This is the first time in my six and a half year membership that I have ever received a warning from Gather. I was told that I could repost one of the articles without the offending comments, but I am not going to do that. It would obliterate the meaning and the continuity in several of the sub-threads, and I don’t think that’s fair to readers. It’s one of the reasons I don’t like comment deletion. I don’t do it to others’ comments and I certainly will not do it to my own. The other idea that was offered was to post only to friends. I won’t do that either. I could as easily create articles and send them to friends in my email list if that’s what I were looking for.
Flagging is the punishment meted only because murder is illegal. We had some vehement arguments in the past when we still had ratings. There were far fewer flags because they seemed to feel that as long as they got enough of their pals to get over to the post to give you the lowest rating possible, that was enough to satiate them. At that time I noticed that people who turned off their ratings so members could not rate their posts were the ones who got their posts flagged more often. Since I always kept mine on, that wasn’t a problem for me. Now that the ratings were abused in such a way and they are no longer an option, there’s nothing left to abuse but the flagging system. Unless someone has said something that is so egregious that it seriously threatens someone or divulges something about someone that has not been made common knowledge by that person and is an infringement of privacy, I think flaggers in general are reminiscent of childhood tattlers. I’ll poke you behind the teacher’s back, but when she turns around all she’ll see is you poking me. With the exception of one post in December, I didn’t post anything in January either. It’s becoming more difficult to post anything of a controversial nature here without retribution. So add me to the list of Offenders now. Perhaps there should be an Internet list of those of us who have been labeled OFFENDERS so you'll know if one has crept into your virtual neighborhood unaware.
The only other reason I wanted to post this is because I am grateful for all the support I had from those of you who commented and understood, for those of you who showed your appreciation with your comments and added valuable insight to the posts. So thank you for that. I apologize to that group who may have wished to still have access to the posts and no longer do.
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Comments: 84
(I used it to generate 'circumcircuitous' on one of those departed threads, which I feel is a great word for what I see going on quite often these days. Going around and around, but somehow never getting back to any relevant point ; )
If that is not the case, I don't think you should have had a problem until after they removed that post sometime today.
At least I didn't lose any sponsors. :)
I like it, particularly for it's sliding, strong Bass line, and of course, the Drumming. It's rather simplistic, but it serves the Song. The Drums were done by Manu Katche', I believe. A French-borne guy of African descent. He's really quite good, though again, this is not the most cerebral or tasty effort he's made. You might have a go at another Song on that Album; it's entitled "In Your Eyes," and his polyrhythms, and his texturing, dynamics and layering are quite beautiful. His "chops" on this one are top-Knot, as well. :)
Sure, music is subjective, and my subjectivity just doesn't have a taste for it. It's very monotonous to me. I know In Your Eyes, and that is much better to me than Sledgehammer. It's not a favorite, but it's okay. :)
So I have to agree that the flags are more of a political tool than a way of policing the site. I got my message loud and clear "We hate non-theists."
I'd have to find it, but I'm pretty sure when they did away with them I wrote a post (maybe generally about Gather and not necessarily just about the ratings) where I mentioned I thought the flags would replace the ratings in that way since the ratings were also never used as purposed but, as you put it, as a political tool.
(Please excuse the caps. My IPhone does not lend itself well to bolds or italics).
Yes, Sue. Gabriel is rather talented; but sadly, and not much unlike most Musicians, he's also a Leftist pantywaist. I'm not surprised in the least...
:)
Yes, but I didn't know his actual name. Many do change their names. And, no, I certainly don't hold it against you; I was a stupid Kid once (and it might be argued that I still am), myself. I remember my Mum, in front of the National News with Dan Blather after Dinner. A Leftist through-and-through (I have a now-infamous photo of her being hugged by Kerry)...She would invite me to repair to the Telly room, and an after-Dinner cigarette. She would drill into me how "those nasty, Rich Republicans" were absolute Monsters, out to snatch Babies from unwitting Mothers, and the such. I bought it with Her, then...
...and in the rare occasion that I get to see Her, you can just imagine the conversations (and I use that term with aplomb) that we have now... :)
Then, we'd both break down in laughter together.
After having a sample or two from you, Sue...it's a wonder there's a match for YOU, anywhere. :)
Yes, Sue, you doubt there'll ever be...and you wouldn't have it any other way...
We all know who is behind all this flagging and deleting don't we? The mamby pambys who call themselves liberals. I laugh most of the time at their antics, the sad truth of the matter is they can’t handle the truth and when someone comes along and tells them point blank that what they are writing or saying is totally wrong they go in total melt down throw a hissy fit.
The first thing that we see is a veiled threat that they will delete our comments, then the next thing is they start to call us trolls followed by this is a final warning followed by the inevitable deletion of comments.
However this is not enough, they then start to follow your posts not by commenting but by scrutinising it and then flagging to Gather when it does not conform to their twisted logic.
I myself in all the years on Gather have only deleted around six or seven comments not because I disagree with the argument being put forward but for the sheer nasty insults and threats that the persons concerned threw my way. These people are nothing more than cowards who hide behind a rule that they take advantage of my contempt for them is well known and it will continue to be so.
I do not flag anything else - so please ensure that you do not continue to tar all of the flaggers with the wide brush used here!
I think that many would be 'silly enough' to feel affronted by your comments. I certainly did.
Your sarcasm, and arrogance, is noted.
I think gather should do away with this flagging ... it does nothing but lets them sneak around and start trouble... This site is gathers and it should be gathers position to police it, not leave it up to a few ignorant snitches... We have freedom of speech but somehow gather doesnt see it that way... Are writers silenced? Are reporters silenced? Gather needs to make some changes for the better and expose those flaggers for what they are...
I enjoy your articles... I may not get here as often as I should because I am disgusted with these glitches and lack of points but when I do, I usually try to stop by your articles....
I read your comments often. There is nothing like them for honesty of feeling with no pretense. What you see is what you get. So refreshing!
I remember that I always stopped by your articles as they were always so interesting and I loved hearing you tell it like it was... Sometime, we should do an article about remembering those that once were here...
Yes, I do remember that they accused you of having all kinds of different names and that was the days when we couldnt create fictious names... do you remember the one that used the name of Mike and many more on here but he always put up the 9/11 conspiracy... He was exposed for being the same person and was kicked off, he came back and was booted again... But we all would have it out with him... I used to laugh at some of these comments until tears flowed down my cheek ... But they didnt turn each other in for the most part... Now, if you say boo to someone, they report you...
I know there has been some humdingers on here... I think Mike had a personality that was named Don... now that I am thinking about it..
I remember another one named Mitch too...
Oh , remember Clark Kent?
Clark was okay too, (a little kool-aided out sometimes, but at least very literate) but he had attracted too many followers that I don't think he really agreed with either, and that were an embarrassment to him so he got very nasty toward objectors to his opinions at the end because I believe he wanted to get booted and have an exuse to leave for good.
But I liked Lois, as well ;)
I think you are right about Clark, I had noticed that he seemed a little more agressive in his last days here too.. Maybe, he was just fed up with the whole gather thing...
It's always nice to know you're around, vickey.
As sick as I've been over the past 2 months, I've had to make most of my posts for friends only. I'm just not up to arguing with people who don't argue but ridicule.
"They miss the point; deliberately obfuscate from it, plagiarize some huge text without source and you're left wondering what it's supposed to mean in relation to what's been said until you realize who did it and you know it doesn't have anything to do with it." Yes, I actually have noticed this as well, it is fascinating.
If somebody does not like the article but cannot dispute the facts, they direct you to an instance of some wrong that has been done by the right. (I always try to ask them specific questions about the article) sometimes it is almost laughable, how the argument has nothing to do with the article at all. Or, they just call you names, homophobe, racist, right-wing nut job, teabagger, blah blah blah
So, I try to really make sure I write using valid sources with full context. As long as I can stand by my story, there is nothing to worry about and they only make themselves look bad. Sometimes it is really tempting to engage, ohhhh I try so hard to be focused, because I don't want to diminish my own argument.........
Sorry for the rant ladies! You have me going today!
I am getting tired and so many times now, I just scroll right past them. They are like a plague, they spread ,so as not to get infected, I try to just move around them, unless I see how they gang up on someone, then I will jump right in there .
You cant fix them , they are just broken... Like a bunch of discarded toys... Hopelessness must be their middle names... When you show a total disrespect for someone else's difference of opinion and many times on here, some are jumped on for just doing this.. they never called anyone out or called anyone an insulting name .... but boy, the other side wants to jump on them with both feet, it shows an ignorance that is overwhelming... Its like overkill... When you take into consideration that many show no morals, no character, no respect, are insecure and try to hide this or cover it up by attack mode, or they could go to the narcisstic side, they cant think for themselves, they play follow the leader, or like being told what to do...taking all of this into consideration... and break it on down... what you are dealing with in many situations are just plain , simpletons... Morons... There is no nice way of saying it...
Mmmmn-Hmmmn...yep..indeed. They've been taught well...