doojable

I'm not so sure this would work. So many times the stories come out in the middle of a thread. Would that mean that since the post started in "About the Way" or "Open" that the derail posts were up for grabs? I personally like the idea of asking posters to have some self-restraint and sensitivity. A different thread should be started for discussion. Those who post their stories need to feel safe in doing so. They also would need to understand that there most likely would be a thread started questioning their story and that they should ignore it if they don't feel up to being cross-examined in any way.

Happy Birthday George! Go out and "have a little lunch." ;) but make it sushi!

You think there would be an objection if you were to start a new thread instead of posting "cross-examination question," or statements about being a victim that end up derailing threads? Really? After all this bruhaha about derailing threads? After all these pleas asking - demanding- that a victim be allowed to tell her story without snide comments? Really? This site comes with a pre-determined and fully stated "bias" if you will. The tag line, "The other side of the story," implies that what will be said in these forums and on these threads will be something other than the company line that TWI and it's believers propound. The very fact that you have been posting with GSC for so long should be a testament to how open a community this is - despite the stated mission of this site. TWI had a closed door policy when it came to discussion. I think that is the main reason why so many of us here don't call for banning anyone and everyone who wants to skip down the primrose path to the Fountain. We know what it was like to not get to speak up. So there is a lot of tolerance here. BUT! - here the majority of the community has made a request - that being that you and others do not derail threads or harass victims when they tell their story. Even tolerance has its limits - and I do believe that what you have been reading these past few days is evidence that a line has been crossed. Think whatever you want. Form any opinion you want. BUT - Please PLEASE! do not post offhand comments and snide remarks. It's disrespectful, rude. I'm amazed that you say you're asking for a rule (LAW) when you should be acting graciously and compassionately because it's the right thing to do. The idea of a starting a new thread allows you to have your say. Posters can choose to read or not. The victim can choose to read or not. If there's a food fight at least it won't derail a thread in which someone is trying to put forth some sensitive information.

Would you follow this suggestion even if it weren't a rule? We tell our kids, "Play nice." That's a fairly broad admonition and they get it. Think of this suggestion as falling under the heading of playing nice.

That's it George. Now it's your turn.

Actually Oldies, I was hoping we could be adults and handle this without written rules. We're all adults here, most of us in our forties and fifties. I would like to think that compassion and manners are still within our repertoire. I'm asking for a little decency and self-moderation. We shouldn't need another rule.

Man meets woman. Man changes woman. Man falls in love with woman.

okay - seems not too many listen to Paul Simon..."Boy in the Bubble" I'm working a lot - anyone want to take this next turn?

"Never smile at a crocodile..."

Awwww common Rocky- have some... ummmm... where's your... errrr... Most of us here are in our forties and fifties. I think we can act our respective ages.

I just posted this on another thread...

How's about this... When someone tells their story - whether in a thread or a podcast, those with opposing views start another thread. That way the original thread isn't derailed and even if there is a disagreement and ensuing food fight, the person telling the story doesn't have to feel directly challenged. He or she can choose to read the "comment thread" but doesn't have to wade through post after post about proof and getting over it or the kind of food fight that ensues. It would require manners, compassion, and adult behavior... you think we can handle it?

I got the term wrong. "Your Honor, I object! Counselor is badgering the witness!" That's when a question is asked, answered, asked again and answered again, and asked and .... You get the picture. I don't care the if you and WTH and Lucy and Mike decide to all hold hands and sing, "Skip to my Lu" around the fountain while you trade green cards. I don't care if you wax nostalgic here in the threads. Have at it! But please - PLEASE - stop badgering those who tell their stories here. The point is NOT that you LUV the good ole waydaze... The POINT is that you tend to derail threads with your pleas for evidence and proof, and suggesting victim mentality. Free speech is not the issue here.

Oh geez! I thought the thread was gonna be about WD getting some...thing.

These are the days of miracle and wonder This is the long distance call The way the camera follows us in slow-mo The way we look to a song

WhiteDove- our constitutional rights are just fine. No one is dismantling the constitution. Please quite wrapping yourself in the flag while you attack posters telling their first hand experiences. It's a disgrace to both the flag and the posters telling their story. This is not a courtroom and you are not an officer of the court. You've not been charged with impeaching a witness. Even if all that had been true, there would have been a cry long ago that you harass those giving their "testimonies."

The mission doesn't give the right to attack posters telling their personal stories. The mission doesn't give the right to be rude.

It was a dry wind And it swept across the desert And it curled into the circle of birth And the dead sand Falling on the children

The country is quite safe... Freedom of Speech If a person comes into my home and consistently annoys me I get to kick them out. If they cuss out my kids I get to tell them to shut up. If they persist and won't leave I get to call the police and have them removed from my property. (Not advocating doing that here! But I wanted to make the point that "freedom of speech" doesn't apply to private matters.) There are exceptions to the hearsay rule - one being excited utterance And there are a few posters here that heard women lament about being with tricky vic in the motorcoach. (It has it's limitations, and I don't pretend to know them all - but summarily dismissing something because it's hearsay would not be accurate. Then there's corroborating evidence. I don't want to bore everyone with my googling abilities, but I know that the "it's not documented" argument doesn't hold spit.

Abi - If you'll go back and read the very first post I made on this thread (#2) you'll see that I agree that banning 'the apologists' is not really in the best interests of anyone. I do think that perhaps there needs to be a higher standard of decency and respect whenever a personal story is being related- whether in a post or in a thread. We're adults here. We should know how to behave- and it should be about what we would expect if we were teaching our own kids how to behave in public.

Abi - perhaps they are following the rules "to the letter" but not "in the spirit" of the rules. I'll restate - it's not respectful to demand proof or imply a victim is whining. You and I have both been in the Politics and 'Tacks forum- even on opposite sides of an argument. We didn't insult each other. Even as heated as those discussions can get- and yes, there are sometimes personal insults thrown, they never seem to generate the the kind of insults that 'twist the knife' in a victim here in the About the Way forum. It seems to me that the nature of some threads demand a higher sensitivity for the feelings of the other posters.

I'd want to keep them from insulting victims and twisting their stories.

I posted this on another thread: Sure, I get annoyed as hell every time I read another post demanding "proof" or saying that a victim is whining, or even misrepresenting the criminal justice system; but if anyone were to ever doubt that the teachings of der Victoid were cancerous, all they'd have to do is read a post or two from the list I just mentioned. I'm all for limiting them greatly when their posts attack and belittle victims, but as an art teacher I sure can't deny the power of having a visual aid as an example.

It was a dry wind And it swept across the desert

Coldplay - "Yellow"