Dear Agoracom friends,

If you look at the top messages you will see that I hold the all time record of thumbs up for a post, which is of course a total fraud, as the 100 or so votes actually represented the hard work done here by FJ, who I was congratulating on achieving a vast number of points which no one else has even got near to, thus representing the unique contribution FJ makes to this board.

Because of FJ's caliber and networking skills his posts give an insight into a world adjacent to POET that none of us here get near to, he is well known and respected by management and I for one wish to continue seeing his insightful posts.

I am very saddened to see the level of support given by so many here to Pumpkin's mean minded attack on FJ. Whilst the post had legitimatcy, as the subject matter was patently off topic, it was was a post which shoud have drawn an empathetic response given the sad circumstances in which it was drafted. To treat it as a breach of rules was pettiness at best but in reality it appears as an unmitigated sham to attack a board leader.

Being a board leader is not a popularity contest and clearly will attract criticism. Playing Solomon will potentially leave those judged and found against resentful. The fact is that without a determined moderator on this board it would soon become the bear pit certain other boards are.

We should note that Pumpkin chose not to use the report violation button, which is the proper procedure for reporting violations. His actions question his motivivation and exposes him to the scenario that it was his intention to use the posting path as an opportunity to showboat an attack FJ rather than remain anonymous by dealing with Agoracom. What bothers me, if this was indeed his motive, is that he did this whilst synically hiding behind a modicum of validity.

FJ has done the gentlemanly thing and apologised; but it is PUMPKIN that should have apologised in my view because using the correct means to report a violation would not have made his off topic post in response and in complaint of FJ, a violation in itself. Two wrongs do not make a right.

The lesson here, which I trust makes my post valid, is that the correct way to complain about a post is to call on the judgement of Agracom by using the report violation button. The procedure then remains anonymous and stymies all the unnecessary anxt and bitterness this bothersome post has caused.

No one but a board leader has a proper insight into just how difficult a job it represents and they should be supported in this difficult role.

Now to the important part of my day; The Sun's over the yard arm - where's my whisky bottle.

Sulasailor