Chumps, I'll see ya around

[_LDSToronto]

....around the MormonDiscussions board, that is.

Here's the deal. Just under a year ago, I was a regular poster over on MD&D (MADB) and I would often hear the term, "The Trailerpark" or "the cesspool" cited in reference to some website out in the interweb. One day, over Christmas break, mfbukowski was bragging about how he was kicking some apostate ass over at the trailerpark in a debate on postmodernism.

That sounded more interesting than the usual dribble that was going on over a MD&D, so I asked mfbukowski for a link to the trailerpark (up to that point, I had no idea what the trailerpark was, since everybody I asked refused to tell me what website had earned the appellation). MFB, however, was so proud of the trouncing he was giving all of you that he couldn't pass up the chance to show off, and so he sent me link, and I was redirected here.

Fast forward a year. On New Year's Eve, 2011, I'll have been a member of this place for one year. My life has changed. One year ago, I could not have imagined where I'd be today. I'm happy. My wife is happy. It's been a good year. And many of you people who I had never even heard of a year ago have become my friends.

But enough about me, and enough about you. The reason I really wanted to start this thread was to thank one person who I feel never gets enough thanks. That person is Dr. Shades.

I don't know the full history of mormondiscussions. But since I have been a member, Shades' liberal and open approach to moderation is the exact thing that I needed. I have been able to discover facts about the church, wrestle with those facts, and speak frankly and openly about anything I've needed to speak about. Shades has made this board a place were openness and freedom are the rule, not the exception for the privileged few.

Doc Shades, you take a lot of flak as the guy who operates this board. Most human beings would have packed it in a long time ago, but not you. You've been criticized for not upgrading this place, for your moderation policies, for your reaction to the legal troubles earlier this year, and for a million other things. And ya, I've been part of that critical group. But I've got to say, that you seem to put principles above everything - You've never tried to escape criticism by playing the admin card or with heavy handed tactics. Rather, you've taken criticism and wrestled with it, just like the rest of us; but unlike most, you don't crumble, you just keep on keeping on.

I find it a shame that we have threads that laud the fame of the likes of stemelbow and nehor when they decide to abandon this place. So Shades, I want to express, sincerely, my appreciation for the heat you take on regular basis, for the job you do in keeping this place running, and most importantly, for making a place for people like me. You are a man of principles and integrity.

Thank you, Dr. Shades.

H.

[_honorentheos]

+1 LDST

[_Jason Bourne]

+2 LDST.

Glad you are here to man! I enjoy your insights.

[_Morley]

+3

[_why me]

I find it a shame that we have threads that laud the fame of the likes of stemelbow and nehor when they decide to abandon this place. So Shades, I want to express, sincerely, my appreciation for the heat you take on regular basis, for the job you do in keeping this place running, and most importantly, for making a place for people like me. You are a man of principles and integrity.

Thank you, Dr. Shades.

H.

The reason why the TBMs leave is because they often are insulted on this board. It is as simple as that. The board is a good board, but the posters tend to gang up on the TBMs and then they leave. The TBMs are insulted, mocked and looked down upon. Lets face it...it is not a great place for TBMs. But it is a good place for you and for others who have your point of view.

[_Chap]

[_LDSToronto]

I find it a shame that we have threads that laud the fame of the likes of stemelbow and nehor when they decide to abandon this place. So Shades, I want to express, sincerely, my appreciation for the heat you take on regular basis, for the job you do in keeping this place running, and most importantly, for making a place for people like me. You are a man of principles and integrity.

Thank you, Dr. Shades.

H.

The reason why the TBMs leave is because they often are insulted on this board. It is as simple as that. The board is a good board, but the posters tend to gang up on the TBMs and then they leave. The TBMs are insulted, mocked and looked down upon. Lets face it...it is not a great place for TBMs. But it is a good place for you and for others who have your point of view.

This is a great board for people who are willing to have their views challenged. TBM or not.

H.

[_hobo1512]

I find it a shame that we have threads that laud the fame of the likes of stemelbow and nehor when they decide to abandon this place. So Shades, I want to express, sincerely, my appreciation for the heat you take on regular basis, for the job you do in keeping this place running, and most importantly, for making a place for people like me. You are a man of principles and integrity.

Thank you, Dr. Shades.

H.

The reason why the TBMs leave is because they often are insulted on this board. It is as simple as that. The board is a good board, but the posters tend to gang up on the TBMs and then they leave. The TBMs are insulted, mocked and looked down upon. Lets face it...it is not a great place for TBMs. But it is a good place for you and for others who have your point of view.

That's right, the "TBM's" as you like to call them, never make any kind of disparaging remarks whatsoever. They never start it at all, they are as pure as the driven snow. Compare it to your posts and behavior over at CAF. Isn't that why you left? Oh wait...you were banned for inappropriate comments, that's right.

The only reason this may not be a good place for a "TBM" is they may actually learn the truth about things instead of being fed a line of .......well you know.

[_keithb]

+4

I used to post on the MD&D board as well. After about the fifth time of being banned under different handles, I decided that wasn't the place for me either. I enjoy this board a lot, and I have learned a lot of things during my days of posting/lurking.

[_why me]

This is a great board for people who are willing to have their views challenged. TBM or not.

H.

Very few views are challenged when it comes to the TBMs posting here. Their views are more or less mocked, not challenged. And that is why they leave. Ceeboo who is catholic left for a while because he could not take the tone of the posters on the Hitchens thread. And stem left because he became the focus of a few threads.

The tone sucks for many TBMs.