site, I do not disagree with the action.

[cavscout]

So let me ask than, as someone that asked the membership if kilts are seen as affiliated with certain politics and issues, how do you think it appears to have a cartoon with a picture of a guy in a kilt and a swastika armband on, in a kilt forum? Could this not attract those people to this forum? or even suggest that it is part of this forum? This is what Mike is getting at, and I for one support that decision.

I go back to, If society has an opinion about a charateristic I posses symbolising something negative I want to know about it. The intent was to share a kilt issue so that if one day your walking down the street and some one snaps you the 'N@zi' salute, you'll know why.

Now that I understand the cartoon was about Mel I see there is a non-issue here as pertaining to 'N@zi's'. And now that the Mike has communicated the thought process on what is being filtered out everyone will be able to police themselves more effectively requiring less moderation hopefully in regards to content.

[Mike1]

It's a shame that our mods have to remove what was an interesting discussion...

Unfortunately, the baggage the thread carried had the potential to weigh more than the thread itself. It happens.

And now that the Mike has communicated the thought process on what is being filtered out everyone will be able to police themselves more effectively requiring less moderation hopefully in regards to content.

That's a nice sentiment, but it's almost one that begs to have '...and they lived happily ever after' appended to it.

Actually, the forum rules and guidelines do a smart job of identifying what is being filtered out. I hope I provided a bit of insight as to why.

I know that our seemingly constant reminders about the forum rules can wear some folk down, but we have rules in our homes, in our workplaces and on our public streets and highways. X Marks is no different. I don't believe any member wants to see this forum become a free-for-all, so there we are.

[Jerry]

Thanks, Mike for all the difficult work you and the other mods do to keep this forum a safe and sane place. And thanks,especially for taking timeto explain some things. That explanation makes some past deletions and locked threads more understandable.