Dear Darren:
Thanks for your response. Believe it or not, I thought about some of the issues you raise as I formulated my response to you. Obviously, everyone has the right to say pretty much whatever they wish to (within bounds of what SI allows); that's what free speech is all about.
Contrary to what you imply, I do not consider myself "SI police" nor am I adverse to 1st amendment rights. I am, after all, a librarian. A thread, however, becomes a community of people in a sense. It establishes a particular standard of communication that, while not law, becomes endemic to the people who frequent it. The Marketgems thread has a generally accepted standard of communication, and it precludes many of the types of postings you have made.
Of course you have the right to post whatever you wish, but I guess our question is: why do you bother with this thread? You apparently don't wish to abide by the community standards established here, so if you stay, the natural assumption is that you derive some particular type of gratification from disruption and agitation.
You may feel that this is a "one on one" thing, as you put it, but most of us don't accept your judgment because we feel a sense of community. If you attack one of us, and especially someone who is generally respected here, you can expect to have many more of us rise to the defense. That's the way a community works. You have violated this community's standards, and while not illegal, it is in bad taste. You can stay and try to change the standards, but I doubt you will have much luck or find many supporters. There are many threads that cater to insults and venting of anger. You seem like a bright enough guy, so why don't you do a couple of searches and try them? Your caustic comments will most likely be celebrated by their denizens!
Keep looking. There really is a place for everyone in this world. You just have to search until you find it. Sorry we at Marketgems don't fit the bill.
Walter High |
