Following The Rules

For me, I was flagged. I removed the content and went about my life. No one had to know. No big deal had to be made. If people want to leave over not following the rules, let them. They made the choice to not follow the rules. They made the choice to leave.

I'm still new here so I've not been flagged yet. I hope not to be. What are reasons to be flagged? I mean I know when I write my articles I have the option to flag them as violent, graphic, sexual or whatever it may be and I do so if need be. Is this what you mean by flagged?

No Carolene. At the bottom of every article it says "report this as potentially inappropriate" when you click that, you are flagging SOMEONE ELSES article. This sends a message to Gather and then they make the choice if an article is appropriate or not.

Thank you for reading and commenting.

You said "Rules are made for everyone, not some."

I guess you haven't been paying very close attention around here. There are different rules for different folks on Gather.

n my opinion I don't think that person says he's leaving as much because he was asked to follow "rules' as he did because he's tired of being attacked by Gather's gang of thugs. They have repeatedly attacked him because they are jealous of his popularity. He has more friends and readers than they do so they have been trying to run him off for months now. Like a bunch of jealous children...his piece of pie was bigger so they went crying to Gather management.

Sorry somehow the "I" went missing from "In"

thanks sara for bringing this to my attention this happen to me the other day and I'm still here. the rules are there for a reason.

Moggy, I do see what you are saying. I think we're all adults, play by the rules. If people truly want to leave for one reason or another, then go. No one can make anyone keep logging in. I don't believe people truly leave be it they still read or come back with another member name. Time will tell but I think someone on Gather needs to put the rules in effect for everyone.

I've been a member of Gather since 2005, and sometimes I feel totally out of the loop because I have no idea about the conflicts going on within....just like I'm not sure who it is you write about who is leaving. Part of my lack of knowledge is purposeful, for I know how easy it is to get embroiled in underlying conflicts and tensions. They can sweep a person away to the point he is not even thinking clearly or objectively. I see it this way. I'm here on Gather for the following reasons...to write, share what I know, comment on articles, and learn from others. I know Gather isn't perfect. It is flawed, just as all of the members in it are flawed. But I do know that I am a better writer because of Gather, not to mention the fact that I have met some wonderful people on here. As for being flagged, I usually just flag myself if the content is questionable in any way. I've never been flagged for anything else though...

Sissy, it happens to someone or many people every day. Most of us do what we have to and move on with life . . . .

I agree with Moggy, it wasn't the rules, it was the trolls.

I have been flagged before. I was hurt for a day or so then got over it. I knew that the articles that I was posting were my work, but they weren't so important that I was going to let it ruin my Gather experience:)

Cheryl, I have tried hard to stay out of all of it. However, this was in my inboxes and when I logged in the first articles were about it. I felt like I just seen a train wreck. No where to go, so I comment.

Cybergwen,
I'm glad you stayed!

I've been flagged numerous times. Big deal. I'm not one to let the jerks run me off, like I said on another article today...If they run you off then they have won, don't let them win.

I get really sick of the ones who keep "threatening" to leave but don't. There are some that have been threatening since at least last July but they're still here. They think that Gather would cease to exist if they left. LOL talk about some serious egos.

I have met some really good caring people on Gather, and I would hate to see them go. I agree that there are trolls on here out to, for whatever their reasoning, make others miserable. My best solution is to ignore them. If I see an article full of spite and hatred, I ignore it. If somebody lowballs an article, I will look at it, if it is a well written thought out article, agree or disagree, I will give it a 10. You see, in my world, Trolls don't exist. they are an annoying rumor to be ignored with ease.Thank you for a fine article!

I'm sorry to hear that there is trouble in paradise, but I suppose that goes along with all online communities. I used to belong to a listserv that always had some sort of ruckus going on, and it could sure take a lot out of you sometimes. I wish I had some idea what was going on; maybe then I would have something more useful to say. :-)

As a Police Officer, I had many laws that COULD have been enforced but I used whats called discretion. Otherwise if I enforced all the laws, traffic laws in particular, it would get pretty insane and be like a police state if I did so. This man made it clear that the stuff he was posting was not his own and that he just wanted to share it with the rest of Gather. The man loves humor, and gather states in its community guidelines that this is a place to share your passions and exchange ideas and information..

I think the jury is still out on William's email request. I also try to stay out of the gather wars. I can't keep track of who is on which side, and I know that some of my closest connections are on opposite sides of this debate. As for William, he has been nothing but kind to me. He does get a lot of points, his articles have a lot of attention. Once in a while I stop in and say hello, but in general email jokes and good morning articles are not my interest. If it is actually Gather asking him to remove the articles, then I think he should if he wants to stay. My question, and that of many others I think...is, did Gather really request this of him. It seems unlikely to me considering that many others post emails and jokes here all the time and I haven't heard of anyone else being asked to do this. I agree, we should all try to follow the Gather TOS, but we also shouldn't be duped by phoney emails. I'm waiting to see how this turns out before judging.

I wonder what his purpose would be to lie about an email Sue? It never occurred to me that he would make that up. But, I don't know him all that well. I just happened to stumble on him being attacked by a bunch of the self appointed Gather Police the other day on one of his articles. I've witnessed this more than once, he seems to be a regular target whenever they get bored.

He was copying and pasting email jokes for crissakes, we all get them in our personal email boxes on a regular basis, do you question your friends for copyright violation when they forward them to you? I don't care for the c&p jokes much either, that's why I normally just skip over them. Some people seem to enjoy them, I don't understand what the big deal is. People need to learn to live and let live and stop trying to control what everbody else is doing.

Good answer Sue!!- I am trying to stay out of things also, I have too much on my plate as it is!!

Your right, William is a very kind man. I love his freebie lists, and his overall personality. I really hope he does stay.

I don't see a problem with William's jokes. He always gives credit to the vast cyberspace of the email variety. I hate to see him leave.

I dont know what the details are behind this, but i have been flagged before too, & then turned around to see almost the same article published, with nearly an identical name. Almost too much of a coincidence. I hate to get in a "flagging war" but I felt I had to stick up for myself & flagged that article as well. Dont know how that came out, & I deleted my article.

No, I don't mean that William lied about getting an email. I mean that possilby someone said they were from Gather, and they were not!

Moggy has commented quite well about the episodes on Gather, and the constant barrage of remarks about why he did not write his own original work...such a shame that people cannot let well enough alone...

I just try ot stay out if the ruckus. I just look at what I want and go on.

Thank you all for reading and commenting. I think however this turns out. We're all adults and there are rules. Follow them or make a choice to leave. Afterall this is one website, not the whole world. Sometimes I think that gets forgot!

good final thought, Sara!