Like AC, I think I can sympathize with Bill.  And without really familiarizing myself with the preceding drama on other forums, I think I would be willing to take Chipper's words on the matter as satisfactory, and say that we are a forum that allows anyone that wants to contribute to contribute and be judged as worthy or not solely on their behavior and interactions within our little community here. 

Unfortunately, it's not within my pay scale here as a moderator to screen the past internet transgressions of each new member we gain.  For instance, it was recently brought to my attention that our very own Stanshall was a complete rogue and bastard on some guitar effects pedal forum for a period of years.  He was banned after he told one of the founding members that his DOD Tec4X was a complete piece of garbage. 

Not to make light of the current dilemma, however, as I do feel that only a very unfortunate set of circumstances must be in place for good Billax to feel that he's been offended to the point of completely retreating from posting.  In so many ways, the internet is a completely ridiculous medium for social interaction and we're all under constant surveillance by others that may have no qualms about taking what we say and post and using it with ill intent, or even something as seemingly innocent, yet irksome, like completely "ripping off" someone's online "persona". 

As a moderator, I do always get a bit excited when I see a new member has popped up and has begun contributing.  It's necessary for the health of our forum.  It's a good policy to let people post unencumbered by prejudice and suspicion, and let them prove themselves a worthy poster in their own right.  By this measure, Chipper has done nothing, as far as I know, to deserve banishment, or even reprimand. 

It's a pickle, as I know all three moderators are very fond of Billax and we are very appreciative of his past contributions to this forum and elsewhere.

No.  I took most of that from Chipper's tumblr page.  Sorry Chips!

Bill's undoubtedly a sharp dresser but I have trouble getting behind the idea of clothes as an expression of anything other than what they are; let alone representative of anything as ambiguous and subjective as "morality" which is in itself defined by social standards/practices that are rooted in illusory ideology. That's the kind of classism/elitism you find from Christian and his dorky blog. Besides, some of my best friends are reprobates and degenerates.

Last edited by alkydrinker (2016-02-02 13:37:14)