That is cool Fred I respect your opinion..
My interactions with Ola have been harsh to say the least but through it all I found that I have learned a lot form his chicanery and basically all around uncouth behavior, If nothing else how not to be, socially. Although sometimes. I digress..
I think my point has been proven at least semi correct. I am not the only one who has recognized the lack of participation on the boards since Ola was jailed. The overall connotations go way beyond that of individual distaste and board congeniality.
As I posted on the Hangout board, hypothetically speaking, if I want to call you a name for presenting what appears to be a sub par discussion on your behalf than I should be able to express myself without fear of reprisal.
I think Ola came off with a good presentation at first. I then feel his position degraded, as did the rebuttal arguments they addressed. I found both parties to be so solid and vehement in their beliefs that indeed the debate had subsided with one side posturing as the other stood poking fun. If indeed this behavior was so abhorrent to these people, then unlike yourself who seemingly allows others to be the jerks they want to present themselves as, why did they sit and engage Ola with no end and then like the word and thought police try and control his behavior? Is that not the exact same behavior? In my opinion if OLA goes to jail then all parties involved should go with him for all intense and purposes inciting him on by simply responding. When you ignored him did he violate any TOS by board stalking you? Or was it over? Seems to me it was over.
You may have, and apparently so, disagreed with everything that Ola presented. But you still allowed him the freedom to be what ever he wanted to be. These people did not. Not speaking for them but apparently they think they have the right to dictate other peoples behavior. I do not want to be involved in a community where this is the case.
You and others may have perceived Olas behavior, reprehensible, however as pointed out earlier others perceived differently. No matter what feeling may have been there was still nothing simply ignoring him couldn’t fix…
In this area Matt has affords me the courtesy and freedom to express myself. I try and keep it to forum and not abuse this privilege. If and when I do abuse this, I expect Matt to act appropriately, ONLY if he thinks so and not because others do coerce him into it. When you silenced Ola you in essence spoke for me dictating to me what you feel is appropriate behavior and instilled the standing threat that if I go beyond these limits you will banish me. Why would I or anybody else for that matter want to operate under these conditions? What gives you the right? I thought Matt Is Alpha Dog around here?
Repercussions, The Hangout had Ola to thank for me adding it to my favorites list, now I am going to remove the Hangout from the list. If this draconian method of thought and speech control continues and spills onto the boards I manage or frequent then like I did Lycos my only recourse will be to leave Ihub all together. Matt capitulating to the squeaky wheel is simply not conducive to a sustained community of mass numbers. Pretty soon only the people with like mind will frequent the place and numbers and traffic will slowly disappear until Matt has lost his baby through boredom. Lycos RB is the perfect example. I will not recommend that site to a single soul. As Of now I am recommending Ihub to everybody I know on the Internet. It takes many people like me to build and attract mass people. Thanks to the Hangout Matt may have just lost two of them. I wonder how many of the new Swampers will stay here after they just fled from Lycos for the same exact reason? Possibly the Hangouts bitching and moaning may have just cost Ihub the loss of 9 posters right off hand that I could name due to Ola’s banishment. These people may not like Ola shenanigans but they detest censorship even more so. Lycos swamp did not see a post for several days because they were all here. I come back from vacation to see new life to that board. Meanwhile Ihub swamp is a little quiet…
My investigation as to why, has led me to this debate you and I are engaged in now.
Of course this is all my opinion and should be treated as such.
Paule is Walnuts
