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

kay -

I sent a private message to the Moderators regarding the situation, including their banning of Athena and Sunflowers. Additional private messages to the same effect may help.  Then again, they may not.  All in all, it's probably the most effective use of our time other than writing to sponsors.  Having said that, I don't think sponsors would take much notice of our political or personal bickering.

I believe that the reason given for Sunflowers's banning is thin, and Athena was given no reason at all.  This type of moderation doesn't bode well for the rest of us.  Heck, the Moderators may not like this post and ban me for it.   Who knows?  But as several people said, it's BCO's board and their rules.  We either abide by them or skedaddle.  (Note to Mods:  "skedaddle" is not a code word.)

Scoot

Yorkie - sorry i meant to say sunflowers.

  I have used up my limited pm privileges for the day due to - well, I'm not quite sure - but anyone wanting to send me a message otherwise can send a message, and I can e-mail you on your private e-mail.

Oh, for goodness sake - how did I get squashed between TWO buffalo bulls.....yikes...I almost didn't make it!

Landed on feet (sort of) looking around to see who's where....

Yay Athena! You're back! 

Mary 

Mary - love the avatar!

notself - please re-read what I posted.    Multiple userids - single IP address - exactly the problem if multiple BCO members would post from a single employer's network.  Most/many company networks send everything out to the internet from an EXTREMELY limited (usually just one) IP address.  I'm not saying there aren't a number of sock puppets, just that it can be more difficult to "prove" they are, than one might think at first blush...

WELCOME BACK ATHENA!!!!!  Doin' the Happy Dance!! 

Love your Avatars Mary and Scoot!

Speaking of work-I have a question. How does one write a letter of recommendation for someone when one feels they aren't really qualified for the job? My co-worker asked me to write a letter for her, and while I feel she is a wonderful, hard working person, I think the job she is applying for is way over her head skills-wise. I don't want to say, "No, I won't write you a letter....." Do I just write a letter focusing on her good personal qualities and work skills?

Mary 

YEAH ATHENA!!!

Mary, I would sit down and talk with her honestly about it. Unfortunately, employers can see through half-hearted endorsements. Unless you choose to lie for your co-worker's sake (it happens), your luke warm letter won't help her any.

New avatar for me, too.

Love them too - Scoot, I am amazed at how you managed to do the montage of lion and sunflower.

Thanks Notself -and everyone. Sitting up waiting for Sunflowers too.

What White Rabbit said.

I've faced this as well. You also cannot second guess the hiring team. Maybe they think it is time to hire someone who has the ability to grow into the job. If she has good personal skills and you have observed good work habits then it would be useful for the hiring team to know that. I have found that often when people assume the responsibility of mentoring a young/promising person that they both benefit. And so do those who follow behind. Well mentored women (of course, and men) become mentors in turn.

To be lawerly about it - and because although I am supposed to be writing today, I am clearly trying to find ways not to - I do not think that a ban on sunflowers is appropriate under the rules as outlined by the Mods.

So as self-appointed counsel, I submit my argument:

This, I believe, is the rule under which sunflowers was banned:  When there is clear, repeated disrespect of the Moderators, or fellow members, this too will result in a ban.  

The effective words here are clear, repeated disrespect.  It would have to be this rule, because the interaction was private and between the Mods and sunflowers. However, it does not appear from the pms that were recited in this thread that there was clear, repeated disrespect.   Going through this word by word, it does not appear that the disrespect was clear in sunflowers first response to the Mods.  The Mods asked Sunflowers to report who was being talked about as a sock puppet.  She declined to do so, stating that it was So obvious.  In itself, this does not appear to be clear disrespect.  Disrespect generally involves something more than a simply refusal to follow a request or a slightly snide comment, clear disrespect should be an even higher standard, either name calling, or some other more heated comments than were evident here. For something to be clear means that it is unmistable, undeniable, or obvious. The Mods may argue that the use of the word "So" indicates attitude of disrepect of their abilities to find the Sock Puppet.  However, even if there was any disrespect, it was not clear disrepect.

While SunFlower's later response, after the Mods suggested she no longer be part of the community is a stronger case for clear  disrespectful, there is the mitigating fact that it was  provoked by the Mods suggesting that she could be banned - if she hadn't already been banned for her first response. 

Nevertheless, since the earlier comment had not been clear disrespect, the latter comment certainly could not make her remarks clear, repeated disrespect.   I would further dispute whether anything in this exchange could be considered repeated, even if the earlier comment had been disrespectful, since it was essentially all part of one exchange, initiated by the Mods.

Since there was not clear, repeated disrespect, then I respectfully submit to the Court that the rule was inappropriately invoked to ban Sunflowers.  As remedy, I respectfully request sunflowers' immediate reinstatement.   

I rest my case.

Well, I've had a sunflower all along, but in support of Sunflowers (and since Athena is already back) I thought I'd change my avatar to a NEW sunflower. 

And Alexandria - Great argument IMO.