To: those STILL intent on baiting and fighting

[Roguelet]

While bickering and arguing with other posters is an allowable, sometimes entertaining, and sometimes even educational practice on this forum, there does come a time when it begins to cross the line and becomes simply "baiting" for the sole purpose of one or more of the following reasons:
A) trying to provoke a nasty response from another poster so you can then point fingers at and badmouth that poster
B) purposely creating havoc on the board to cause a disturbance, either for attention or to try to drive people away
C) simply being hateful toward another poster because you just don't like that person

All of the above options are mean and/or hateful in their own way, and all of them are very tiresome for other posters to have to deal with. When it's an occasional thing and doesn't get way out of control, nobody really cares much. This is a very lightly moderated forum where people are encouraged to express themselves in their own, individual manner. However, when it becomes a personal vendetta where people follow eachother all over the forum and hijack thread after thread to act in this manner, it moves beyond the tolerable level.

Everyone gets emotional or caught up in a discussion at some point or another, and again, that's not a problem. If things occasionally escalate to the point where I feel the need to step in and ask one or more posters to back off a bit, that's not a problem either. What IS a problem, however, is when it gets to the point where I repeatedly ask someone to back off, and they repeatedly refuse to do so.

I, personally, DESPISE banning people. However, previous experience with this board has shown a very distinct pattern that always snowballs and leads to a destructive meltdown on this forum. When I see that pattern emerging, I have a responsibility to all the other posters to do whatever I need to do to stop the impending trainwreck. This board has been shut down before because these things tend to "snap" suddenly and then snowball very quickly, and I'm quite sure none of us want to see the board shut down again.

Therefore, I have decided that the most fair way to do this is to publicly state that the next person who posts with the sole intent of baiting another poster, whether that be the entire purpose of their post or just a portion of their post, will earn a "time out" which will last a period of 3 days. This is publicly posted so everyone knows exactly what the terms are, and there is no "he said she said" or guesswork, and nobody feels that they are being singled out.

Arguing points of view does not fall into this category, as should be obvious. We are all adults here, and every one of you has the mental capacity to know the difference, so do not pretend that you don't.

[ageecee]

As long as you ban everyone that baits and name calls then i dont have a problem with it. And that goes for everyone and im not naming names.

[Roguelet]

As long as you ban everyone that baits and name calls then i dont have a problem with it. And that goes for everyone and im not naming names.

With all due respect, I am not asking for, nor do I need, anyone's blessing regarding this decision. I stated above:

The next person who posts with the sole intent of baiting another poster, whether that be the entire purpose of their post or just a portion of their post, will earn a "time out" which will last a period of 3 days.

This is a very clear statement and will be carried out exactly as written.

[madelyn]

Go get 'em, Rogue.

[Thunder]

[BenB]

A more than 100% right decision.

[Tucumcari]

Sounds good to me.

[Rokeby Forever]

Being the angel that I am, I'm in!

[Tucumcari]

Roke... you frickin' follow me everywhere I swear.... I KNOW you stalk me LOL
I wasn't baiting, I swear!!!!! Brownie's honor!!!

[Mahubah]

APPLAUSE!!!! Go Rogue!

[Rokeby Forever]

Roke... you frickin' follow me everywhere I swear.... I KNOW you stalk me LOL
I wasn't baiting, I swear!!!!! Brownie's honor!!!

I can't help it, Tucumcari. I'm under your spell and I can't tear myself away from you. I'm only a mere mortal and your powers over me are too strong to overcome - I walk around like a zombie now!

[hpkingjr]

The over/under line for the first 3 day suspension is 5 days. PM me to get your action.

[Tucumcari]

Roke... you frickin' follow me everywhere I swear.... I KNOW you stalk me LOL
I wasn't baiting, I swear!!!!! Brownie's honor!!!

I can't help it, Tucumcari. I'm under your spell and I can't tear myself away from you. I'm only a mere mortal and your powers over me are too strong to overcome - I walk around like a zombie now!

Sorry, I do have that effect on men... it's a curse...lol

[ageecee]

Im going Under....

[Roguelet]

I was away from the computer all day yesterday, and will be most of today and tonight as well. I'll be able to poke my head in briefly a couple of times today, but that's about it. Upon a quick forum check this morning, I see that there are several threads that appear to be potentials for our first 3-day "time out." Because there are a ton of posts to wade through in this case and I simply don't have the time for that today, I am going to ask for help from you all.

If anyone can point out the FIRST PERSON who posted with the clear, sole intent of baiting another poster, I would sure appreciate it. That means taking all such posts and finding the one with the earliest post date/time; and it must truly be the post that "started it," as in the first person to post with the sole intent of baiting another poster.

Please let me caution everyone that this is not an invitation to find a post made by your personal most disliked person and start badmouthing them. I only need to know post, date and time. Feel free to PM if you'd rather.

Sorry for asking this; I knew yesterday and today would be pure hell for me, but I really thought that everyone would be able to hold it together for at least 2 days after I posted this little "challenge"... apparently many here have quite a bit less self control than I gave them credit for.