I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

RetiredLibby

Actually, it looks to me like they are reminding the complainers of the "Don't like? Don't look!" rule. We don't like, so we don't look. Others need reminding.

Anonymous

HEY, HL!!!!!  Great point.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  The moderators KNOW we have many of the "complainers" on IGNORE, so can't read what is being posted.

HL - WISE WOMAN WRITES WELL (again, still!)

1Athena1

Yes, the mods, I think, are going through the necessary motions.

It is hereby now on the record that the mods have very clearly stated their case and reiterated the ground rules, hopefully answering the private complaints. I hope private messengers (what else could it be?) will stop complaining. There's only so much the mods both CAN and WILL do.

I think this is the first time in BCO history I have actually seen moderating influenced by an ideological "invisible hand." Sounds like something George Orwell might write about.

Mods, I think your statements, while understandable, may be causing more strife and not less. Maybe YOU should put the same people on ignore that we do.  

RetiredLibby

I, for one, wouldn't mind a cautionary post from the mods every few pages explicitly directed at the complainers during this election season -- perhaps something along the lines of "Just a reminder. If you don't like the subject matter of this discussion, we recommend you don't visit this thread. It is not appropriate to report posts that simply state opinions with which you disagree." We say it all the time to people who come here to troll, but we're not mods. Just a random suggestion.



I love you too, Sunflowers! :-)

kayfh

Unfortunately as wise as HL is, in this case I think she is wrong. I do not have anyone on ignore. The people who are complaining about this thread, if indeed any are, must be reporting posts, or, the moderators are trying to preempt complaints, nastiness. Just saying.

This conversation is too important, too much about democracy and free speech, for this kind of policing to be acceptable.

1Athena1

Kayf - I doubt whether they are reporting posts because they will lose both messaging and reporting privileges if they do that. None of the posts I have been able to see with my settings violates a rule.

I agree wholeheartedly with HL - those of us who have been down this loooooong path aren't even curious as to what some say by this time.

I also agree with you that this topic is too important. I do appreciate where the mods are coming from too. There are lots of long histories here.

Anonymous

Athena, HL, and Kay

I've clicked my LIKE button for each of you, and can almost hear Lillian Hellman in my ear, when she said:

" I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashion."   

1Athena1

LOL! "Like" you too, Sun.

CLC

oooh...Lillian Hellman...when I was a teenager, I must have watched the movie Julia a thousand times...  Does anyone remember that movie?

RetiredLibby

Kay, there is a VERY long history between some of us on this thread and some of the reporters and complainers. There were flame wars and multiple reports and bannings during the 2008 election season. Many of the ones I have on Ignore don't post here at all anymore, but I am positive they are the ones complaining. One in particular at one time had some 20 identities so she could report posts and get people automatically banned all by herself -- which usually happened on a Friday night, which meant that the banned woman was cut off from her community and friends for the weekend. It was ugly, and there was only one mod at that time.



The mods are working very hard to be proactive here as election season ratchets up. It is clear to me that they have received complaints from the usual suspects about this thread. The usual suspects will do almost anything to shut it down. This is probably the third or fourth incarnation of this thread in the 5 years I have been on BCO (my join-date reflects the fact that I was stalked and driven off BCO by some of the same women who are complaining now, and returned after more protective moderation was instituted and I felt safer). The previous threads were deleted because the complainers posted things that made it too difficult and controversial for the mods to allow the thread to continue.



I agree with you that this conversation is too important to shut down. I have the drop-ins on ignore, but not any of our regular posters. I think that the mods occasionally reminding people looking for trouble, to cause trouble, or to be offended that they should look elsewhere is a good thing. I don't see it as punishing us if they remind people that if they don't like the subject matter here, they can go elsewhere.



L

RetiredLibby

CLC, I do remember Julia! My cousin used to tell me all the time that I would probably end up like that character! :-o

1Athena1

One of the best films I have ever seen. Haunting.

kayfh

Thanks HappyLibby. Context is everything. The moderators do have a tough job. I wish it wasn't so. Kay

3monstmama

I love the movie Julia and all of Lillian Hellman's writings.  She is one of my absolute favorite authors. . . . . remember "Little Foxes"?

Wabbit

Placating is sometimes necessary ... especially for those in a customer service position.  I have no problem with a reminder or two or three ... it's all been very evenhanded and nicely done.

We can ... and I think we do ... temper our words a bit more than we would in other places due to the nature of this board and still have a good informative discussion ... and the 'ignore' rule will take care of the rest.

Then the Mods might be able to get some of their other work done      

CLC

HappyLibby...thank you for that explanation.  I am glad to think that the moderators are not out to shut down women getting support from each other just because of their political views.

Athena...it is a haunting movie.  I love Vanessa Redgrave.  Huge fan.  Your word "haunting" reminded me of another movie, that I couldn't finish watching and still haunts me.  I have had nightmares about it.  Two of my favorite actors...Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson...in Imagining Argentina.  Has anyone ever seen that?  An excellent, excellent movie.  But too haunting for me.  Dark. 

HL...Julia certainly had grit.  Your cousin must have been perceptive...but hopefully a bad oracle.

Anonymous

speaking of good movies, as a reader too - has anyone read Pentimento by L. Hellman.

Joy of being retired, I'm going back and reading classics I never read, or forgot....and now immersed in Thackery's Vanity Fair.   Also reading Clarissa, by Richardson, but can't do it as a steady read, gotta take breaks with other books. 

crazy4carrots

Sun -- I remember reading Pentimento many, many years ago -- I think I'll have to read it again!  Hellman was such a good, good writer.

CLC

Isn't Pentimento the basis for Julia?  I have never read it.

My favorite grown up book is The Name of the Rose.  But my favorite book is a series.  I must confess...I am a huge Harry Potter fan....  I have read many classics...one is my nemesis...I just cannot get through it...Moby Dick.  I love the first chapter...but that's when I keep getting stuck...

bluedahlia

My favs are Barbara Erskine and Marilyn Harris.

Anonymous

CLC

my "secret" to reading the classics is not a secret: Norton Critical Editions

reading the essays after the main selection - such as George Eliot reviewing Thoreau's Walden, makes me VERY HAPPY.

Some of he Everyman editions have excellent notes too - but Norton is my favorite

1Athena1

Ha, ha. Rush-is-Wrong-Soldiers-Are-Cowards-The-Poor-Don't-Pay-Enough-Taxes Limbaugh, as usual, the nutty outlier. I was doing an uncharacteristic tour through that beltway Rag "Politico" when I came across the following story:

 http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80534.html?hp=r3

Rush Limbaugh is one of the few people praising Clint Eastwood's rambling performance at the Republican National Convention, saying Friday that the Hollywood legend's "great bit" involving an invisible President Barack Obama in an empty chair "got under Obama's skin."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80534.html#ixzz25A9UlbUa

Happy Friday, everyone - enjoy the laugh!

Missing our pastor and bartender - staff's doing the best it can to serve all our customers.  

208sandy

Pentimento was "Julia" - loved that movie - loved Lillian Hellman.

crazy4carrots

President Obama offered up a photo reponse to Clint Eastwood's strange convention speech, which featured him roasting an empty chair that was intended to represent Obama. Via his campaign's Twitter feed:Barack Obama

• ✔

@BarackObamaThis seat's taken. OFA.BO/c2gbfi,pic.twitter.com/jgGZTb02

208sandy

Lindasa - CBC news showed this this morning and it got my day off to a good start LOL.

bluedahlia

Now that's funny! 

bluedahlia

Loved Julia, never read the book though.

Wabbit

I think I might use that technique next time I want to be guaranteed to win an argument.  Hubby for example can leave the house and I shall speak to an empty chair and 'voice over' for him saying "Yes, dear ... whatever you say ... you are exactly right dear"   

Love the picture!  Pretty good answer I would say.  And no insults were flung. 

Maybe the Dems can use a ventriloquist at their convention?  Or Robert Redford ... now there is smart eye candy that has held up very well for his age!   

crazy4carrots

Well, I'm going for George Clooney!  He's smart, he cares, and he puts his money where his mouth is.  Oh, and devastatingly good looking too.

Chickadee

OT. I'm packing and off to Baton Rouge for at least a month for the disaster response. Now we'll see just how much cancer holds me back. Hopefully NOT.



Will try to do some browsing at night.