Ok, here is the problem. In order for some members to twist the tail of another member it is apparent that creative writing has been employed on occasion.  At the present moment there are two different people assigned as "policemen" here on this Agoracom.com Hub.  Myself, in a role I did not volunteer for nor ask for, and the "Agoracom ADMINSTRATOR".  The rest of the constraint process is done by individual members... that means everyone reading this note.

The guidelines are pretty clear, even for those whose animosity towards another member of this Hub clouds their judgment in a temporary expression of pique.  

Anyone who has read my own exploration into pinning the tail on the donkey in expressions of pique and my expertise in the art of the insult over on TOB knows full well I am no stranger to this process.

However, Agoracom is a different playing field.  On this playing field I have imposed upon me by Agoracom ADMINISTRATION the almost impossible task of keeping verbal fights out of the sand box.  It isn't a role I am comfortable in nor is it a role I wanted, but it is what it is.

I have respectfully PMd those who can't resist pushing the envelope on this situation, but apparently without the desired effect.  I really don't want to pull the plug on selected posts by individuals and, in effect, become the Chief Censor here on this Hub.  My genuine hope has always been that if I explained how Agoracom not only has the potential to be "different" from TOB, but actually is "different" then that difference would be appreciated by all and adhered to by all without my constant intervention.  I'm not sure that the desired goal in that respect has been achieved here.

Very shortly, within a month or two at the current rate of posting by our members, I will be putting up at least 2 names with Agoracom for additions to the "Hub Leader" position.  At the same time I will be requesting that my temporary "appointed President Plus" status be reduced to points earned:  Treasurer.  That would make me just another member and subject to the leadership of the new Hub Leaders who would have, by that time, legitimately acquired the status of the office.  

When that happens I want to pass on a "clean slate", as it were, of a Hub that is fundamentally sound and relatively free of the more significant issues that are found daily, sometimes hourly, on other message boards.  That won't happen if I don't have that clean slate to pass on.

There is no point in naming individuals.  That would only set up resentment and a need in those folks for "revenge" in some way.  Not the sort of thing we need added to the fire here.  I brought this note over to the Off Topic Forum on purpose.  I have addressed too many personality issues already over on the Discussion Forum.

Guys, I asked you once to take the personal confrontations and tail twisting over to Private Messages.  I am asking you again to do that.  Stating that you are in disagreement with someone else on a specific matter is encouraged here as a matter of fact on the Discussion Forum, if your disagreement is real and you can state in civility your reasons for that disagreement. 

One example by one member here already in that spirit was when that member referred to the post of another as "inaccurate".  The first member didn't say that the second member was "lying", "stupid" or a "moron".  None of those emotionally charged epithets entered that criticism.  He just stated his opinion that a problem occured regarding the accuracy of someone else's earlier post.  When I saw that verbiage used I thought:  "Terrific, this member really has appreciation for what makes Agoracom different form TOB".  Since that happened some posts have made me reflect on that and wonder:  "Are we there yet?"

I don't claim to be without sin in this regard.  I fully understand the itch that occurs when challenged by someone else in print and the overwhelming desire to get back at them using the same media: the printed word.  Anyone who knows my posts on TOB shouldn't question my ability to do that or my acting on that itch.... but that was on TOB.  If we don't make Agoracom's LAC Hub different and better, then we need to close up shop here and go back over to Cartoon Land and just wallow in the mud over there.

I am truly pleading with all of you for a little better cooperation on this one issue:  Disagreeing with a fellow member here on the Agoracom LAC Hub is not only possible, it is encouraged IF you have a genuine well stated counter argument and present that position in such a manner as to not engage in a personal attack on the person whose position is opposite to your own.  

For those situations where the itch is overwhelming, you still have an avenue to use and to address that person in a more direct way instead of hauling out your emotional beef with that person in front of the other members and in front of non members passing through and exploring our Hub to decide if they too want to join and contribute to our community... use the PM channel of communication for the more serious confrontations, but keep them off of the Discussion Forum in the form of direct insults to their person and the more subtle innuendo attacks. 

At the present time we are abstaining from the direct insults, but we have some ground to gain regarding the use of innuendo.  Sometimes the innuendo results in more pique than does the direct insult.  We need to avoid both on the Discussion Forum.  That won't happen without the cooperation of every member here.

All of the verbose way I have used in this post, my around the barn sort of talking, in the preceeding part of this post can be summarized in 3 words: 

Show Mutual Respect!

Okiedo