"I just went to the NYCC message board to check my latest post, and discovered that all record of my posts has been wiped clean as a whistle. So far as ""the powers that be"" are concerned, I have ceased to exist.
Now, every one of my posts has been cycling-related, and any ""profanities"" I posted were in French, and there for educational purposes only. For example, my last post explained an onomotopoetic French phrase for the F-word, but never used the F-word. In fact it couldn't, since all ""offensive"" words are automatically censored by the computer program.
I did state that I had heard, via the grapevine, that there was a secret meeting of these ""powers that be"" and that they are thinking of banning profanity from rides, too. So that, if you hit a hole on a group ride, pretzel your wheel, bust your spokes, and cover yourself with road rash, the most offensive expletive you'd be permitted to exclaim would be, ""golly geewillikers!"" or you'd be dropped.
Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Laskey has already demonstrated his willingness to offend anybody he personally doesn't like (viz. Marina). It's the biggest bullies who can't take the ribbing.
I assume this is Laskey, because the posting of ""Rules"" doesn't name the people who are allowed to remove posts. I quote:
""Visitors are invited to express their thoughts, opinions, information, questions or whatever else is on their mind as long as it is cycling related. We do not welcome and will remove any posts that contain profanity, direct personal attacks or are in any other way deemed offensive by the NYCC powers that be.'
Frankly, I find the ""NYCC powers that be"" offensive. If you'd like a copy of my latest post, which is about my exploits in Paris, and a former cheerleader who claims to have kneaded Eddy Mercx's right quadruceps, please-mail me at [email protected]
But do it fast, and copy, paste and pass this post along via e-mail. My guess is, the sneaky cowards who took my stuff off the board won't leave this post up for long, either.
Your (infuriated) pal,
Etoain"
Overstepping their bounds
"Your posts are still there. For someone so publicly critical of the software, I would expect better of you to know of the ""search"" feature. If you have a problem with the software why don't you contact the those involved directly? Repeatedly complaining about it on the message board does nobody any good.
People on this message board have expressed reservations posting messages at this site due to the level of hostile replies expressed by an unfortunate few. So with good reason, that is why I am taking the time to reply to you.
May I suggest you review your posted messages. They read of hostility and negativity no less directed at others. Some may refer to it as trolling. It's no small wonder why your Atlantic thread II and comandeering thereof contains such few replies. Perhaps I am wrong about this, but with your name absent from the club membership listing, I fail to see how you have much vested interest in the welfare of this site and that of the bicycle club.
"
I went back two weeks and cannot find ES' posts. Are they gone, or am I doing something wrong?
Well, I really don't care. ES' posts -- the curse and the Atlantic crossing -- were (were) IMHHO, creative, jocular and entertaining, but with a kernel of truth to make them relevant. There is often too much pseudo-tech, too much pomp and too much hate here – from every direction and every level of membership and leadership. Posturing and back-stabbing, name-calling and hyper-sensitive tantrums of rage. Gee whiz, remember the annual SIG debates every January-February?!?
Thank you ES for the few moments of hilarious dissent and non-conformance in an otherwise partially rusty environment.
I know, I know … _____-ME and the bike I rode in on ;-)
"The UNABRIDGED Adventures of
ETOAIN SHRDLU
(bon vivant and cyclist at large)
(with no apologies)
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2003 6:32:43 AM
Author: Etoain Shrdlu ([email protected])
Thread: Overstepping their bounds
205.188.209.7 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; AOL 5.0; Mac_PPC)
Subject: ""Powers that be""
I just went to the NYCC message board to check my latest post, and discovered that all record of my posts has been wiped clean as a whistle. So far as ""the powers that be"" are concerned, I have ceased to exist.
Now, every one of my posts has been cycling-related, and any ""profanities"" I posted were in French, and there for educational purposes only. For example, my last post explained an onomotopoetic French phrase for the F-word, but never used the F-word. In fact it couldn't, since all ""offensive"" words are automatically censored by the computer program.
I did state that I had heard, via the grapevine, that there was a secret meeting of these ""powers that be"" and that they are thinking of banning profanity from rides, too. So that, if you hit a hole on a group ride, pretzel your wheel, bust your spokes, and cover yourself with road rash, the most offensive expletive you'd be permitted to exclaim would be, ""golly geewillikers!"" or you'd be dropped.
Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Laskey has already demonstrated his willingness to offend anybody he personally doesn't like (viz. Marina). It's the biggest bullies who can't take the ribbing.
I assume this is Laskey, because the posting of ""Rules"" doesn't name the people who are allowed to remove posts. I quote:
""Visitors are invited to express their thoughts, opinions, information, questions or whatever else is on their mind as long as it is cycling related. We do not welcome and will remove any posts that contain profanity, direct personal attacks or are in any other way deemed offensive by the NYCC powers that be.'
Frankly, I find the ""NYCC powers that be"" offensive. If you'd like a copy of my latest post, which is about my exploits in Paris, and a former cheerleader who claims to have kneaded Eddy Mercx's right quadruceps, please-mail me at [email protected]
But do it fast, and copy, paste and pass this post along via e-mail. My guess is, the sneaky cowards who took my stuff off the board won't leave this post up for long, either.
Your (infuriated) pal,
Etoain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Show Thread Print
Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:02:52 PM
Author: Etoain Shrdlu ([email protected])
Thread: Pedaling Across the Atlantic: II
152.163.252.134 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; AOL 5.0; Mac_PPC)
Subject: Pigalle, Maurice and the Soigneuse who kneaded Eddie Merckx
Well, I had quite some time the other night. Before I get to that, I have to tell you that I’m still doing a slow burn over the NYCC computer program that blocks the S-word from message board posts, even though it lets you post the same word – merde – in French. I’ll bet the same thing goes for the F word, although I don’t want to waste my time finding out. However, instead of the F-word let me give you a great French word for the act of “F” right now: ziziboomboom. It is what it sounds like, and sounds like what it is.
A source of mine in New York says that a couple of the most Puritanical Poobahs who run the club like their new word filtering software so much, they had a secret meeting to consider extending it with a club rule censoring vulgar language on rides. Use one S- word or F-word on a ride, under any circumstances, and you get dropped. If you happen to hit, say, a hole, and your wheel pretzels as you crash, and you end up with two yards of road rash running from your nose to your ankles, and you can barely get out of your cleats and pick yours"
Peter,
Peter! PETER!! What have you done?
I come back from Nyack to this travesty!!
You dare to re-post something that the oligarchy has deemed unfit! Something it has deleted! You fly in the face of its collective authority, its established, entrenched power, its God-given right to control what you see, read, feel and think. You dare to counter the “talented and affable” superiors at the top of the bicycle chain!
Well, how dare you play this end-run around wanton censorship!! I am appalled!!!! There is no other way to put it Peter, no other way …
JOLLY GOOD SHOW!!!
Next ride, bananas on me!!
Now, go deconstruct your wallet!!
;-D
"To all those members of the NYCC who supported me, via online posts, and by re-posting my posts that had been ""vanished"" by the NYCC secret police, and also to those who supported me with encouraging notes sent via private e-mail, I offer my most heartfelt thanks.
To those few members who had something unpleasant to say to me, I will fight to the death for your right to say it, even though I have no sympathy whatsoever for your rants. The reaction to my posts reminds me of what I've read about university faculty interaction: ""The politics are so vicious because the stakes are so small."" Incidentally, this one is most definitely not an old Montenegrin folk saying. I hear that they tattoo it on you just below the bellybutton when you join the faculty at Harvard.
But enough, mes amis. Maurice the Marxist Deconstructionist Cyclist and I are off tomorrow for a zig-zaggy ride (not to be confused with a different French Z-word) to Montenegro, via Holland. We are going east and north, to end up east and south of here. See, no double entendre intended. But Maurice wants to try some totally flat riding for a change, and we both agree that Holland is the best place on the planet for that.
I expect to be out of touch for quite some time. Don't be upset. Just do what you normally do — fight among yourselves, comme d'habitude.
Who knows what the future will bring? Perhaps a new club leadership in January, and with it, a more enlightened Message Board Policy. Or perhaps not. Old Montenegrin saying: ""Never predict the future without a cheat sheet."" But there's a law against that in the United States. It has to do with insider trading.
Your Pal,
Etoain Shrdlu"
"It really wasn't that difficult now to write a response without casting flames? Still a bit condescending, nonetheless but a marked improvement and the only (repugnant) ranting I see occurring is primarily from you here and offline (AOL IM).
Like many aspects of life, posting here is a privilege, not a right. You want free reign - then run your own message board. As entertaining as your posts are, lambasting others is simply not cool to those who participate here and the ""powers that be"" that run and maintain the website. These folks have other more pressing interests to attend to like fulfilling employment obligations and other pleasant distractions like bike riding.
That said, have you considered starting your own website? ""Blogs"" (web logs) are quite popular now. I'd be more than happy to dig up all of your posts and migrate them to such site. Additionally, I may be inclined to donate a license for said msg brd software. Be carefully what you wish for. All your creative energies may be zapped with the not-so-envious tasks of handling incessant feckless remarks/complaints, debating the most scrupulous points of free speech and policies ad-nausea with a seemingly infinite population and as well as performing mundane maintenance tasks for the site.
It is worth noting that none of your messages have been ""removed"" or ""disappeared"", etc. If you did a search by author you would see all of the messages listed quite neatly. The search feature is quite powerful; I highly recommend its use to all.
"
"can the search function be expanded to allow two search criteria? for example, searh for posts by ""author-name"" which also contain ""specific-word"" in the body?
right now you can only do a search for one or the other.
:)
don"
Sure, it could very well be a future enhancement. Right now I have my hands full with other crafting other wares for the website.
"Being the guardian of a terrific and evolving ""bike"" club website and literally doing the work associated with that is a hell of a job. Unfortunately, it's not possible to please everyone.
I appreciate the thought, time and ADDITIONAL energy you have invested in your responses to what is obviously a controversial issue.
Many of those in your court are too busy living a life, sharing positive experiences and yes, riding their bikes.
Hang in there, you're not alone."
....if you consider the depth of the nycc website and what must go into building and maintaining it, the bulletin editor position sure looks like a piece of cake!
ps, kudos to robin for laying the foundation.
:)
don
"thanks Don. Having spent 2+ years creating and maintaining the club web site (and introducing its first message board), I truly understand the concept of ""labor of love"" (as I'm sure you do as well).
Sadly, love's labor is lost on the few idle complainers, frustrated writer-wannabe's, and political poseurs who find refuge on this bulletin board. Their snide, self-serving public criticism penned in this forum (often anonymously) only illustrates their ignorance and fear; yet for some volunteers, the mud-slinging takes its toll and one's desire to ""give back to the club"" can become severely diminished. Posturing about misdirected ""powers that be"" and issues of censorship in between identity guessing games on this bulletin board serves what purpose exactly?
To the complainers: Don't like it? Then step up and show us how you'd do it.
One can only wish that a person with such apparent time and energy to write diatribe after diatribe--and dutifully track each publication--could redirect the same vigor into improving the club he/she is so fond of criticizing. Oh, but to be sure, we must be careful about what we wish for. ;-)
"
"Thank you Gary, Don, and Robin.
Funny thing is those that complain here only do so on the message board. I have yet to receive ANY email, posted reply or verbal correspondence, meaningful or otherwise in retort regarding message board policy or decision-making. I can't speak for the others, but I get the impression the same is true for the webmaster and other board members. I even went so far as to go out of my way to contact Etoain S. Big mistake. I hardly got past saying ""Hello"". Very standoffish and well beyond approach - just plain nasty.
So what is my point here? There is an ever evolving and infinite population of folk who pass through this message board area. There is also at this point a ton of messages in the archives debating message board policy, why was this message deleted, etc. and what not. It seems a month cannot pass before a new fruitless piss-fest ""discussion"" evolves.
Those that complain here do not give their fellow clubmembers the benefit of the doubt. It's just too easy to post a quip message rather than spend a little time to ask around and gather some information. It's obviously worth the time to invest ahead of time as evidently you feel it’s important enough to post a message. Anyway, you would think someone would pass along a dissenting/complaint in person. I do a club ride once a week. No less when one does complain here it is in such a rank fashion that would never be told to someone's face. Reminder here: real people read these messages.
Most importantly it is done so in a way that does not garner any respect for those the message is directed towards. The complaints contained here certainly would not be constructed in such a way to your boss, an elected official, spouse, etc. They'll be immediately turned off and will not listen for sure. I find it a bit incredulous to why I or anyone else would have to answer to such folks with patience and respect as to why such action was taken, etc.
It is very tiring as you can tell by my rant here. New threads like this one, in the future will be removed ASAP. You want to debate policy, search the archives and read to your heart's content. Everything that could be said has been said in the archives. If that's not enough for you, then contact those involved in the decision making directly. Are you feeling a little bit down now or angry? Go ride your bike, find your S.O. and you know, get busy ;-) , or find a good shrink and maybe pop a Paxil afterwards. You want to gratuitously attack someone - message gone. You want to entertain or be entertained with humor at other people's expense - go watch TV. The board is too dry, provincial or boring for you - go watch TV. You want to be as brash as you want and have free reign, create your own website. It's quite easy these days, with wizards and all and cheap to do. Most folks are not interested in reading comments by a malcontent or being flamed by one.
You post messages here voluntarily. Unlike a magazine editor, no one screens your messages prior to publication. That is quite a bit of freedom and with freedom comes responsibility. I don't think it is too much to ask one to exercise a little bit of civility and respect when posting a message. Like the club rides we do (and that's what brings you to this msg brd), lets keep this a friendly place to visit.
Thank you.
Peter O'Reilly
(rant mode off)
"
One long stemmed rose for RR!
Robin- your web design is reflective of your own nature. Pure, elegant.
Brava! Ce Bella!
